Susan Canobie
Head of School

"Your imagination is your preview
of life’s coming attractions."   
                                                      -Albert Einstein 

I am an experienced international educator who has worked in seven countries as a High School Chemistry teacher and Administrator.  My experience is in multiple programs, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and both Australian and US Curricula. I am an International Baccalaureate school evaluator for the Diploma Program and have also evaluated schools with the Council of International Schools.  My original degree in Science means that I look at the world in a scientific way and I value research. This diverse array of experiences brings to me a wide perspective of what outstanding education looks like, whilst also defining my beliefs.

I believe that healthy relationships with students are the cornerstone of providing the emotional support and structure needed to put them in a safe place for learning. Schools expect students to take risks and this is best achieved when students have a feeling of trust and wellbeing. Students rely on ‘social cues’ from adults to maneuver their path to adulthood and mature academic conversations and thinking. As they do this through conversations and modeling from the adults in their lives, ethics are developed. A healthy relationship with teachers, administrators, parents, and coaches is central to nurturing healthy growth and development.

In addition to the nurture, there is a need for rules and structure. Without such conditions; young minds can easily go down a ‘slippery slope’ of complacency through lack of guidance and adherence. Students, in their elementary through high school years are at a stage of their development where they do not have the choice to underachieve. Learners must be shown by adults that they can go beyond what they think they are capable of. It is the task of the adults in their lives to model, push and believe so that the students can also.

I value student “voice and choice”, and putting the best teachers that we can in front of students where educators use that brain research to improve teaching and learning using mindful pedagogical practices to cause learning to take place with impact. Development of a ‘growth mindset’ is a continual message that students need to hear, so they can always get ‘just a little better’.  Couple that with intentionally thinking about creative learning spaces that help students develop and you have the complexity of what is school.

Society and schools are facing challenges with adolescent wellness as health, exercise, sleep and the use of technology issue in our students’ daily lives. It is the responsibility of the school to help educate school communities on the impact such issues have on learning and to be proactive in their response.

I believe that the care and learning go hand in hand.

I believe that schooling is complex as we attend to the academic and personal needs of learners.

I believe that it is my responsibility to create the best learning conditions for students and staff and I will work tirelessly to make that happen.