APPOINTMENT OF THE BEACON SCHOOL’S THIRD HEADMASTER
It is with great pleasure that the Board of Trustees of the Beacon School wishes to announce that Patrick K. Ritter has been selected to be the next Head of School, succeeding Al Kay. Patrick will assume the post on 16 June 2008 as Al begins the handover of the position.
Many in the Beacon School Community participated in the process with a truly collaborative spirit, and the Board and its Search Committee are convinced that, from a very strong field of candidates, we have chosen someone that best embodies the spirit, ethic, and mission of the school as the institution’s 3rd Headmaster.
Presently, Patrick is the International Baccalaureate Organization Asia/Pacific (IBAP) Regional Manager, and has been based in Singapore since 2004. He served as High School Principal (teaching) and International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB/MYP) Coordinator at the Bali International School in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia from 2001 to 2004. He was Secondary School Principal (1999-2001) of the Colegio Jorge Washington in Cartagena, Colombia; Teaching Principal (1997-1999) at Colegio Internacional Puerto La Cruz in Venezuela; Middle School and High School Teacher (1994-1997) at Colegio Internacional Punta Cardon Amauy in Venezuela; and Middle School Teacher and Coordinator of the Gifted and Talented Program at Westdale Junior High, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from 1979 to 1994.
Patrick earned his BA in English (1976) at the University of Minnesota, received his CERT in Secondary Education (1976) from the University (College) of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and his MA in International Education Administration (1999) from the College of New Jersey’s Global program.
Of his many strengths, Patrick’s record exhibits a proven ability to conceptualize, develop, establish, and administer a High School program. With regards to schools in general, he writes, “Most importantly, my work with the IBO has underscored a long held belief that the best schools are staffed by teachers who care passionately about teaching and know how to leave their egos at the door and dedicate themselves to doing all they can to improve student learning”. Patrick’s interests include literature, running – he is certified by the Canadian Track and Field Association as a Level II T&F coach – marine biology, and a passion for scuba diving. Patrick is married to Ni Wayan Juliastini who completed her tertiary education in Hotel Management in Bali. They are parents to a son who she describes as “a very healthy and enjoyable one year old boy”.
The Board of Trustees and its Search Committee wishes to thank the students, parents, faculty, and staff for their invaluable participation and feedback during the search process. It is with great confidence and high expectation that we look forward to all that must be done in the coming years to elevate the Beacon School to its full potential. In the coming months, as we honor Al Kay for six truly ground-breaking years of service to the school, I hope that you will join us in extending a warmest welcome to Patrick Ritter as he begins to build upon that outstanding legacy.
THE BEACON SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
21 February 2008