Jennifer Sparrow

Instructional Leadership: Has improved the learning journey for 4100 students, preschool through grade 12, and for 740 educators as evidenced through significant curricular and programmatic changes that have positively impacted learning and student well-being. Key accomplishments include:

• Directly supervising the senior education leaders, which include the elementary, middle, and high school principals, the director of admissions, and the executive director of teaching and learning (in charge of our schoolwide curriculum, instruction, and assessment).
• Engaging in ongoing research and development to ensure practices being implemented are evidence-based and contextualized to the Singapore American School context.
• Leveraging a deep understanding of curriculum design, assessment strategies, and data-driven instruction to set up systems for monitoring, reviewing, and revising the components that make up the student learning experience, including using data to inform decision-making, track progress, and identify areas for improvement.
• Ensuring equitable access and support for all students, particularly those with minoritized voices. This has included the implementation of culturally responsive leadership and pedagogical practices across all levels of the school as well as increasing the effectiveness of student services programs and accommodations for neurodiverse learners.
• Developing and implementing a coaching model that provides regular, ongoing observation and feedback to over 85% of the teaching staff, resulting in a higher level of implementation of agreed-upon evidence-based practices and higher teacher satisfaction
• Providing guidance and support to principals and teacher leaders to improve teaching and learning through individual mentoring and leading small and large group professional development on topics related to curriculum, assessment, instruction, equity and inclusion, and leadership development

Strategic Planning & Execution: Effectively developed and implemented SAS2014, SAS2020, and SAS2027 strategic plans. This included developing a long-term vision, setting annual priorities and metrics, and aligning resources for school-wide improvement. As a result, the educational journey for both students and educators has significantly improved since 2015, demonstrated by the addition of innovative programs, improved student growth, and positive student, educator, and parent perceptions. Key accomplishments include:

• Inspiring and motivating staff, students, and community towards a shared vision and actualization of strategic priorities
• Leading and navigating organizational change effectively, fostering buy-in and minimizing disruption.
• Building high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and promoting distributed leadership. This includes facilitating the senior leadership team (Cabinet).
• Demonstrating sound judgment, analyzing data, and making timely and informed decisions.
• Addressing complex issues, resolving conflicts constructively, and finding creative solutions.

Financial & Operational Management: Worked closely with the senior operation leaders to ensure the school runs effectively and efficiently. Key accomplishments include:

• Collaborating with the chief financial officer in guiding the development of the annual budget of SGD240million to allocate resources that will maximize impact on student learning, including sitting on the school board’s finance committee.
• Collaborating with the Campus Upgrade Team to ensure the successful completion of a $700 million project that will significantly increase student and educator access to purpose-built classrooms and enhanced play and social spaces. In addition to supporting the actual building of the new spaces, focused on ensuring educators and students are prepared to maximize the use of these spaces through new pedagogies and programs.
• Partnering with the executive director of human resources in guiding the development and implementation of the professional growth and excellence systems for leaders and educators.
• Supporting the chief advancement officer in achieving a $100 million dollar capital campaign through the identification of opportunities for significant gifts, meeting with potential donors to share impact, and supporting advancement efforts related to alumni and annual giving.
• Working with the in-house counsel to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including international accreditation (WASC) and local accreditation through the ministry of education.

Culture Building and Stakeholder Engagement: Built and maintained positive relationships with all stakeholder groups to ensure a positive school culture that allows individuals to feel that they belong. Key accomplishments include:

• Supporting the superintendent and board chair in preparing for and facilitating board meetings and retreats.
• Focusing on culture through both formal and informal data collection, formulating plans to address areas of concern before they become significant issues. This has resulted in a culture that has become healthier post-Covid than it was before the pandemic.
• Advancing equity initiatives for educators by promoting diversity in the educator workforce, establishing expectations around recognizing and addressed bias and identity-based harm, and developing culturally responsive leaders.
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with all members of the community, including knowing every educator by name, and regularly engaging with parent leaders.
• Attentively listening to and understanding the perspectives of others through regularly holding listening sessions and then sharing through a “you said/I did” format how action was taken based on what was shared.
• Facilitating “deep dives” into areas of community concern (e.g, parent engagement, math, campus upgrade project) to actively engage students, educators, and parents in the identification of solutions and next steps.
• Effectively communicating in written, individual, small and large group settings through clear messaging and story-telling.
• Successfully negotiating agreements and resolving conflicts.