BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China (BIBS · C) continues to set the standard for exceptional educator preparation through its annual Summer Institute, a professional learning program that is the beginning of every new faculty member’s journey within our network. BIBS · C’s eleventh Summer Institute welcomed new teachers, new and returning deans and administrators, and operations staff from all 13 BIBS · C schools to the BASIS International School Shenzhen campus for four days of intensive training centered around the theme “Building a Strong Foundation for Excellence.”
The Summer Institute opened with an inspiring video looking back over the network’s first decade and looking to future school openings in 2026 and 2027. The keynote speakers established the philosophical foundation that would guide the institute’s work, emphasizing that education, especially in the age of AI, is not just about passing on knowledge but also shaping character and emotional resilience. They highlighted how a teacher’s work goes beyond just building skills and knowledge; it also builds a belief in what is possible, both for the students and the world they will shape. This understanding of the impact of teaching became the cornerstone for preparing educators to achieve excellence in their classrooms.
Dr. Mark Reford, Chief Executive Head of Schools, spoke about BIBS · C’s commitment to teaching excellence, saying, “Our community holds teaching in profound reverence and our schools are organized to reflect this.” He explained how all academic managers serve as personal stewards of the teaching culture, essentially acting as head teachers who lead by example and prioritize mentoring teachers above all else, “creating a support system where educators feel more effective when they leave than when they arrived.”
Dr. Midge Connolly, Senior Chief Instructional Officer, affirmed the importance of teaching, saying, “It is one of the most complex and consequential professions there is. Teaching is both science and art. It demands data-driven decision-making and emotional intuition. It requires intellectual rigor and deep empathy. And at the center of it all are the relationships we build with students—relationships grounded in trust, consistency, and care.” Within the shifting educational landscape, she noted that “one thing remains constant: the power of a skilled, compassionate, and committed teacher to change a life.”
Summer Institute Program Expansion and Content
This year, the Summer Institute continued to expand, including but not limited to onboarding and professional learning. The extended format allowed for more in-depth training and skill development, ensuring every new faculty member left with a strong foundational understanding of BIBS · C.
The program followed a carefully designed progression beginning with an immersion into the network culture and organizational structures. Participants gradually moved deeper into curriculum expectations, assessment practices, and feedback systems that define the academic program. The final days focused on instructional strategies that bring BIBS · C classrooms to life, while also equipping new faculty with essential knowledge about Professional Growth Pathways, evaluation procedures, and grading systems.
New sessions introduced this year included “BASIS 101” to clarify organizational structures and acronyms, “Use of AI” to explore emerging technologies and their impact on classroom learning, and specialized training for deans on fostering academic support and positive school culture. The use of small breakout groups, over 280 in total, maximized participation and collaboration.
Modeling Excellence in Every Summer Institute Session
Every session at the Summer Institute was designed and led by BIBS · C’s academic and operational leaders, ensuring authentic transmission of network culture and values while providing immediately applicable training.
Rather than simply delivering content, the academic training leaders modeled the teaching practices they expect to see in classrooms across the network. Workshop began with clearly articulated learning and language objectives, employed real-time formative assessment techniques such as strategic checks for understanding and reflective exit tickets, and utilized structured discussion protocols that maximized participant engagement and collaboration.
Sessions integrated classroom management strategies and co-teaching techniques, often featuring video examples from actual BIBS · C classrooms to bridge theory with practice. Academic language supports and English language learning strategies were woven through all content areas, ensuring that every participant understood how to support multilingual learners effectively. This approach meant that participants learned effective teaching practices while experiencing them as learners themselves, making their eventual transition to facilitating these same techniques with students far more intuitive and successful.
Leadership and Operations Development
The Summer Institute’s comprehensive approach extended well beyond new teacher preparation. New and returning deans and administrators received role-specific preparation aligned with network priorities while addressing the unique challenges of educational leadership at BIBS·C schools. Academic leaders also participated in job-alike round tables to exchange ideas, share best practices, and align on network goals.
On the operations side, staff members learned about core responsibilities and collaboration practices from leaders across ten departments. Through case studies and hands-on discussions, they gained a thorough understanding of the norms and expectations that contribute to BIBS · C’s “one system, one standard” philosophy. Informal exchanges during breaks further strengthened connections between colleagues across the network.
This dual focus on teaching excellence and comprehensive leadership development ensures the network maintains high standards while preparing for continued growth and innovation.
Network Building
One of the Summer Institute’s most powerful aspects is how it connects colleagues across the network. By bringing together faculty and staff from all BIBS·C campuses, participants experience firsthand that they are part of a larger, interconnected educational community rather than isolated individual schools.
Beyond training together, this network-first approach enables a mathematics teacher in Guangzhou to easily collaborate with a colleague in Nanjing or discuss pacing strategies with a Course Advisor in Chengdu. It means Heads of Division and Heads of Schools are supported by the collective wisdom of a community of leaders, each contributing to the network’s shared vision and implementation.
Dr. Connolly captured the importance of these connections perfectly when she encouraged participants to “start building the relationships that will carry you through the year. We are not just a group of individuals—we are a team, a network, a community. And together, we are stronger.”
Looking Forward
As participants departed Shenzhen to join returning teachers at their respective campuses for on-site training, they carried with them a clear understanding of the BIBS · C mission and culture, supportive relationships built with colleagues across the network, and the confidence that comes from thorough preparation.
The Summer Institute is just the beginning of BIBS · C’s ongoing commitment to faculty growth and excellence. Throughout the year, teachers continue their professional journey through regular coaching sessions, professional learning days, professional learning communities, and collaborative meetings while deepening the network connections begun during the Summer Institute.
As Plutarch wisely observed: “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Through the Summer Institute and our continued professional learning culture, BIBS · C ensures that fire burns brightly in every classroom, on every campus, throughout our network.
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