Starting as a Humanities SET
I am David Denys, and I have been in the BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China (BIBS · C) network since 2021. My journey started at BASIS International School Hangzhou, where I taught Grade 1 Humanities. In subsequent years, I taught Humanities in Grades 2 and 3 and Grade 4 English. During this time, we implemented the Expeditionary Learning (EL) curriculum.
I have enjoyed seeing how this curriculum helps students improve their English literacy skills, specifically their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language use. My interest in curriculum led me to acquire a Master’s in Education focusing on curriculum design and assessment creation. While undertaking this degree, I was promoted to Primary School (PS) Chair of Humanities in 2022.
Expanding Horizons as Department Chair
To better know the PS Humanities curriculum, I have continued to teach a new course each year. This approach has helped me immensely in knowing the daily steps to craft a curriculum for students and create systems within the school and network, especially as we implemented the EL curriculum. The EL curriculum is now utilized in all BIBS · C schools for Grades 1–3 Humanities and almost all Grades 4–5 English classrooms. Many teachers have worked on helping students have deep learning in social studies and science with this curriculum that builds English literacy skills.
As a department chair, I was part of many network-wide roundtables and project groups to discuss how to use the EL curriculum in an optimal fashion for students. Furthermore, I have been involved in aligning documentation and skills plans, fostering a shared understanding of how we teach humanities across the network. These projects were exciting to be a part of, and we continue to work to make our PS Humanities program better every single school year.
Leading Change as Vice Head of Primary School
In 2024, I moved to BASIS International School Shenzhen as Vice Head of Primary, being part of a team that supports 718 students in the Primary division. Part of this move involved rolling out the EL curriculum at our flagship campus. My main educational philosophy is to support as many students as possible. For me, this comes to life when working within such a large primary school as well as within this growing and flourishing network, but this philosophy can only come to fruition with the collaboration and hard work of my peers across the network.
Lessons in Growth and Preparation
BIBS · C provides new and exciting opportunities for teachers to take on more responsibilities that can positively benefit hundreds and even thousands of students. As a Vice Head of Primary, I am excited for the next step in my journey and to see how the team on this campus, with support from network collaboration, can work together to see our schools grow stronger by sharing experiences and expertise.
In this network, cultivating a growth mindset is implored for students, and also for teaching staff to showcase while leading these students. This mindset has helped me learn valuable lessons and information from my administrative leaders in Hangzhou and Shenzhen.
But nothing would come to fruition without the lesson learned from The Ant and the Grasshopper, a fable taught in our Grade 2 Humanities curriculum. This story, in a nutshell, highlights how ants worked hard and were prepared for winter, but a playful grasshopper did not. The lesson of this fable is simple: plan and prepare for the future.
Within the BIBS · C network, there are many opportunities for professional growth and to support students on a large scale, but this can only be done if one plans and prepares for the future. I am grateful for the chances I’ve been given to have more responsibility and positively affect students. I look forward to what can be accomplished in this thriving community.
David Denys
Vice Head of Primary School
BASIS International School Shenzhen
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