LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT TARA WAUDBY AN INTERVIEW BY ISS

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT TARA WAUDBY AN INTERVIEW BY ISS

In 2000, Tara Waudby was just beginning her international job search at an International Schools Services (ISS) San Francisco recruiting fair; today, she is the Head of School at Riffa Views International School in Bahrain. Follow the chapters of her career around the world, learn what she loves about the Middle East, and what advice she offers to potential international educators:

WHEN WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION LIKE?

Having grown up as a TCK myself, I always knew I was going to go back overseas. I got a couple years of experience in the states once I decided to be a teacher, and in my third year of teaching, decided that I needed to go to an ISS job fair. Otherwise, I was going to get tenure and probably never leave.

I grew up in Sweden, so when I attended that first ISS San Francisco job fair in 2000, I was mostly looking at schools in Europe. Very early in the recruiting process, when going through all the introductions and orientations, an ISS representative told us, “Don’t limit yourself to one region!” I didn’t really listen. I had all these interviews in Europe, but at the last minute, they all kind of fell through. So I took a job in Taiwan, which was so completely different! I absolutely fell in love with it. I worked at an ISS managed school for the first five years of my overseas career.

When I was ready to move again, I knew I needed to take the ISS advice. I said to myself, “I won’t limit myself to any region except — as a single female — I won’t go to Kuwait or Saudi.” Those were the two schools at the job fair that I thought I wouldn’t go to, but I ended up taking a job in Kuwait. Loved it. Stayed there for ten years, then went to Saudi, and now I’m in Bahrain. I’ve been in Middle East for fourteen years now.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST?

You get the best of everything. I like interacting with people, I like living abroad, I like the diversity of culture, and I like the fact that you become different yourself. My husband and I joke now that because he’s English and I’m American, either of our countries are too far for the other one. But the Middle East has all the American and British things, in addition to all the Middle Eastern things. We think we’re actually more at home here than we would be if we moved to England or the US!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION?

I think the main thing is just to be open. Don’t limit yourself to a region, take risks, open up your worldview, and then fall in love with the place. I loved Taiwan, I loved Kuwait, I still love Sweden where I grew up — all of the places I’ve lived and worked in are vastly different regions, but there

are so many beautiful things about the whole world. Get to know people, don’t limit yourself to a place, and bust those stereotypes.

Thanks to Tara for sharing your journey and insight! If you’re interested in taking your career abroad too, join this season of recruiting fairs with ISS-Schrole Advantage at iss-schrole.com/fairs. If you’re an educator seeking professional learning opportunities in the Middle East, check out the new LEVEL 5 Bahrain innovation hub at the Riffa Views International School. You’ll experience cutting-edge workshops, supported by agile floor plans and an eclectic range of design tools. More at https://www.iss.edu/events

ABOUT THE INTERVIEWEE

Tara Waudby began her teaching career in Phoenix, Arizona before moving into international education where she has spent 20+ years in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Taiwan. Tara has served in numerous leadership and teaching roles including assistant superintendent for learning, high school principal, assistant principal, professional development coordinator, ESL coordinator and a teacher of special education, ESL and secondary English. Currently, she serves as Head of School at Riffa Views International School. Follow her at https://twitter.com/tarawaudby

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS SERVICES

International Schools Services (ISS) is a leading non-profit with more than 60 years of experience in international education. Whether it’s developing and managing worldclass international schools, staffing schools, ordering equipment and supplies, performing accounting functions, or supporting best-in-class teaching and learning approaches, ISS provides the full range of services necessary for schools to thrive and deliver an outstanding global education to their students.