Leadership Spotlight: Jane McGee

ISS Leadership Search was honored to support the Superintendent search for Graded – The American School of São Paulo in Brazil. Congratulations to Jane McGee for accepting the position, beginning July 2025! Jane most recently served as the Head of School at United Nations International School Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi).

Jane holds a Master of Education in Administration and Policy Study, a Bachelor of Education in Mathematics and Chemistry, and a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Mathematics, all from Queen’s University, Canada.

Jane has held senior leadership positions as Director at Vientiane International School in Lao PDR, Assistant Superintendent and High School Principal at the American School of Bombay in India, and High School Principal and IBDP Coordinator at the American School of Warsaw in Poland. She began her education career as a mathematics and science teacher.

Jane’s career in education has taken her across the globe, including roles in Europe (Italy and Poland), the Middle East (Egypt), Asia (India), and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Lao PDR, and Vietnam). Learn more about her career journey and vision in the feature below!

What drew you to pursue the world of education? And what drew you into international education specifically?

As a student, I was very passionate about mathematics and science and found that I was often the only girl in the room or class. From an early age, I decided that I wanted to share this passion with others and believed teaching was the best way to do that. I wanted others to appreciate the beauty of mathematics as I did and know that it can be learned in a way that is accessible to anyone, regardless of gender.

As an undergraduate student, I was fortunate enough to learn about international education in my first year of university in a Concurrent Education course. The possibility of learning about new cultures and teaching students from all over the world seemed like the perfect fit for me – pursuing my passion professionally while fulfilling my dreams of traveling the world. I left Canada when I graduated from university and have never looked back.

 

 

Inspiring young learners

Graded – The American School of São Paulo

Congratulations on your upcoming role at Graded – The American School of São Paulo! What are you excited about in this new role?

I am very excited to be joining the Graded community. Graded has a strong reputation grounded in current, research based educational best practice to support students to reach their full potential. Teaching and learning at Graded has not only made an impact on the students the school serves, but in the international school community – other schools are learning from Graded.

During my visit, everyone I met was not only professional but exuded a genuine warmth and incredible pride in being a part of this School. I am looking forward to engaging with all stakeholders to continue to build on Graded’s 100 year history of serving students aligned with the mission to inspire, challenge, succeed – every student, every heart, every mind.

 

 

Please tell us about your education philosophy and your leadership style. What can the Graded community expect?

As I have moved from the role of teacher to superintendent, the foundation of my philosophy has remained firm. I believe that relationships are the backbone of schools and are built on respect and the idea that every person adds value to the “whole”. Learning becomes inherent when individuals are appropriately challenged and a great teacher not only knows students deeply as learners–understanding their passions and needs– but takes this information to support and engage.

For schools to thrive and remain purposeful, educators must create a community of learners within the school and stretch that community to reach beyond the walls to the world. Joining Graded, as a leader, my role will be to understand the community, empower and learn from those around me and utilize every resource available to support the growth of all students, acting as a catalyst for change, when needed.

Building student relationships

What was your experience with ISS Leadership Search like?

The team at ISS was very supportive and always available to respond to questions throughout the process. They were very knowledgeable about the school and the community it serves.

Creating a safe and welcoming community

What is an interesting fact or story about you that you would like to share?

I got my first teaching job overseas by being in the right place at the right time (truly fate) and, in IB terms, being a risk taker. One day in the late summer, while crossing the street, an individual in a car stopped at the red light, honked their horn and said: “Jane, get in the car.” The driver of the car was the placement director at Queen’s University. The American Overseas School of Rome in Italy was looking for a math and science teacher to begin the new school year in a week’s time.

I spent the afternoon interviewing for the role, drove home to see my parents and seven days later packed two suitcases, flew to Rome and started what was to become a more than 30 year career in international education.

Our thanks to Jane for sharing these thoughtful reflections. We are excited to see her step into her new role at Graded, and know Jane’s dedication to fostering meaningful relationships and supporting students’ growth as a leader will thrive alongside Graded’s mission. Best of luck in this exciting new chapter!

If you’re interested in pursuing a school leadership position, please check out our current leadership searches or get in touch with the ISS Leadership Search Team.

Jane and family