New ISS Director of Administrative Searches Announced
Nadine Richards will join ISS in June 2022.
PRINCETON NJ, USA (January 25, 2022) – International Schools Services (ISS) announced that Nadine Richards will assume the role of ISS Director of Administrative Searches in June 2022.
Nadine Richards brings an impressive professional background to this critical role. She has a strong understanding of the dynamics of international education, business, and recruitment. She has served as a legal advocate, teacher, dean, principal, and CEO in the USA and UAE. During her time in Dubai, she was principal at the American School of Dubai and Head of School at Al Maaref Private School. In the USA, she held leadership roles in the New York K-12 school system.
“We are absolutely delighted to have Nadine join ISS,” says Beth Pfannl, Vice President of Global Recruitment. “Last year, the ISS team conducted more administrative searches than any time in history with a growing focus on inclusion, candidate competencies, and holistic review. Nadine will help us continue our mission to develop strong pipelines and successful placements for international schools. She will be an important champion and leader, partnering with me, our Director of Global Recruitment Pauline O’Brien, and our team around the world.”
Nadine Richards is currently the Assistant Head of School for Institutional Strategy at Park Country School in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, a K-12 independent school. She also devotes time to her private consultant company, Nadine Inspires. As President and Lead Consultant, Ms. Richards partners with educational institutions to improve performance and obtain accreditation for new school start-ups. She conducts program evaluations, develops school-wide academic plans, and facilitates professional development seminars for faculty and staff.
Ms. Richards currently is pursuing her Doctor of Education in Education Policy Leadership at Hofstra University in New York. Her dissertation focuses on inequalities in the superintendency (HOS) pipeline and solutions to make it more inclusive to women and BIPOC aspiring leaders. Ms. Richards will reside in Atlanta, Georgia, USA to be close to her mother and extended family, while honoring the memory of her son (1993-2021).
Nadine Richards shared her reflections on her new role: “The Director of Administrative Searches’ role is intriguing to me because of its innovativeness, creativity, and its commitment to both institutional and client growth. Simon Sinek said, ‘when people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.’ I have had the pleasure to work with various members and departments within the International Schools Services (ISS) team. What attracts me most to ISS is that it is an organization whose multidimensional service synergies make its mission, ‘develop students into thoughtful, imaginative global leaders,’ possible. The Director of Administrative Searches’ role continues that effort. It allows me to work collaboratively with schools, candidates, and boards to put in place sustainable plans that promote leadership development, diverse recruitment, inclusive hiring practices, and equity-based transition plans for onboarding and retention sustainability.”
The ISS Administrative Search team has conducted more than 1,000 leadership searches across 6 continents and is focused on creating positive, productive collaborations between schools and leaders. The multidisciplinary team of former heads of school and industry recruitment professionals enables the team to create effective, efficient and successful leadership searches for all involved, anchored in intercultural competency, deep understanding of international schools today, a commitment to diversity, and an emphasis on professional outcomes.
About International Schools Services (ISS)
As a nonprofit organization, International Schools Services (ISS) works with more than 800 international schools and tens of thousands of educators each year across its suite of services, creating the largest global footprint in international education support. Since its inception in 1955, ISS has promoted innovative best practices for global education. Core services include starting and operating student-centered, future-oriented schools; recruiting world-class educators and leaders; providing cutting-edge professional learning opportunities; sourcing essential school supplies; administering school foundations; and encouraging more diverse leadership in international schools. With offices in Princeton, NJ USA and Shenzhen, China and staff located across the globe, ISS invites all to join in making a world of difference. For more information, see iss.edu.