Continuing on from before the break, we are highlighting the achievements of all applicants for the 30th Anniversary -Profiles of WAB Alumni Award. Congratulations to each of our student applicants and we are so proud of their achievements.

This week, we will spotlight two employee applicants:

Ruth Yan - Elementary School Secretary Counseling Office 

Ruth's application was a detailed narrative across the domains of the Alumni Profile. She fosters an engaging and supportive atmosphere for students, encouraging curiosity and creativity through her incorporation of handicrafts into the school environment. She approaches challenges with a can-do mindset and strives to exceed expectations as she manages complex schedules and balances multiple responsibilities. She is an advocate for sustainable actions such as using recycled paper and promoting eco-friendly practices. 

Using her role for example, Ruth demonstrates how she is an effective communicator across languages and cultures with a wide range of stakeholders.  She believes that everyone has the potential to be an agent of change and sees the power in working together to create positive changes that foster strong relationships, collaboration, and progress towards shared goals. 

Ruth expressed, "Happy 30th Birthday, WAB! I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to apply for this award and for the valuable insights I gained from exploring the comprehensive profile domains throughout the process. My motivation for applying was to use the budget to further my studies and enhance my proficiency. Though I didn’t win, this will never diminish my resilience and determination to thrive where I am. Go WABbies!"

Sophie Li - High School Learning Leader, Chinese

Sophie demonstrates her strong commitment to growth and leadership in education through her development from an IB teacher to an IB examiner and workshop leader. She received the Outstanding Educator award from the University of Chicago in 2020 and has held a range of leadership positions at WAB. She is a future-ready innovator and has explored the role of Generative AI in education, piloting AI tools like School AI, Mizou, and Flint, and has shared her findings with peers and presented at conferences.  She has also led initiatives to boost students' confidence through language learning, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and spearheaded the establishment of WAB as an official HSK test center. 

She has promoted Chinese cultural awareness within the WAB community by organizing various cultural events and activities, supervising cultural clubs, and conducting cultural surveys. She has also engaged in global citizenship initiatives, such as the Model Climate Change Conference of Parties and supporting the Dandelion School for migrant children. Sophie shared examples of inclusive leadership through fostering a sense of belonging within her department and is a strong advocate for environmental sustainability in language education. She has transitioned to paperless teaching materials and encouraged peers to adopt sustainable practices.  

Sophie shared, "I have learned and grown significantly during my time at WAB. The Staff Award application process offered me a valuable opportunity to reflect on my past experiences and helped me better understand my future pathways as a learner and an educator."

In total, 27 applications were submitted for the Profiles of WAB Alumni Award. The remarkable stories and powerful evidence of the learning journeys of all applicants will be highlighted in this series.