School Founder, Edward B. Adams
Edward B. Adams, educator, author, and authority on Korean history and culture, founded Seoul International School in 1973. He had a dream of founding an international School independent of government and religious sponsorship and affiliation. He served as a teacher and principal for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools for over thirteen years in Taiwan, Japan and Korea after receiving his Master’s Degree in School Administration from Eastern Washington University.
His reputation as an author of Korean history, culture and children’s books reached the attention of the Presidential Blue House and in 1973 the Ministry of Education granted him a permit to establish an independent international School. This was the first Ministry of Education permit granted to a school not affiliated with government, diplomatic, or religious organizations.
Mr. Adams Continues his contribution to the school developments even today as the Founder of the School. Under his direction the SIS School Board was established in 2019, and he oversees the school's advancements and operations through the Board and the Leadership Team.
School Board
Seoul International School operates with a governing School Board in place. The functions of the Board include oversight of school programs and facilities, strategic planning, and ensuring the continued viability of the school.
The SIS School Board is comprised of 9 voting members:
- five current parents,
- the Head of School,
- the Business Manager,
- and two other members, appointed by the Founder of the school.
In addition, there is one non-voting member who serves on the Board in an auditing capacity.
May 28, 2023
Dear Parents,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to inform you of a recent, successful transition at Seoul International School. As of the elections on May 16, 2023, there has been a change in our Board of Directors. We would like to take this opportunity to provide you with information regarding this change.
Firstly, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the SIS Parent Association (PAR) for their invaluable assistance throughout the board application, review, and election process. They oversaw the applications, managed the interviews, and facilitated the election of candidates from a highly qualified pool of applicants. We extend our sincere thanks to our PAR for their essential work on behalf of parents.
We would also like to acknowledge and commend the outgoing Board of Directors for their tremendous contributions during the 2020-2023 academic years. Their diligence, unwavering effort, and visionary leadership significantly contributed to the positive changes we have witnessed at our school, particularly during these challenging times. We were fortunate for their remarkable work in navigating the complexities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and for their crucial role in maintaining our school's strong history of excellence during the pandemic.
A special recognition goes to the outgoing Board Chairperson, Ms. Kim Seung Hyun (Sonia), for her exceptional leadership, effective organization, and unwavering commitment to fostering our strong sense of community. Her guidance and vision played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our school's successful journey. As we bid farewell to the outgoing Board, we wish them success in their future endeavors and would like to acknowledge and celebrate the excellent decisions they have made and their unwavering commitment and strong advocacy on behalf of parents to the success of Seoul International School.
With gratitude and appreciation, we recognize the following individuals:
SIS 2020-2023 Board of Directors
- Kim, Seung Hyun - Board Chairperson
- Hwang, Seong Taik
- Lee, Hye Jung
- Christensen, Matthew
- Kim, Sang Won
- Gerhard, Jim - Head of School
- Chi, Young Ok - Business Manager
- Baek, Chun Ki
- Lee, Kyung Mook
- Lee, Ji Young (Auditor)
On behalf of Seoul International School, it is also with great pleasure that we now welcome our newly appointed Board of Directors. These dedicated individuals are entrusted with the responsibility of charting the course for SIS as we embark on the next fifty years of Excellence in Global Education. We are immensely grateful to them for committing their time, talent, and resources to shaping the future of our school.
We are confident that the new Board will bring their perspectives, ideas, and expertise to the table, ensuring another positive and focused approach towards the future success of SIS. Over the coming months, the Board will work closely with the Head of School and Busines Manager to implement changes that will enhance the overall capacity of the Board and further strengthen the school. We will keep you informed about these developments and share updates with you.
Our New SIS Board of Directors 2023-2024
- Christensen, Matthew - Board Chairperson
- Lee, Yoon Seon
- Park, Jonathan
- Lee, WooSung
- Kim, Han Joon
- Gerhard, Jim - Head of School
- Chi, Young Ok - Business Manager
- Baek Chun Ki
- Lee, Jaewon
- Choi, Jihye Audrey (Auditor)
Once again, we express our deepest appreciation to the outgoing Board of Directors for their outstanding service, and we extend a warm welcome to the incoming Board. Together, we will continue to foster an environment where students thrive intellectually while developing exceptional character and talents, enabling them to achieve their full potential. We thank you for your ongoing support and trust in our school, faculty, and staff.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gerhard