Middle School Management

MIDDLE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT

Greg Heaney, Head of Middle School

My name is Greg Heaney, I am an Australian and this is my fifth year with CIA FIRST. For the last three years, I was fortunate enough to manage the talented and dedicated teachers of our Middle and High School Physical Science department. Before coming to Cambodia, I worked in International Schools in China for 10 years.

Working for CIA FIRST has been the highlight of my teaching career, we have something truly special here that I have not seen anywhere else and I am very proud to be a part of it. The level of engagement of our students and their ability to think critically and independently is something to be truly proud of.

While I was teaching, I was a big proponent of the Constructivist method. I believe the best and most meaningful way for students to learn something is by doing it. This fits perfectly into the teaching philosophy here at CIA FIRST in providing students with meaningful transfer goals with real world applications as a fundamental part of our assessment process.

As Middle School principal, I see my role as helping these adolescent students through what is a difficult time in their lives as they grow and develop into young adults. That period of their lives has been thrown into even more uncertainty and stress given the current situation we are faced concerning Covid-19, studying online and prolonged isolation.

It is my sincere wish that we guide these students through this difficult time instilling in them the mindset that they are not victims of these circumstances, but that they are victors. I want to encourage perseverance and resourcefulness and give them a sense of pride and achievement, that during these difficult times they were able to answer the challenge presented to them, adapt and overcome. So in years from now they will not look back on these days with dread, but with pride of what they were able to achieve during what will be a period long remembered in history.

Joyce Ira Yarza, Dep. Head of Middle School

As Albert Einstein once said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” With my current role as the Deputy Head of Middle School, I am bringing with me my 14 years of experience as a teacher to better serve and understand the growing community of our middle school students. Adolescence is a time where students look for more encouragement, seeks acceptance and recognition for everything they do, a period of transition for personal growth and development, and a time where hopes can easily be crushed with one wrong decision-making.

With all the changes that could possibly happen, I would like to be the students’ comfort-zone whenever they need assistance. I am there to listen when they have questions while giving them the full autonomy to find solutions to their problems. I will help them become independent and responsible until they become successful. I will allow them to express themselves while understanding the consequences that may happen if their expectations are not met. I will treat them equally with respect so they could mirror it in everything they do. The strength of our students relies on the relationship we build with them and together they will realize how they can improve themselves.

Putting students at the center, I envision CIA FIRST students to enjoy learning through different engaging activities. When students understand their strengths and weaknesses, they will be able to set realistic goals that foster self-directed learning based on their interest and readiness. Through providing a safe and nurturing environment, students feel the support and take risks when learning. They will continue to explore the world around them and will respond to feedback that motivates to achieve success.