I have wanted to make this announcement for a very long time, but now that I am actually writing this post, I find myself a bit saddened by the news that has had me so excited for the last few days. Let me get the sweet stuff out on the table, so I can explain why the long face. I am very pleased to announce that I have been offered and have accepted a new post at the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore for the academic school year 2012/2013.

My family and I are beyond excited by opportunity to work at such a first rate school with what we have already begun to call the DreamTeam. Furthermore, moving to a dynamic and cosmopolitan city like Singapore will be an amazing experience for my wife and I, as well as our kids.  As you can see, the sweet stuff is just that: Amazing.

The hard part is leaving Sinarmas World Academy, our amazing director and friend John McBryde, and what I have affectionately been calling “My Baby” e-Hub. I say my baby, but what we have built here in such a short time has been a massive team effort. After hours of meeting, planning, and discussing, we are at the starting point of a dream project. I cannot imagine an administration that would be more supportive than John, at times we have had to tell him to slow down. It feels weird to instigate and inspire such a massive project and leave before it is on its feet, but sometimes opportunities arise that we cannot pass up.

I have written at length about what we are doing here, and will continue to document our work, but in short, we are trying to build an authentic community of learners through the use of K-12 WordPress blogs, Google Apps and teacher development that focuses on building understanding before skills training. The purpose of this post is to invite members of my network and beyond to contact me if you are interested in joining the SWA team to carry this project forward. We are looking for blogging teachers with WordPress and Google Apps experience who can fill a collaborative role with teachers to authentically embed technology into the classroom experience for all students by supporting the implementation and integration of information technology and 21st Century Literacy Skills throughout the SWA/JWA community. He/she will plan and co-teach with subject teachers, bring new and innovative ideas into the classroom. Together, they will learn new ways to meet the needs of all students, and explore the possibilities to connect, communicate and create on a global scale. He/she will provide regular professional development opportunities for teachers and administration, as well as assist students and parents to ensure that the integration and use of technology reflects current best practices that are in line with the mission and educational philosophy of the school.

I will be more than happy to speak with you in person about the school, this project and life in Jakarta. It feels strange to recommend a school so highly when you are leaving, but this really has been an amazing opportunity for me as a professional, and I know that it can be for others as well. If you are an IT coach/facilitator looking for a place to push the envelope, try new things, and put your money where your mouth is, you will not find a more innovate and supportive environment that SWA. The administration is excited, the staff is inspired and things are happening. I am proud of the work we have done here, and I want to make sure that it continues when I am gone. Send me an email and let’s talk.