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Appointed - Mr. Sam Whitney
Jun 16, 2025
Jul 28, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the Xiamen International School in Xiamen, China, I am pleased to announce that Mr. Sam Whitney has been selected to serve as the new Elementary Principal starting in August 2026.
Mr. Whitney is currently serving as the Elementary School Principal at the Pan American School of Bahia in Salvador, Brazil. Prior to this, Mr. Whitney served as the Early Childhood Education/Elementary School Vice-Principal and PYP Coordinator at the Pan American School of Bahia in Salvador, Brazil. His teaching experiences before moving into leadership include serving as a Second Grade Homeroom Teacher and Team Leader at the Pan American School of Bahia in Salvador, Brazil, Elementary School Department Head and Second Grade Homeroom Teacher at the American School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Second-Grade Homeroom Teacher at Singapore International School in Hanoi, Vietnam, EBD Learning Support and Preschool Teacher in Seattle, USA, and ESL Teacher in South Korea and Thailand.
Mr. Whitney holds a Bachelor in Spanish Language and Literature from Western Washington University, a Master in Elementary Education from Antioch University Graduate School of Education, and a Post-Master Principal Certification in Educational Leadership from Eastern Washington University. Moreover, Mr. Whitney holds a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, AAIE International Educational Leadership Certification, and Washington State Principal Certification.
The XIS Search Committee selected Mr. Whitney from a very strong pool of candidates based on his PYP leadership and teaching experience. Ms. Inna Klein, XIS Head of School, shared the following about Mr. Whitney’s appointment:
“Sam demonstrated a profound passion for education, articulating his commitment to fostering learning and development in diverse environments. He expressed a genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity to join XIS, highlighting his eagerness to contribute positively to our collective mission. His dedication to educational excellence and collaborative spirit promise to enrich XIS and inspire those around him”.
Mr. Whitney is very happy to be joining XIS. In response to his appointment as the new XIS Elementary Principal, Mr. Whitney shared the following:
“I'm thrilled to be appointed as the next Elementary School Principal at Xiamen International School. Throughout this process, I've been deeply impressed by the XIS team, which is a close-knit community with outstanding leadership. The school's dedication to inspiring confident, knowledgeable, and internationally-minded students perfectly aligns with my educational philosophy. I'm excited to contribute to this caring and student-centered learning environment and to work alongside everyone in the XIS community. A big thank you to the Search Associates team, Lana Al-Aghbar, Tim Stuart, and Nick Kendell for their support and insight throughout this journey”.
Search Associates extends appreciation and gratitude to the XIS Search Committee for their effective partnership and support during the Elementary Principal search process. Search Associates would also like to take this opportunity to extend thanks to all the candidates who applied for this position.
Search Associates wishes XIS and Mr. Whitney all the best as they embark on this new partnership.
Sincerely,
Lana
Application deadline extended to 28 July 2025
Please click here for full position details and application instructions.
