What People Say About Ian

Ian as a PK - 5 Principal: Dr. Ian Russell is an inspirational educational leader.  He has a clear and compelling vision for improving student learning which he has woven throughout the fabric of our school.  He focuses on practices that best support learning, links these practices and theories to research and encourages on-going educational conversations about students and their learning.  During his tenure, he has created a community of professional learners who learn from each other, celebrate students and reflect on ways to make improvements to support student success. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Director of Student Services: Above all, Dr. Russell is a child advocate. He goes above and beyond to ensure school systems are equipped with the framework (MTSS), data, policies, procedures, staffing, and resources to meet all learners' needs and help them thrive. I feel fortunate to have worked with and learned from Dr. Russell over the years. He certainly is a lifelong learner and has grown in his knowledge and can adapt to new positions (for example, administrator to student services coordinator). You would be hard-pressed to find a leader who exemplifies the character and compassion that Dr. Russell demonstrates. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Head of Early Childhood: The primary focus for Dr. Russell has been to do what is best for children. He is well versed in child development and clearly understands the structures, curricula, schedules and practices that provide for excellent educational experiences for children. Over the time he has been here, he has been developing a communications plan to articulate clearly his knowledge and his vision to the  teachers who work under  his supervision  and  the  families whom  the  school serves. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Director of Student Services: Ian’s success in SAES goes far beyond his outstanding administrative abilities. Ian has always demonstrated a passion for students and learning that makes him a truly exceptional school leader.   Ian takes the time to build relationships with students, families and teachers that support a culture of inclusiveness and belonging. Ian also believes that all students can learn and demonstrates a commitment to helping everyone meet their maximum potential. This can be seen in his leadership implementing a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in SAES that began with his work as a building principal and continued at the district level after his transition. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as a PK - 5 Principal: Dr. Russell is a so l id administrator who is at the top of his game. He is incredibly well read and remains current in all facets of elementary school operation, instruction,  curriculum, and assessment. He sets clear and high standards for the members of his faculty and then positively coaches and monitors in order to ensure that the teachers are rising up to meet the standards. He expects constant growth from his faculty and provides teachers with a constant flow of opportunities in order to facilitate that happening. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Associate Director: Dr Russell's achievements  at Concordian International School (from a PYP Coordinator 's perspective)  included: co-coordinating the 1B PYP Self Study and subsequent  successful PYP Evaluation Visit, greatly enhancing communication systems within the school, design and implementation of  an outstanding  collaborative  planning  schedule,  a  marked  increase  in agreed school policy, an increase in general  transparency school-wide, improvement of staff moral and school development in general. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as PK-9 Principal: An overseas administrator has to have more than outstanding administrative talents. Their skills need to be intricately balanced to meet the wide range of administrative requirements unique to an international experience. The ability to adapt to the diverse cultures and social/political norms they encounter in overseas locations and the flexibility necessary to adapt to geographical and resource challenges, all while creating a strong educational community focused on the whole student, are hallmarks of a high performing school administrator. I am confident in stating that Ian Russell has successfully exhibited all of these traits, and more, in his capacity as a K3-9 principal and current role as the district Student Services Coordinator. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Director of Student Services: One question I have sometimes considered-if I were to start a school, who would I want there to lead it. Without a question, Dr. Russell is a leader who would be top on my list for leading a school. His focus on students, commitment to learning, ability to manage complex projects, and understanding of the core principles of effective leadership make him an exemplary leader and a valued colleague.  As Dr. Russell moved into the role of Student Services Coordinator, he maintain ed a balanced approach to data. His implementation of Alpine student data management system required all the skills of a complex project: clear initiation of the project, careful planning and mindful execution. But even as he supported this important project to help SAES become more data driven, he never lost sight of what the data represents -children who have a story to tell and a worth beyond the numbers the data represents. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Director of Student Services: In September of 2019, a series of drones caused a massive fire in the facility that is attached to the Abqaiq community. In the aftermath, Ian pulled a team of support personnel together and worked with our staff in restarting school and providing psychological, emotional and moral support to our staff, students and families. The plan and implementation could not have been more helpful, timely and effective. We were able to recover and provide support to those who needed it in order to ensure that children were supported through a very traumatic time.

When Covid impacted our school system, Ian helped all schools reframe the shift to distance learning as an opportunity. He created an inspiring video and was very proactive in reaching out to schools in helping to connect and support colleagues during a very frenetic and stressful time. I can honestly say that there were many positive outcomes that will improve our district, long-term, because of the work that Ian did in helping us harness our creativity and team together to rethink and reimagine how to support student learning and social-emotional health. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Director of Student Services: Throughout his tenure with SAES, Dr. Russell consistently demonstrated the administrative skills required to ensure effective leadership in a school setting with a diverse student population. While Dr. Russell possesses many attributes I truly respect in a school leader, perhaps two I most admire are his integrity and his ability to view challenges as opportunities. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Pk - Grade Nine Principal: I remember Ian always having a concise, short anecdote that he would share to ground conversations or decision making processes. One of my favorites was, “Know your impact.” But the one I remember him saying the most was actually a question, the most important question, “What’s best for students?” What was best for students was always what was best for Udhailiyah School when Ian was principal. (Read Full Reference) 

Ian as Director of Student Services: Ian has a view of a learner as a creative and competent individual.  He believes that all students, teachers, and leaders are, above all, learners.  We all can learn.  He believes success will be a result of harnessing the interest, energy, talent, and commitment of the learning organization.  He is not about titles, but about impact.  Therefore, he creates the landscape where we all are students, teachers, and leaders; because we all can make an impact. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Director of Student Services: Dr. Ian Russell has a remarkable ability to bring people together and lead them. He learns from mistakes and is one of the few leaders I have worked with that actively sought genuine feedback from those around him. It was a pleasure to work with Ian and I would relish the opportunity to work with him again. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as PK -9 Principal: Ian was responsible for was budget management and submissions. Ian was responsible for the management of an annual budget of approximately $9.2 million at Udhailiyah School.  This budget covered staff salaries ($7 million), purchase  and delivery of materials and supplies for the daily and annual operations of the school ($.6 million), and routine maintenance and major construction projects ($1.l million). Ian was also responsible for annual budget submissions with justification to the SAES Business Office which was used to build the annual operating plan.  Ineffective budget submissions would have meant insufficient funds for school consumables and lack of maintenance and renovation upgrades to Udhailiyah School. Fortunately, Ian was an effective budgetary planner and was able to appropriate requisite funds .  It  is important to  note that he also was a good steward of this process only asking for what was needed to run an effective school and to keep facilities modern and up to date. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Associate Director: Ian has a keen understanding of school  administration and  what it takes to  keep the  school  running smoothly. He is as supportive and understanding of teachers and what they need to make learning happen as he is of the custodians whose vital but often overlooked job it is to maintain a safe and clean learning environment. It is tricky to maintain a balance between the academic and non-academic areas of managing an educational institution - but Ian manages to do so through empathy, hard work and a terrific sense of humor. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as VP Early Childhood: I can easily say that he is an exceptional administrator. His organizational skills to anticipate the needs  of  the  school including planning, setting priorities, monitoring completion, and evaluating success are very sophisticated for such a new administrator.  (Read Full Reference)

Ian as VP Early Childhood: I have been able to observe Ian as a conscientious and caring teacher and administrat.or during his time here at Shanghai American School. His enthusiasm  for working  with students and teachers  is infectious  and he is already a leading light within the school community's large group of administrators. At the same time there is an understanding  by those who know him that Ian works from a strong educational  philosophy. He is highly respected for his input and insights into school organizational matters which range from classroom programs, teacher evaluation procedures, and student management  plans to security and safety matters and the best use of space in new building projects. (Read Full Reference)

Ian as Whole School Principal: In terms of program and pedagogy, Ian is extremely well versed in best practice as well as PYP, MYP and IB Diploma practice and theory. Having been a successful elementary teacher himself, he is able to empathize with teachers, parents and students as to the best learning environment for children. He knows curriculum inside and out and can work with both teachers and parents very effectively in delivering a quality program. He is a great facilitator and works very well with teachers both individually and in small groups. (Read Full Reference)

He is thoughtful and patient in the stressful situations that come with the job. He has very good interpersonal skills. His commitment and passion for quality education are obvious to anyone who talks to him for even a short time. He has successful experience supervising and evaluating staff in a quality school. As demonstrated by his flexibility during an economic crisis during my first year in Shanghai, Ian looks for solutions not problems. Ian has extensive experience working on school-wide projects and with the board.  (Read Full Reference) 

The quality I respect most about Ian is how he holds the welfare of the children his focus, first and foremost. He impacts all meeting s we attend, not just because of his wealth of knowledge about current education trends or curriculum and instruction, but because of his ability to articulate his thoughts clearly and prudently to children, parents, faculty and administration. He provides not just effective, efficient administrative management, but leadership with integrity. (Read Full Reference)