In October, during budget deliberations, the Board of Directors approved the administration’s request for an additional associate principal in the lower school. That division has grown by nearly one hundred students in recent years, and additional support was needed. Mr. Rick Rabon has served with distinction in the role of associate principal in the lower school for more than 9 years. With our new record high number of students in KA-Grade 5, it was time to provide additional administrative support, and TAS has been searching for the right person internationally and within the United States to support the critical work done in the lower school division.
At the November 12, 2013 board meeting, the Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the superintendent to appoint Ms. Rebekah Klar as the second lower school associate principal. Ms. Klar has served as Principal at Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S. since 2007; her division educates students grades K–4. Also, she has taught in Nara, Japan and Madrid, Spain. She is described by her peers and her head of school as someone who leads with passion, stamina, courage, compassion and a sense of humor. Students feel comfortable coming to her for advice and know that she cares about them; faculty know that she is committed to her work and is calm and fair. They recognize that the work she does results in a positive work environment.
Ms. Klar plays an instrumental role in curriculum development. As principal, she implemented new programs in foreign language, reading, and mathematics and served on various school committees, including the Curriculum Committee and Admissions Committee. Prior to her role as Primary School Director, or Principal, Ms. Klar served as the Dean of Students, Sixth Grade Team Leader, Middle School Advisor, a sixth grade language arts teacher, and a fourth grade homeroom teacher. While serving as Academic Dean, she worked closely with parents regarding student academic and behavioral progress. From this experience, she came to fully recognize the importance of the parent-school partnership. She is firm in her belief that parents need both to be heard and feel valued and to understand the culture and mission of the school. She sees technology as a tool that offers powerful ways to infuse the curriculum with global perspectives.
Born and educated in England, Becky received her Bachelor of Arts with honors in Business Economics and Organizational Studies from the University of Reading and her Masters of Arts in Education from the University School Teacher Apprentice Program at Ursuline College.
Ms. Klar brings professionalism, passion for working with children, expertise in curriculum design, and ten years of administrative experience to TAS. She loves to run, practice yoga, and read. Her husband is the global sales manager for an internet-based company. They have two sons, 6 and 8 years old, who will join TAS.
This is an exciting time of change and opportunity for the lower school. We are delighted that an experienced educational administrator of Ms. Klar’s accomplishments, experience, and background has agreed to join the administrative team at Taipei American School. She will work side by side with Mr. Rabon and with our new principal, Tara Simeonides, to assure that the lower school continues to provide the depth and strength needed to support TAS students for years to come.