The PTC Offers New Online Course: Leading Recruitment in International Schools

The Principals' Training Center (PTC) is the sister organization of TIE and operates under the umbrella of the Overseas Schools Assistance Corporation (OSAC).

Recruiting and hiring in international schools is one of the most critical and complex responsibilities for school leaders. As the educational landscape evolves, traditional recruitment practices are no longer sufficient to meet the challenges leaders face today. In response, the Principals Training Center is pleased to offer a timely new course: Leading Recruitment in International Schools.

This four-week online course, offering a half credit toward the PTC certificate for International School Leadership, challenges outdated norms and introduces a refreshed, evidence-based approach to recruitment. Designed specifically for international school contexts, the course equips leaders with practical strategies to hire high-quality educators who align with school values and elevate student learning.

Course Overview

This course provides participants with tools to align hiring practices to the Standards of Practice for International Schools, strengthen equity in decision-making, and utilize authentic evidence to inform recruitment. Participants will explore how to move beyond traditional interviews and resumes to build a more holistic and effective hiring process.

Topics include:

• Using candidate-provided evidence to assess teaching quality
• Managing bias and ensuring equity in hiring
• Developing clear, standards-aligned documentation
• Writing and requesting standards-based reference letters
• Crafting interview questions that uncover actionable insights
• Establishing collaborative hiring teams and processes

Key Learning Outcomes and Skills

Participants will:

• Identify quality indicators in lesson videos, assessments, and student learning outcomes
• Develop a comprehensive recruitment plan aligned with best practices
• Enhance their ability to recognize and reduce bias in the hiring process
• Lead and facilitate inclusive recruitment teams
• Discern when in-person engagement is critical—and when it isn’t

Course Structure

The course features a blend of asynchronous and synchronous learning:

• 4 live sessions (Saturdays: September 27, October 4, 11, 18 | 7–9am EDT)
• 2–3 hours of independent work per week

This course is ideal for any school leader or human resource professional involved in recruiting or hiring. 

About the Facilitator

Stacy Stephens is the Director of The International Educator and brings nearly two decades of international leadership experience and a deep understanding of systems thinking, inclusive hiring, and evidence-based recruitment practices. Her work has focused on aligning hiring to standards of practice, reducing bias, and ensuring student-centered decision-making. Stacy has served in various school-wide leadership roles and brings both thought leadership and practical insight to this critical topic.