摘要：十六年来，她与中芯学校共同成长，见证学校的蜕变，也参与并推动着学校的创新与进步。从国际部课程体系的完善，到教育理念的革新，再到学生创新能力的培养，Dani Ma'u女士始终致力于将中芯学校国际部打造成为一所充满活力、面向未来的国际学校，为孩子们提供优质的教育资
导语
2008年-2024年。十六载岁月，记录了一段关乎发掘教育之光、追逐梦想之航的旅程。
2000年，Dani Ma'u女士怀揣着对孩子的喜爱以及对国际教育事业的热爱，来到中国，开始了她与国际教育的缘分。
2008年，她从中国台湾来到上海，以学习者的姿态加入了上海市民办中芯学校（Shanghai SMIC Private School）。
十六年来，她与中芯学校共同成长，见证学校的蜕变，也参与并推动着学校的创新与进步。从国际部课程体系的完善，到教育理念的革新，再到学生创新能力的培养，Dani Ma'u女士始终致力于将中芯学校国际部打造成为一所充满活力、面向未来的国际学校，为孩子们提供优质的教育资源和广阔的成长空间。
在2024、25双年交替之际，Dani Ma'u女士将迎来她与中芯学校携手的第十七年，这段美好而浪漫的故事也随之开启新的篇章。此次京领访谈上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长Dani Ma'u女士，让我们共同聆听这位对国际教育事业抱有极大热忱的专家，讲述她与中芯学校的故事。
学校名片
上海市民办中芯学校（Shanghai SMIC Private School）坐落于被誉为“中国硅谷”的上海浦东张江科学城，由中芯国际集成电路制造有限公司于2001年创办，是一所集幼儿园、小学、中学十五年一贯制的民办学校。2016年，学校英文部通过了WASC认证。2018年，英文部成为东亚地区学校联合会（EARCOS）成员。2021年，英文部更名为国际部，纳入了上海市外籍人员子女学校的管理。
学校占地面积120亩，环境人文优美，精致幽雅。校园建筑面积达3万多平方米。现代化的计算机房、语音室、图书馆、多媒体中心、人工智能教室、理化生物实验室，设施齐全。学校还建造了健身房、室内篮球馆、羽毛球馆、排球场、网球场及400米塑胶跑道和铺设草坪的标准足球场。完善的场地和现代化的设施，为中外师生提供了良好的教学环境。
学校已经形成了系统、科学的十五年连贯性课程体系，既体现出国家课程的特色，又体现出国际课程的融合与多样。丰富的课程满足了不同学部学生的发展需求，深得教育专业人士的认可。学校注重学生动手能力与创新精神的培养，关注学生学习过程与综合素养的全面发展。
校长名片
Dani Ma'u
上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长
Dani Ma'u女士来自美国，拥有言语沟通学的学士学位、纽约州立大学的教育学硕士学位。自2000年以来Dani Ma'u女士一直在中国从事教育工作。2008年，她从中国台湾来到上海市民办中芯学校。
她有K12教育行政管理的专业证书，无论是在课程规划还是校园管理方面，她都充满了无限热情。
她与中芯家庭价值观有强烈共鸣，她说：“我有三个了不起的孩子和一个优秀的丈夫。我的孩子们在中芯学校长大，这让我更加热衷于看到我们学校在通往辉煌的道路上持续前行。”
Part.01
始于2000年的学习之旅：
与“教育”结缘
以2000年作为出发点，Dani Ma'u女士开始了她在国际教育领域的深耕之旅。这段旅程不仅是对个人成长的一次探索，更是对教育理念和实践的一次深刻领悟。从美国到中国台湾，再到中国大陆，每一次地域的变迁，每一次文化的碰撞，都为她对教育的理解增添了浓墨重彩的一笔。
京领：您有非常丰富的个人经历。您是如何与国际教育结缘的？您能和我们分享一些关于国际教育的见解吗？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：大学毕业后，我在一家儿童之家工作了两年。在美国，儿童之家是为那些遭受虐待或忽视的儿童提供庇护和帮助的场所。我之所以在那里工作了两年，是因为我内心深处一直渴望帮助和支持这些孩子。正是这段经历，让我对教育事业的热情愈发高涨。当时，我的一位朋友正在海外工作，她向我介绍了国际教育领域的工作机会。我意识到，这正是我想要投身的事业。就这样，我开启了海外教育的旅程。
我先从美国来到了中国台湾，在不同的教育环境中工作，包括大学和高中。在中国台湾的8年时间里，我积累了丰富的教学经验。之后，我和我的丈夫决定来中国大陆发展。机缘巧合之下，我加入了上海市民办中芯学校。从2008年至今，我一直在这里工作，并深深爱上了中国这片充满活力的土地，以及国际教育所带来的独特体验。每个国家都有其独特的教育风格和特色。我很喜欢成为中芯学校的一员，它是一个充满关爱和激情的学校，这里的每一位学生和家庭都积极参与其中，共同营造了一个充满活力的学习环境。我非常珍惜中芯学校为我的职业和家庭带来的宝贵经历。我的孩子们在这样的环境中成长，他们获得了许多宝贵的机会和人生观，这些都是他们在其他地方无法获得的。
京领：您个人的教育理念是什么？在您的职业生涯中，是如何逐步完善和形成这一理念的？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：我一直认为，在任何社会中，学校教育有时会像一个大企业，因为它影响着众多人。这可能会让人感觉缺乏个人关怀，好像我只关注整个班级或团体，但实际上，教育对每个学生来说都是一段非常个人化的旅程。
我认为，我们将教育视为关乎个体的过程，以及我们如何与每个个体建立联系，这一点非常重要。这是我始终坚信的，并且随着孩子们的成长，这一理念在我自己的哲学中变得更加坚定。对我来说，这至关重要。
学校之间存在竞争，它们会谈论自己的前十名学生，并将焦点放在他们身上，而其他学生则似乎不那么重要。但事实上，我们需要给予每个学生成功的机会。不仅仅是前十名，不仅仅是中等生，而是每一个学生。我们的团队经常讨论的是，我们如何帮助每一个学生成长。他们最终可能达到不同的位置，这是正常的，但我们讨论的是如何推动每个学生，让他们每年都能作为学习者有所成长和进步。
我还意识到，孩子们会在不同时刻迎来那种“灵光一闪”的时刻。到他们上一年级的时候，有些学生能够流畅阅读了，但有些学生还在苦苦挣扎，因为他们就是还没准备好。这没关系，因为我们培养学习者，不只是要让他们成为学业成绩优异的人，还要让他们对学习充满热情、满怀期待。不管点亮这盏“灵感之灯”花费时间长还是短，至少他们已经做好了准备。
教育的旅程不应只关注孩子们取得了多大的成就，或者他们得了多少分，而应该更多地关注他们是否爱上了学习。这样，当他们上大学时，他们能够因为对学习的热情而取得成功。他们的教育旅程不应该仅仅与分数挂钩，而应该与对学习的热情和渴望相结合。如果他们需要更多的时间，需要额外的帮助，那都没有问题。他们已经准备好这样做，因为他们已然对学习充满了热情。
因此，我认为我最看重的是给每一位学习者成功的机会，把学习当作一段个人的旅程，而非仅仅是集体的旅程，而是真正与每一位学生建立良好关系，了解他们所处的水平，看看我们如何推动他们成长并取得成功。
京领：您自2008年起开始了在中芯学校的学习之旅。您如何理解学校的使命和愿景？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：上海市民办中芯学校的使命和愿景深深吸引着我。我们的愿景是帮助学生成为自律的世界公民，拥有独立思考的能力，并致力于服务社会。我们将学生视为一个个完整的个体，不仅仅追求优异的学业成绩，更注重他们的全面发展。我们的社区非常重视教育，家长对孩子的未来抱有很高的期望。我们认为，教育不仅仅是死记硬背，更重要的是将知识运用到实践中。
未来社会需要的正是这种能力。学生不必知道所有信息，但必须能够运用所学知识，独立做出关键性的决定，并进行创新。这是一种不同于单纯努力学习、死记硬背的技能，它需要学生走出舒适区，勇于尝试新事物，并承担风险。中芯学校的愿景正是帮助学生培养这种能力，塑造他们的品格，让他们做出正确的选择，并将其付诸行动。
上海市民办中芯学校的使命也体现了对社区的重视。我们认为，通过与社区紧密合作，以协作的方式培养学生的品格和能力，才能更好地实现我们的愿景。中芯学校的教育理念是在热爱中国、尊重和践行中国价值观的同时，融合美式课程，为学生提供丰富的知识和经验，帮助他们成长为具有国际视野的公民。
京领：这些年来，您见证了中芯学校的许多变化。在您心目中，学校发展中最值得骄傲的是什么？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：我非常喜欢中芯学校的一点，是我们始终秉持的态度：永不止步。这并非消极态度，而是一种非常积极的特质。
自从我来到这里的第一年，我们一直在探索是什么让学校成功，以及是什么让教育成功。作为一名教育工作者，我享受着每年都能学到新东西的感觉。作为学校，我们不断尝试不同的举措，无论是从零开始构建课程并进行修订，还是采用我们正在使用的标准，以及探寻怎样的教学质量最佳、用什么方式教导学生最有效。每年我们都会审视这些方面，每年我们都会设定新的目标，实施或尝试新事物。我想，最让我感到骄傲的是，看到我们每年都有所行动，而且以成功的方式实施了一些举措。
这对我们来说很有趣，因为我们总是渴望成长和学习。对学生来说也很有趣，因为每年他们都获得了更好的体验，学习新知识或以新的方式学习，或者在课堂上尝试新事物。这一点我真的很享受。
我们的学校始终秉持全面发展的观点，我们不仅仅是在培养高分的学生，而是在培养具有品格的人，他们拥有坚实的社会和情感基础，这样才能成功。这些年来，这一部分变得更加重要，我感觉我们在追求好成绩的同时，也在帮助学生建立良好品格的基础，达到了健康的平衡。你可以在我们的课程设置和日常安排中看到这一点，这些不仅仅是说说而已，而是我们作为核心的一部分。所以，看到我们的一部分成长并变得更加强大，让我感到非常自豪。
京领：在您看来，是什么让中芯学校成为一所独特的学校？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：中芯学校的独特之处在于我们的品格培养和严谨的教学态度。同时，我们的社区文化也极为重要。
许多人在这里已经扎根多年。我自己从2008年就开始在这里工作。作为一名外籍人士，在国际学校中能长期任职并不常见。通常，国际学校的教职工留存率不会很高，这并非因为大家不开心，而是因为愿意长期留在国外的人并不多。然而，如果你来看看我们学校，你会发现，在过去的几年里，我们的教职工保留率高达93%，这是一个相当高的数字。
教职工的长期留任，对我们学校来说意义重大。他们之所以选择留下，是因为他们热爱这所学校，认同我们的愿景和使命，他们喜爱我们的学生，享受作为社区一员的感觉。
从大学录取情况来看，我们开展的各项项目卓有成效。这是衡量我校成功与否的最重要指标，而且每年都在改善。去年，28%的学生被世界排名前十的学校录取，前年这一比例为18%。去年，62%的学生被世界排名前二十的学校录取。我们看到这一数据逐年上升，显现出我们不断提升的教学质量。
Part.02
创新人才培养实践：
如何培育具有创新竞争力的人才？
在探讨创新与竞争力的关系时，我们不禁思考，究竟是什么力量推动着一个人、一个团队乃至一个学校不断向前发展？
创新，无疑是这个时代最宝贵的品质之一。它不仅仅是一种技能，更是一种思维方式和生活态度。
通过Dani Ma'u女士的经验分享，我们将一起走进她的教育世界，揭开创新型人才培养的奥秘，并探索如何在校园环境中孕育创新的种子。
京领：在您看来，什么样的人才是创新型人才？您认为创新型人才需要具备哪些条件？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：我认为创新或者创新型人才，本质上是一种态度。它意味着展望未来，看到当下或许不存在，但有可能实现的事物，具备这样的远见卓识。我觉得，创新型人才是那些有能力承担风险，或者有意愿冒险去尝试新事物的人，无论结果是否成功。创新型人才有不断学习的渴望，他们会研究并关注他人在做什么，以及外界正在发生什么。
我认为我们的校董就具备这种品质。她非常具有前瞻性思维，善于观察周围的情况。她经常走访其他学校，时刻关注社区动态，了解正在发生的事情。她真的有很多关于“让我们尝试这个”“让我们思考那个”或“让我们朝着那个目标努力”的想法，这些对我们保持创新性思维非常有帮助，能与具备这种品质的人共事真的很愉快。 我们许多老师也在激励学生去创新，去学习和去尝试。
我真心认为这是一种态度，能够观察和了解正在发生的事情，思考未来可能会发生什么，并拥有迈出去承担风险的渴望。
京领: 您认为学校应该如何培养创新型人才？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：我们经常思考以下的问题：我们还能做得更好吗？有哪些方面我们可以尝试改进？如果一个学校持有这样的理念和态度，那就意味着我们永远不会自满。这并不是一件坏事。这意味着我们始终相信，总有可以提升和尝试的空间。或许某些方面已经很不错了，但我们还能如何使其更加出色？也许某些成就已经很卓越了，但我们又该如何使其变得令人惊叹？我们能做些什么来提高标准和质量？在学生和社区的教育旅程中，我们将带来哪些新的变化？这是一种永不满足的态度，一种持续成长和进步的渴望。拥有这种渴望，你就会不断探索新的可能性和外面的世界。
我特别欣赏中芯学校的一点是，这里的文化总是围绕着“我们能尝试什么？我们能做什么？”这样的问题。拥有这种探索精神，就会激励我们去尝试新鲜事物。因此，我们会定期审视我们的课程，不断问自己：这些课程是否达到了我们的预期？这是否是最优的课程设置？这是一个持续的过程，我们不断地反思和探究，以确保我们采用的是最佳实践。
学校的职业发展也很关键，因为这让教师们明白，学校期望每一位员工都保持学习的状态，都能掌握新的知识。拥有这样的理念，意味着学校可以吸引专业人士，他们可以带来新的视角，帮助我们学习，让我们的工作更加出色，或者鼓励我们去探索不同的领域。
我们秉持“人人皆为学习者，大家共同成长”的理念，这实际上蕴含着我们对培育创新的追求。我们希望推陈出新，作为教育工作者勇于冒险，营造一个彼此支持的环境。这确实有助于吸引新人才、催生新想法。
京领：创新方法是学校办学22年成功的关键。学校目前有哪些创新方面？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：中芯学校始终致力于探索新知，开拓创新。在此，我想特别提一下我观察到的一些孩子身上的变化。这一切，都离不开我们优秀教师的悉心引导，是他们激发了学生内在的潜能。我们的使命和愿景之一，就是培育能够独立思考的世界公民，让他们深入思考如何为所在的社区贡献力量。
我对我们的学生感到无比自豪。看看那些即将毕业的高中生，他们在这里度过了多年的学习时光，当他们走出校门时，你所见到的不仅仅是他们的成就，还有他们与老师共同完成的项目。就在前几天，一群对商业和金融充满热情的学生找到我，他们计划为高中低年级的学生开展一个项目，教授金融知识并进行实际模拟活动。这样的经历，将帮助他们在步入社会后，更好地理解金融事务的价值，并学会提前规划。他们设计的模拟活动非常吸引人，每一个细节都考虑得非常周到，做了大量研究，然后通过将这些知识传授给其他同学来服务社区。
今年，还有一位与我们的设计老师合作的女生，她致力于让我们的社区变得更加环保。她亲手制作了一个太阳能充电站，如今就安置在户外。学生们可以在那里休息、交流的同时，为手机充电。这个创意不禁令人赞叹，因为她不仅有这样的想法，还能与老师合作，在老师的指导下完成，同时还能服务社区。这再次体现了学校的个性化教育，通过与学生的深入合作，激发他们的创造力和创新精神。
我鼓励我们的学生成为具有全球视野的公民，思考现实世界的问题，探索如何参与解决，提出创新的解决方案。我相信，这样的经历对他们未来的成功至关重要。作为教育者，我们期望我们的教育工作者能够成为创新的引领者。倘若他们具备创新精神，就能激发学生的创新潜能，共同珍视并传承这种精神。这些便是我深感自豪之处，它们彰显了中芯学校正在践行的创新理念。
Part.03
教育创新与实践：
SMIC的全方位课程体系与教育成就
对一所学校而言，提升学术实力、塑造学术氛围是一条没有终点的道路，学校不仅需要科学严谨地设置课程、用心打造和培育教研团队，还需要在保持优秀的基础上进行自我审视和改进，对课程及教研团队进行持续优化，保证思考如何在强学术方面做得更好。
上海市民办中芯学校国际部拥有一个不断进化的教育环境。在这里，地道的美式课程、强大的教育项目、充满合作气氛的教学团队与社区，共同为学子们的学术进步之路保驾护航。
京领：请介绍一下学校的课程特色。
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：我们拥有一个非常全面的教育项目，能够满足不同水平学生的需求，帮助他们取得成功。这一点让我们感到非常自豪。
上海市民办中芯学校国际部采用的是美国课程体系，从幼儿园到12年级，我们使用美国标准课程体系来教授各个学科。在高中阶段，我们开设了约26门大学预修课程（AP课程）。初中阶段，我们有大约6门荣誉课程。小学阶段，我们在数学、中文等科目开设荣誉课程。我们的独特之处在于，中芯学校国际部拥有强大的中文教学项目。我们设有两个中文项目，一个面向母语为中文的学生，另一个面向非中文母语的学生。从四年级起，我们除了开设常规中文课程，还开设进阶中文课程，以便学生能进行更深入的中文学习。
从小学开始，我们还有一个我们备受重视的读写课程——读者和写作工作坊。这个项目不仅关注读写技能，还关注知识的传递。学生所学的技能不应只适用于某一篇文章或某一本书，而应从整体上提升他们作为阅读者和写作者的能力，这一点非常重要。这些就是我们正在开展的工作。
从一年级开始，我们设有CCC课程，即中文强化班。这个课程面向一至三年级学生，旨在满足一些真正的双语学生（英语和中文都是母语）的需求，让他们能更深入地学习中文。他们会上双倍课时的中文课，还用中文学习数学，从而受到更多中文熏陶。其余课程他们则按常规课程学习。这个课程要求更高一些，但满足了那些真正希望孩子从小学阶段就打下双语基础的家庭的需求。
当他们升入四年级时，他们会与其他学生一起回归常规课程，并可以选择高级中文课程和常规数学课程，这为他们进入初中做准备，这样他们升入初中后可以选择荣誉数学课程或常规数学课程，进而为他们高中阶段的学习做好铺垫，使他们能够准备好学习AP微积分等更严谨的数学课程。
无论哪个学科，我们都有许多出色的课程项目。我们在语言、文学、历史、数学等各个学科都设有AP课程。而且我们在各个领域都有优秀学生。实际上，我刚刚从美国大学理事会（AP课程的管理机构）那里得到消息，我们的一名学生在80000名学生中脱颖而出，成为被选入美术馆展出作品的50名学生之一。这表明我们的全面教育项目具有竞争力，能够使学生在任何领域和学科都能取得成功。
京领：SMIC近年来取得了优异的学术成绩和录取结果。学校的教学科研团队有哪些优势？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：我们的优势在于我们有明确的教育期望和坚实的基础。作为一所学校，我们关注的是：今年我们是否取得了巨大成功？我们对成果满意吗？有没有需要调整或改进的地方？这无关他人，只关乎我们自身。我欣赏这一点，因为我们专注于如何做得更好，而非安于现状。我们始终认为自己可以做得更好，这种理念有助于我们取得成功，因为我们以积极的方式审视自身。
接着，我认为合作精神也至关重要。我们不希望任何人孤立行事，听不进外界的意见。同事之间专业的交流互动，能够推动个人成长，因为你能听到不同的想法，获得新的启发，这有助于你成长、学习，尝试不同的事物，甚至敢于冒险。
一个相互协作的群体真的意义非凡，彼此依靠能助力我们取得成功。我们有一支强大的升学指导团队，在大学申请方面切实帮助学生。但我们深知，这并非升学指导老师一己之力就能完成，而是需要大家共同努力。老师、行政人员、学生和家长齐心协力，才能帮助学生取得成功，靠的不是某一个人，而是整个团队。所以，这种合作意味着大家相互依靠，发挥每个人的才能，助力学生走向成功。我认为这确实是我们学校的一大优势。
京领：SMIC获得了WASC的全面认证。WASC认证如何提升学校的教育质量？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：它赋予了学校公信力。人们看到美国西部院校协会（WASC）的认证，就知道WASC有着非常明确的期望标准，而且这些标准源自美国教育课程标准。这对我们的学生家庭、学校社区以及申请其他学校或大学的学生都很有帮助。不仅仅是我们自己说做得很好，而是我们得到了教育界专业人士的认可，他们有着明确的标准，而我们达到了这些标准。这就确立了我们作为一所学校的公信力，证明我们达到了这些期望。我们的国际部采用了美国课程的教学体系，所以能从美国教育界获得这种公信力非常重要。对整个学校社区而言，这让我们更加坚定地秉持持续改进的理念，因为这对WASC和我们都很重要。
WASC始终在指导他们所合作的每所学校。在审视自身改进周期时，“你有没有考虑到这一点？你有没有考虑过教育的这个方面？或者你有没有考虑过如何构建更好的社区或学校这个问题？”保持一个外部专业的声音来指导我们，为我们提供如何持续改进学校的建议，这对学校的教育质量提升大有益处。
Part.04
迎接数字化挑战：
国际学校如何塑造适应未来社会的学习者？
未来，总是充满了变数和挑战。随着数字化和人工智能的浪潮席卷全球，国际学校面临着前所未有的机遇和考验。如何在变革中保持领先，如何培养出能够适应甚至引领未来社会的人才，成为教育工作者必须思考的问题。
京领：在数字化和人工智能飞速发展的今天，对于国际学校来说，如何更好地把握未来的发展方向？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：作为一个学校社区，我认为要更好地把握未来，关键在于要有求知欲，并借助社区内懂行的人。我们并非人人都是全才，但每个人在某些领域或某些方面都是行家。所以，重视社区里不同的人才，善用他们的专长，给予他们支持并赋予他们权力，这至关重要。这也是我们发展科技学校社区所做的一些事：鼓励大家走出去，参观不同的学校，参加专业发展培训（PD），因为我希望他们能学到更多，了解外面的情况，看看有哪些能引入我们学校。所以，我们安排不同的人去参加诸如机器人技术或一些新设备相关的各种培训。我们要成为求知若渴的人，积极走出去，花时间做研究，向不同学校和社区学习，了解外面的世界。
我记得几年前我在台湾的一所大学任教时，和学生们做过一个营销项目，我让他们发明任何自己想发明的东西。那时候iPhone还没问世，人们用的还是小翻盖手机。有些学生说他们要做一款能上网或拍照的手机。我记得当时觉得这想法太离谱了。但事实证明这就是人工智能和未来的发展趋势。人们会梦想看似不可能的事情，然后它就成真了。所以，始终保持对新事物的渴望和求知欲，这将有助于我们学校的发展，让我们做好准备。中芯学校（SMIC）能帮助学生为未来做好准备。
京领：未来五年，学校的发展目标是什么？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：每所学校都有其努力达成的目标。上海市民办中芯学校国际部（SMIC-I）目前致力于三大目标。其一，提升学生作为学习者的参与度和积极性。我们一直在研究课堂上可以采用的方法，比如如何在课堂中融入科技元素？如何围绕项目设计打造更优质的课程单元，或者思考现实世界的问题及其关联等。
其二，在STEM课程中，根据学生的能力、潜力和兴趣，进一步培养他们的研究意识。让学生开展更多个人项目，钻研自己热爱的事物。我们希望学生能更多地参与这类项目，所以一直在实验室建设上投入资金。我们认为，研究是学生实现创新所需的一项关键技能。他们需要学习历史经验，了解当下动态，进而对自身行动的结果提出假设。这是我们真心希望在课程中不断强化的关键内容。
其三，人工智能技术。我们在此方面做了什么？如何提升相关课程？有哪些新动态？怎样加强计算机编程教学，向学生传授基础知识，让他们能够开展更复杂的项目，并与不同科技公司建立合作关系？
中芯学校努力紧跟这些方面的发展。不只是追求拥有最新的技术设备，更要打好基础，让学生能够实现创新突破。技术并非仅关乎当下拥有什么，而是要在学生心中播下种子，培养他们对未来的思考能力，以及利用技术创造未来的能力。
京领：作为校长，您将如何领导实现这些目标？
Dani Ma'u，上海市民办中芯学校国际部校长：我认为领导的最佳方式是激励和支持身边的人。我不是技术专家，所以要是你问我如何发展技术，我答不上来。就好比你问中芯国际的任何一位首席执行官，他不会亲自去制造芯片，但他会组建一个研发部门去打造下一款超酷的芯片，并且会规划出一条能让研发成功的路径。我的职责是激发员工的尝试欲望，点燃他们为学校社区服务的渴望与热情，培养未来的杰出领袖。
我们致力于构建一个合作共赢的体系，携手共进，共同设定目标。我愿意支持你们作为团队或教育者，制定自己的目标，这将推动我们学校不断迈向新的高度，取得新的成就。
我深知，我的很大一部分工作是打开一扇门，让大家放心去尝试，引入新事物，让大家对自己所做的事充满激情与兴奋，鼓励他们提出想法，营造一个能让大家携手合作的协作环境。我们思索着还能进一步发展的方向，确立创新的目标愿景，这将引领我们迈向新高度。
我视自己为团队的支持者和凝聚者，将大家团结在一起，并激发团队成员的潜力。我为我的团队感到自豪，我觉得我们拥有一个了不起的学校社区，这里有非常专业的教师，他们真切地展现出与学生共同探索新事物的热情与渴望。
English Version
Part.01
Journey of Learning Beginning in 2000:
Establishing a Connection with ''Education''
Starting from 2000, Ms. Dani Ma'u embarked on a journey of deep exploration in the field of international education. This journey is not only an exploration of personal growth but also a profound understanding of educational concepts and practices. From America to Taiwan, China, and then to the Chinese Mainland, each geographical shift, each cultural collision, has added a rich stroke to her understanding of education.
KingLead: You have a very extensive personal experience. How did you get involved in international education field? Could you share some insights on international education with us?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: I worked in a group home in my first 2 years after college. A group home in America is for kids who have been abused or neglected and are taken in a protective facility by the state to help. I worked in a group home for 2 years because I always had a passion for helping and working with children. When I was there, one of my friends was working overseas and she introduced me to work there. I thought that's something I would be very passionate about. That began my journey of overseas education.
Then I moved to Taiwan and worked in different school settings, such as universities and high schools. I worked there for 8 years; then my husband and I wanted to come to China. That's how I got connected with SMIC. Once I joined SMIC, I loved my experience here. I've been here since 2008. I've been here ever since and have grown to love my experience in the international setting in China. Each country has its own kind of flavor of education. I have loved being a part of SMIC because it's a great community. I love the students whom have unique passions. I love what that's done for me professionally and my family. My kids grew up in this setting that has given them opportunities and viewpoints on life which they wouldn't have had if we just stayed in the States.
KingLead: What is your personal educational philosophy? How has the philosophy been gradually refined and shaped throughout your professional career?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: I've always felt that as a school in any society, education can seem like a big corporation as you're reaching so many people. That can feel impersonal, that is just focused on the class or the group as a whole, but really education is a very very personal journey for each student.
I think it's important that we look at education the way that it's about the individual and how we are connecting with each person. That is something I've always believed, and I feel like it's gotten even more cemented in my own philosophy as I've seen my kids grow. For me, students as individuals is important.
Schools are competitive, they'll talk about all their top 10 students and they'll focus on them, and the rest are just the rest. But really, I think we need to give the opportunity for every single student to succeed. Not just the top 10, not just the middle ones, but every single student. Something we talk about as a community is, how we are helping each individual student to grow. Maybe they end up at different spots which is normal, but we talk about how to push each individual student that they are growing and making advances each year as a learner.
Another thing that I've had a realization even more about is the idea that kids have that "light bulb moment" at different moments. By the time they're in grade one, some students can fluently read, yet some students are struggling because they're just not ready. That's okay, because we're not just building our learners that they're high academic performers, but that they're passionate about learning and excited. When it takes light bulbs a little longer or a little less longer to turn on, at least they're primed and ready.
The education journey isn't just focused on what level of success that kids got or what grade they got, but it's about their journey being more focused on falling in love with learning, so that when they're in college, they can succeed because they're excited about learning. They're not just equating their education journey with a score, but with the passion and desire to learn. So, if it takes them a little longer, or they need a little extra help, no problem. They're ready to do that because they're already excited about learning.
I think my biggest thing is giving opportunity to each learner to succeed, and treating learning as an individual journey, not just a group journey, but really having those relationships with each students and knowing where they are and see how can we push them to grow and succeed.
KingLead: You have started your journey at SMIC since 2008. How do you interpret the mission and vision of the school?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: I really love our mission and vision. Our vision is about helping students become global citizens of self-discipline, committed to independent thinking and service. We look at students as a whole person. It's not just about hitting high academic standards, which is especially important for our community. We have very driven families who have high expectations about what their child's future is going to be. Here we look at it as it's not just about memorizing. It's not just about having that strong content knowledge, but it's about being able to use that and put that into practice.
Those really are skills that the next generations need. They don't need to know every piece of information. They need to be able to use that and make some critical decisions on their own and do something creative or something new. And that's a different type of skill. It's not just working hard and memorizing, but it's pushing themselves to go outside that comfort level and to try something new and venture out and take those risks. And that's really what our vision is about, helping them to do that. Along with that we are building character inside of them so that they make those right decisions as they're learning.
And then our mission; I've already talked about community. And that's big part of how we meet that vision is by working together with the community and having that collaborative viewpoint on nurturing these things out of our students and helping them to build those qualities. Then also that balance between loving the country that were are in and respecting and embodying those values, but using an American style curriculum to meet that kind of knowledge and experience in our students.
KingLead: You have witnessed many changes of SMIC over the years. What is the proudest aspect of school's development in your mind?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: One thing that I've loved about SMIC is the attitude that we have, we're never done. It's not a negative attitude, but a very positive quality.
Since my first year here, we've always been looking about what makes the school successful and what makes education successful. I've enjoyed it as a professional where I feel like I've always been learning something new each year. As a school, we've taken different things whether building curriculum from the ground up and revising it, getting on board with what standards were using, and what's the best quality teaching or the most effective way of reaching the students. Every year we look at that, every year we take on new goals and new things that we're going to implement or we're going to try. I think that the proudest thing for me is to see that each year we've done something and implemented something in a way that makes it successful.
It's fun for us because we're always wanting to grow and learn. It's fun for the students, because it gives them better experience each year where they're learning something new or in new way, or they're trying something new in class. That's something that I've really enjoyed.
Our school's always had the holistic view of we're not just educating them to be high performers, but people of character and having strong social, emotional foundation so that they can be successful. That part has grown even more through the years where I feel like we're in a healthy balance of not just wanting good scores, but also helping students to build foundations of good people. You can see this in part of the curriculum and the daily schedules that's really built into it, that we don't just say it, but it's built into who we are as a core. So seeing part of us grow and get even stronger makes me very proud.
KingLead: In your opinion, what makes SMIC a unique school?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: I think what makes SMIC unique is our character and high rigor. But I think too, it is our community.
People have been here for a long time. I've been here since 2008. I'm a foreigner and that doesn't happen very often in international schools with a foreign staff. The rate of retention isn't usually very high in a lot of schools naturally, not because of unhappiness, but because of people who stay that long in a foreign country. But if you come to our school, over the past couple of years, our retention rates have been around 93% which is pretty high.
That makes difference when you've got staff that stay for so long. Why are they staying? They're saying because they loved the school, they love the vision and the mission, they love the students, they love being part of the community.
The programs that we're doing are successful when you see our college acceptance. That's the biggest metric of us being successful as a school, and each year it's gotten better. Last year, 28% of our students got into the top ten schools. This proportion was 18% the year before last year. We had 62% who got in top 20 schools last year. We see that keeps increasing and getting better each year.
Part.02
Practice in Cultivating Innovative Talents:
How to Develop Personnel
with Competitive Innovation?
When discussing the relationship between innovation and competitiveness, we can't help but ponder, what is the driving force that propels an individual, a team, or even a school to continuously move forward?
Innovation is undoubtedly one of the most valuable qualities of this era. It is not just a skill, but also a way of thinking and a lifestyle.
Through the experience sharing of Ms. Dani Ma'u, we will together step into her educational world, uncover the secrets of cultivating innovative talents, and explore how to nurture the seeds of innovation within the campus environment.
KingLead: In your opinion, what kind of person is an innovative talent? What do you think a person needs as an innovative talent?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: I think innovation or innovative talent is really an attitude. It's about looking forward and seeing something that might not be there right now but could be there and having that vision. I think it's about someone who is able to take risks or has that desire to take risks to try something new, whether it'll be successful or not. An innovative talent has the desire to continuously learn, they're researching and looking around about what other people are doing and what is happening over there.
I think our chancellor really has that quality. She's very forward thinking and looking around and watching. She loves visiting other schools, keeping her pulse on the community and seeing what's happening. And she's really got those ideas about, let's try this, let's think about this, or let's build towards that can help us. It's really nice to work with someone who has that kind of quality. And many of our teachers are pushing our students to be innovative, to learn and to try.
I really think it's an attitude about being able to look and see what's happening and think what could happen in the future and having that desire to step out and take risks.
KingLead: How do you think the school should cultivate innovative talents?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: What can we do better? What can we try to improve? If a school has that philosophy and attitude, it means we're never going to be satisfied. This isn't a negative quality. It means that we have the idea that there's always something we can improve and try. Maybe it was good, but how can we make it even better? Maybe it was great, but how can we make it awesome? What is something that we can do to elevate? What's happening with the students and the community in their education journey? It's an attitude of not being satisfied and having that desire to grow and continue to improve. When you have that desire, then you're going to be looking for what's next and what's out there.
One thing I really loved about SMIC is that's been the culture here is what can we try? What can we do? And having that attitude, then that pushes you towards what's something new you can try. And with that, there's some things that we do, like we review our curriculum. We have a cycle where we keep reviewing it and going. Is this hitting what we want? Is this the best curriculum? It's a cycle where you're constantly reviewing and looking into how things are going. Is what we are doing the best practice?
I think having that strong professional development aspect in the school matters too, because that teaches the teachers that the school expects all staff to be learning and they can learn something new. Having that philosophy means a school can bring in people who are professional, they can teach us something new, help us to learn something to make it better.
The philosophy that we're all learners, we're all growing together, really builds in the idea that we want to cultivate innovation. We want to do something new, we want to be risk takers as educators and create a community where we're supporting each other. This really helps bring in those new talents or those new ideas up.
KingLead: The innovative approaches have been key to the school's 22 years of success. What kind of innovative aspects does the school have at present?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: SMIC is always trying to learn something new and develop things.
Here I'd like to highlight what I see with some of our kids, because it wouldn't happen if they didn't have amazing teachers who are pushing them and kind of drawing these qualities out of our students. Part of our mission and vision is that we create independent thinkers who are global citizens and are thinking about their community and how they can serve their community.
I am so amazed with all our students. When I think about our high school students who've been a part of our school for many years, you can see those qualities as they come out, and the things that they worked with their teachers and have done some of these projects. A group of students came in to talk with me the other day. They're really passionate about business and finance, and they want to put on a program for younger high school students to learn about financial literacy and do a practical simulation where you make money and you might spend it on this or that. So when they get out into the real world, they can understand the value and planning ahead about these type of things. I thought that's really cool that they've created the simulation themselves. They were very thoughtful. They did a lot of research, and then they're serving the community by helping to pass on that knowledge to our students.
This year, a girl who did research with our design teacher wanted to serve our community and make it greener to the environment. She made a solar charging station which is now outside. Students can sit by and charge their phones while they're sitting and chatting. I thought it was cool because she not only had that desire, but also had partnership with the teacher who could walk her through it, and could also serve the community. Again, it's individual education, working one on one with the students and drawing out that creative and innovative quality within our students.
I love to empower our students to be global citizens and think about what real world problems they see, how they can be a part of that solution, what kind of creative ideas they have that could fix that. I think that does so much for our students to help them be successful in the future. And when we do that with students, something that we embody as a school that we want our educators to be innovative people. If they're innovative, they're going to draw that out of our students and value that. Those are some things I'm pretty proud of about what's happening to demonstrate some of the innovative ideas that are happening in SMIC.
Part.03
Educational Innovation and Practice:
Comprehensive Curriculum System
and Educational Achievements
For a school, enhancing academic strength and shaping an academic atmosphere is a journey without an end. The school not only needs to scientifically and rigorously design the curriculum and carefully build and cultivate a teaching and research team but also needs to engage in self-reflection and improvement while maintaining excellence. It must continuously optimize the curriculum and the teaching and research team, ensuring constant consideration of how to do better in terms of strong academics.
SMIC has an evolving educational environment. Here, authentic American-based courses, robust educational programs, a teaching team filled with a spirit of cooperation, and the community collectively pave the way for the students' academic progress.
KingLead: Please introduce the curricula feature of the school.
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: We have a very well-rounded program where we're able to meet students at all different levels to be successful. We're pretty impressed with that.
SMIC is an American based curriculum school. Kindergarten through 12th grade, SMIC uses American standards for each subject. In high school, we have about 26 AP courses. In middle school, we have about 6 honors classes. We have honors classes in Math, Chinese and in elementary. What makes us unique is we have a strong Chinese program within SMIC. We have two programs, one is for native speakers, the other is for non-native speakers. We offer regular Chinese and then also accelerated Chinese beginning in 4th grade so that students can have it even at a deeper level.
Beginning in elementary school, we have a strong literacy program that we're really passionate about. It's the readers and writers workshop which focuses not just on literacy skills, but about the transfer of knowledge. It's really important that students learn skills that are not just for this essay or for this book, but as readers and writers as a whole. These are the type of things that we're doing.
Starting in first grade, we have something called the C.C.C., which is Chinese Concentration Class. We offer that in grades 1 to 3 in order to meet the needs of some students who are truly bilingual, native English and native Chinese speakers where they can go a little bit deeper in Chinese, they have double Chinese classes, they also study Math in Chinese, so they can get more Chinese influence. Then they follow the regular curriculum for the rest of the classes. It's a little bit more rigorous, but it meets the needs of our families who truly want bilingual experience at the beginning to get strong foundation in both language levels.
Then once they're in 4th grade, they streamline back in with the rest and they can do the advanced Chinese classes and the regular Math class and that prepares them so that when they get into middle school, they can choose to be either in honors Math or regular Math, which then prepares them for high school so that they'll be ready to take classes such as AP calculus classes and go through Math a little bit more rigorous.
We've got so many strong programs with whatever discipline it is. We have AP courses in language, literature, history department, Math departments and all of those. And we've got superstar students in all different genres. Actually, I just got news from the AP College Board that a student from SMIC stood out among 80000 students and was one of the 50 selected to display their art in an art gallery. This shows that SMIC's well-rounded program for students is competitive and can enable them to succeed in whatever genre and whatever discipline.
KingLead: SMIC has achieved outstanding academic excellence and admission results in recent years. What are the advantages of school's teaching and research team?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: The advantage of us is we have a strong foundation of what our expectations are. What we're looking at is, as a school, are we extremely successful this year? Are we happy with our results? Is there something we need to adjust or make better? It's not talking about anybody else, it's talking about us. I like that because we're focused on what we can do better, not just sitting with the norm. The idea that we can always do better helps us to have successful results, because we're being critical of ourselves in a positive way.
Then I think it's the idea of collaboration. We don't like people to be their own island by themselves where they don't have voices from outside. Those professional conversations that you're having with each other helps to push you as an individual, because you hear those other ideas and get other input which helps you to grow, learn and try something different or to try a risk.
A collaborative community really does make a difference and helps us to be successful and by relying on each other. We have a strong counseling team that really helps with our students when it's talking about college admissions. But we fully realize it's not the counselor by themselves, it's everybody together. The teachers and the admin and the students and the parents all work together. That's what helps the students to be successful, not one person, but a community as a whole working together. So that collaboration, they're relying on each other and using everybody's talents to help our students be successful. I think that really is an advantage for us as a school.
KingLead: SMIC is fully accredited by WASC. How does WASC accreditation enhance the educational quality of the school?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: It gives the validity, meaning people see WASC, and they know that WASC has very specific expectations. And it's coming from the American curriculum standard. So that helps our families, our community and our students when they're applying to other schools, when they're going to university. It's not just SMIC saying we're doing a good job, but we have the stamp of approval of professionals from the education community that has very specific standards. We're meeting those standards so it gives validity of who we are as a school, and that we are meeting these type of expectations. We're an American curriculum school, so it's important to have that validity from an American education community. As a community, it empowers us even more with that idea of we are always looking at that cycle of continuous improvement, because that's important to them and us.
WASC is always guiding whatever school they work with. Did you think about this as you're looking at your cycle of improvement? Did you think about this aspect of education? Or did you think about this aspect of building a better community or building a better school? Keeping an outside voice that coaches us and gives us ideas about how to keep improving as a school is always helpful.
Part.04
Embracing the Digital Challenge:
How International Schools Mold Learners
for the Future Society
The future is always full of variables and challenges. With the wave of digitization and artificial intelligence sweeping across the globe, international schools are facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. How to maintain a leading position in the process of change and cultivate talents who can adapt to and even lead the future society have become issues that educators must consider.
KingLead: With the rapid development of digital and artificial intelligence today, for international schools, how to better grasp the future development direction?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: As a community, I think how to better grasp the future, it's that idea of wanting to learn, and using people in your community who understand. Not every one of us is an expert, but everybody is an expert somewhere and in some thing. So valuing those different people in your community and using them, uplifting them and empowering them really matters. That's some of the things that we've done in our tech community and in our school: Getting them out there, go see different schools, go to PD because I want them to learn more, see what's happening and see if that's something we're going to bring into our school. So we've had different people go to different training in things like robotics or some new equipment. We need to be people who want to learn and who are out there and spending time in research and learning from different schools and different communities and seeing what's out there.
I remember years ago when I was in Taiwan and taught in a university, I had done a marketing project with my students and I asked them to invent anything they want. This happened before the iPhone when people were using little flip phones. Some students said they are going to make a phone that can go on the internet or can take a picture. I remember thinking what a far-fetched idea that was. That's what AI and the future is. People dream things that seemed impossible, and then it happens. So having that thirst and hunger for always thinking about something new and wanting to learn, that's what's going to help develop us as a school and help prepare us. SMIC can help students be prepared for what's in the future.
KingLead: What are the development goals in the next five years for the school to continue on in its path to greatness?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: Every school has goals they're working on. There are 3 big goals that SMIC is working on. Number one is uplifting, the engagement and motivation of our students as student learners. We're constantly researching ways that we can do that within the class, how are we integrating tech in the class? Or how are we building better units about project design or thinking about real world problems and those connections and things like that?
The other thing is, within our STEM classes, building more of that idea of research within our students' capacity and ability and desire. So more of those individual projects with our students where they're learning something about their passion. We want more of that with our students, so we've been spending money on our labs. We believe research is a key skill that students need to be innovative. They need to learn from the past, they need to learn what's happening now and then build hypothesis about what would happen if they did this. That's a key component that we really want to continue to enhance within our program.
Then, AI tech. What are we doing there? How are we uplifting that program? What are some new things that are happening? How can we uplift that part of our computer programming, and teaching our students the basics and the foundations, so they can be doing even more complicated projects and have some partnerships with different tech companies?
SMIC is trying to keep a pulse on that. Not just having all the newest technology things, but building the foundation, so our students can make those jumps into innovation. Technology isn't about what do you have right now, but it's creating in our students mind that ability to think in the future and what they can create or use it to create in the future.
KingLead: As the head of the school, how will you lead to achieve those goals well?
Ms. Dani Ma'u, Head of SMIC-I: I think the best way to lead is to lift up those around me. I'm not a tech person, so if you ask me how to develop tech, I don't have answers. Like you talk to any CEO of SMIC, he's not going to build the chip, but he's going to raise up a research department to build the next coolest chip, and he's going to create a pathway that they can do that and make that successful.
My job is to build that hunger in our staff to want to try, that hunger and passion that we are here to serve our community. We are here to develop the next great leaders in our students. What we've been doing is to create the system and foundation of collaboration. We are working together and we are creating goals together. I want to support you as you create your own goals as a team or as educators that only brings our school forward in reaching new goals or new achievements.
I see a big part of my job is opening the door to let people feel safe to do that and bring new things to let people feel passionate and excited about what they're doing and empower them to bring those ideas and then to create that collaborative environment where they can work together to do that. We thought about something that we can develop even more and set the vision of our goal of being innovate, which is to bring us forward the next step.
I see me as a champion of my team and bringing them together and raising those qualities out of the people within my team, and I'm amazed. I love my team. I think we have an amazing community with super professional teachers who really demonstrate the passion and desire to do new things with students.
来源：京领新国际