Superintendent's Message

As we enter 2012 and our second semester, we find ourselves thankful for many reasons. To begin with, Kaohsiung American School has gone over 500 in student enrollment for the first time in our school’s brief history. We started school this semester with a total of 505 students, and we are pleased with each and every one of them. Our staff is also at an all-time high with 46 classroom teachers, two counselors, three administrators, a librarian, two part time interns, nine teacher assistants, and a wonderful office staff. We are very fortunate to have such parent, PTA, and School Board support for quality education, and it all begins with a great staff and a manageable teacher/student ratio. We have both!

Our new cafeteria that is wireless and includes two great outdoor decks is also something special. It is relaxing, social, offers good food with several choices, and is a fun place to visit. Our new, see-through fence surrounding the campus sends a message that we are part of our community and proud of whom we are.  It shows that we are open to share our American education with anyone interested from Kaohsiung or anywhere else in Taiwan.

Our success is really with the people on our campus everyday. Our students are our backbone and exemplify everything that is right about our youth today. They are respectful, hard working, and bright individuals with great futures ahead of them.  As has been our expectation during this second semester for the past several years, our seniors are being accepted at some of the best colleges and universities in the world. It won’t be long before our graduates are making remarkable, positive contributions to society.

One true measure of a world class school is the number of people who want to teach there. We are already fully staffed for the 2012-2013 school year with twelve new hires that were all our first choice. Yes, it is true. Not one person offered a position at KAS turned us down.  What is even more exciting is that we had over 500 applicants for these few positions. We know our staff rates among the best in the world, and we encourage you to take a look at their shortened resumes that are located in our staff section of this website. I know you will be as pleased as I am as their educational leader.

We are the Kaohsiung American School Dragons, and with this being the “Year of the Dragon”, I am convinced we will continue to offer an outstanding education to our students, hire only excellent teachers, and improve our facilities. We encourage you to drop in to observe a class, take a tour, or just say “Hello”.  

We are no longer a “hidden” gem in southern Taiwan. We are now a “well known” gem in southern Taiwan that is offering our youth a first rate education. We are about quality education that cares about our students and their intellectual, physical, emotional, and social well being. We are Kaohsiung American School!
 

 
With thanks,

Dr. Thomas Farrell, Superintendent