Esol Education News

At the beginning of 2016, John Jalsevac was appointed as the founding Director of American School Hong Kong (ASHK). John previously worked in Hong Kong from 2004 – 2014 as Principal of the Upper School at the Canadian International School Hong Kong (CDNIS) where, as Chair of the IB Steering Committee, he led the school in the development and implementation of its IB Program. CDNIS now ranks in the top 10 percentile of schools worldwide that require all students to complete the IB Diploma Program. Most recently, John was Head of School at Mission Hills International School in Shenzhen, China. 

John supports the value of a holistic approach to education and was co-founder of the International School Sports Federation of Hong Kong, which is now comprised of 33 international schools in the region. He also served as Chair of the South East Asia Schools’ Activity Conference from 2009 – 2014.

Prior to his arrival in Hong Kong, John was employed for 25 years as an educator in Toronto where he served as Principal of three high schools and as Curriculum Coordinator and Superintendent of Education for a large school district.

John is a widely respected educational leader whose passion for education is reflected in the positive rapport he maintains with staff and students and the strong sense of community he establishes in the schools he directs.

John obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from York University, Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and Master of Science in Education from Niagara University in New York State.

“We are very fortunate to have such a highly experienced Director at the helm of Esol Education’s first school in East Asia,” said Bassam Abushakra, Regional Director at Esol Education. “The rich diversity in the student body in Hong Kong requires knowledgeable and insightful leadership, and we are looking forward to John’s guidance in laying a strong foundation for what will be one of East Asia’s premier American Schools.”