ITP - 112: The Heart of a Teacher (And Why Hiring Matters More Than You Think)

JPMint:
Welcome to the International Teacher Podcast. I am Jacqueline from JP Mint Consulting and I'm here with Kent the Cat Guy. Hi Kent.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Hey JP Mint, good morning.

JPMint:
Greg is away and we have a special guest with us, Dr. Kelley Ridings, who I think is calling us in from Shanghai. Is that right, Kelley?

Kelley Ridings:
That is right. Hello to you both, Kent and Jacqueline.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Good morning, Kelley.

JPMint:
Good evening. It's almost midnight here in Mexico. Kelley, can you tell us a little bit about what you're doing right now in Shanghai, and then we'll work backwards? I'm curious to know what you're doing right now.

Kelley Ridings:
Well, I was in Shanghai. I've just moved. I'm actually in Dalian, so I meant to say that. Sorry about that. I'm still in China though. I was working in Shanghai. I've been there for over 12 years and I worked with Shanghai SMIC Private School.

JPMint:
Okay. Is that north up near Beijing?

Kelley Ridings:
Yes, it's up in the northeastern part of China. I was the International Division Superintendent for the school. But June of this year was my retirement. So I retired from the schools, but I'm putting that in air quotes because that's just a retirement.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Well, congratulations on the retirement, but you're not really retired, are you?

Kelley Ridings:
No, not exactly. I still work as a consultant with the school, and I've also started my own business, a consulting firm called Edunet Pro. So I'm doing that as well. It's all just starting and getting up and running, but it's based on my books that I've written.

I have one book already out about international education and how to find jobs, and another book coming out in January about how schools can develop a hiring system to help them find highly qualified candidates.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Have you got a title for that book yet?

Kelley Ridings:
I do. It's called The Gift Hiring Method: You Can Confidently Recruit Quality School Staff.

JPMint:
Now Kelley, what kind of consultant are you? Who is your ideal client?

Kelley Ridings:
That's a very good question. I work with a few different types of clients. One type is people who are new to international education or thinking about it and want to figure out how to navigate the hiring process.

I'm not a recruiter, but I help them organize their profile, resume, cover letter, and application materials, and figure out where to apply and what they want.

Another group is teachers who are non-traditional to international schools, such as non-native English speakers with strong experience who are having difficulty finding roles.

A third group is leaders starting their leadership pathway who want to move up and need guidance on how to prepare.

And the final group is mid-level leaders who want to move into senior roles but are facing barriers.

So I work with both teachers and leaders across those areas.

JPMint:
That sounds very familiar. I really like how you've broken that down into clear pathways.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Let's go back to the beginning of your journey. Our listeners know you weren't born in China. Tell us how you got to where you are now.

Kelley Ridings:
It's been an interesting path. When I was in college in New Mexico, I lived on the U.S.-Mexico border. I had friends in Mexico, so that was my first exposure to an international environment.

After getting my master's degree, I got a job teaching at a college in Mexico while living in El Paso, Texas, commuting across the border. That was my first teaching experience.

Then I visited a friend in Guadalajara and saw many language schools there. I decided to move there and found a job in an international school, the American School Foundation of Guadalajara, where I taught high school history and English.

I stayed there for four years. After that, I returned to the U.S. for a period, thinking it would be temporary. Fourteen years later, I went back abroad, this time to Asia, working in South Korea and then moving to China.

Kent The Cat Guy:
So how long were you in Korea for?

Kelley Ridings:
I was there for a year in Busan, South Korea. Then I moved to China and joined SMIC Private School, where I stayed for about 12 and a half years, almost 13 now.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Tell us a little bit about what took you from New Mexico into Texas and then into Mexico early on.

Kelley Ridings:
Well, El Paso is right on the border and very close to where I grew up in New Mexico. My grandparents lived there, so I spent time there growing up. It was familiar to me.

Kent The Cat Guy:
At some point you also got a PhD. When did that come into the picture?

Kelley Ridings:
When I returned to the U.S., I decided to pursue my PhD. It actually started with a conversation with my mentor, who asked me when I was going to complete my administrative degree. I hadn't even started it yet.

That pushed me to begin working on it. I started with my administrative license and eventually decided to go all the way and complete a PhD in educational leadership.

Kent The Cat Guy:
You’re a pretty witty guy. How did that fit into a PhD program and leadership roles?

Kelley Ridings:
I think there’s a place for everything. My humor is a bit subtle. Sometimes people don’t catch it right away, but I think humor is important. One of the first books I read as a teacher was about using humor as a classroom management tool.

It helps build connections. I’m not someone who tells jokes, but I do enjoy pointing out the absurdities in life. At the same time, I do have a serious academic side.

I try to balance both. Even in my writing, I try to incorporate that tone.

JPMint:
You mentioned your book earlier. Is there an audiobook version?

Kelley Ridings:
Yes, there is. I worked with a narrator because I knew I couldn’t do it myself. I wanted someone who could capture the tone, including the humor.

Choosing the narrator was important. I listened to samples and selected someone who matched the voice I wanted. His name is Steve Wilson, and he did a great job bringing the book to life.

JPMint:
What made you decide to create an audiobook?

Kelley Ridings:
I researched it quite a bit. I realized that different people prefer different formats. Some people want physical books, others prefer audio.

I also realized that narration quality matters. A good narrator can make or break the experience.

Kent The Cat Guy:
JP, if you were to narrate a book, what would it be?

JPMint:
I actually did that for my mom. She had difficulty reading, so I recorded chapters of a book for her. It was about expat women living in China.

I didn’t edit much, just read straight through. It was surprisingly easy. I didn’t finish it though, which my mom is probably still waiting for.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Your poor mom is still waiting for the ending.

JPMint:
I know, I know.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Kelley, what is Shanghai like?

Kelley Ridings:
Shanghai is a very modern and international city. It’s easy to get around, very clean, and there’s always something happening.

You can choose how immersed you want to be. You can live very internationally or deeply engage with Chinese culture.

It’s a financial hub and a very dynamic place. I didn’t expect to stay as long as I did, but I’m glad I did.

JPMint:
You mentioned becoming a permanent resident. Was that part of your long-term plan?

Kelley Ridings:
Yes. I knew if I wanted to stay in China after retiring, I would need permanent residency. I got that in 2021, which made it easier to continue living and working there.

Now I can work internationally from China, which gives me flexibility.

Kent The Cat Guy:
That’s pretty amazing. So you’ve basically built a life where you can stay connected to international education even after retiring.

Kelley Ridings:
Yes, that was the goal. I didn’t want to just stop working completely. I wanted to stay engaged in the field, but in a different capacity.

Consulting allows me to do that. I can work with individuals and schools without being tied to one location or one role.

JPMint:
That flexibility is something a lot of educators are starting to look for now.

Kelley Ridings:
Absolutely. And I think the field is changing in that way. People are realizing there are multiple pathways, not just the traditional classroom or leadership track.

Kent The Cat Guy:
What advice would you give someone who is just starting out and thinking about international teaching?

Kelley Ridings:
I would say be open and flexible. Don’t limit yourself to one location or one type of school. The more open you are, the more opportunities you’ll have.

Also, take the time to understand the hiring process. It’s different from domestic teaching jobs. There are timelines, recruitment fairs, and specific expectations.

Preparation is key. Having your documents ready, understanding what schools are looking for, and being clear about your goals can make a big difference.

JPMint:
And I think that ties back to the work you’re doing with your consulting.

Kelley Ridings:
Exactly. A lot of people just don’t know where to start, and that’s where I try to help.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Do you see any major changes coming in international education hiring?

Kelley Ridings:
Yes, I think schools are becoming more strategic. There’s a stronger focus on fit, not just qualifications.

Schools are looking for candidates who align with their mission and culture, not just people who can fill a role.

And I think we’ll continue to see more diversity in hiring, both in terms of backgrounds and experiences.

JPMint:
That’s encouraging to hear.

Kelley Ridings:
It is. It opens doors for more people who might not have fit the traditional mold before.

Kent The Cat Guy:
We ask all of our guests a couple of questions at the end. The first is: what are three things you need to feel at home? We don’t count people or pets.

Kelley Ridings:
I would say books, definitely. I always have books with me. A good internet connection so I can stay connected with people and resources. And probably a comfortable workspace where I can think and write.

JPMint:
Second question. Have you ever had a run-in with the police?

Kelley Ridings:
No, I haven’t.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Keeping it clean.

JPMint:
Final thoughts, Kelley?

Kelley Ridings:
If you’re considering international teaching, just take the first step. It can feel overwhelming, but once you get started, opportunities open up.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Thanks to our guest, Dr. Kelley Ridings, and to my co-host JP Mint. We’ll see you next time.

JPMint:
Thank you.

[End of transcript]