Leadership Spotlight: Marisa Seco-Medina
ISS Administrative Search was proud to lead the K-10 Principal search for Yangon International School (YIS) in Mandalay, Myanmar. Congratulations to Marisa Seco-Medina for accepting the position, beginning August 2022! Marisa is currently the MSHS Vice Principal and AP Coordinator at the American International School of Abuja, Nigeria.
Marisa holds a BEd in Educational Management from the University of South Africa and a Masters in Reading and Literacy from Walden University. Her past experiences include serving on the MS Leadership Team and as a ELA Teacher at Cairo American College, Egypt; World Languages Department Head and Grade Level Team Leader at Jakarta Intercultural School, Indonesia; and Elementary school Spanish and Early Childhood teacher at the American International School of Johannesburg, South Africa.
From being raised in a home of educators, to becoming an agent of change as an educational leader, Marisa shares her story and vision in the feature below.
What drew you to pursue the world of education? And what drew you into international education specifically?
Born and raised in a home of educators in Argentina, I always knew I would be a teacher. The opportunity to go to the US as an exchange student in my HS senior year opened the door to a world I had never imagined. Learning about cultures, connecting with people, and experiencing the world, combined with my passion for teaching and learning, sealed my fate in international school teaching. A series of serendipitous opportunities throughout my teaching and Leadership journey has taken me from my hometown, Cordoba, to South Africa, Indonesia, Egypt, Nigeria and next, Mandalay in Myanmar!
At Borobudur Temple, “a site we have taken students to so many times before, a place to contemplate and re-energize”
Please tell us about your education philosophy and your leadership style. What can your new community expect?
Leadership matters. I choose to be part of Leadership Teams because I can be an agent of influence and change. I believe in shared leadership and building internal capacity as I am, in fact, a product of honing in such an opportunity. My focus on building strong professional relationships with faculty, students, staff, parents, and the community has been a constant priority in my practice to ensure that learning takes place for every student. Differentiation, Inquiry, Agency, and Service are foundational pillars of my Educational Philosophy.
Congratulations on your new position at YIS! What excites you about being in this new role and school? What are your hopes?
I am excited to contribute to the ambitious dream of growing YIS in Mandalay as it reopens after challenging months of virtual learning. I am looking forward to learning about the school culture while embracing its community; supporting YIS to make its mission a reality for all our students is part of my vision.
What is an interesting fact or story about you that you would like to share?
In 1990, my husband Cristian and I emigrated to South Africa with our firstborn. It was the year Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and we had no idea we were about to witness history in the making. Thirty-two years later, we have three children we are proud of, two grandchildren we adore, and lifetime friendships in 4 international schools. We can confidently say we have been fortunate that life presented us with such opportunities.
And finally, what was your experience with ISS Administrative Search like?
During the interview, I valued the line of questions as it showed a genuine interest in learning more about how my skill set and experiences would support my new school. I felt confident, respected and saw real interest in the recruiting team in getting to know me. Recruiting in general, but for leadership positions in particular, takes a good dose of vulnerability and courage. Empathetic and caring recruiters make such a difference in the process. I am grateful it was such a positive experience!
We appreciate Marisa’s time and thought in sharing these reflections! You can follow her journey on Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
If you’re interested in pursuing a school leadership position, please check out our current leadership searches or get in touch with the ISS Administrative Search Team.
Marisa and her husband Cristian Medina, who will teach Math and Science Secondary School at YIS