This article appeared in Shanghai Talk Magazine in March of 2011

TEACHER ACHIEVER: NEIL WHITEHEAD

Alexander Charnaud

Everyone has ‘that’ teacher from their past who inspired them in some way. Whether it was guiding them towards their eventual career, or teaching them valuable life lessons during their formative years, everybody has one…and it would surprise TALK if Neil Whitehead didn’t have that effect on his students. Full-time teacher at Concordia International School and part-time aid worker, Whitehead defines school achiever.

Coming from a family of educators, teaching is in his blood. Confronted with the old adage that ‘those who can, do, and those that can’t, teach’, he replies, “If that’s true anywhere, it certainly isn’t the case at Concordia.”

Charity work has shaped much of Whitehead’s career. He is involved in the hugely successful Yunnan Education Project (YEP), developing ties between the respective schools and helping to assess the needs of the students. Concordia’s own students are also getting involved in the project thanks to Whitehead.

To help fund the project, he and his equally committed wife have held taco sales, started book drives and even released a charity recipe book. With the money raised the YEP has built two libraries, with another on the way, and there are plans to do more in the region.

Whitehead’s commitment is unfaltering and his reasons for choosing projects like YEP are numerous. “I do it to see the students interact with each other. It’s an opportunity for growth both for our students and those that we help at YEP,” he explains.

Away from his charity work, he has been instrumental in setting the AP Maths initiative, which allows students to take university level courses while still at school. “If the student does all the maths available to him or her here, he or she can leave with a minor in mathematics. What I try and do is get the children to dream big and then help and encourage them to achieve their dreams. Education isn’t just filling a bucket, it’s lighting a fire.”

Despite all Whitehead’s efforts to enrich the lives of his students and those of the schools he has helped build, his humility prevents him from basking in praise. “Nothing in education is a single man effort, it’s a collaboration,” he insists. “Education is about building the children up and, without everyone else, not much would get done”.