Rigorous recruitment is part of comprehensive child protection. The International Task Force on Child Protection has recently completed a one-year project to field-test recommended recruitment practices. Learn results that may help you better protect your students.
John Ritter
John Ritter, Senior Associate, Search Associates.
John Ritter joined Search Associates in 2006 following a career as a teacher and administrator in international schools.
John taught English and social studies in California, El Salvador and Nepal. He then served as the head of school at Lincoln School, Nepal; the International School of Beijing, China; the International School of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; the American International School of Lusaka, Zambia; and Vientiane International School, Laos, as well as serving as the middle school principal at Robert College of Istanbul, Turkey.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS); the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA), John was able to deepen his understanding of a wider range of international schools. He also has served as a Visiting Practitioner at the Principals Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 1997, he was designated an overseas "National Distinguished Principal" by the US Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
John completed a B.A. in political science at Claremont Men's [McKenna] College in California as well as and post-graduate studies at Claremont Graduate School (M.A. in Government), Michigan State University (Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction) and Washington State University (Superintendent's Certificate).
Since joining Search Associates, John and his wife Susan have been advising many Search candidates for teaching and administrative positions at international schools. As a Senior Associate at Search, John has also been consulting at international schools and conferences in Asia, Africa and the Middle East in the areas of governance and strategic planning. John and Susan now live in Bangkok.
Bridget McNamer
Bridget McNamer, Senior Associate, Search Associates.
Bridget McNamer joined Search Associates in 2013, following a 25-year career focused on international education, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy.
Bridget spent the early years of her career as a teacher and counselor at international schools, including Jakarta International School, where she taught IB English and served as college counselor and community service program coordinator, and the North Jakarta International School (placed there by Search Associates), where she taught Middle School English and advised the school's journalism and yearbook teams.
She also worked in higher education administration at Harvard University and the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She taught English to Ethiopian refugees in Cairo and to recent U.S. immigrants in Washington, DC.
Before coming to Search, Bridget worked as a consultant and practitioner in the fields of international philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, where she worked with leaders – primarily in the education arena — to improve the effectiveness of their organizations. Employers and clients included the Skoll Foundation, Gates Foundation, Bank of America Foundation, Business for Social Responsibility, Junior Achievement Worldwide and the World Economic Forum.
Bridget earned a B.A. in history from Harvard College and an M.A. in international relations and economics from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Bridget McNamer serves as the Co-Chair of the task force's Staff Recruitment Committee, which has developed and piloted recommendations for improved, child-protective staff recruitment.
She is active in Search Associates' work in assisting schools in their Head of School and Principal searches. As such, she has "inside" experience and insights regarding issues of women in leadership positions.