Josh has worked in education for more than 17 years, starting in the United States and then since 2007 in China. In that time he has worked with pupils from Year 6 to university level and beyond in a wide variety of roles: social studies and TOK teacher, English instructor, test prep tutor, after school activities director, CAS coordinator and college counsellor. It is in this last role that he found his true professional calling. Josh completed his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia (UVA), where he pursued an interdisciplinary degree in international relations and religious studies. He later received his Masters in Teaching from National Louis University. Most recently, he received a post-graduate certificate in college counselling from the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA). He loves reading, exercising, and spending time with his wife and young son. Having married into a local Chinese family, Josh is also working to improve his Mandarin – but he should probably spend more time learning Shanghainese if he ever wants to impress his in-laws.

Jean Kurdziel is the Head of Primary School at Shanghai French School Qingpu campus. Before joining Shanghai French School, he was the Principal of a school in France, where he worked with families whose mother tongue was not French. He is currently preparing his PhD in Education Sciences.

An impressive academic record that includes BSc (Hons), PGCE and NPQH provide the foundation for Andrew’s career as an educator. He’s the recipient of a Shanghai Silver Magnolia Award, proving the impact he’s had here.

Before taking the reins as Principal, as Head of Secondary, Andrew oversaw a sustained increase in the school’s academic results for IGCSE and IBDP students, ensuring outstanding academic results that have enabled two thirds of our BISS Puxi students to reach the world's top 100 universities in the last year.

Not just a faculty member, Andrew is also a BISS Puxi parent. His two sons, with Deputy Head of Whole School, Lisa Cavanagh, have spent their learning journey at the school too.