Enhancing Administrative Effectiveness in Schools - AISHK 2026
Enhancing Administrative Effectiveness in Schools
Australian International School Hong Kong
Thursday & Friday, November 5-6, 2026
Administrative staff are often the first point of contact in a school, shaping the experience of teachers, parents and partners.
This two-day workshop equips staff with practical tools and strategies to improve communication, manage competing demands and work more efficiently in fast-paced school environments.
A key component is the DiSC Assessment, which helps participants understand their communication styles and adapt to others for more effective collaboration. The workshop also includes practical approaches to using AI in administrative work to improve productivity and strengthen day-to-day communication.
The workshop is designed for front-facing and support staff, including executive and personal assistants, receptionists, and teams working in Admissions, HR, Finance, Facilities, Marketing and school administration.
For school leaders, this is a practical way to strengthen the operational backbone of the school and build a more capable, cohesive and high-performing administrative team.
Essential Questions
- How can administrative staff communicate more effectively across cultures and working styles?
- How can DiSC insights help staff adapt their communication and strengthen workplace relationships?
- How can generative AI and the PDAC framework improve the clarity and professionalism of school communications?
- How can administrative staff prioritize high-impact work while managing competing and unexpected demands?
- How can staff communicate priorities and boundaries clearly while maintaining strong partnerships with school leaders and stakeholders?
Over-Arching Goal
The goal of this workshop is to strengthen the effectiveness of school administrative teams by equipping front-facing and support staff with practical tools to communicate across cultures and working styles, write clearly and professionally with the responsible support of AI, manage competing priorities, and work confidently with school leaders and stakeholders.
Workshop Outcomes
By the end of this comprehensive two-day workshop, participants will be equipped to:
- Elevate school-wide collaboration by using personal DiSC profiles and intercultural communication strategies to build trust, reduce misunderstandings and work effectively across diverse school teams.
- Maximize operational efficiency by applying proven time-management frameworks to prioritize tasks, minimize daily distractions and manage shifting demands.
- Modernize school communications by using generative AI tools alongside the structured PDAC framework to draft clear, impactful and professional emails, communications and responses to complaints.
- Strengthen stakeholder relationships by handling inquiries, conflicts and daily interactions with greater confidence, empathy and professionalism.
- Partner more effectively with leadership by communicating priorities and boundaries clearly, aligning expectations and proactively reducing workplace conflict.
Workshop Information & Price
Dates
Thursday and Friday, November 5–6, 2026
Time
8:30 AM–4:00 PM (lunch and tea breaks are included)
Venue: Australian International School Hong Kong, 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. The campus is a few minutes’ walk from Kowloon Tong MTR Station, Exit E. Taxis and buses are also available through the nearby transport interchange.
Early Bird Registration discount of $100 USD per individually registered participant is available until October 9, 2026.
ACAMIS Members
Early-bird price: USD 380 per person. Standard price: USD 480 per person
Non-Members
Early-bird price: USD 500 per person. Standard price: USD 600 per person
Certificate Program
A certificate for 16 hours of professional development will be awarded.
Workshop Preparation
Participants should bring a laptop or tablet for the AI-powered business writing activities.
They are also encouraged to bring one or two anonymized examples of workplace communications, such as:
- A routine request
- An email requiring a sensitive response
- A complaint or challenging inquiry
Any instructions related to completing the DiSC Assessment will be shared with registered participants before the workshop.
Program Agenda
The program is organized across two days, with two modules covered each day.
Module 1 - Intercultural Communication Essentials
Overview
Administrative staff are a vital first point of contact in a school, shaping the daily experiences of teachers, parents and external partners.
Designed specifically for front-facing and support staff—including HR, Finance, Admissions and executive assistants—this session equips participants with essential intercultural communication skills.
Participants will explore different communication preferences and practice using clarifying questions to reduce misunderstandings. The session will help schools strengthen their operational teams and develop a more cohesive, culturally aware working environment.
Outcomes
Participants will:
- Communicate more effectively across cultures.
- Use clarifying questions to reduce misunderstandings.
- Build stronger working relationships in diverse school environments.
Module 2 - DiSC Insights and Effective Communication Strategies
Overview
To build a high-performing administrative team, staff need to understand both their own professional styles and how to adapt to others.
This interactive module uses the DiSC Assessment to help support and front-facing staff make sense of workplace dynamics. Participants will explore their profiles, recognize the strengths they bring to their roles, and learn practical ways to adjust their communication for different colleagues and situations.
The session will support administrative teams to reduce friction, respond to challenging behaviors with confidence and strengthen collaboration.
Outcomes
Participants will:
- Better understand their own communication and work style.
- Adapt communication strategies for different personality types.
- Improve teamwork and workplace relationships through more effective interactions.
Module 3 - AI-Powered Business Writing
Overview
Clear and professional written communication is critical for maintaining school-wide alignment and parent trust.
This module supports administrative, marketing and admissions teams to strengthen their business writing by combining a practical writing framework with generative AI tools.
Participants will use the PDAC framework—Purpose, Details, Action, Close—to draft clear and effective emails. Through realistic scenarios and peer review, they will build greater confidence in responding to routine requests, sensitive issues and complaints.
Outcomes
Participants will:
- Write clearer, more professional emails and school communications.
- Use AI tools and the PDAC framework to improve communication effectiveness.
- Respond to requests and complaints with greater confidence and professionalism.
Module 4 - Efficient Prioritization
Overview
Fast-paced school environments require administrative staff to manage competing priorities and unexpected operational tasks.
This module provides executive assistants, receptionists, facilities teams and other support staff with practical time-management strategies, including frameworks associated with Stephen Covey.
Participants will identify distractions, focus on high-impact work and practice communicating priorities and boundaries clearly. They will leave better prepared to manage changing workloads, align expectations with school leaders and reduce avoidable workplace conflict.
Outcomes
Participants will:
- Prioritize tasks more effectively in fast-paced school environments.
- Reduce distractions and focus on high-impact work.
- Communicate priorities clearly to manage expectations and reduce conflicts.
Facilitators
Henry Wong
Years of Experience: 20+ years
Career: Author, International School Leader and Administrator, Expert Facilitator
Henry Wong brings over 20 years of experience in public and international schools, serving communities ranging from 220 to 1,400 students.
His roles have included Supply Teacher, Middle School Mathematics Teacher, Admissions and Marketing Senior Manager, Director of Business Administration, and Co-Head of School. Much of his work has focused on leading non-teaching functions, including academic offices, HR, finance, operations, and admissions and marketing.
Henry is the author of Thriving in International Schools: A Guide for Local Administrative Non-Teaching Support Staff, now available in an updated edition.
Now semi-retired, Henry continues to support administrative leaders and non-teaching staff across the region through workshops and conference coordination.
Sophia Deng
Years of Experience: 10 years
Career: Experienced Administrative Leader and Facilitator
Sophia Deng is an experienced administrative professional in international education and currently serves as Executive Assistant to the Head at Harrow Hong Kong.
With 10 years of experience in school administration, she supports school leadership through communication, coordination and daily operations management. Sophia is passionate about the role administrative staff play in strengthening school culture and effectiveness.
She hosts PeerSphere Peer Learning Communities for executive assistants and emerging administrative leaders and strongly believes that leadership is a skill set that can be developed over time.
Sophia holds degrees from Beijing Forestry University and Johns Hopkins University.
Recommended Hotel - TBD
Host School
Founded in 1995, Australian International School Hong Kong is a Reception to Year 12 co-educational day school.
The school provides an Australian curriculum and, in the senior years, offers students the choice of the New South Wales Higher School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Its diverse community brings together approximately 1,200 students representing more than 25 nationalities.
Mina Dunstan
Head of School
Australian International School Hong Kong
3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
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