K. International School Tokyo has a growing staff and student population. Our highly qualified and committed teaching staff represent over 15 different cultural backgrounds and bring with them a wide range of skills and experiences. Currently, our staff numbers approximately 60 teachers across all grade levels from Kindergarten through Grade 12. This includes Elementary School classroom teachers, Secondary School subject teachers and various other single subject teachers who work across different areas of the school. Our teachers are enthusiastic, motivating, caring individuals who are committed to achieving the goals identified by our school's guiding statements.

All teachers at KIST are required to be certified teachers with a recognized teaching degree (e.g. Bachelor of Education or equivalent thereof). In addition, they must have either a minimum of two years' teaching experience or be graduates of the IB Diploma Programme. All staff undergo rigorous evaluation before being offered a position at the school. After joining our school community, they undergo an annual Teacher Performance Review that covers all areas of teaching, learning, classroom organization and management. Due to the nature of international education, the turnover of staff changes from year to year. In general, our teachers are employed for an initial two-year period. Some teachers decide to leave at the end of this period; however, many extend their time with us for a second or third period.

"KIST is a school that embodies the spirit of inquiry and fosters an academic freedom for both students and faculty not found in most schools. In this sense, KIST is intellectually refreshing and a vibrant place for learning." (Secondary School teacher, USA)

As part of our commitment to providing a high quality education, our staff participate in regular professional development activities that assist them to develop and update their teaching skills. This professional development takes a number of forms including attendance at IB workshops and conferences held in countries around the world, attendance at other recognized professional development designed for teachers, school-based workshops where specialist presenters come to work with our teachers on relevant topics, professional reading opportunities, peer classroom visits and exchanges with other schools. We encourage our staff to continually reflect on their teaching and learning at both a classroom and school level. Participation in professional development by our teachers also acts as a model to our students in encouraging them to become lifelong learners.