Middle School Principal, 1995-1998
† 2010
Robert Welch – better known as Bob – was the Middle School Principal at HKIS from 1995 to 1998.
At a memorial service in April 2010, Jim Handrich, who served HKIS in many senior roles from 1983 to 2007, paid tribute to Bob, saying, “Bob and I worked together at Hong Kong International School where he was Middle School Principal and I was High School Principal… Bob was a man of integrity, warmth and sincerity. He was a great supporter of teachers and I heard several personal stories of what that meant for individual teachers’ lives. Bob always believed in people and gave them opportunities to grow. Others reminded me to say how much Bob was dedicated to Middle School kids and to that community. Bob’s spiritual leadership was a strength as well.
We always started our weekly admin meetings in Hong Kong with a devotion that we all shared in leading. Using Scripture and the events of school life or the happenings in the world, Bob’s words were encouraging, sometimes challenging, and always growthful for all of us. Bob’s leadership moved the Middle School of HKIS to a new level of quality. We all only wished that his time with us had been longer.”
Jeremy Seehafer, who has been a teacher and baseball coach at HKIS since 1996, described Bob as “a great leader and a wonderful man.”
Linda Anderson, who has served in many management roles at HKIS since 1990 and is currently the Director of Curriculum & Assessment, remembers Bob fondly. “Bob was the quintessential Middle School Principal – he was able to balance fun, positive regard for the students and clear expectations for behavior and performance. Bob inspired loyalty from his faculty and staff, and he was a clear communicator who empowered others to lead. He was generous in his affirmations and direct in his approach to problem-solving and planning,” she said.