Elementary School Principal, High School Principal, Head of School, Associate Head of School 1983-2007
“For nearly 25 years, Jim Handrich has been at the ‘heart of HKIS education’. He, arguably more than anyone else, has left an indelible mark on generations of HKIS students, teachers and staff,” wrote James Manning in an article in Dragon Tales (Summer 2007).
James (Jim) Handrich served HKIS in many senior roles from 1983 to 2007 – he was the Elementary School Principal, High School Principal, Head of School, and Associate Head of School. He is now retired and lives in Naples, Florida.
In DragonTales (Summer 2007) is a message to Jim from alumnus Josh Begbie ’96: “Dear Jim, Through your years at HKIS, you have supported us, encouraging exploration and growth while respectfully constraining us as needed. […] You have heard the voices of all HKIS stakeholders, making sure each felt valued. You have brought light and life to so many while ensuring a fantastic education. You have been our friend, our champion, and our guide in so many areas. From we who are no longer your students, but gratefully still your friends, a deep, “Thank you.””
In the same issue of Dragon Tales, alumnus Kenneth Koo ’79 wrote, “The lives of many alumni have been touched by Jim. He has helped us to grow and mature into who we are today. Jim’s gentle yet enthusiastic approach to all aspects of HKIS and his honor roll of accomplishments will forever be an integral part of the foundation of our school.”
Mark Sheldon, who was the Director of HKIS’s Office of Institutional Advancement (as it was then called) from 2006 to 2009, described Jim as “the most effective, distinguished and beloved High School Principal in the history of HKIS.” He continued, “Jim was loyal to faculty, friendly and effective with students, and a strong missionary educator. All the High School students coming back to the 50th-anniversary celebrations will want to see him.”
Clara Wong, who spent 22 years as Executive Assistant to High School Principals, from 1993 to 2016, recalled, “Jim is a very warm character and worked very hard. Starting at 7 a.m., he’d always be at the gate greeting the students individually and tried to remember all their names.”
Service projects were always dear to Jim’s heart, so to honor his contributions to HKIS, two alumni (Desmond Chu ’91 and Kenneth Koo ’79) approached the school to propose the James A. Handrich Service Leadership Endowment Fund. It was established in June 2007 and has provided funds for such projects annually since 2008.
Upon hearing of his “HKIS Inspires” nomination, Jim said, “What an honor! I must say though that the strong administrative and staff colleagues, exceptional teachers and remarkable and enjoyable students made my journey at HKIS both a joy and privilege.”