2-Day ACAMIS Workshop
Enhancing Administrative Effectiveness in Schools
Australian International School Hong Kong
November 5-6, 2026
Dates
Thursday & Friday
November 5-6, 2026
Time
8:30 AM – 4:00PM
including lunch and tea breaks
Certificate Program
16 Hours of Professional Development will be Awarded
Early Bird Fee*
ACAMIS Members: USD 380
Non-members: USD 500
*Available until October 9, 2026.
Administrative staff are often the first point of contact in a school, shaping the experience of teachers, parents, and partners.
This 2-day workshop equips staff with practical tools and strategies to improve communication, manage competing demands, and work more efficiently in fast-paced environments.
A key component is the DISC Assessment, helping participants understand their communication styles and adapt to others for more effective collaboration. The workshop also includes a module on the use of AI in administrative work, offering practical ways to improve productivity and streamline daily tasks.
Ideal for front-facing and support staff, including executive and personal assistants, receptionists, and administrative teams in Admissions, HR, Finance, Facilities, and Marketing.
For school leaders, this is a practical way to strengthen the operational backbone of your school and build a more capable, high-performing administrative team.
Workshop Outcomes
By the end of this comprehensive 2-day workshop, participants will be equipped to:
Elevate School-Wide Collaboration
Leverage personal DiSC profiles and intercultural communication strategies to build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and work seamlessly across diverse school teams.
Maximize Operational Efficiency
Apply proven time-management frameworks to ruthlessly prioritize tasks, minimize daily distractions, and confidently manage shifting demands in a fast-paced environment.
Strengthen Stakeholder Relations
Excel as the school’s front-facing ambassadors by handling inquiries, conflicts, and daily interactions with enhanced confidence, empathy, and professionalism.
Modernize School Communications
Harness generative AI tools alongside the structured PDAC framework to draft clear, high-impact, and professional emails, communiques, and responses to complaints.
Partner Effectively with Leadership
Master the ability to communicate priorities and boundaries clearly, allowing administrative staff to better align with school leaders and proactively mitigate workplace conflicts.
Pricing
ACAMIS Members
USD 480
USD 380 pp*
Non-members
USD 600
USD 500 pp*
*Early Bird Discount ends on October 9, 2026.
Agenda
Day 1 | Nov 5 Thu
Module 1
Intercultural Communication Essentials
-
Administrative staff are the 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. Attendees will explore diverse communication preferences and master the art of using clarifying questions to eliminate misunderstandings. School leaders will find this module an invaluable asset for strengthening their school's operational backbone and building a highly cohesive, culturally aware team.
-
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
-
To build a high-performing administrative team, staff must understand not only their own professional styles but also how to adapt to others. This interactive module leverages the power of the DiSC Assessment to help support and front-facing staff decode workplace dynamics. Participants will dive into their unique profiles, cultivate a positive self-image rooted in their strengths, and learn actionable strategies to tailor their communication for maximum influence. It is a must-attend session for school administrative teams looking to minimize friction, handle challenging behaviors with confidence, and elevate collaborative teamwork.
-
Better understand their own communication and work style.
Adapt communication strategies for different personality types.
Improve teamwork and workplace relationships through more effective interactions.
Day 2 | Nov 6 Fri
Module 3
AI-Powered Business Writing
-
Clear and professional written communication is critical for maintaining school-wide alignment and parent trust. This forward-thinking module empowers administrative, marketing, and admissions teams to elevate their business writing by blending traditional frameworks with modern technology. Participants will master the strategic PDAC (Purpose, Details, Action, Close) framework alongside practical generative AI tools to draft clear, impactful emails. Through real-world scenarios and peer reviews, attendees will gain the confidence and professionalism needed to navigate routine requests and complex complaints smoothly.
-
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
-
Fast-paced school environments demand that administrative staff constantly manage competing priorities and unexpected operational tasks. This module provides executive assistants, receptionists, and facilities teams with proven, practical strategies—including Stephen Covey’s time-management frameworks—to ruthlessly eliminate distractions and focus on high-impact work. By learning to "manage themselves" and role-playing how to communicate boundaries clearly, participants will walk away ready to handle shifting workloads smoothly, align expectations with school leaders, and drastically reduce workplace conflict.
-
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
Author, International School Leader and Administrator, Expert Facilitator
-
Henry 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 Math 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/marketing.
Henry is the author of Thriving in International Schools: A Guide for Local Administrative Non-Teaching Support Staff, now available in its 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
Experienced Administrative Leader and Facilitator
-
Sophia 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.
Learn with Peers at
Australian International School of Hong Kong
3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Mina Dunstan
Head of School
Early Bird Now Open
🐦
Early Bird Now Open 🐦
Pricing
ACAMIS Members
USD 480
USD 380 pp*
Non-members
USD 600
USD 500 pp*
*Early Bird Discount ends on October 9, 2026.