Brad Latzke is the former middle school principal at Hong Kong International School and served previously as principal at Shanghai American School – Puxi Campus and American School of Doha. He has taught and served in school leadership positions at international schools in Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Qatar, China, and Hong Kong.
After a three-year sabbatical, he temporarily returned to international education at HKIS and will continue to share his learning while promoting educational innovation and change initiatives in schools.
Systemic transformation of education requires a sense of urgency by its decision-makers, leaders, and practitioners fueled by input from the community we serve. Brad is keenly interested in supporting individuals, teacher teams, school leadership, and school communities in a better understanding of how coming shifts in education will be historic and inevitable. Short-term linear thinking and planning need to be coupled with the acceptance of an ambiguous future influenced by exponential change.
Brad is highly skilled and experienced in all facets of middle school teaching and leadership, K-12 assessment including standards-based assessment and reporting, collaborative leadership, international education, leading teacher & administrative collaborative groups, and public speaking.
What Others Are Saying
“Just thought I send a message because we have been working with Pasi Sahlberg in our Diocese. Today, Pasi said, ‘If we just got rid of exams and grades, students would start to learn’. I couldnt help but think of you.”
— Former teacher colleague, Facebook message, April 11, 2024
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“#BestBossEver!”
— Former teacher colleague, Facebook post, February 24, 2024
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“You always throw huge stones to move the stagnant water in the lakes of our minds… Thank you very much.”
— Tweet reply, April 8, 2023
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“Wow Brad, how we wish you were still in the game!”
— Former teacher colleague, email contact, May 16, 2022
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“I am grateful for your work, the experience you have from top-notch international schools, and with that credibility, doing something to encourage educators to do better.”
— International school leader, email contact, February 19, 2022
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“Servant leadership at its finest—I’ve seen you walk your talk, Brad. Thank you for your service to others!”
— Linkedin/Twitter educator colleague, Linkedin contact, February 6, 2022
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I want to let you know that I live for your tweets. I’m in a public high school in rural Texas. I have heard the word Learning once in three years. I miss your leadership and the personal growth I experienced at SAS. I’ll retire at the end of the year. But you keep fighting the fight!
— Former Teacher Colleague, FB Messenger contact, December 27, 2021
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“I continue to be inspired by your ideas and thought processes.”
— Twitter Educator Colleague, email contact, August 5, 2021
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“a number of us who had been in [SAS] Middle School while you were principal all agreed what special years those were and what a positive, professional, collaborative culture you created there.”
— Former Teacher Colleague, FB Messenger contact, July 4, 2021
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“Your people skills are extraordinary…I grew under your leadership.”
— Former Teacher Colleague, FB Messenger contact, February 17, 2021
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“I continue to reflect on how inspired I am that you and Ken [O’Connor], two very experienced, knowledgable leaders, so quickly jumped on board this event [online panel on assessment] and engaged with us. To me, that speaks to your genuine interest in serving to improve education practices for the greater good and it’s how I aspire to grow as a leader like you both!”
— Lyndsay Prendergast, 2020 ASCD Emerging Leader, email contact, January 22, 2021
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“And I had a moment of reflection about who, in my career, had shifted my perspective the most about how to evaluate a student not by grades but by their thinking…and that person was you and my first year at SAS with standards-based reporting. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!”
— Former Teacher Colleague, FB Messenger contact, April 10, 2020
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“It’s refreshing to read your always-progressive point of view. You made an impact at [former school] and you’re often brought up as inspiration for what can be.”
— Former Teacher Colleague, email contact, March 23, 2020
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“I really appreciate all of the work that you did around SBR (Standards-Based Assessing/Reporting) and I think it transformed a lot of what I do in a positive way!”
— Former Teacher Colleague, email contact, October 28, 2019
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“I hope you continue to help our educators around the world innovate the world of education!”
— Dana Watts, Director of Research and Development for School Management, International School Services, June 17, 2019
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“If you’re looking for transformative principals, allow me the pleasure of introducing you to Brad Latzke. Brad is an inspirational MS principal currently working at Hong Kong International School…”
— Former Administrator Colleague, tweet DM, May 11, 2019
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“Found a great website from @BradLatzke that has some fantastic resources for individuals, teams, schools, and communities seeking transformational change and innovation.”
— Julie M. Wilson, Institute For The Future Of Learning, tweet April 30, 2019.
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“[We] both highly value the work you do for children around the globe. You have been an amazing mentor to so many, including us! Thank you!”
— Former Teacher Colleagues, email contact, November 30, 2018
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“Brad, I have such respect for your opinion and experience – Thank you for this (support for new book), man. It means a lot.”
— Rick Wormeli tweet, middle-level educator, consultant, writer, and author of Fair Isn’t Always Equal. May 26, 2018
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“Lucky to have the wisdom of Brad Latzke at HKIS for the year!”
— Brent Brayko, High School Associate Principal tweet, October 14, 2018
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“… and his consistent voice for change has really been an education for me and helped to clarify my thinking about what education should mean in the 21st century.”
— Nick Covington tweet, May 25, 2018
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“Woah, @BradLatzke – I must admit, I just Googled you, and I AM A FAN.”
— Dr. Jim Detwiler, Deputy Superintendent, Boone County Schools, KY, March 7, 2018
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“I did some research about you and decided to reach out because you seem to have a breadth of experience with moving fossilized teachers towards change.”
— International teacher, email contact, January 14, 2018
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“Latzke is one of our leading thinkers about the future of education. ”
— Jim Lerman, Scoop.it! The 4th Era, July 19, 2017
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“I was hoping we could Skype [sometime soon]. I’d really appreciate a Brad Latzke Leadership Course 101. Any topic is fair game and I’d love to hear about what you have learned over the years about creating organizational change, key pitfalls and success elements. I have great respect for you and highly value any advice.”
— Former Teacher Colleague, email contact, May 1, 2017
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“As you likely know, the Innovation Institute (Shanghai American School HS) is in year three, with a fancy new facility (finally hitting stride), and I was thinking about how much the program has you to thank for getting the movement started. I suspect that you would not recognize so much of the HS today, in contrast to what [your daughter] experienced. You will be happy to know that outside of the Chinese department and the AP/IB courses, no one really gives final exams in the HS gym anymore.”
— Former Teacher Colleague, Facebook message October 11, 2016
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Interview Question: Who and what would I say have influenced me in my classroom instruction in recent times?
Response: “I wonder how much of Doha is already in my practice due to the best boss I’ve ever had. The American School of Doha brought us, Brad Latzke. I imagine wearing a WWBD bracelet sometimes when I’m faced with a challenging situation. His ability to listen with patience and compassion continues to make everyone he encounters feel important and valued. Before anyone can feel safe to make art, take creative risks, and attempt to innovate through creating, they need to feel like their place in the room is invaluable and key to our art village. I’m not sure how much of Brad’s philosophy is just in his soul and how much was a product of his time at ASD, but I am grateful for his life lessons.”
— Former Teacher Colleague, email contact, October 6, 2016
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“It’s great to see you make such contributions on Twitter, where I’m sure that you have a global audience.”
— Douglas Reeves, author, consultant in educational leadership & organizational effectiveness, August 2016
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“Your influence was felt far and wide by those who worked with you, but I wonder how often people let you know how much they appreciated your leadership. Here is what I wrote about you as part of my leadership course reflection:
I also had another strong mentor when I moved to China. Without a doubt, relationships and integrity drove him, and he is the most effective leader I have ever worked with. He was the epitome of servant leader – a perfect case study for Sargent Shriver’s 7 Characteristics of a Good Leader (established a sense of purpose, held us to common standards, practiced temperance, respectful to everyone he worked with, empowered those he led, had a vision, and had a deep commitment to the people and the work). The influence of this principal can be seen daily in my interactions and connections with others.
Thanks again for your positive influence and modeling effective and connecting leadership.”
— Former Teacher Colleague, email contact February 14, 2016
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“Just wanted to say hello and let you know that I am grateful for your mentorship. I continue to use Marzano’s non-linguistic representation of vocab words that you passed on… I continue to remember that part of taking risks and trying new things as a teacher INVOLVES a learning curve that includes “not doing things as well as we would like initially”, but jumping in and trying it… and it can bring great things to the classroom – that get better with practice! (Okay, so you said it differently, but that is how I remember it.) AND… I am not quiet in staff meetings anymore – maybe I share too much now! ha ha ha I do things as a teacher, that I remember you doing as a principal (ways of managing students and situations). So, just wanted to say thank you, Brad. You are one of my favourite and most memorable teachers.”
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“The AAS Middle School is in its first year of standards-based grading and reporting. Recently, I was discussing SBGR resources with my principal and assistant principal, and I suggested they follow Brad Latzke on Twitter for his timely and highly-relevant tweets on the subject. They found him to be a great source for articles and insights to make the transition smooth for all stakeholders.”
— Andrea Coffey, Reach Out And Touch Someone November 8, 2015
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“had our farewell party for departing faculty & staff–but @BradLatzke said farewell to US. What a great team leader & coach; we’ll miss you!”
— Jessica Beck, former teacher colleague, June 10, 2015 tweet
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“I am now in my fifth year as Middle School Vice Principal at Shanghai American School. During this time, I have collaborated daily with the current principal, Brad Latzke, and have benefitted from his experience as a teacher and administrator in overseas schools for more than 25 years. What I have enjoyed most about our relationship is the professional trust that we have developed and the way in which we have shared all aspects of the leadership and management of the middle school division. To say that I have grown tremendously as an educational leader through our collaborative work would be a significant understatement.”
— Dr. Theron Mott, Middle School Principal, Shanghai American School (written 2014)
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Tell Me About … / The Best Principal You’ve Ever Known Educational Leadership, April 2013 | Volume 70 | Number 7
Getting Wiser—and Softer
“I work with Brad Latzke, an incredible middle school principal at the Shanghai American School in China. Mr. Latzke says that as he gets wiser, he gets softer. Recently, one of his teachers got the green light to adopt a child from Africa after waiting for years and suffering through many disappointments. The teacher had to take leave multiple times to go and sign the paperwork and then spend time in the United States before coming back to her teaching job in China. Mr. Latzke not only ensured that she got the time off, but also allowed another teacher in his division to travel with her. Mr. Latzke has been a leader in supporting the family and collaborating with staff to ensure that her duties are covered while she is gone. The entire school has gone through this experience together; the staff feels as though they are all adopting this child.”
— Debbie Lane, (former) elementary principal, Puxi Campus, Shanghai American School, Shanghai, China
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“I would like to say a few words about Brad Latzke. His resignation presents another hurdle to our transition as a school. Brad has been the ASD middle school. His philosophy and affinity for middle school students are the very foundation on which our middle school is built, and his legacy at ASD will be impossible to forget.”
— Ed Ladd, Director, American School of Doha, October 2007
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