Principal Stotesbury has an extensive background in educational training and experience, holding two Master of Education degrees from the University of British Columbia and Queen's University as well as a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Victoria. The majority of his career has been teaching internationally outside of his home country of Canada, with over 12 years of international education in which time he has accumulated rich teaching and leadership experience in international schools in China, Australia, and South Korea.
Mr. Stotesbury’s first experience in education began in 1999 with his first role as a teacher’s assistant in a high school, which later turned into summer teaching programs for English as a Second Language (ESL) supporting exchange students from Asia. This rewarding experience led him to formally begin his studies in education, earning Canadian teaching certification to teach English and Music. He taught in Primary, Middle, and High School classrooms in Canada before seeking adventure abroad in 2013, where he was teaching and then leading a Ministry of Education (MoE) English Program in South Korea. Prior to his service as the International Principal at HDQD, Mr. Stotesbury served as a leader in two bilingual schools as a Vice Principal and then as a Director of International Education.
With 9 years of International Education leadership experience, Mr. Stotesbury is very familiar with the needs of unique needs of students in bilingual schools. His philosophy emphasizes the holistic growth of children in all areas of education, and he places high value in fairness, equity, kindness, tolerance, mutual respect, and open communication. He places the wellbeing and needs of students in the center of the school, consistently guided by the HD School’s Motto “Education Creates Character” in which engaging activities, curriculum, and events all have a focus of developing the whole child.
As a "son-in-law of Shandong," Mr. Stotesbury has a deep connection to the educational culture of Chinese students and families, having lived in China since 2016. He is committed to promoting and respecting Chinese culture and traditions, with the overall aim to establish HD Qingdao as the premier bilingual school in China for shaping outstanding global citizens rooted in the Chinese context.