Handan H.

Introduction

Dear Members of the Search Committee, I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the leadership position at your esteemed institution. With over three decades of educational and executive leadership experience—spanning school founding, campus development, and international accreditation—I am confident in my ability to advance your institution’s commitment to high-quality, student-centered IB education in a nurturing, globally minded environment. As an active member of the IB Educators Network (IBEN), I have served as a Workshop Leader, Site Visitor, Programme Leader, and Subject Matter Expert. These roles have allowed me to conduct over 75 site visits and deliver global workshops across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. My expertise in leading holistic educational frameworks extends across the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP, CP), Cambridge curricula, and BTEC pathways. Key leadership milestones from my career include: Founding Leadership & Operational Scale: As Founding Head of School for TED Kocaeli, I transformed a large-scale construction project into a premier K-12 school, establishing international curricula and streamlining enterprise platforms including ManageBac, Toddle, Moodle, and Follett Destiny. Regional Firsts & Accreditation: As Founding Head of School and IB Coordinator in Antalya, I led the institution from initial construction to becoming the region’s first accredited IB Diploma Programme school. Global Strategic Management: Led campus development, technology integration, and accreditation evaluation processes across international contexts, including the UK, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, and Türkiye. My academic background directly informs my approach to educational leadership. I hold a Master’s degree in Pedagogical Leadership with high honors from Yeditepe University, where my thesis focused on early language acquisition—a foundation that drives my commitment to bilingual, multilingual, and mother-tongue support programs. Currently, I am expanding this research as a Doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at Yeditepe University. As a visible, collaborative leader, I prioritize empowering staff through targeted professional development, building open lines of communication with families, and cultivating an inclusive school culture grounded in high expectations. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my entrepreneurial mindset, IB expertise, and vision for international education align with your school's strategic goals. Thank you for your time and consideration. Warm regards, Handan Yatgin

Teaching experience

As stated in my CV, I have extensive experience in teaching leadership and founding the School Head position for over 3 decades, from 1990 to 2024

Teaching specialties