After 12 years as the voice and face of Guadalajara’s prestigious American School, Janet Heinze is set to retire this July. The personable general director bubbles with pride about the school, which boasts a student body that is 80 percent Mexican (15 percent American, 5 percent “other”), and a curriculum that is predominantly and unwaveringly English.
“Most of our students – 65 or 70 percent – stay with us the whole way through,” she explains, “aside from our consulate families, who rotate in and out.”
A defining characteristic of the students, according to Heinze (pronounced HAIN-zee) and the buzz in the community, is their loyalty to the school. Many of them remain involved, long after graduation, in the school’s countless projects and programs — a scholarship foundation, a recycling center, the annual art festival, even a pet adoption project, to name a few. In her list of what she is proud of, Heinze mentions the graduates first.“They are very knowledgeable, ethical and dedicated,” she said. “They know how to communicate and work in an international environment. And they’re very prepared for higher studies.” Virtually all of the students go on to university, she added. “And when they come back to visit, they tell me ‘I am more than prepared’” for higher studies.
Although the students are Heinze’s pride and joy, most of her energy during her time at the school’s helm (apart from her six years as an elementary teacher and two years as the elementary principal), has been devoted to selecting and preening the teaching staff.
“A main focus of my work is to get qualified teachers,” she noted. “50 percent of them are foreign hired. No other school in the city does that. Most of the teachers are bilingual and 70 percent have a master’s or higher, even in the early childhood section.”
Heinze herself got a job at the school by applying for it while she was already living in the area with her husband, although after she left Guadalajara to teach in California, she was lured back with an offer to step in as head of the school.
Another facet of the school that lights up Heinze’s face is the scholarship program. Tuition is not cheap and current students whose families fall on hard times may apply for a partial scholarship, although the program isn’t open to incoming students unless they already have siblings at the school. During Heinze’s tenure, she says, the scholarship foundation has met with increasing support in the form of parent and alum participation in events that raise funds for it – movies, silent auctions, souvenir sales, etc.
“It took a while to turn people’s minds around to the benefits. This attitude towards philanthropy – it’s a big change for us. Mexicans are very generous if there’s trust in the organization.”
As another example of the trust and enthusiasm among the American School community, Heinze mentioned that none of the 18 members of the Board of Directors nor the 13 members of the Board of Trustees receives a salary or even a perq. “I’ve been able to accomplish things here in great part because of the boards.”
Although she is still enthusiastic and retirement is a bittersweet prospect, Heinze acknowledges that, “It’s time to go. It’s a tremendous responsibility to do this on a daily basis.
“When we’re older, we have to take more time for ourselves physically, eat better and so on. There are lots of opportunities for when I retire, but I plan to take a year off – a sabbatical – and not feel guilty. If you stop, look and listen, life brings you things that open doors. You can find the right path.”
She said she is heartened by the knowledge that the new general director – current American School high-school principal David McGrath – “is a wonderful young man. That makes it easier to go. The school is in good hands.”
Next week: Janet Heinze’s unique background gives her insight into violence in U.S. schools.