Lorne Brandt, Baishan AWS Program Director, began his education career in 2000 after graduating with a teaching certificate from Winthrop University. His first eight years were spent teaching Advanced Placement visual arts and coaching boys varsity soccer for a large public school near Charlotte, North Carolina. During these years he became chair of the Fine Arts department.
In 2009, Mr. Brandt became certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and then earned a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction in 2012. Seeking international teaching opportunities, he joined an international school in Qingdao, China, to establish the International General Certificate of Secondary Education Arts program and implement the school’s new information system.
Mr. Brandt returned to the U.S. in 2017 and married his wife, whom he met in Qingdao. He worked at a reputable school system in the fastest growing county in America. He returned to China in 2017 to establish a high school art program at an international school in Chengdu and was named Head of Faculty for the Expressive Arts and P.E., and chaired the Standards Committee.
Lorne and his wife are residents of the beloved city of Qingdao, China, where they are close to family and intend to stay. They both enjoy exercising, hiking and traveling. Mr. Brandt is a practicing artist, producing oil paintings and pastel drawings that often illustrate traditional Chinese architecture. He is passionate about international education and continues to teach International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme students.