St. Johnsbury Academy Goes to Korea

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Created on Friday, 30 November 2012 16:02
Written by Brian Stone

StJKoreaST. JOHNSBURY - St. Johnsbury Academy and the Jeju Free International City Development Center signed an agreement yesterday that will open a new school in Korea, based off of the historic St. Johnsbury Academy. The school, named St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju, will be located on Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea.

While most international schools in Korea are just satellite campuses, this will not be the case for St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju. Instead the school will use the academy's curriculum exactly, including the capstone project. 

"This is not a second campus for St. Johnsbury Academy," said Academy headmaster Tom Lovett. "This is an entirely new school but built on the model of education that has made St. Johnsbury so successful. The Korean government will actually fund the building of the school, it will be not a franchise of St. Johnsbury Academy. It will be its own independent school based on the philosophy admission."

"Together we will establish and operate St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju, which will provide world class education opportunities to young people throughout Asia," said Dr. Jong-Il Byon, CEO and chairman of the Jeju Free International City Development Center, through a translator. Byon led the board responsible for choosing St. Johnsbury Academy over seven other institutions that applied for the partnership. The sense of community associated with the Academy served as the main reason for its selection. "Although St. Johnsbury Academy is not located in the city its in suburban area, We believe that it provides good education for regular typical students, students of all interests and all different backgrounds," Byon said.

St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju will be ready for students throughout Asia, as well as exchange students, beginning in 2015.