Operational Board of Directors

Mr. Sherman Jen

President and CEO

Mr. Sherman Jen is President of Maple Leaf Educational Systems’ Board of Directors. Mr. Jen’s vision has come to fruition. As a Chinese immigrant to Canada, he saw the need for education that would blend the traditional strengths of the Chinese system of education, e.g. dedication, commitment, respect, work effort, memorization, computational skills, etc. with the strengths of the Western system, e.g. higher-level thinking, problem-solving, creative writing, research skills, group discussion and decision-making practices, etc.

Mr. Jen opened the Dalian Maple Leaf International School in 1995 with 14 students enrolled. He approached British Columbia’s Ministry of Education regarding the possibility of inspecting and certifying his school in Dalian, China. The Dalian Maple Leaf International School became the first pilot school for that which developed into British Columbia’s Offshore School Certification Program.

Today Maple Leaf Educational Systems operates 20 schools with over 6,750 students enrolled.

Mr. Jen has received numerous awards and honors, including Ten Top Outstanding Figures in Chinese National Independent Schools, Honorary Citizen of Dalian and Member of the Liaoning Provincial People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Ms. Susanne Penner

Vice-President and Superintendent of British Columbia Programs

Susannne Penner is the Superintendent and BC Agent for Maple Leaf International Schools, and vice president of Maple Leaf Educational Systems. She has more than thirty-five years experience in education. Ms. Penner has spent the past eleven years as Deputy Inspector and Inspector of Independent Schools and Offshore programs and Executive Director of International Education in the Ministry of Education, government of British Columbia, Canada. Prior to this she served as principal and teacher in Kindergarten – Grade 12 public and private schools in Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia. She has been inspecting British Columbia programs in offshore schools since 1999. Ms. Penner holds a Bachelors degree in Education from the University of Manitoba, Canada and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Western Washington University, USA.

Ms. Zhang Jingxia

Vice-President and Comptroller

Ms.Zhang is Vice-President and comptroller for Maple Leaf Educational Systems. She has a strong background in financial management and accounting. Prior to joining Maple Leaf, Ms. Zhang worked in Jilin Province Dunhua City Pharmacy Factory as Director of Finance. She has been a Director and Financial Executive Officer since 1995.

Mr. Li Wangqing

Vice-President and Chief Director of Construction Centre

Mr. Li has served as Vice-President and Director of Buildings and Properties since 1995. Prior to this, Mr. Li served as Vice Secretary-General of CCPC Shijiazhuan Committee, Director General of Shijiazhuang Foreign Economical Trading Bureau and Director and General Manager of Sherman Real Estate Development Co. Ltd.