You can expect questions on the following:
1. teaching vs. managing faculty
2. Addressing parental complaints about one of your teachers
3. Supporting new and struggling teachers
4. Your organizational skills
5. Delegating work, bringing people together, and dealing with rebels
6. Scheduling and explaining rationale behind assigning subjects to teachers
7. Curriculum - horizontal and vertical alignment, establishing cross-curricular links, trans-disciplinary skills, knowledge vs. skills debate etc.
8. Strategies for the department transition from good to great
9. Plan B- when things don't work as planned
10. Safety issues, technician training if you are a science department head

P.S. Been HoD at two elite schools for a decade.

Way too much fat, sugar, and sodium in Chinese food. People go to China thinking it's cheaper to live and save more. Not true anymore.

Several folks new to IT and from bottom tier schools move to China to break into IB schools, save a bit or even fund further education in the hopes of returning to their dream schools elsewhere. Very few realize those dreams.

@vsmith
It's 93, moderate. Source: US embassy
What's yours?

There are two kinds: engaged students and disenchanted ones. The question is, what you gonna do about the latter?

PG
The awesomeness is linked to the track record and the industrious/disruptive teacher folk at the top 3 schools in BKK. Teachers are open-minded and frequently attend job-alikes to learn from one another to better their craft unlike the recycling types in your part of the world. To say a great majority of teachers on this forum would be more than willing to work at the above-mentioned schools in BKK would be a genuine understatement.

Coming back to the topic at hand, the AQI in BKK this past week has been fairly moderate, but Chiangmai seems to be slightly on the unhealthy side, which is mostly due to slash and burn practices on the countryside (Source: US Embassy, BKK).

Apart from the 4-letter school in Tokyo, there are none that come close to the top 3 in Bangkok. Even the latter are way above the former. Nobody I know of goes to Tokyo for PD. Never heard of any major workshops or conferences happening there in recent years and that says a lot about how progressive the schools are. They are still stuck in 90s methods.

You definitely don't feel like an alien here in BKK and no coughing in the face nor mid-night tremors/taking cover. If you can afford it, Kyoto is nice for a short holiday, though. I'll give you that.

Nice improvement, no butter this time. I say avoid microwaving, too. Carcinogens, mate. Google it up.

PG
The breadth and depth of faculty experience, school infrastructure, saving potential, admin credentials at BKK tier schools are superior to their counterparts in Japan. Pools and BBQ pits are personal comforts in the BKK condominiums, not part of accreditation reports. You can't say Japan is competitive just because it's a first world country. The school quality matters. Take a look at the respective websites and alumni track record, there's a sea of difference.

Based on 'International Schools Guide', accreditation reports from CIS, NEASC, and WASC, and school associations, such as EARCOS, FOBISIA, and ISA.
Schools in Japan simply can't rival the infrastructure of their tier 1 counterparts in BKK and folks from the former regularly visit the latter for PD and go home enlightened, not to mention our condos have pools and BBQ areas.

I have seen teachers from tier 1 schools in Japan applying to schools in Thailand and going empty-handed.
Here is the ranking from an admin perspective (for tier 1 schools only):

1. Thailand

2. Japan

3. Hong Kong

4. Taiwan

5. S.Korea

6. Malaysia

7. China

8. Vietnam

9. Cambodia

10. Laos

Folks who can't make it to top 3 in Asia choose Europe, but many of them return to Asia if they are young and have a solid offer.

With insular life and high cost of living and travel, Japan isn't as attractive as Thailand. Except two schools in the region, none of them pay what might be considered as a tier 1 salary for a city like Tokyo/Yokohama. Thanks to a stagnant economy, the enrollments in these schools are dwindling and that could be a long-term concern for ITs as well, not to mention the constant threat of earthquakes and radiation.

Thailand on the other hand offers a better wage, comfortable housing, affordable and world-class healthcare, inexpensive travel, and friendly locals. Life is simply more fulfilling here, both emotionally and financially.

@mathman85
Thailand is probably the most competitive region for ITs, thanks to its low-cost living, extraordinary nightlife, and tremendous savings, but it all depends on your lifestyle. I would say you made a heck of a decision as you will be working with some of the most accomplished faculty in IT who are constantly reinventing themselves (at least, at the top schools). Would love to chat over an adult beverage if our paths ever cross. We spent summer in Italy, New Year's on a private beach in S.Thailand and yet we save in high five-figures (USD).

Many moons ago, when I was new to the international circuit, had a chance to attend a workshop at a top-tier school in SE Asia. Walked around during the coffee break, had a chat with the principal, exchanged business cards (with links to my blog and website), and got a job offer after 8 months. For a little background, I teach two of the high needs subjects in high school. Call me lucky, but attending PD at these schools or even presenting at EARCOS might give you a chance to leisurely introduce yourself and your work (unlike the stressful job fairs). Obviously, it comes down to how well you fit into their scheme of things at that point of time. If aiming for Europe, there are tons of similar opportunities from CIS, ECIS, AAIE etc.. I say lead a session or two, and let the word of mouth do the talking.

Another idea would be to work at their summer school (sport, STEM-related, creative writing, college essay, SAT prep etc.), do hell of a job, and the rest should be history.
Alternatively, you could connect to a teacher or office staff at your target school on LinkedIn and ask them if they would be willing to give you a guest tour. BTW, what region are you aiming for?

Microwaving and adding butter to popcorn - poor health choices, sj. Eat healthy, bud.

@mathman85
sj is blatantly wrong. The pollution can't be blamed on Indonesia nor Cambodia. It's the myopic policies of the local establishment coupled with the excessive use of old diesel vehicles/factories, day-long construction to expand the subway (MRT) and burning of farm waste in adjacent rural areas. Western world environmental regulations simply don't exist here. To the contrary, they just made opening new factories a lot easier. Yes, an air filter might ease some pressure, but you just have to stay indoors somedays.

Here is the latest on AQI from the US embassy in BKK.

https://th.usembassy.gov/air-quality-index-aqi/