Board of Directors

Mr. Sherman Jen

Chair

Mr. Sherman Jen is Chair 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 9 schools with over 4,500 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.

Mr. James Beeke

Vice-Chair and Superintendent of British Columbia Programs

Mr. James Beeke is Vice-Chair and Superintendent of Schools for Maple Leaf’s British Columbia Programs. Mr. Beeke’s educational career spans 35 years. It includes teaching and administrating elementary and high schools. He was a school principal for more than twenty years prior to entering British Columbia’s Ministry of Education as Deputy Inspector of Independent Schools. He served as Deputy Inspector for two years and then as the Inspector of Independent Schools for seven years before retiring in June 2005.

Mr. Beeke commenced his Vice-Chair and Superintendent positions with Maple Leaf Educational Systems in August 2005.

Mr. Beeke holds Bachelor (Education) and Masters (Education Leadership) degrees and has received Certificates of Recognition/Achievement from the Minister of Education of British Columbia, Canada and the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver and a Certificate of Honorary Award from the People's Government of Liaoning Province. He is the author of several published textbooks and a frequent speaker at conferences and professional development seminars in North America, China and internationally.

Ms. Zhang Jingxia

Vice-Chair and Comptroller

Ms.Zhang is Vice-Chair 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.

Dr. Qi Hongshen

Vice Chair

Dr. Qi provides legal advice to the Board and is responsible for the assessment of policy implementation in Maple Leaf Educational Systems. Dr. Qi majored in Chinese and earned his PhD in Education from Tianjin Nankai University. He also served as Professor of Educational Studies and mentored PhD students. For years, he has been actively involved in research and educational administration and has participated in the formulation of national and provincial educational legislation. Dr. Qi is also Chair of Liaoning Educational Development Association and Director of China Dictated History Research Centre.

Mr. Ren Jiancheng

Vice Chair and Chief Director of Construction Centre

Mr. Ren has over 40 years of working experience in engineering and construction. He graduated from Dalian Polytechnic University and began his career as a civil engineer with Dalian No.3 Engineering Company Ltd. of CCCC First Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. He has served as President of the Dalian Economic & Technological Development Zone. Before he joined Maple Leaf, he was President of Dalian Construction and Engineering Group.

Mr. Li Wangqing

Honorary Vice-Chair

Mr. Li served as a Vice-Chair and Director of Buildings and Properties since 1995 until his retirement in 2007. 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.