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As an international school, AISG is home to a diverse community of students, staff, and administrators from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. For many, China is not their first international move—students and staff alike often come from other schools in China or have previously lived outside their home countries. However, there are some who are not only entirely new to China, but to life abroad and the experience of being an expatriate.
Beloved by many, Mr. Joe Boettcher and his family are among those new to life abroad. He currently teaches Grade 10 Science, Grade 11 IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS), and is filling in for Ms. Cupp’s Grade 11 IB Physics class while she is on maternity leave.
Mr. Boettcher is originally from the United States, where he lived in two states: New York and Maryland.
“As a kid, we never traveled,” he shared. “We would go to Niagara Falls, but that was only a 30-minute drive from home. I never would have dreamed I’d be living not only far from where I grew up, but in a completely different culture. I remember seeing pictures of places like the Great Wall of China and thinking it was a dream to ever see it in person. Last winter, I remember saying to friends and family, ‘If I could tell 16-year-old me that one day I’d be standing on that wall, he would never believe me!’”
Living in China has brought plenty of surprises—and adjustments. When asked what stood out most, Mr. Boettcher listed his top surprises:
“The convenience of EVERYTHING. From Didi to Taobao to Meituan… everything is so convenient! And how friendly everyone is—from the people at the airport when we first arrived, to the staff at 7-Fresh who helped me pay for my groceries in cash because I didn’t have WeChat yet. They were so kind, helpful, and patient. Oh, and the humidity… it’s so hot here!”
Whether in the US or China, one thing remains constant—Mr. Boettcher’s love for teaching physics, and teaching in general.
“I love helping students succeed. One of my favorite experiences as a teacher is witnessing those ‘Aha!’ moments—when something finally clicks for a student. That’s something I’ll never get tired of. In that moment, I feel like I was able to give that student something no one else could.”
Of course, teaching comes with its own set of challenges.
“I like the challenge of teaching. Every class and every student is different. I love figuring out how to help each student understand a concept or correct a misconception. Every year brings something new—different students, different challenges. I don’t know how other professions manage without that kind of constant change!”
Everyone has a moment when they discover their passion. For Mr. Boettcher, that moment was inspired by his own teachers.
“I had some really great teachers growing up. One chemistry teacher and one math teacher, in particular, had a big impact on me and inspired me to become a teacher. I think it’s common for young teachers to be idealistic and want to ‘save the world.’ I was like that at first. Now, I know I can’t save the world—but I still want to be one of those teachers who makes a positive impact, someone students remember fondly.”
More than just mastering curriculum content, Mr. Boettcher hopes his students will walk away with a genuine love of learning
“I want my students to love learning. I want to be able to say something in class that sticks with them—something they go home thinking about, something they want to explore more just because it’s interesting, or because they didn’t believe me, or whatever the reason may be.”
Perhaps you, reader, are thinking about becoming a teacher yourself. In response to a question about advice for aspiring educators, Mr. Boettcher offered a heartfelt warning—and encouragement.
“Teaching is hard. I’ve worked at schools that hired people from industry who ‘wanted a change’—they said they wanted weekends and summers off. Almost all of them didn’t last more than a year or two. Some days, teaching is a thankless job, filled with too many meetings, too much grading, and too many classroom management issues. But the payoff is worth it!”
Looking ahead, Mr. Boettcher hopes for meaningful changes in education.
“I don’t know when or how it will happen, but I believe an educational revolution is coming. Standardized tests feel outdated. I’ve always felt that students want something different from education than what we teachers often do. I want students to learn for the sake of learning. Many just want good grades to get into the university of their choice. Sometimes those goals align—sometimes they don’t. In some ways, the system works, and that’s why it hasn’t changed. But I think we can do so much more.”
And who knows? Maybe we’ll get to witness that revolution.
For now, Mr. Boettcher – and teachers like him – continue to inspire a love of learning in their students.
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