The passionate educator

During his growing up years, Mark Ecklesdafer was gifted with a seemingly boundless curiosity. He had a knack for the sciences and everything that had to do with outer space. He aspired to be an astronaut. He wanted to explore the unknown.

Things didn't change much when he was in college. In 2004, he was presented with the opportunity to visit Shanghai for a study abroad program with his peers from Grand Valley State University in the United States. Ecklesdafer didn't think twice about participating.

He was in Shanghai for only six weeks, but that was enough to get him hooked on Chinese culture and the city's effervescent nature. He loved the experience so much he even returned the next year to participate in an extended 12-week program.

He bought a one-way ticket. He was convinced that Shanghai was where he wanted to be.

Following his graduation, Ecklesdafer went on to begin his career as an educator in Shanghai. He worked at two educational institutions before joining the prestigious Soong Ching Ling School in 2009.

"I was born in a small town near Grand Rapids in Michigan that has a population of only about 200,000 people. It doesn't have a lot of diversity. Here in Shanghai, I get to work with people from different parts of China and all over the world, and the challenges this brings is exciting. I don't think I would feel as challenged at home. In fact, I'd probably feel bored," said Ecklesdafer.

"This is a place where I get to learn new things and meet new people every year. There are opportunities here that I would never get if I were back home."

Today, 14 years after first setting foot in the city, the American has much to celebrate about. Besides being appointed the vice principal for the international division of the primary school at the private education institution in early August, Ecklesdafer is also a newly minted Magnolia Silver Award winner. Launched in 1989, the Magnolia Silver Award is one of the top awards for foreigners in Shanghai conferred in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the city.

Since 2007, Ecklesdafer has been helping to promote Chinese culture and history through his interactions with students from Grand Valley State University who visit the city to participate in the same program he was in.

His efforts in promoting cultural exchange has even gone beyond China's borders. In 2016, Ecklesdafer led a school project that involved using donations by students to procure 228 solar powered flashlights that were sent to the Katwe Martyrs' Elementary School in Uganda to help solve learning and living difficulties caused by frequent electrical outages.

But despite his success, the 35-year-old points out that his greatest career achievement is simply helping children who face behavioral or family problems improve. He is also coy about winning the Magnolia Silver Award, saying: "I'm surprised. I work with a lot of amazing people and I feel that we all work very hard. I'm happy that I got it but I'm not sure if I necessarily deserve it."

A self-confessed geek who plays the Nintendo Switch while on the bus to work every day, Ecklesdafer has leveraged his passion for tech and games to help his students learn better. In fact, he was the teacher who first pioneered the use of iPads in the classroom. The initiative was so successful in making learning more engaging that the school will soon add another 25 iPads to the classrooms.

The key benefit of using technology, he explained, is that it makes the learning process more interesting for the children.

"Using technology makes learning more interactive and fun. This iPad initiative has demonstrated that technology and games can help children expand their vocabulary quicker and more effectively," he said.

"When you get the kids engaged, there are no limits to what they can learn."

This focus on making learning engaging, he said, stems from Mrs Maggie, the teacher who taught him in fourth grade.

"I was one of those students that most teachers might not like because I was always restless, talking to people and fidgeting all the time. Mrs Maggie was someone who treated me differently. She saw me as an individual who had potential to thrive if I was engaged a different way. And I take this approach in the classroom today," he said.

While the Chinese education system has at times drawn criticism from the Western world for its focus on rote memorization, Ecklesdafer explains that it is all about finding a balance. In fact, that is exactly why he loves working at the Soong Ching Ling School, which uses both Chinese and Western learning approaches in its curriculum.

"I think there are good things from both styles. For topics like math and science, rote learning helps with building the foundation. And when you've built a solid foundation, you can go on to do more creative things," he explained.

"I feel that there's room for more memorization. There's also room for more collaborative and creative learning. Combining the best of the two styles would lead to a better learning experience for the kids."