Changchun American International School

About the school

Changchun American International School (CAIS) was established in 2006 and has since grown to over 580 students and over 70 teachers from more than 20 different countries. CAIS serves children of China’s global expatriate communities and is constituted by different sections including the Deutsche Internationale Schule Changchun.

Background

Urgent Need for Teacher Coverage

In Spring 2024, Changchun American International School (CAIS) first partnered with Lanterna to provide maternity cover for a period of about six weeks. That initial experience demonstrated the reliability of Lanterna’s support. Later that year, when a teacher experienced a medical emergency at the end of the school year and was unable to return for the following academic year, the school’s leadership team once again turned to Lanterna. The goal was clear: maintain academic quality while ensuring a smooth transition for students. IB DP Coordinator Kristy Goodman explains:

“Lanterna gave us the confidence that learning would continue seamlessly, even during unexpected staffing challenges.” 

Initial Concern

Will Online Teaching Work?

While the school had used Lanterna before and were somewhat used to online teaching, the school had reasonable concerns about using it for an extended period of time for an entire class — concerns were particularly around technology and engagement.

“We were concerned about how online teaching would work for a whole class and the tech. But the actual experience has been great!” 

Lanterna’s Solution

Flexible, Qualified, and Timely

Lanterna stepped in and quickly provided a qualified IB teacher — something the school recognized would have been nearly impossible to find on short notice through traditional hiring processes.

“We faced a hard-to-fill position with very little time to respond. Finding a qualified IB teacher on such short notice would have been nearly impossible.”

Student Experience

Pushback Turned Into Engagement

As with many online programs, there was some initial hesitation among students, especially following their experience with remote learning during COVID. However, with the right teacher and approach, engagement exceeded expectations.

“There was some pushback at first, but the students really liked the teacher, making it a much easier sell.”

The school also took proactive steps to set up a more interactive classroom environment, insisting on in-person collaboration rather than individual headphone use to maintain class dynamics.

“The students wanted to just sit with headphones on the whole class, but we said no, knowing that it wouldn’t be conducive to a classroom environment.”

Parent Experience

Early Concerns, Quick Resolution

Parents had their own questions initially, particularly around the international hiring process. However, as the classes progressed and additional support was offered (such as office hours), concerns eased.

“Adding in office hours for students to ask individual questions
helped a lot.”

Key Benefits

Flexibility and Academic Continuity

Lanterna played a critical role in ensuring academic continuity, particularly for students preparing for critical IB assessments.

“It would have been almost impossible for our DP2 students to finish their DP without the Lanterna teacher. We needed someone to support them to finish the course.”

Challenges

Tech Setup and Classroom Adaptation

Like many schools transitioning to hybrid or online models, technical setup presented some challenges, particularly around microphone and classroom configurations to replicate a natural teaching environment.

“Tech has been an issue. We might not have found the perfect solution yet, but it has still worked really well”

Lessons Learned & Advice for Other Schools

The school strongly recommends early planning and clear expectations for classroom setup, especially if blending online teaching with in-person student groups.

“Make sure you have a strong understanding of how you want the classes to run. We insisted on a classroom setting that allowed for in-person collaboration.”

Conclusion

A High-Quality Solution in a Critical Moment

Lanterna provided an effective solution to a time sensitive staffing challenge, allowing students to continue receiving high-quality IB instruction.

“Lanterna provided exactly what we needed at a critical time — a qualified IB teacher, flexible solutions, and consistent support. While onboarding brought extra work, their flexibility, communication, and professionalism made the process smooth. We highly recommend Lanterna as a reliable solution for schools facing staff shortages or needing high-quality IB teaching support.”