SHE ARRIVED IN Hong Kong nearly a decade ago in the wake of bitter turmoil within the English Schools Foundation, and she departs for France tomorrow leaving a row behind her.
'I thrive on a good battle. I have not had time to get depressed about retirement,' said Jennifer Wisker during her whirlwind visits to ESF schools this week to bid farewell to staff and students.
Wisker, who led the ESF out of its turmoil and through its transition from colonial education provider to a network of schools at the cutting edge of international schooling, has not been afraid of stamping her authority on the organisation.
She has wielded power to the end, last month bringing Beacon Hill School under new management following a poor inspection report and attracting some of the fiercest criticism levelled at her during her nine years at the helm.
'We make management decisions that stick. Ten years ago the decisions would not have been taken,' she said.
But Wisker does not want to dwell on Beacon Hill during her last days in the post. This week it was children and staff among the foundation's 20 schools whom she wanted to meet. On Tuesday, it was Bauhinia School's turn, a school close to her heart as it was very much her creation - opened in January this year in response to the fact that ESF schools, bursting at the seams, were turning so many away.