To many ASIJ students, Dr. Naik is simply the new principal. Yet before he even set foot in the principal’s office, his career and lifestyle were an extensive journey, taking him through graduate school, classrooms, and even a software company. As a principal, people may vaguely know about him and his position, but what about as a colleague? A friend? A human?
Early Roots in Education:
Growing up, Dr. Naik was surrounded by the world of teaching, as his mother was a teacher herself. From a young age, he had deep respect for the effort and passion it takes to become a teacher; he himself had amazing teachers during his school days as well, creating a memorable high school experience. In addition, as a fellow international student, Dr. Naik recognizes not only the unique environment but also the ups and downs that come with an international education.
Life Before Teaching:
Dr. Naik didn’t immediately go into teaching. Rather, he explored a wide range of roles and jobs. First, he attended graduate school, then joined a corporate software company, where he held the position for about 2 years before changing paths. While the corporate world and teaching might be seen as complete opposites, in fact, every past job of Dr. Naik’s had some sort of teaching component. At graduate school, he was a TA (teaching assistant), and the software company wasn’t just any software company but one that promoted educational software for teachers. “So eventually, I got into the idea of it’s just time to become a teacher myself.”
A Career in the Classroom:
Dr. Naik first began teaching in Toronto, spending 11 long, dedicated years at both an all-girls school and a co-ed school. However, with an international background himself, he always aimed to return to the international school community, which led him to transfer to the United Nations International School of Hanoi. From 2020 to 2026, Dr. Naik was on the school’s leadership team, facilitating curriculum review cycles and assessment policy reviews.
What Makes ASIJ, ASIJ?
Every school has its unique spark. Dr. Naik expresses ASIJ’s distinctiveness as “the interplay between ASIJ being an American school, but also the deep appreciation this school has for the Japanese culture.” He shares, “While I don’t know the full scope of it yet, I see it in things as simple as the food that’s served in the canteen, all the way to the beautiful space of the Japan Center.”
Future Steps and Goals:
While Dr. Naik may not work with students one-on-one as a teacher would, his goals here at ASIJ can nonetheless be summed up in a couple of words: connection and belonging. Whether that’s joining classes throughout the day or having meetings with the various councils, it’s about being fully integrated into the ASIJ community. “In fact, one of the things I’ve done in previous schools to better understand the student experience is a student shadowing process. That means all the way from getting on the bus to truly understanding school life through their eyes,” Dr. Naik shares.
Beyond connecting with the student body and faculty, strengthening a sense of belonging for all is essential. With inclusivity being one of ASIJ’s most crucial values since the school’s founding, Dr. Naik wishes not only to continue building on this but also to place greater emphasis on meaningful relationships.
One Final Message for the Student Body:
“I would say good ancestry. The notion of good ancestry, at a very simplistic level, is to think about yourself in the far future. How can you be a good ancestor to yourself and your community? What are the things you need to set in motion now? What are the healthy habits you need to cultivate?
“At the end of the day, can you ensure that when you look back on your experience at ASIJ, you contributed to the place becoming an environment where students truly feel like they belong and that there was an authentic sense of community?”
