Cover Erica Smeltzer is advocating for something more permanent as the Head of School at the newly opened RD American School (RDAS)
Erica Smeltzer is advocating for something more permanent as the Head of School at the newly opened RD American School (RDAS)
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Tatler+
As RD American School marks its debut in Singapore, Head of School Erica Smeltzer shares her vision for an education system where academic rigour is built on the science of how students actually learn—rather than the pressure of how they perform
In a city where the educational landscape is often defined by the pursuit of the next exam, Erica Smeltzer is advocating for something more permanent. As the Head of School at the newly opened RD American School (RDAS) in Changi Business Park, Smeltzer is not interested in the short-term performance of a memorised paper. Instead, she is building an institution anchored in the “science of learning”—a philosophy where intellectual depth is a byproduct of emotional safety and research-backed practice.
For Smeltzer, the path to leadership was driven by a scholar’s interest in how people make meaning through language and ideas. Having begun her career in academia with a PhD in literature before moving into asia’s, she witnessed a recurring friction: students who could succeed temporarily but struggled to retain or apply what they had learned. “I realised that great teaching scales only when systems support it," she notes, reflecting on her shift from the classroom to school leadership.”
Above Erica Smeltzer
Erica Smeltzer
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Beyond Activity for Activity’s Sake
At RDAS, which opened in January 2026 in partnership with New York’s Riverdale Country School, the approach is intentionally restrained. In an era where schools often chase trends, Smeltzer applies a filter to every decision: Does this align with how learning actually works? Does it deepen thinking, or just create activity?.
This commitment to coherence means the school’s physical environment—designed with open, reconfigurable spaces—is not a mere aesthetic choice. These spaces are built to promote movement and interaction, conditions proven to support memory and attention.
"We don’t have standardised children," Smeltzer says, pushing back against the culture of filling in bubbles on a page. At RDAS, success is defined by students who can explain how they learn. This shift requires a high degree of teacher craft; educators undergo intensive training led by Dr. Kevin Mattingly to ensure every lesson is a cognitively rich experience.
Above "We don’t have standardised children," Smeltzer says, pushing back against the culture of filling in bubbles on a page
"We don’t have standardised children," Smeltzer says, pushing back against the culture of filling in bubbles on a page
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The Rigour of Wellbeing
Above The school’s “Flourish Framework” reflects how teachers are focused on the relationships and feedback that actually make students want to learn
The school’s “Flourish Framework” reflects how teachers are focused on the relationships and feedback that actually make students want to learn
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Smeltzer seeks to dismantle the idea that academic rigour and student wellbeing are at odds. “High challenge requires high trust,” she explains, noting that deep learning depends on psychological safety. By using technology to handle administrative tasks, Smeltzer aims to free her teachers to focus on the relationships and feedback that actually make students want to learn.
The school’s "Flourish Framework" reflects this, cultivating curiosity, resilience, and ethical leadership. To Smeltzer, a resilient student is one who can handle the "productive struggle" required for deep understanding in an age of instant answers.
Anchored in a Changing World
Above At RD American School, the gift of shaping culture is one of intentionality, where the goal is to help students grow with the confidence and agency to lead lives of meaning
At RD American School, the gift of shaping culture is one of intentionality, where the goal is to help students grow with the confidence and agency to lead lives of meaning
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Leading a school today requires being "grounded"—a word Smeltzer uses to describe her journey of staying anchored to how learning works even as systems change. While some see artificial intelligence as a threat, she views it as a tool to sharpen student inquiry and allow teachers to focus on pedagogy.
For parents in Singapore who are invested in their children’s success, Smeltzer offers a perspective that is both ambitious and steady. She is building a culture where students learn to evaluate information and adapt in a world of constant flux.
"New schools have the gift of shaping culture," she says. At RD American School, that culture is one of intentionality, where the goal is to help students grow with the confidence and agency to lead lives of meaning.
