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Director
American International School of Zagreb (Croatia)

American International School of Zagreb

Zagreb, Croatia

seeks a

Director

Effective July 2015

 

The American International School of Zagreb (AISZ) is an independent, not for profit, coeducational, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 day school offering an educational program similar to that offered by the best schools in the United States. Fully accredited by Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, AISZ offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at the high school level, enabling its students to earn both an American High School Diploma and an International Baccalaureate Diploma. Founded in 1966, AISZ has recently completed an extensive strategic planning process and is in the process of planning a purpose-built facility. The new Director will have the opportunity to work with the Board and community to guide the implementation of the AISZ Strategic Plan, which is available on the school’s website, and to bring it to fruition. He/she will also supervise the completion of the new school facility.

AISZ Mission Statement

The American International School of Zagreb is a culturally diverse learning community that provides students with an intellectually stimulating program in a nurturing environment. We place students at the center of education and encourage them to be creative individuals, critical thinkers, life-long learners, and socially responsible world citizens.

AISZ Vision Statement

The American International School of Zagreb will become the premier international school in Croatia, which inspires, motivates and empowers all learners and develops leaders for an interdependent world, one child at a time.

Students

The student population of AISZ has fluctuated but generally increased over time. Current enrollment, PreK3 to grade 12, is 230 students representing 32 nationalities. Enrollment is expected to continue to increase.

 

 

Faculty and Administration

Approximately 50 faculty/staff members work collaboratively to inspire, motivate, and empower each other and the students in their care. Currently, the staff represents 5 nationalities with a range of experience from 4 to over 30 years. The administrative team includes the Director, two Principals, a Pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 counselor/university placement advisor, a business manager, a facilities manager, an admissions and human resource officer and an administrative assistant. Additional leadership positions include an athletic and activities coordinator, a technology systems coordinator and an IB coordinator.

Governance

A seven-member School Board governs AISZ. The American Ambassador appoints three members, two members are elected by the PTA membership and two members are appointed by the School Board. The Board has an established committee structure and a written policy manual.

 The Community

The AISZ community is well-informed, active and supportive of the school. The PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is a strong and positive presence in the school as it organizes fund-raising activities, provides financial support for specific instructional materials and student-led projects, sponsors community picnics and holiday celebrations, and ensures the staff feel appreciated.

Curriculum

The curriculum at AISZ focuses on the learning objectives of the Common Core Standards, now the most widely accepted learning standards in the United States. Most courses in grades 11 and 12 follow the curriculum of the International Baccalaureate Diploma program. To achieve and surpass those learning objectives, students participate in discussions and class projects, online learning, readers and writers workshops, service learning ventures and research projects.

 

A well-developed after-school program is offered for students in Senior-kindergarten through Grade 12, with competitive sports and academic contests for middle and high school students through our regional organization, the Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA). AISZ is an active member of CEESA, and regularly interacts with other international schools in Belgrade, Bucharest, Budapest, Helsinki, Istanbul, Krakow, Kyiv, Moscow, Prague, Riga, Sofia, Tallinn, Tashkent, Vienna, Vilnius and Warsaw.

Student Services

English Language Learners (ELL) are supported by an extensive program incorporating several levels of English language instruction. Students with mild learning differences are supported by two learning specialists, one in the elementary school and another in the secondary school.

Zagreb/Croatia – The City

The city of Zagreb is a peaceful and safe walking town whose residents respect and make time for a good cup of coffee. While parking can be problematic, there is a well-organized, convenient to everywhere, public transportation system throughout the city. Trains and busses can be taken to visit the Adriatic coast, surrounding towns, the countryside and other European countries. Cities such as Budapest, Belgrade, Vienna, and Venice are just a short flight or a few-hours car ride away.

The Position:

The Director is appointed by the Board of Trustees to provide leadership for the entire school. He/she will keep the Board informed through regular meetings and will coordinate the development of short and long-term program improvements, as well as oversee, implement and support the goals of the AISZ Strategic Plan. The Director may delegate appropriate authority and duties to other personnel, but will remain responsible for any action taken.

Required Qualifications

• Strong educational background with roots in a North American educational philosophy
• Successful experience as a head of school in an American International School preferred
• Demonstrated success in recruitment and retention of faculty
• Demonstrated support of professional development for staff at all levels
• Experience in multi-strand strategic planning and implementation
• Experience with developing long-range financial plans and projections in consultation with the Board
• Prepared to make a long-term (3-5 years) commitment

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge about and experience with instructional technology and blended learning opportunities
• Knowledge/experience with facilities development or new school construction
• Commitment to the principles embedded in Professional Learning Communities

Personal Attributes Desired

• Strong leadership skills
• Ability to inspire others
• Collaborative leadership style
• Well-developed interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to celebrate the cultural heritage of Croatia
• High energy level/high visibility on campus and at school events
• A good listener – willing to consider and support ideas from a variety of sources
• Well-developed technology skills

Salary and Benefits

Salary and benefit package for the Director will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Procedure for filing the Application

The American International School of Zagreb has appointed Search Associates to facilitate the search for a new Director, with Dr. Ralph Jahr to act as the primary consultant. The deadline for application is November 9, 2014. The review of files will begin as soon as applications are received. Candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest and the requested materials as early as possible as the Search Committee/Board of Directors reserves the right to close the selection process at any time if the right candidate is found. Selected candidate(s) will be interviewed first either by phone, Skype or personal interview, and Finalist(s) will be flown to Zagreb and will have the opportunity to meet with members of the Search Committee, parents, students, and non-teaching staff. The new Director will be appointed shortly after interviews of finalist candidate(s) have been completed.

Candidates who wish to apply should submit the following materials as a single pdf file.

• A letter of application, no longer than two pages, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in the AISZ Director position
• A current résumé not to exceed two pages
• A one or two-page statement outlining your philosophy of education
• A one-page list of at least three references with current phone numbers and email addresses
• A maximum of four letters of reference (scanned at low resolution) which may already be in your possession

Please note that all materials must be scanned into a single pdf attachment of 4MB or less and sent to Search Associates at the email address listed below. Please send the application to:

< rjahr@searchassociates.com >  For additional information about AISZ, please visit the AISZ website at: www.aisz.hr

Ralph Jahr, Ph.D.                                                                                                  Tel: 609-759-0431

Search Associates                                                                        Email: rjahr@searchassociates.com

2008 Cove Ln                                                                                                     Skype – ralph.h.jahr  

Roseville, CA 95747-8835 (USA)                                                Web:  www.searchassociates.com