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Secondary School Director (Principal)
American International School of Bolivia (Bolivia)

We are pleased to announce that Luis Ramirez has been hired as the Secondary Director at the American International School of Bolivia in Cochabamba starting in July 2023.

Luis is a dual American and Colombian citizen who moved to New York as a child and is fluent in both English and Spanish.  He is currently in his seventh year as the Principal and IB Diploma Coordinator of the main campus of the American Pacific International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Previously, Luis was the MYP Coordinator at the King Faisal School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for 2 years.  Prior to that, he served for 8 years as the Middle School Principal and MYP Coordinator at The Victoria School in Bogota.   

 

Luis is married and they have three children who will be attending AISB. 

 

 

 

American International School of Bolivia (AISB)

In Cochabamba, Bolivia

seeks a

Secondary School Director (Principal)

effective July 2023

http://www.aisb.edu.bo

 

 

School background

The American International School of Bolivia (AISB) was founded in 1993 in Tiquipaya. It is a non-denominational, non-profit, private, co-educational, Pre-K3 to Grade 12-day international school which offers instruction in English and Spanish and is legally registered as a non-profit association. Since its foundation, AISB has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)/AdvancED (now Cognia) and has been authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, making AISB the only IB World School in Cochabamba and one of the three IB World Schools in the country. AISB operates on the Southern Hemisphere School Calendar (February to November).

The school’s infrastructure is designed to meet the academic needs of different levels: early childhood, primary school, and secondary school. This infrastructure includes specialized classrooms equipped with the necessary technology for each discipline, a science and biology lab, physics lab, chemistry lab, computer labs, technology classroom, digital library, school psychologists’ office, technological resources in each classroom, sports fields (multi-sport court, soccer fields, pool), recreational areas (playground and gardens), cafeteria, nurse’s office, and a recently added gross motor skills gym for early childhood.

Our school community is made up of approximately 84% Bolivian families and the remaining 16% is mostly represented by students and families primarily from the United States, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico, many of whom are doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, engineers, and architects. A number of our international families have connections with multinational companies, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations. Most of our families reside in Cochabamba and its very safe metropolitan area.

AISB’s Vision

A challenging, multicultural and inclusive education providing the tools to shape independent thinkers and engaged leaders who can affect change in a globalized society.

AISB’s Mission

To promote critical and creative individuals that can reach their full potential through experiential learning, innovative technology, and effective instruction in a multicultural and multilingual context.

AISB’s Core Values

Tolerance – accepting differences
Integrity – incorruptible coherence between what one says and does

Respect – for ourselves, others, and the environment
Honesty – being true to oneself and others
Empathy – to understand and share the feelings of another

Solidarity – to support, work, and care for others
Responsibility – being accountable for your actions
Perseverance – to strive for excellence

AISB’s Motto

Vision, Principles, Transformation

 

Our students

722 students from 16 countries, including Bolivia, are currently enrolled. In September 2014, we had approximately 586 students. Our growth is in part due to national and international recognition, the quality of our programs, our diversity, our students’ achievement, and lately the change to the national school calendar which has facilitated the student transfers from local schools to ours broadening the number of prospective students interested in our school.  Our students normally continue their higher education in Bolivia, USA, Canada, Spain, Peru, or Chile, among other countries.

Our Staff

AISB is run by a team of executives and overseen by a Board of Directors comprised of five members and three advisors. The executive team consists of: the Principal, Pre-School and Primary School Director, Secondary School Director, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Director of Administration and Finance. Usually, two of these positions are held by foreign staff and three by Bolivian nationals.

We currently have 65 teachers on our faculty. Pre-School and Primary School have 31 teachers, Secondary School has 34 teachers. Pre-School and Primary School also have 15 teaching assistants. 26% of our teachers hold post-graduate degrees (diplomados), 20% hold master’s degrees, and 5% Ph.Ds., whilst the remainder hold a bachelor’s degree. There are 34 administrative staff in the school.

Our Accreditations and Affiliations

AISB operates under license R.S. 108 issued by the Ministry of Education and government license 3175/2017 issued by the Departmental Board of Education and it is accredited by Cognia, based in the United States of America. Additionally, AISB is authorized to offer the Diploma Program by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

AISB is an active member of:

• American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA)
• National Association of Private Schools (Spanish acronym: ANDECOP).
• College Board.

 

Due to these accreditations, AISB is authorized and able to offer its students the opportunity to earn up to four high school diplomas:

• Bolivian High School Diploma.
• Bolivian Medium Technical Diploma (English, Business, or Visual Arts)
• American High School Diploma
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or Certificates.

Candidate Profile

AISB is seeking to appoint a dynamic, visionary, and energetic Secondary School Director (Principal) who can provide leadership and direction for the long-term benefit of AISB’s secondary student population, can oversee the daily operations of the secondary school and possesses the following profile:

• Relentless enthusiasm and energy to achieve the school’s goals
• Successful recent experience in a senior leadership position in an international school
• Knowledge of and experience in experiential teaching and learning practices
• Knowledge of and experience in the IB Diploma program
• Knowledge of and experience in American curriculums
• Knowledge of and experience in inquiry-based approaches to teaching and learning
• Proven success in behavior management of students
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong team player
• Cross-cultural openness and understanding

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Education from an accredited college or university
• Three years’ experience as a secondary director or in an equivalent senior leadership role in an international school
• Five years’ experience in the educational field
• Proficiency in English and Spanish required

Salary and benefits

The successful candidate will be appointed on an initial two-year term. The renumeration package is regionally competitive. Further details will be given to interviewees.

 

To Apply

Qualified applicants should send the information listed below as a single pdf file  attached to an email to Paul Poore (ppoore@searchassociates.com) as soon as possible with the anticipation the application period will close on November 7, 2022

• A letter of application, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in the Secondary Director position at AISB
• A statement describing your leadership and educational philosophy, not to exceed one page.
• A current resume not to exceed two pages
• Contacts (email addresses and phone numbers) for at least 3 past and current supervisors.  We do not accept character references or non-confidential letters of reference from colleagues, friends, students, or parents.

We reserve the right to close the search earlier than the stated application deadline if a suitable and qualified candidate is found early in the process. Interested applicants should submit all required materials as early as possible.

 

Please note that we will not forward-on candidates for further consideration by the hiring school if a candidate is under contract or otherwise encumbered in such a way that would preclude them from freely entering into a new employment contract, if offered, and is available for the start date stipulated by the hiring school. Search Associates will contact the current employer/supervisor to request the completion of a Search  Associates  Confidential Leadership Reference Form for all Applicants who emerge in the search as a Finalist.

 

While the deadline for submitting applications is November 7, 2022, we reserve the right to      close the search earlier than the stated application deadline if a suitable and qualified candidate is found early in the process.

 

Interested applicants should submit all required materials as early as  possible.