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Secondary School Principal
American International School of Lusaka (Zambia)

The American International School of Lusaka (AISL)

Secondary School Principal

AISL Vision and Mission:

Inspiring Excellence. Encouraging Compassion. Creating Leaders.

The American International School of Lusaka is a diverse community that embraces Zambian and global perspectives to inspire students to achieve academic excellence and become successful, lifelong learners and leaders who are confident, compassionate, well-rounded, responsible world citizens.

   

School Profile

The American International School of Lusaka (AISL) is a co-educational independent day school founded in 1986. AISL is an US-Embassy sponsored school that is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees representing parents all of who are members of the AISL Parent Association. Accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, AISL serves children of expatriate and Zambian families. Students’ families are employed in the diplomatic, NGO, local business, farming, mining and tourism industries. As an IB World School, AISL is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to administer the IB Primary Years Programme (ELC- Gr. 5), the IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10), and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11&12). AISL consists of a Primary School and a Secondary School each with a principal and assistant principal serving as instructional leaders. AISL is an active member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA).

AISL has completed a very successful 10-year CIS/MSA Accreditation Self-Study last year, and the Visiting Team validated the contents of the self study. AISL will complete an evaluation of all three IB programs this year.

Students
AISL is proud of its international student body enrolling 570 students aged 3-18 representing over 45 different nationalities. Currently, 287 students are enrolled in the Primary School (Early Learning Center and Kindergarten–Grade 5), while 263 students are enrolled in the Secondary School (Grades 6-12).

Faculty, Administration, and Staff 

 Currently, 69 faculty members representing 16 different nationalities serve the AISL community.  AISL is fortunate to have a long-serving and deeply committed administrative staff, teacher assistants and support staff. The structure of leadership at the school consists of the educational leadership team (director, the primary and secondary principals and three IB Coordinators) and the operations leadership team (director, the primary and secondary principals, the business manager, the admissions/ communications manager, the operations manager, the human resources manager, and the information technology manager)

Secondary School Programs and Qualifications
The AISL Secondary School is authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) to students in Grades 6-10 and the IB Diploma Programme to students in Grades 11&12. Students have an opportunity to earn the AISL High School Diploma, which is awarded by AISL as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma awarded by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Students may also earn certificates for completing IB courses. The academic year is 180 instructional days consisting of two-semesters- August to December; January to June.

Facilities:
AISL has world-class facilities located on 23 acres of beautifully manicured gardens in the African countryside. The facility includes 48 classrooms, 3 swimming pools, a Performing Arts Center, 2 computer labs, an Early Learning Center and a full size Gymnasium, and a three purpose build secondary school science labs. AISL is currently engaged in a process that will yield a comprehensive 10-year master site plan with a feasible project sequence that will be responsive to 21^st century teaching and learning.

 

Lusaka, Zambia
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. One of the fastest-developing cities in Southern Africa, Lusaka is located in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about 1,300 metres (4,265 feet). As of 2010, the city's population is about 1.7 million. Lusaka is the centre of both commerce and government in Zambia. Zambia has experienced political stability for the past two decades. English is the official language of the city, but Nyanja, and Bemba are also common. (Wikipedia)

If you’re out to experience the ‘real’ Africa, Zambia is that diamond in the rough. The country boasts some of the continent’s best safari parks, and shares (with Zimbabwe) some of the region’s major highlights: Victoria Falls in Southwestern Zambia, Lake Kariba as well as Lower Zambezi National Park in Southeastern Zambia. It is also an angler’s dream, as fishermen hail from all over the world to try their luck on the mighty Zambezi River with the hopes of landing a toothy tigerfish or the rare, giant vundu. Avid birders also flock to Zambia to glimpse its fabulous diversity of birds, most notably Chaplin’s barbets. (Lonely Planet)

In all of its natural beauty, Zambia is still a part of the developing world and with that comes challenges. Be prepared for occasional power cuts, water shortages, and an inconsistent Internet connection.

Quality primary health care is readily accessible. AISL provides professional educators with a membership to a local international standard clinic, an international healthcare policy (TIE), and medical evacuation insurance.

As a general guide, professional educators live in comfortable housing, own a vehicle, travel widely and stay for a quite a few years.

Title: Secondary School Principal

Qualifications/Attributes:

• Possesses a Masters Degree and current qualification/certification in administration or educational leadership

• Experience as a middle school and/or high school principal or assistant principal.

• Committed to team building and collaboration.

• Displays advanced level of intercultural sensitivity, international-mindedness, and engagement with host country cultures

• Highly effective communicator

• Critical thinker, creative problem-solver, transparent decision-maker

• Inspirational leader who achieves balance between a results-orientation and a people-orientation.

• Ability to provide informed instructional leadership - aware of current best practices in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, particularly in the context of the IB MYP and IB DP.

• Strong management skills, including ability to prioritize and delegate.

• Actively models use of technology that enhances communication, organizational operations, and school improvement efforts.

• Comfort with living and working in the developing world.

Reports To: School Director

Job Purpose: The Secondary School Principal provides leadership of the Secondary School ensuring the delivery of the highest possible quality of education to students. The Secondary School Principal is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day management of the Secondary School which includes administering systems and routines to support effective operation of the school.

Performance Responsibilities:

Academic/Instructional Leadership

• Set the academic vision and ensure alignment with the IB Middle Years Program and the IB Diploma Program.
• Provide for the review, development, monitoring, and evaluation of the secondary school’s curriculum.
• Ensure that student performance data is used to improve educational programs and student learning.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of the secondary school master schedule that meets student and programmatic needs.
• Ensure appropriate balance, rigor and support for academics, arts, activities, athletics and service learning programs.

 

Student Experience

• Monitors and manages student attendance and behavior.
•  Supervises the maintenance of student records.
•  Ensures the effective provision of student support services in the Secondary School- Special Educational Needs, Counseling, English as an Additional Language, Instructional Coaching, etc.
•  Monitors the implementation of the Advisory Program.
•  Oversees the delivery of the Secondary School co-curricular program- community and service/CAS, sport, and the arts.
•  Oversees the coordination of Middle School and High School assemblies, school exchanges, and school trips.

 

Human Resource Management

• Assign, organize and monitor secondary school faculty and staff for greatest effect in realizing the AISL vision.
• Supervise and evaluate secondary school assistant principal, faculty and staff in accordance with the AISL Appraisal process.
• Convenes regular professional development activities for and meetings with the secondary school faculty.
• Convenes a Secondary School Leadership Team on a regular basis.
• Assist and support the School Director in the recruitment of secondary school faculty and staff.
• Supervises the securing of substitute teachers

 

Fiscal Responsbility

•  Assist the Director in developing the budget as it relates to the support and development of the Secondary School.
•  Monitor budget lines associated with the Secondary School.

 

Facilities Management

• Ensure that the secondary school physical plant is properly maintained and appropriately developed.
• Communicate recommendations to improve the secondary school facility that will enhance student experience and the delivery of school programs.

 

Communications and Community Relations

• Provide clear protocols and processes to ensure there is regular, quality communication between school and home.
• Oversees secondary school admissions.
• Work with parents in a dynamic, thoughtful and proactive way.
• Promote the school locally, nationally, and internationally.

 

Other

• Serves on the Educational Leadership Team and the Operations Leadership Team.
• Assumes other responsibilities associated with a Secondary School Principal assigned by the Director.

 

Salary and Benefits

Salary is competitive in the AISA region and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Benefits include a competitive salary, housing, healthcare, annual home leave, shipping allowance, a retirement contribution, and tuition benefits for up to two Pre-School-12 school age dependents

 

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should send an application no later than October 1^st, to the attention of the Search Associates consultants listed below. (The review of files will begin as soon as applications are received). Candidates should note that, in the event an outstanding applicant is identified early in the search process, AISL reserves the right to make an appointment before the deadline mentioned above and to bring the search to a close. For this reason interested candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible time.

 

Applicants should send the following in single pdf file. Total document size should not exceed 3 mb, if possible.

1. A letter of application, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in the Secondary Principal position at the American International School of Lusaka, not to exceed two pages.
2. A statement describing your leadership style, not to exceed one page.
3. A current résumé not to exceed two pages.
4. A one-page list of references with current addresses, phone numbers and email addresses
5. A maximum of three letters of reference (scanned at low resolution) that may already be in your possession

 

Applications should be sent to:

 

Ralph Jahr – rjahr@searchassociates.com and

Bridget McNamer – bmcnamer@searchassociates.com

 

The Secondary School Principal Search Committee will interview semi-finalists via Skype and invite 2-3 finalists to campus to meet with the school community.