STARTING DATE: JULY 1, 2020 - AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL VIENNA VIENNA, AUSTRIA SCHOOL DIRECTOR
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American International School Vienna
Vienna, Austria
School Director
Starting Date: July 1, 2020
www.ais.at
Mission Fast Facts
Within the rich cultural context School type: coed day school, pre-kindergarten to 12
of Austria, AIS Vienna nurtures Year established: 1959
an inclusive learning community, Total enrollment: 800
challenges students to strive for Student nationalities: 60
personal excellence and to explore Number of faculty: 100-plus
their passions, and fosters respect Student/teacher ratio: 6-1
through compassion for others and Faculty with advanced degrees: 80%
our world. Athletics mascot: The Knights
Overview
The American International School Vienna (AIS Vienna) is a thriving independent, coeducational
day school for students in Pre-Kindergarten (age four) through Grade 12 located in Vienna, Austria.
Operating since 1959, AIS serves around 800 students representing more than 60 nations. With
a warm, family-like community, the School has built a reputation for providing comprehensive
opportunities for learners from across the globe.
Set within the rich cultural context of Austria and the beauty of the Vienna Woods, the AIS program
helps students excel in a high-quality, 21st-century curriculum taught by talented and experienced
faculty, many of whom are long-serving. Instruction is in English, and High School students can
pursue a U.S. High School Diploma or an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
AIS Vienna seeks an outstanding Director to continue the upward development of the School. The
next Director will head a leadership team that oversees all major aspects of School operation. Core
responsibilities include attracting outstanding students, hiring and retaining the best international
faculty, maintaining excellent facilities, ensuring the financial health of the School, and offering
engaging and challenging programs for students and the school community. In particular, the next
Director is expected to guide AIS Vienna to becoming a center of innovation and excellence, fulfilling
its mission-driven promises to inspire student success in a changing and complex world.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 2 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
School History The American International School Vienna was founded in 1959 by the embassies of the United States and Canada. Enrollment in the first year was 234 students from 17 nations. At the start, AIS Vienna occupied the property initially housing the Vienna International Community School (AIS Vienna’s predecessor), but in 1964 it moved to its current location, a 44,000 square-meter site near the Vienna Woods. By then, the School had grown to 357 students representing 28 nationalities. In 1977, the School began offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma — and has grown steadily from there into a world-class international school. In 2016, AIS Vienna finalized its 2016-2021 Strategic Plan, which is designed to further the evolution of the school into an innovative, 21st-century school that ensures all students are well supported at all levels, now and in the years to come. The School The American International School of Vienna is a vibrant international school located in one of the most culturally rich cities in the world. The School enrolls around 800 students from 60 nations annually, about half coming from America or Austria. AIS Vienna is divided into three divisions — Elementary School (pre-K to grade 5), Middle School (grades 6 to 8) and High School (grades 9 to 12). Because of the transient character of the international student body, the average stay at AIS Vienna is four years, with approximately 200 new students admitted each year. Many students, however, The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 3 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
spend eight years or more at the School. The parent community is predominantly affiliated with embassies, international organizations, and international corporations. As a community, and in partnership with its families, AIS Vienna strives to support the intellectual and social-emotional growth of its students. It offers differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse interests and needs, and cultivates active, creative students. In all, the School balances an academically engaging program with co-curricular opportunities to empower students for success in school and beyond. It encourages empathy, honesty, and kindness toward others and embraces diverse values and perspectives. Notes one student, “AIS has a safe environment in which students can feel free and supported.” AIS Vienna has a particularly strong commitment to environmental ethics. Throughout the program, the School aims to raise students’ environmental awareness and make environmentally friendly decisions. It engages students in environmental action and education across the curriculum and supports the environmental policies of Austria. The core of AIS Vienna is its talented faculty, 80% of whom have advanced degrees. The average stay of faculty members is over 10 years, which enhances the school’s stability, continuity, and quality. The School is a joyful place to work; “I’m able to take risks as a teacher. I feel supported in trying new things,” says one teacher. The American International School Vienna is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council on International Schools. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 4 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
Academics The academic programs at AIS Vienna are given the highest priority by the School’s dedicated teachers and administrators. The curriculum is based on the American system with an international flavor. In the Elementary and Middle Schools, the curriculum ensures that all students learn a coherent and unified body of knowledge and academic skills. High School students follow a challenging college- preparatory curriculum that leads to a U.S. High School Diploma, with the option of pursuing the IB Diploma. All students receive individual academic support. High School students receive extensive college counseling in their junior and senior years. The teaching philosophy at the Elementary School, with its 300-plus students, is that each year is the best year in every student’s life. Through a progressive curriculum, the focus is on instilling in students a joy of learn while preparing them well for the next level. Here, the core academics are supported by fine arts, physical education, technology, and an in-depth study of the German language. The Middle School program balances a rich liberal-arts program with social-emotional learning and physical engagement. Through all disciplines, the Middle School puts a premium on helping students learn to be creative and critical thinkers and collaborative learners. The disciplines tap into the U.S. Common Core Standards while supporting students in taking charge of their own learning. Core courses are offered in English, math, social studies, science, and modern language, with weekly opportunities in the arts. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 5 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
College Placement
Graduates of AIS Vienna consistently
attend some of the finest colleges
and universities in the world. In the
past four years, graduates have been
accepted at the following institutions,
among others.
USA and Canada
Arizona State University
Boston University
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon University
Colby College
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Fordham University
Georgetown University
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
New York University
Princeton University
Rhode Island School of Design The High School focuses on ensuring that students are
Stanford University more than well prepared for the next stage of their lives in
The George Washington University
college and beyond. The 265 students gain the academic,
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Chicago social, and leadership skills necessary to enhance and
University of Michigan contribute to the global community. While all students work
University of Virginia toward a U.S. High School Diploma, the majority of juniors
Yale University and seniors elect to pursue the IB Diploma — with AIS
Vienna students scoring above the global average on the
UK and Elsewhere IB exam every year.
American University of Paris
Amsterdam University College Core High School courses include English, modern
City University of London
language, social studies, science, and mathematics, with
Carleton University
Franklin University Switzerland additional courses in the arts and electives. The IB Diploma
King’s College London Programme requires course work in six subject areas along
Lund University with Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and CAS
McGill University (creativity, activity, service).
Newcastle University
University of Bath The Middle School and High School have a 1:1 laptop
University of British Columbia program and offer courses in digital citizenship,
University of Cambridge communication, and literacy. The High School also includes
University of Glasgow
a yearlong Introductory Computer Science elective.
University of Melbourne
University of St. Andrews
University of the Arts London
University of Toronto
University of Vienna
University of York
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 6 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
Arts AIS Vienna has a robust visual and performing arts program designed to cultivate self-expression, self-discovery, and self-esteem while understanding more deeply the interaction between cultures and the arts. Through participation and study, students engage in the arts and analyze, evaluate, and compare art genres. Visual arts classes help students express and develop personal creative vision as they engage in various media. All students from kindergarten to seventh grade participate in studio art classes. From eighth grade on, students can choose from a variety of electives in the visual arts. The music program begins with the youngest learners and extends through the High School. Second graders participate in a compulsory strings program, while older students have the opportunity to explore music through band, choir, and strings classes. The American High School Diploma requires two years of music education. AIS Vienna students regularly audition for and are chosen to participate in various honor music festivals sponsored by the Association of Music in International Schools. In the theater program, Elementary students engage in a variety of after-school programs focused on the dramatic arts. Middle School students take part in one large ensemble play each year. High School students perform an annual fall comedy or drama as well as original student performances. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 7 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
Athletics AIS Vienna offers what it calls “Educational Athletics” — a program designed for teaching values and life skills as much as teaching sports. The focus is on leadership, goal-setting, teamwork, decision- making, perseverance, integrity, sacrifice, healthy competition, and overcoming adversity. The School offers competitive sports to Middle and High School students. Fall sports include soccer, cross-country, volleyball, and tennis. Winter sports include basketball and swimming. Spring sports include track and field, golf, softball, baseball, and tennis. AIS Vienna competes in the International School Sports Tournament (IASST) for High School, the Sports Council for International School (SCIS) at the Middle and High School levels, and the Danube Valley Athletic Conference (DVAC) for Middle School “B” teams. Student Life AIS Vienna offers a wide range of clubs and after-school programs. For Elementary students, after- school activities include swimming, tennis, soccer, basketball, running, chess, German, Spanish, art, theater, guitar, orienteering, science, hip hop, gymnastics, and yoga. The Middle School offers digital broadcasting, Honor Music, Math Team, the Middle School play, Model UN, Robotics Team, and Speech and Debate Team. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 8 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
The High School offers the widest range of clubs, including Adventure Club, Amnesty Youth Group, Austrian Studies, Chess Club, Coding and Game Design Club, Environmental Club, Fitness Club, Habitat for Humanity, Human Writes Creative Writing Club, Math Corner, Model UN, Running Club, and Rainbow Club. An annual ski trip to the Alps is offered as well. Campus AIS Vienna is located in the Neustift-am-Walde area of Vienna, adjacent to the famous Vienna Woods, and provides an instructional setting in the midst of the physical beauty of the surrounding hills, forest, and countryside. The 10-acre campus includes seven interconnected buildings housing all three divisions. Overall, there are more than 70 classrooms, seven science labs, art studios, music rooms, four computer labs, two libraries, a theater, two gyms, a cafeteria, a health unit, and a separate sports center (housing three indoor tennis courts or two basketball courts or ten badminton courts). The facilities also include offices for counseling, the IB program, division heads, technology, and faculty departments. The exterior facilities include a soccer field, a track, an elementary playground, an outdoor tennis court, and an outdoor amphitheater. The land for the School was bought by the U.S. government in the late 1950s, using U.S. government funds obtained through the Marshall Plan, and the School occupies the premises in perpetuity. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 9 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
Vienna, Austria Vienna is not only one the most culturally rich and historic cities in the world, for a number of years running it has been voted the number one city in the world for quality of life. It’s also one of the most prosperous today. With a population of about 1.9 million, Vienna is Austria’s largest city, its capital, and its cultural and economic center. The city is home to numerous major organizations, including the United Nations and OSCE. As a location, Vienna is hard to beat. It sits at the northeastern terminus of the Alps in a region known as the Vienna Basin. The city is bisected by the Danube River and is close to the borders of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. There is so much history here that, in 2001, Vienna was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city and then the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire leading up to World War I. Vienna is also famous for its musical heritage, impressive architecture, and a veritable who’s who of famous people who were either born here or moved here, including the composers Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, Hayden, Brahm, Mahler, and Schubert, as well as other luminaries such as Sigmund Freud, Victor Frankl, and Simon Wiesenthal. Vienna today is home to the headquarters of more than 300 international companies in a wide range of fields — and is continuing to grow as a major force in the global community. With more than 1,000 research facilities, the city is a center for research and development in life sciences, biotech, pharma, and medtech. Of course, it is also one the world’s leading tourist destinations, with more than six million visitors a year. Art and culture — including theater, opera, classical music, and fine arts — thrive here. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 10 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
Add in stunning neighborhoods, remarkable parks, a world-class transportation system, a plethora of
international shops, amazing restaurants, and the ubiquitous Viennese café scene — and it’s hard to
imagine a better city in which to live and work.
Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities for the next Director include:
• Leading a school with rich traditions and history as well as a commitment to growth and
development in the future;
• Building on a period of growth and stability;
• Working with a strong and dedicated faculty;
• Leading the next stage of campus development to support the School’s programs;
• Leading a financially strong and stable school;
• Being an active, engaged, visible, and accessible presence in the daily life of the School;
• Living and working in Vienna.
Challenges for the next Director include:
• Developing clear and strong channels of communication throughout the School community;
• Working with the Board and Leadership Team to develop a clear – and clearly articulated –
strategic direction for the future;
• Leading the development of a forward-looking program that meets the needs of future
generations of students;
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 11 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com• Building cohesion and alignment between the School’s divisions;
• Leading the renewal and renovation of the campus to meet contemporary instructional needs;
• Working with the Board to develop a strong and sustainable culture of good governance.
Desired Qualities of the Next Director
• Has international experience – knows and understands international education
- Has a passion for teaching and learning;
• Able to initiate and commit a long-term vision and strategy
- Charismatic leader who is clear and consistent
- Governance experience – able to work effectively with the Board
- Good managerial skills and financial, operational, and fundraising acumen;
• A collaborative leader and team builder
- Ability to attract, develop, and retain strong and talented teachers and administrators;
• An excellent communicator, including good listening skills
- Someone who is visible, accessible, and involved
- A community builder;
• Ability to undertake an innovative and clear approach in challenging situations (problem solver)
- Someone who is fair, equitable, and consistent;
• Continues growth orientation – actively seeks professional development opportunities.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 12 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.comTo Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate
documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials:
• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current résumé;
• A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice;
• A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each
(references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:
John Chandler
Senior Consultant
john.chandler@carneysandoe.com
Art Charles
Senior Consultant
art.charles@carneysandoe.com
Fred Wesson
Senior Consultant
fred.wesson@carneysandoe.com
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 13 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.comYou can also read
