THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SOFIA HEAD OF SCHOOL - Start Date: July 2022 Sofia, Bulgaria acs.bg
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THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SOFIA
Sofia, Bulgaria
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Start Date: July 2022
acs.bg
Statement of Values
The American College of Sofia learning community consists of teachers, students, administration,
staff, and parents. We believe that learning is a cooperative process that involves active participation
of all these members. Above all, we value the pursuit of excellence in academics and citizenship. To
achieve this excellence, all members of our community must dedicate themselves to the following
values:
• RESPONSIBILITY: each member is accountable for his/her actions
• INTEGRITY: each member is guided by honesty and truth in his/her actions
• RESPECT: each member treats all others with consideration
OVERVIEW
The American College of Sofia (ACS), founded in 1860, is one of the oldest American educational
institutions outside the United States. Operated and funded by Sofia American Schools, Inc., a non-profit
educational corporation, the School serves academically talented predominantly Bulgarian students in
grades 8-12 (with approximately 3% international students).
ACS integrates the values and best practices of American pedagogy with the rich educational traditions
of Bulgaria and Europe. Students are admitted based on results of a rigorous written exam, and fully
need-blind admission is supported by generous financial aid. At the heart of the program is a student-
centered learning process that enables students to build a strong academic base, develop their problem-
solving and creative-thinking skills, and dig deeply into academic areas of personal interest. The faculty
offer a high degree of support through small classes and a well-structured advisory system.
The American College of Sofia seeks a dynamic leader as its next Head of School starting July 2022.
The successful candidate will be a highly experienced educational leader devoted to the school’s
values and program. The Head of School has oversight of all organizational activities and serves as the
school’s academic leader, fostering a climate of excellence and ethical growth among students, faculty,
and staff. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a highly regarded independent primarily Bulgarian
school with an unwavering commitment to student success.
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Founded: 1860
Total students: 899
Nationalities in student body: 10
Bulgarian students: 97%
Total faculty: 104
International faculty: 32%
Faculty with advanced degrees: 69%
Top three faculty nationalities: Bulgarian, U.S., Canadian
Student/teacher ratio: 9:1
Financial aid budget: $1.1 million
Students receiving financial aid: 30%
SCHOOL HISTORY
The American College of Sofia is one of the oldest American educational institutions outside of the
United States of America. Located in Bulgaria’s capital, the school traces its roots to a boys’ and a girls’
school, each founded in the 1860’s. After a period of growth and broad-ranging impact in the first half of
the 20th century, ACS was shuttered in the midst of the Second World War and remained closed for 50
years (1942-1992, during Bulgaria’s communist rule). Thanks to the passion and generosity of friends
and pre-1942 alumni, ACS reopened in 1992 with a Grade 8 class of 100 students and rebuilding the
program in the past 30 years.
THE SCHOOL
ACS is among the top private college preparatory schools in the Balkans. Admission is highly selective,
based on a need-blind entrance exam and generous financial aid, designed to create a diverse
community of students.
Integrating the values and best practices of American pedagogy with the educational traditions of Bulgaria
and Europe, this day school with a small boarding component seeks to develop lifelong intellectual
curiosity, leadership, and collaboration among multi-talented students of various social, cultural,
economic, and geographic backgrounds. It also offers a wide range of electives and independent study
to further awaken intellectual curiosity and encourage deeper learning in areas of student interest. As
a result, ACS graduates are accepted into some of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. and
Europe. In university and beyond, they are highly engaged in their communities and valued as critical
thinkers and problem solvers able to set and achieve clear goals.
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“Teaching at ACS is one of the best
things that could have happened to me
as a Bulgarian teacher.”
– Faculty Member
ACS is fully accredited by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, and the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as being authorized by the International Baccalaureate
Organization. Currently, the IB Diploma Program is only available to non-Bulgarian international
students. The majority of students receive both a Bulgarian diploma and an American diploma.
ACS is operated and funded by Sofia American Schools, Inc., a non-profit, educational corporation.
ACADEMICS
All ACS courses are at advanced college preparatory level and presented in student-centered classes.
The school has five academic grades: 8th grade (in which emphasis is placed on intensive English
training) and the four high school grades, 9th through 12th. All students earn an American High School
Diploma. Bulgarian students also earn a Bulgarian Diploma, the curriculum for which is largely dictated
by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science. International students can also earn an IB Diploma.
In grades 9-10, all courses are taught in English except Bulgarian and foreign languages. In grades 11-
12, all courses are taught in English except Bulgarian language and literature, foreign languages, and
Bulgarian geography and history.
Required courses include study in English, Bulgarian, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics,
foreign language, history, geography, philosophy, physical science, computers, physical education,
art, and music. The academic program also includes plenty of time for students to explore in greater
depth areas of academic interest. For ACS students graduating after 2021, the school is offering a
wider selection of “profiled” education classes that allow for individualized, in-depth learning in math,
software and hardware technologies, humanitarian sciences, foreign languages, natural sciences, and
entrepreneurship. Students take an average of 37 hours of classes each week.
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College Placement
On average, 98% of ACS seniors
apply to non-Bulgarian colleges
and universities each year. Recent
graduates are attending the following
schools, among others:
United States
Adelphi University
American University
Bates College
Bennington College
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
George Washington University
Harvard University
Kenyon College
New York University
Northwestern University
Seniors may also choose a Senior Independent Honors Oberlin College
Project, which requires a professional and teacher Princeton University
sponsor, a research essay, and a presentation of the Savannah College of Art and Design
project’s outcomes. Stanford University
Trinity College
Tufts University
ARTS AND ATHLETICS University of California, Los Angeles
University of Chicago
ACS offers a wide array of academic electives in music University of Pennsylvania
and art, with additional co-curricular programming in the Vanderbilt University
visual and performing arts. The ACS Instrumental Music Washington and Lee University
Studio provides opportunities for students to develop Williams College
musical skills and to take part in staged concerts. The Yale University
ACS Musical program and the Drama Club foster an
appreciation of all forms of the performing arts and International
educate students in acting, directing, and stagecraft with Cambridge University
the goal of taking part in theatrical productions each year. Erasmus University
A popular signature program at ACS is the Bulgarian Imperial College
Folk Dancing Club. King’s College
Oxford University
The mission of the Sports Department is to improve Sheffield College
students’ sports skills and habits, to enrich their The American University of Paris
theoretical background in various sports, and to help The Hague University
students develop key fitness qualities: speed, flexibility, University of South Hampton
agility, and strength. In addition to regular sports classes, University of St. Andrews
a number of elective classes are offered in hopes that University of Vienna
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“Everything—academics and co-curriculars—
prepares students for universities outside
Bulgaria, unlike any other school here.”
– Student
students will find the sports activity that will become a permanent part of their lives. Girls’ and boys’
varsity and junior varsity sports teams include volleyball, football (soccer), track and field, and table
tennis. The teams compete with other Sofia-area schools and regional international schools.
SCHOOL LIFE
The American College of Sofia has developed a co-curricular program designed to create a bridge
between the classroom and life outside campus. The program is central to ACS’s holistic education
that prepares students well for university and life beyond, and differentiates ACS from other secondary
schools in Sofia.
A key element of student life is the Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) Program, which was implemented
in 2005 and serves as a model of organizing and encouraging students to participate in various co-
curricular activities. The CAS Program fosters growth in areas that challenge students to be creative
thinkers and actively involved members of the community. Additionally, the CAS Program promotes the
development of life skills and characteristics that complement students’ academic skills and knowledge.
All students in grades 9-12 must meet CAS requirements set by ACS to get the American Diploma. IB
students in grades 11-12 must also meet IB CAS requirements. Eighth grade students do not have CAS
requirements.
Some CAS activities are organized in the form of clubs that meet regularly after school. Each CAS
project and club has a faculty advisor who supports the students while offering guidelines for further
development. Clubs include dance, ecology, psychology, debate, model UN, photography, cooking,
guitar, visual arts, creative writing, robotics, programming, entrepreneurship, tennis, circus arts, hiking,
and more.
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CAMPUS
Located on 52 park-like acres on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, the school operates
in eight recently renovated classical buildings. The campus includes seven academic buildings, 62
classrooms, four computer labs, three science labs, a 435-seat theater, a 180-seat concert hall, a 28-
bed student dormitory, a large multi-purpose gymnasium, and several small indoor sports facilities that
include a rock-climbing wall, a dance studio, and a fitness center, as well as outdoor basketball courts
and playing fields. Four beautiful brick houses on campus are reserved for international faculty, and the
head of school resides in the President’s House, a three-story 11-room residence.
SOFIA, BULGARIA
Sofia, with more than 1.2 million residents, is the capital and largest city in Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a
full-fledged member of the European Union. The city is situated in western Bulgaria at the heart of
the Balkan Peninsula. The majority of its population (nearly 97%) is made up of ethnic Bulgarians, in
addition to vibrant Muslim, Roma and Jewish communities. A growing population of expatriates have
moved to Sofia in recent years, drawn by the city’s comparatively low unemployment rate, affordability,
English proficiency, modern city amenities, established presence of multinational corporations, and
healthy economy.
Sofia has a long, complex history dating back as far as 29 BC. In these modern times, this pleasantly
laid-back city is developing into a vibrant, Europe-focused community and has been named one of
the top cities in the world for business start-ups. It is a modern, youthful city, with a mix of onion-
domed churches, Ottoman-era mosques, and communist-style buildings and monuments that lend an
eclectic, exotic feel. Away from the buildings and boulevards, vast parks and manicured gardens offer
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a welcome respite, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of Vitosha Mountain are just a short bus ride
from the city. Sofia is also home to some remarkable museums and has a thriving arts, cultural, and
restaurant scene.
The cost of living in Sofia is low by European standards. The main language is Bulgarian, which uses
the Cyrillic alphabet, but English is spoken widely. Sofia weather is seasonal — with warm summers,
cold winters, and an average annual temperature around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The following are seen as opportunities for the next Head of School:
• A dedicated Board with representatives in the U.S., Bulgaria, and other parts of Europe.
• A hard-working, ambitious group of students.
• A growing group of proud alumni.
• The school’s history as one of the oldest American educational institution outside the U.S.
• ACS’s reputation within Bulgaria.
• A campus unlike any other in the country.
• Dedicated teachers.
Challenges for the next Head of School will include:
• Leveraging the school’s status as a designated Innovative School in Bulgaria to enhance curriculum
innovation and reform within Ministry of Education guidelines.
• Continuing facilities renovation and development on ACS’s historic campus to match evolving
pedagogical demands.
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• Developing ways to increase the socio-economic diversity of the student body and to attract more
students from outside Sofia and Bulgaria.
• Developing a rigorous fundraising program in Bulgaria and abroad to support financial aid, student
programs, campus development, and competitive faculty/staff compensation.
DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS
At this time, ACS is seeking a Head of School with strong academic and managerial qualifications,
whose energy and dynamic vision will guide the school as it continues to prepare its students to face
challenges as confident, principled global citizens.
Specific qualifications sought include:
• A passion for the school’s mission.
• Interest in understanding and becoming integrated in life in Bulgaria and the Balkan region.
• Knowledge and willingness to be actively involved fundraising and networking.
• Adaptability, patience, empathy, diplomacy, and a sense of humor.
• Experience with an economically diverse student body.
• Experience and confidence in making timely decisions and setting priorities.
• Ability to build out and implement long-term operational policies.
• A willingness to commit for a significant period of time.
CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to speak with the consultant in confidence. All
applicants will be expected to submit (preferably in separate PDFs) the following materials:
• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current résumé;
• A one-page statement of leadership philosophy and practice;
• A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of
each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:
Art Charles
Managing Associate, International Search
art.charles@carneysandoe.com
John Chandler
Senior Consultant
john.chandler@carneysandoe.com
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