Jambo and a Happy New Year from AISA in Nairobi.

Following on from our very successful 50^th Anniversary Conference in Cape Town last November, and recognizing that all successful educators are also life-long learners, AISA is keen to continue to support your professional learning throughout the remainder of this academic year. This edition of our eCircular provides details of the many and varied learning opportunities you and your staff can access in the coming months. Please do take a careful look and try to support these events if you can. Our ongoing goal is to continue to support your professional learning so you can in turn have a positive impact on student learning in our schools.

I also have a very exciting announcement to make regarding the AAIE Superintendent of the Year Award. This annual award recognizes the significant contribution of the head of an international school worldwide. Dr. Andy Page-Smith, Director of the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), has been named the 2020 Superintendent of the Year. I’m sure the entire AISA community joins me in congratulating Andy and we thank him for his support for colleagues in our region, and to AISA in general, over the past 10 years. To quote from the award announcement:

Andy is described by others as an internationalist, an innovator, and a leader who thinks strategically and implements with integrity. A visitor to his school in Johannesburg describes the learning climate and connected community in this way: “There is unmistakable integrity in how the AISJ community speaks with one voice, has set strategic direction and seeks to live the vision and mission. The School’s aspirations are vivid and highly accessible, completely focused on teaching, learning and the student experience.”

Many of you will be aware that earlier in the year AISA also recognized Andy’s contribution to our own region by awarding him the “AISA Outstanding Contribution to Educational Leadership Award”.  Andy will leave AISJ and the AISA region at the end of this year. But he won’t be going too far away as his new post as Chief Executive Officer at the Academy of International School Heads will still see him taking and active leadership role in international education around the world.

For now I wish you all the best for a learning focussed year ahead for your school community.

Dr Peter Bateman
AISA Executive Director