2025 AISA Conference Highlights Collective Strength

This October 3-5, Tim Stuart Director of Leadership Recruitment and Global Partnerships and Senior Associate Gez Hayden joined over 250 participants in Kigali, Rwanda at the 2025 AISA Conference. As Search Associates (SEARCH) continues to be the premiere leadership and teacher recruitment partner for schools in Africa, attending the annual AISA gathering is not only vital but also a great pleasure. Tim noted,

It was an amazing gathering of educators from all over Africa. The high energy and positivity made it feel like a family reunion.

This year’s theme “Ubumwe: Our Collective Strength, Our Shared Future,” allowed school leaders, educators, co-professionals, and associates to celebrate, as the conference program says, “the collective strength of the AISA community… where delegates work towards a shared future that transforms student learning in international schools across the continent.”

A balanced program featured Pre-conference workshops, Deep Dive sessions, Discovery workshops complemented by AISA Connects, time in a relaxed setting where peers sharing similar roles unwound, shared stories, and had fun. All these elements contribute to the strong sense of community that has always made AISA conferences special.

SEARCH was proud to sponsor two exceptional workshop facilitators whose expertise and passion inspired participants throughout the event. Melanie Vrbe, Director of the International School of Tanganyika, emphasized that cultivating a strong, caring community is the foundation for meaningful and lasting learning. Her work centers on student wellbeing and personalized approaches that nurture agency, voice, and choice among young learners. Katie Novak, Ed.D.—an internationally respected education consultant, author, University of Pennsylvania graduate instructor, and former Assistant Superintendent in Massachusetts—advocates for inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and universally designed leadership. Tim had the pleasure of introducing both facilitators and of presenting for an hour during Melanie’s pre-conference session, an experience that enriched the spirit of collaboration and shared learning that defined the event.

Tim and Gez engaged in many conversations about upcoming leadership vacancies, strengthening SEARCH’s relationships with schools across the continent. Their presence reaffirmed our commitment to advancing international education in Africa by building lasting partnerships that make a difference.