AISA Conference, Cape Town, South Africa: “I see you, we are one”

This October 31^st-November 3rd, Search Associates (SEARCH) Senior Consultant Caroline Jacoby joined more than 500 international educators at the annual conference for the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Each year, the organization invites “educators, leaders, co-professionals, sponsors and exhibitors who share a passion for international education in Africa.” The conference theme this year reflected AISA’s powerful sense of community: “Sawubona, Simunye – I see you, we are one.”

As many schools in Africa are quite remote from other international schools, the AISA conference is an important opportunity to reconnect and learn from each other and from experts from around the world. Caroline was busy during the conference, catching up with schools for which she had run leadership searches, networking with leadership candidates looking to make a move in the future, and following up with candidates she had helped place in the last year or two, including the new executive director of AISA! She also had the opportunity to meet with the new Office of Overseas Schools, Regional Education Officer (REO) for Africa, Dr. Bobbi McDaniel. Caroline also attended a cocktail event hosted by Ghera Education Services, a new company offering a variety of student support services, particularly to small and remote schools around the world.

One of the hot topics at the conference was AI and how students, teachers, and administrators can and are using this quickly developing tool to enhance teaching and learning and to make their work more efficient. However, there are also plenty of issues to be addressed and to be aware of. The importance of “Human Intelligence” in reviewing and, where necessary, revising AI-generated content cannot be stressed enough.

Caroline introduced a deep dive session and participated in “Visionary Leadership: AI Driven Strategies for School Operations,” presented by Tina Fossgreen and Nneka Johnson. During that session, Caroline was able to introduce participants to the services that SEARCH offers.

In addition to making the acquaintance of heads of school new to the region, Caroline spent time advising directors new to the role, new to their appointments, or leaving appointments. She adds,

I met with both the outgoing head and incoming head of the American School of Yaoundé, to help them plan their transition, and I also met with the International Community School (ICS) of Addis Ababa team about two principal searches that we are currently running.

Caroline’s experience highlights how vital SEARCH’s presence was at the 2024 AISA Conference and will be at future gatherings. She says,

We conduct the vast majority of leadership searches, assisted and otherwise, in the region and many people in the course of the conference told me how much they appreciate our support and that they have been very happy with the outcome of the searches that we have led for them.

On the last day of the conference, Caroline seized the opportunity to visit to the American International School of Cape Town (AISCT), housed in beautiful buildings built in the Cape Dutch architectural style and set amongst lovely gardens. AISCT faculty took groups for a tour of the school with four wine and cheese tasting stops around the campus. Caroline exclaims, “Now that is what I call a school tour!”