< Back to Leadership Vacancies

Director
International School of Latvia (Latvia)

 

Dear Search Colleagues,

On behalf of the Governing Council of the International School of Latvia and the ISL Search Committee, we are pleased to announce that Ms. Ronelda (Nel) Capadona has been appointed as the new Director beginning in August 2020.

Ms. Capadona is currently the Superintendent of Chiang Mai International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a position she has held since 2016. Prior to assuming her current leadership position, Ms. Capadona was a Principal at Chiang Mai International School (2014-2016) and the Sanborn Elementary School Principal in Chandler, Arizona (2006-2014).  In addition to these leadership positions, Ms. Capadona has served as a K-12 instructional coach and has  taught at the elementary, middle school and collegiate levels. 

Ms. Capadona earned her Bachelor of Education in Expressive Arts from Brighton University in Brighton, England and her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Arizona University.  

The Governing Council of the International School of Latvia, the ISL Search Committee  and Search Associates would like to  thank all candidates who expressed interest in the Director position and to everyone who assisted and supported the successful search process.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LATVIA

Seeks a new Director
Starting in July 2020

INTRODUCTION

Mission: As a community, we empower each student to embrace opportunities, pursue passions and contribute thoughtfully to the world.

The International School of Latvia (ISL) is an IB World School, offering instruction in English to 407 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 in Latvia. In the last seven years, the school has grown from 191 students to 407, with students representing more than thirty different countries.

ISL is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and has been authorized to offer all three IB programs by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) for last 15 years. In November 2018 ISL received full reaccreditation from CIS, NEASC, and the IBO.

ISL is part of the Central & Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA), an international school network that encourages collaboration and cooperation amongst member schools and sponsors a variety of athletic, academic and cultural events for students in the region. CEESA offers regular innovative and collaborative professional development opportunities for faculty, staff and boards of member schools.

STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVES

A new 3 year rolling Strategic Plan was implemented in December 2018. The plan was developed collaboratively by all stakeholder groups (Council members, administrators, teachers, parents and students) and is being executed as a joint strategic effort.

STRATEGY A:  We will systematically develop and implement programs, curriculum and instructional practices to uphold our mission, vision and educational objectives.

STRATEGY B:  We will strengthen our identity as a community so that we are united by our mission, vision, and community values.

CURRICULUM

ISL is the largest IB school in the Baltic region and provides all three IB programs. ISL believes that supporting teachers is essential for the provision of a high quality education. We value collaborative structures to support student learning.

ISL strives to help all students achieve personal excellence, and provides a nurturing and balanced environment. Following the IB philosophy, we prepare students for successful lifelong learning, and to view our ever-changing world critically and creatively. We strive to create students who act with responsibility, integrity and respect, and appreciate human diversity. Finally, we foster a strong sense of community, where parents, students and staff are partners in education.

Our Learning Support Program serves students with mild to moderate learning needs. We work to provide additional support for students, teachers, and parents to help meet each student’s needs. We believe that the best way to achieve this goal is through an inclusive education model.

FACULTY AND STAFF

ISL has 103 employees - 67 faculty members, 18 teacher assistants and 18 - office and support staff members.

GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

ISL Council:

ISL's strategic development is guided by an eight member multi-national Council comprised of professionals from both the private and public sectors. The Council supervises the ISL Director to ensure the highest standards of leadership.  ISL’s Council undergoes board training on an annual basis.

Director:

The Director is responsible for the operational management of the school as well as implementation of the strategic plan. The Director ensures that the school's operational management is carried out at the highest professional level and s/he is accountable for the school's performance, standards, and academic and financial sustainability.  The Director supervises and evaluates the secondary and elementary school principals and the teaching and learning coordinator.

CAMPUS

The ISL campus is located in Pinki, 20 minutes from both the capital of Latvia, Riga and the beach resort of Jurmala. In addition to fully-equipped classrooms, the main part of the campus, built in 2011, is comprised of a sports/performance auditorium, multi-purpose Media Center, and newly renovated cafeteria. In the summer of 2017 ISL began construction of a campus extension which added an additional 3500m2 of facilities including five general teaching classrooms, a 250 seat auditorium, two music classrooms, two art classrooms and two modern science labs. New facility will be ready for students to use in the 2019/2020 school year.

COUNTRY

Latvia is a country in the Baltic region in Northern Europe and a member of the European Union. Latvia enjoys a political and economic stability, having one of the highest GDP growth rates in Europe.  Latvia has more than 330 miles of beach, over 12,000 rivers, 3,000 lakes and more than 50% of Latvia is forested making it perfect for outdoor activities.  It has clean air, healthy food and four distinct seasons and is a very safe place to live and work.

Riga is the capital, founded in 1201, and the largest city in Latvia with a population of 633,820.  Riga's historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its beautiful Art Nouveau and 19th century wooden architecture. Old Town Riga is just 20 minutes from the Riga International Airport which hosts Air Baltic, a low-budget airline offering inexpensive flights to more than 70 countries.

 Jurmala is a historic and beautiful resort town in Latvia located about 25 km west of Riga.  It has a 33 km stretch of white-sand beach and has been a popular holiday destination for Europeans for more than a century.  It also boasts 19th century wooden architecture and has a popular pedestrian street where you can find delicious food and welcoming cafes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Strong and caring leadership are absolutely essential qualities of the Director to successfully lead the school. The next Director must be able to inspire, motivate, and lead by providing a clear vision as the school moves forward. She/he needs to be able to communicate effectively with respect and sense of purpose with students, parents, staff and the Council, as well with our local and international communities.

• An advanced university degree in education or a related field
• 3+ years’ experience as a school Director
• Experience working with the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs
• Strong leadership skills
• Fluency in the English language
  

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience working with a multinational staff and community
• Strong financial management competence
• Knowledge of  technology in education
• Ability to build rapport and loyalty with the community and faculty
• Successful experience in change management
• Collaborative mindset

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The initial term of the Director’s contract is 3 to 5 years with the option to extend. The remuneration package is competitive and commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate as well as responsibilities of the position. Remuneration for US citizens is tax-free. Based on annual performance evaluation results, the remuneration is revised at the end of each school year.

Benefits include housing, utilities, international medical and evacuation insurance, retirement program, school tuition waiver for children attending ISL, annual home leave, professional development allowance, use of school vehicle, transportation and shipping allowance at the beginning and end of the contract.

PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATION

The International School of Latvia has appointed Search Associates as its partner in its search for the Head-of-School. The deadline for applications for the position is August 1, 2019.

The review of applications will begin as soon as applications are received, and qualified candidates will be interviewed and potentially forwarded to the International School of Latvia for further review.  Two-three finalist candidates will be invited to the campus to visit the school and meet with the Governing Council and members of staff in October. Following the conclusion of the site visits the new Head-of-School will be selected, and as soon as further reference checks are completed, the employment agreement will be signed (anticipated by November 15, 2019) and a transition plan will be developed,

Candidates are asked to send the following documentation as a single pdf file (less than 4MB is possible) attached to an e-mail to: bmutsch@searchassociates.com

• A letter of interest max 500 words;
• A statement of educational and leadership philosophy (max.500 words);
• A résumé (max 500 words);
• A list of at least three recent, direct, accountable and active supervisory references including one from the current supervisor.

Brent Mutsch – Search Associates

E-mail: bmutsch@searchassociates.com

Skype: brentmutsch

Telephone: 970-368-6879 (Mountain Daylight Time – U.S.)