New Director Appointment in Mauritania

Senior Associates Ralph Jahr and Dr. David Cramer announced that the International School of Nouakchott (AISN), Mauritania has chosen Mr. Robert Smithberg as its Director, to begin in the 2016-2017 school year.

Currently High School Principal of Dipont Education in Shenzhen, China, Mr. Smithberg has also served as Middle School Principal at St. John’s School in Puerto Rico, the American Community School in London, U.K., and at Colegio Albania in Colombia. His work has brought him to schools in Turkey, the UAE, and Brazil, in addition to the U.S. Robert did his undergraduate work in Antioch College in Ohi, and completed his MS at Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY.

AISN began in 1978 in a wing of a large house and consisted of two classrooms and an atrium with a garden. Initial instruction was through a correspondence course. As the population grew, an extension was added to the building, and more classroom teachers were added. Eventually the school began to offer online high school classes through the University of Nebraska’s online school until 2008 when AISN added its own high school classes and teachers. The school congratulated its first true high school graduate in 2011.

Fully-accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA), AISN offers its 77 pre-K-12 students a U.S. curriculum based on core standards. French is also taught from kindergarten through 12th grade. AISN is a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA).

Today, the facility is comprised of thirteen instructional areas including classrooms, a science lab, a computer lab, an art room, an open-area library, a kitchen, and two administrative offices. The campus includes play areas for young children and areas for basketball and soccer for the older students. The U.S. Embassy offers its swimming pool during the fall and spring so that swimming may be offered as an activity for the students.

Search Associates congratulates Mr. Robert Smithberg and the International School of Nouakchott on their new partnership.