Senior Associate Facilitates Director Succession at AIS Zagreb

The School Board of the American International School of Zagreb (AISZ) and the Search Committee, led by Senior Associate Ralph Jahr, announced the results of the worldwide search for a new Director. Ms. Ellen Stern, current Interim Head, will extend her position through the 2015-2016 academic year. Ellen will then pass the leadership role to Mr. Paul Buckley, who will take the helm as Director of AISZ beginning the 2016-2017 academic year.

Ms. Ellen Stern has distinguished herself as a seasoned interim head, having served in this capacity for eight schools in eight different countries in the ten years before her appointment in Croatia. Prior to that, Ellen was director of the Anglo-American School in Moscow and St. Petersburg, a position she held for eight years. Ms. Stern holds a BA in philosophy from Radcliffe College and a Masters in Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University (“Director’s Welcome”).

Mr. Buckley is currently Principal of Pattimura Elementary School, at Jakarta International School in Indonesia, a position he has held since 2006. Fifteen of Paul’s twenty-seven years in teaching and administrative experience have been in international schools in Sri Lanka, China, and Australia.

AISZ is located in Zagreb, the historic capital of Croatia, within reach of the sea, mountains, and cities of Europe. The school began in 1966 with thirteen children and three staff members. The student population fluctuated from forty to seventy until the Republic of Croatia declared independence in 1991, forcing the school to close for a semester due to subsequent war. The following years marked a time of rebirth for the school. After the war, enrollment grew, due to an influx of families to Zagreb. This prompted several relocations of the school in order to accommodate its growing population. By 2000, AISZ moved to its present site in the southeast wing of the Inter-Diocesan Seminary at Vocarska 106 (“History”).

Currently, the junior kindergarten through high school program comprises two-hundred and twenty students representing thirty-two nationalities and overseen by a staff of sixty. The average class size is sixteen. AISZ has received both Middle States Association accreditation and International Baccalaureate authorization (“AISZ Overvew”).

Graduates of AISZ earn a high school diploma, equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. However, students also have the option to enter the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program when they begin 11th grade. One hundred percent of graduating classes go on to higher education or into the military (“AISZ Overview”).

At each level of the school, students are offered a wide variety extra-curricular activities as well as opportunities for overnight trips to a variety of locations throughout Croatia. The trips in the lower levels are tied to the curriculum whereas trips in the upper levels emphasize leadership, unity and positive social growth and development (“AISZ Overview”).

Search Associates congratulates both Ms. Stern and Mr. Buckley and wishes them well as they lead AISZ forward in the years ahead.

“AISZ Overview.” American International School of Zagreb. n.d. Web. 21 January 2015. http://www.aisz.hr.

“Director’s Welcome.” American International School of Zagreb. n.d. Web. 21 January 2015. http://www.aisz.hr.

“History.” American International School of Zagreb. n.d. Web. 21 January 2015. http://www.aisz.hr.