International schools that were founded in 1985 (Copenhagen, Tehran, Istanbul & Riyadh)

Random year for international schools around the world: 1985

There is much history in the international teaching community.  We have international schools with founding dates of 1838 and 1854 and we also have many, many international schools with founding dates in the 21st century.  The numbers are increasing for sure.

Utilizing the database of the 1238 (13 July, 2012) international schools currently listed on International School Community, we found 10 international schools that were founded in 1985 (excepts about their founding are taken from the schools’ websites):

Atlanta International School (4 Comments) (Atlanta, USA)

“1985 AIS was founded by a group of parents, international educators and members of the business community whose aim was to provide the Atlanta area with the kind of international educational opportunities found in major cities throughout the world. Support from major corporations and public figures was obtained because of the school’s importance in the development of Atlanta as the premier international city in the southeastern United States.”

Al Hekma International School (9 Comments)  (Sanad, Bahrain)

“Al- Hekma International School (AHIS) is a co-educational international school offering an American curriculum to classes from Preschool through High School (PS-Grade 12). The school was founded in 1985 and is fully accredited by the Bahraini Ministry of Education and the Middle States Association for Accreditation of Colleges & Schools (MSA) in the U.S.A. AHIS is also affiliated with worldwide recognized educational institutions, that provide professional development and support for improvement and growth such as (NESA, NBOA, ASCD, AAIE, PTC, NAIS). Students in high school are also trained and tested to receive ICDL certificates through the schools accreditation with ICDL organization to provide students with the latest computer skills required for the future.”

A’takamul International School (0 Comments)  (Al-Rumaithiya, Kuwait)

“A’Takamul International School (ATIS) was founded in 1995, with our first graduating senior class in 2002. ATIS strives to provide a high quality international education based on the American-curriculum, while maintaining an Islamic ethos and Kuwaiti values. ATIS is a private, independent college preparatory school, and we enroll students from pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. Students are encouraged to take part in as many different school activities as possible and to excel in all of their endeavors. ATIS is a member of Kuwait Foreign Schools Activities Conference (K.F.S.A.C.) and participates in sporting events throughout Kuwait.”

International School of Stuttgart (6 Comments)  (Stuttgart, Germany)

“The International School of Stuttgart, founded in 1985, is a co-educational, English-medium day school, serving the needs of the international community of the state capital of Baden-Württemberg in Germany.”

Stafford International School (3 Comments)  (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

“Founded in 1986 as an independent and private educational institute, Stafford is a coeducational, international school. It follows the British curriculum which prepares the students for the London University IGCSE and Advanced (A/S, A/L) Level examinations. High performance in these British exams qualifies students for entry into British and other foreign universities. The curriculum is stringent and comprises a broad and balanced range of subjects.”

Chaing Mai International School (5 Comments)  (Chaing Mai, Thailand)

“Missionaries returning to work with the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) after World War II established a school for their children in Chiang Mai. Classes began on June 1, 1954 with eight students. In 1958, construction was begun on the present campus for “The Chiang Mai Children’s Center.” As more expatriate families moved to Chiang Mai and sought an English-language education for their children they, too, were accepted at the school.

In 1984, representatives of the Thai Foreign Ministry and the CCT agreed that the formal establishment of an international school in Chiang Mai was a necessary step to achieving the school’s legal status. Classes under the new name, “Chiang Mai International School” (CMIS) began in September of 1985 for Kindergarten to Grade 8. High School grades were progressively added from 1992 to 1995.”

The International Philippine School in Riyadh (IPSR) (0 Comments)  (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

“ The school originally started in the mid 1950’s with about a dozen pupils. It was government run, and was housed in a succession of buildings in Central Honiara. By the early 1970’s the need for a new school was recognized, and in the later half of the 1970’s, a new Woodford School project was included in the Solomon Islands National Development Plan. This project recognized “That a primary educational system offering a curriculum meeting international standards is a critical infrastructure requirement necessary to support Solomon Islands objectives of attracting investment and technical expertise.”

ISTEK Schools, Istanbul (8 Comments)  (Istanbul, Turkey)

“The İSTEK Education and Cultur Foundation was established in Istanbul on the 5th April, 1985 by a group of  eminent persons and institutions on the initiative of the former mayor of the municipality of greater  İstanbul, Mr.Bedrettin Dalan. It is an educational trust, aims to develop productive, creative and responsible  attitudes in individuals while adopting the principles and reforms of Atatürk. Working in national and  international contexts, aiming to make positive contributions to both the country and the world’s future,  and giving priority to scientific thought defines İSTEK as a foundation apart.

We currently operate ten K-12 schools and three separate kindergartens. In 1996, the Foundation also  established a university, Yeditepe University, which has now grown to become Turkey’s biggest university.  The Medical Faculty of the University runs one of the top rated hospitals in the region as well as  ophthalmology clinics. The School of Dentistry has a hospital on the Asian side and a clinic on the European  side of the city.”

Amager’s International School (0 Comments)  (Copenhagen, Denmark)

“AIS was founded in 1985 by teachers and parents who where concerned about the decline of educational standards.  It is located on the island of Amager (Copenhagen) which is joined to the mainland of Zealand in Denmark.”


Tehran International School (0 Comments)  (Tehran, Iran)

“T.I.S was established in the year 1985 with the goal to build educational links to other countries and render educational services to foreign students in Iran . Since its establishment, the school has been continuously involved in the educational progress where numerous foreign students are continuing their education in much the same manner as in their previous schools with most satisfactory results.”
Check out the rest of the international schools listed on International School Community and check out their histories as well!  We have over 1238 international schools that have profile pages on our website.

Comments and information about hiring policies on International School Community #5: Vietnam American Int’l School, Int’l School Basel, & MISR American College

Comments and information about hiring policies on International School Community:

Every week members are leaving information and comments about the hiring policies at international schools around the world.  Which ones go to the Search Associates Recruitment Fairs?  Which ones hold interviews over Skype?  Which ones have hiring restrictions imposed on them by the host country?  All important questions to think about when job searching, but where to find the answers to those questions?

Sometimes it is hard to keep track of which international schools go to which recruitment fairs and which interview style and tactic each international school employs.  At International School Community, we want to make the search for information about hiring policies easier for international school teachers. In the school section of each international school profile page on our website, there is a section specific to the school’s hiring policies.  The topic is: “Describe their hiring policies. Which recruiting fairs do they go to? How do they typically hire (e.g. face-to-face interview, Skype, etc.)? Are there any hiring restrictions mandated by the country?”

Here are 3 out of the numerous comments and information related to the hiring policies of international schools that have been posted on our website:

Vietnam American International School (26 Comments)

Comment about their hiring policies: “The hiring is generally through Nacel International School Systems and posted on SchoolSpring.com. I do not know of any recruiting fairs that either Nacel or VAIS participates in. VAIS is marketed as an American school with American curriculum, so the faculty are all licensed US teachers (with the exception of the Vietnamese teacher and a part time ESL teacher).”

International School Basel (18 Comments)


Comment about their hiring policies: “The school is a regular at recruitment fairs due to the rapid expansion which has been going on over the past 10 years. They advertise on their website and JoyJobs as well. They generally get the chance for a face to face interview.”

Misr American College (37 Comments)

Comment about their hiring policies: “Each teacher is eligible for 1 authorized dependent. 65 is the maximum age for hiring, the age restriction. A requirement for hiring is a teacher degree and certifications with a minimum of 2 years teaching experience.”

Check out the more than 180 comments and information about the hiring policies of numerous international schools at www.internationalschoolcommunity.com.

Blogs of international school teachers: “Tech Transformation”

Are you inspired to start up a blog about your adventures living abroad?

Our 20th blog that we would like to highlight is called “Tech Transformation.”  Check out the blog entries of this international school teacher who has lived and worked abroad for many years, 24 of which have been at international schools in Europe and Asia so far.

A few entries that we would like to highlight:

Having a Reputation

“Some international schools have a great reputation – everyone on the international school circuit has heard of them and would love to work there.  Some of these schools never even have to go to a job fair to recruit new teachers – teachers are applying to them in droves and by this time in the school year they have already chosen the teachers they want for the next school year.  Recently some friends of mine who applied to one of the top schools in Asia told me that there had been over 3,000 applicants for the 50 new jobs that were being created as their school opens a new campus.  Clearly schools such as these are in the favourable position of being able to recruit the very best teachers from around the world.

Today I’ve been thinking about what gives those schools a good reputation?  Obviously it’s because their teachers are out there promoting all the good things about the school, it’s because they are known for giving their teachers fantastic opportunities for professional development, it’s because the schools are progressive and seen as being “cutting edge”, it’s because the salary and benefits package is extremely attractive, it’s because teachers feel valued and it’s because all students, regardless of ability, seem to thrive and do well there.”

“Top tier”, “A, B, C, D schools”, “That is one For-profit”, etc. We all have heard these phrases (and more) as international school educators talk about international schools, especially about international schools you are considering to work at.  I suppose it might be true that the “top” international schools don’t even go to the recruitment fairs, but I do believe a lot of them do.  The ones that don’t might indeed have a really good reputation.  They might be getting so many applicants applying to them without them even looking.  I have overheard though from one administrator at one of these “top tier” schools that they are thinking that they do need to “show up” at a fair every now and again so that the “good name” of the school will still be in everyone’s mind.  Thus it could be to the international school’s benefit to stay visible to stay “top tier.”

And this blogger has hit it on the T, the reasons she gives for the good reputation are correct.  Why don’t all international schools strive to be all of those things?  I know the teachers there would want that to be there goal as well.  And I think that is what she is getting at….it is not just the international school that should strive for this, but the teachers as well.  I bet it is most because of the teachers at an international schools that have helped the school to get its good reputation.  So, the key word then for this to happen is: inspiration.  Inspire yourself and your coworkers and maybe your current international school will soon be in that “top tier” list if it isn’t there already.  Sometimes it is a fight to achieve this high reputation, and probably also a challenge (albeit an exciting and motivating challenge) to keep your school in the top.

Experience -v- Quality

“When I started in international education, in the late 80s and early 90s, there were a small number of “top” international schools that were developing the IBO programmes that are used by many international and private schools around the world today.  In general these schools could take their pick of candidates – they received hundreds of applicants each year and often one of the requirements for working in these schools was that the candidates had to have a minimum of 2 years of experience of working in international education.  And to get that first experience in international education, they had to have worked for a minimum of 2 years in their home country too.  Therefore in general any teacher who was offered a job at these schools would have had a minimum of 4 years of experience, and often many more in a variety of international schools.”

I don’t know if this is always true, but it definitely plays a big factor in the consideration of your application.  Networking plays a factor into getting placed at a top tier school as well (knowing someone who knows someone).  Also luck and timing play a factor (being available for a late hire in June versus in February during the recruiting season.  And finally it is so important that you are the right “fit” for the position at this “top” international school.  I have heard many times that if you are just simply the right fit, then these other “requirements” (e.g. two years of experience working in international schools) for the position generally can be pushed aside. 

Many international school teachers new to this community don’t have experience with the PYP curriculum.  Consequently there a number of these teachers wanting to work at one of the many international schools using the PYP.  Many established PYP schools are saying to these candidates at recruitment fairs that they look for a minimum of two years of PYP experience to be considered.  Should these teachers give up then on their dream to work at a PYP international school?  Certainly not.  I have a friend who tried for 2-3 years trying to land a job at a PYP school (without previous PYP experience).  Finally, they got an interview at a top international school in Europe.  Even though there were other candidates with PYP experience interviewing for the position, my friend got hired instead.  There were definitely other factors coming into play versus just saying no to a candidate that didn’t have the “required” two years of PYP experience.  You never know what might happen when you apply at an international school that’s for sure!

Check out the 1230+ international schools that are listed on International School Community here and check out what teachers are saying about the “top” or “not top” international school they currently work at or have worked at in the past.

Check out our latest submitted comments and information about these schools here.

If you are an international school teacher and would like your blog highlighted on International School Community contact us here.

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