I C s I , t h s J 2018 12. · Istanbul International Community School (IICS), a non-profit school...

Istanbul InternatIonal CommunIty sChool

Istanbul, turkeyhead of sChool

July 2018www.IICs-k12.net

the PosItIon

Istanbul International Community School (IICS), a non-profit school for students ages 3-18 and the first international school in Istanbul, seeks a Head of School starting July 2018. The school is a warm, vibrant and forward-looking community supported by an active and engaged Board, a fine faculty and staff, a strong sense of community, and a shared sense of academic purpose and direction. IICS promises its next Head a stable foundation from which to lead it forward.

The school community has a shared pride in the school for its diversity, warm and nurturing community, small class sizes, student-centered approach, and encouragement of individual growth. The overall IICS academic program is strong and is increasingly becoming a model for other schools in its region. Teachers reflect pride in what they are doing and appreciate the support and freedom they are given to grow professionally and teach according to their best strengths. There is a shared understanding of the school’s mission and values, and the parents, teachers, and staff clearly believe in the school and its direction. IICS offers a very good opportunity for an experienced candidate seeking to build on a long history and a strong foundation and to lead a fine school.

sChool hIstory

Istanbul International Community School was founded in 1911 as a sister school to Robert College, the oldest continuously operating American sponsored school abroad. Originally serving the children of Robert College teachers, IICS has transformed over the years into a vibrant international school open to all of Istanbul’s expatriate students. It holds the distinction of being one of the world’s first schools authorized to offer all three International Baccalaureate programs. The school’s accreditations

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Mission

Through its challenging curriculum and strong staff-student relationships, IICS provides a caring environment that inspires each student to excel and to be inquisitive, creative, compassionate, balanced, and internationally-minded.


were renewed after a successful review in 2011-2012, continuing a tradition of excellence that goes back to the closing days of the Ottoman Empire.

To celebrate IICS’s 100th birthday, students at the Hisar campus created a video of some of the important historical aspects of the school.

the sChool

IICS is a not-for-profit school of 540 students ages 3-18. A globally accredited, fully authorized International Baccalaureate school, IICS offers a child-centered education that fosters independent learning and a truly international mindset. As a mission-driven institution, IICS is defined by its aim to provide a challenging curriculum in a caring, compassionate environment—a goal that is supported by a passionate, international faculty; a parent-led Board of Directors; and an active Parent-Teacher Association and Booster Club.

Students come to IICS from 60 countries and five continents, with many having lived in multiple countries before arriving in Istanbul. The result is a heterogeneous community of learners and a focus on world citizenship. At IICS, students learn to seek out commonalities and appreciate differences between cultures, with the goal of bridging divides to create a more peaceful world.

Due to the mobile nature of the expat community in Istanbul, IICS experiences an annual student turnover of 25%, and an established transition program puts new parents in touch with other families of their nationality, native language, and grade level class. Student ambassadors make connections with newcomers, and the academic program is designed to allow for smooth transitions: through


differentiated instruction, support for English as an Additional Language, and the internationally standardized IB curriculum, new students are able to comfortably adjust to the IICS environment.

aCademICs

The IICS academic program is guided by the standards of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization, which advances a vision of learning as a coherent journey of self-development through which students become not only effective learners, but also effective people in the world. From the Early Years program onward, the IICS curriculum works to instill the ten attributes of the IB Learner Profile, which asks students to be inquirers, communicators, thinkers, and risk-takers, as well as knowledgeable, open-minded, balanced, principled, caring, and reflective.Academics at IICS are centered on the ideal that students learn best when they are actively involved in their own learning and that learning should be personalized. As a result, teachers work to create an atmosphere in which students are free to embrace their unique interests and aptitudes, challenged to stretch and grow, and encouraged to apply their learning by taking action in their community and the larger world. In addition to providing a solid foundation in subject areas such as languages, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and the arts, the IB curriculum emphasizes thinking across disciplines. A robust technological infrastructure supports students’ learning. Younger students regularly use iPads; since 2013, students in grades 6-12 have benefited from a one-to-one Macbook program.

At all grade levels, English is the language of inclusion, but in keeping with the IB’s emphasis on internationalism, students study at least one additional language: French in the Primary School, and French, Spanish, or German during their Secondary years. Small group and one-on-one instruction is offered to students mastering English as an Additional Language in grades 1-10, and a student-to-teacher ratio of seven to one provides opportunities for differentiation within the mainstream classroom.


IICS teachers are recruited internationally. Forty-five percent of the school’s 99 teachers hold U.S. passports, while others come to Istanbul from the U.K., Australia, and more than 11 other countries. The average IICS teacher has 14 years of classroom experience, and 59% of the faculty hold a Master’s degree or higher. The school supports professional development and recently launched its own academic journal, Spark, to document IICS teachers’ work and provide encouragement and inspiration to fellow educators. The school prides itself on a rich and collegial environment; the average teacher tenure at IICS is four years.

Regular reviews of teaching, learning, and assessment help IICS gauge the effectiveness of the school’s program. In addition, NWEA’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test is used to measure the rigor of the curriculum, as well as tracking student achievement and growth. As students reach the end of their time at IICS, a highly-effective university counseling program helps each student gain entrance into their chosen post-secondary educational institutions.

PrImary sChool

The Primary Years Program, for students ages 3-12, focuses on the development of the whole child, cultivating positive attitudes towards learning through a holistic, interdisciplinary curriculum. In the Early Years, play-based learning is highly developed with the youngest students leading their own inquiries into the world around them. Students in the Primary School study six subject areas: languages; social studies; mathematics; science and technology; the arts; and personal, social, and physical education. Transdisciplinary themes including “who we are,” “where we are in place and time,” and “how we express ourselves” provide a framework for inquiry, with students exploring topics such as the natural world and peace and conflict resolution. All Primary Years students study French, and, in order to connect students to the school’s host culture, Turkish language and culture


lessons are a part of the curriculum. Throughout, teachers work to cultivate the attitudes of internationally-minded individuals, by demonstrating and nurturing confidence, creativity, enthusiasm, integrity, and tolerance.

seCondary sChool

IICS’s Secondary School curriculum consists of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP), for students in grades 7-10, and the IB Diploma Program (IBDP), for 11th and 12th grade students. In the Middle Years Program, students develop into robust, proactive, independent, and internationally-minded lifelong learners, gaining the academic and life skills necessary to thrive in a changing world. Holistic learning, intercultural awareness, and communication are the three major areas of focus, and though the day is structured around traditional subject areas—English, an additional language, humanities, sciences, mathematics, arts, technology, and physical education—faculty work to foster interdisciplinary thinking by developing units centered around six global contexts and 16 key concepts. In order to fulfill the IB language requirement, students elect to study French, German, or Spanish.

College PlaCement

The following is a selection of college acceptances over the last five years. Students regularly matriculate to institutions in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Europe, and Asia.

United States: American UniversityBarnard CollegeBoston UniversityBard CollegeBrown UniversityDartmouth CollegeDuke UniversityEmory UniversityJames Madison UniversityNorthwestern UniversitySavannah College of Art and DesignStanford UniversityTufts UniversityUniversity of California BerkeleyUniversity of MichiganUniversity of North Carolina

Canada: Concordia UniversityMcGill UniversityQueen’s UniversityYork University

United Kingdom:City University LondonDurham UniversityKing’s College, University of LondonLondon School of EconomicsUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of Oxford

Europe: University of Leuven, BelgiumSorbonne, FranceUniversitaet Bonn, GermanyAmerican University of Rome, ItalyLeiden University, NetherlandsEcole Hoteliere Lausanne, Switzerland

Asia: City University of Hong Kong, ChinaHebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelKeio University, JapanSeoul National University, KoreaBahcesehir University, Turkey


In all subject areas, Middle Years teachers push IICS students beyond simply “knowing,” prompting reflective thinking, critical and creative problem-solving, decision-making, and self-awareness. In grade 10, each student completes a Personal Project, an extended, independent piece of work that provides an opportunity for students to engage in inquiry, action, and reflection on a chosen topic.

The Diploma Program at IICS builds on the foundation of the MYP. A rigorous, two-year curriculum for highly motivated students in 11th and 12th grades, the IBDP strikes a balance between practical considerations and idealistic aims: students receive a well-rounded education in accordance with the IB’s internationally recognized standards of academic excellence, while cultivating critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and exposure to a variety of points of view. Offering both breadth and depth, the Diploma Program requires students to choose six subjects across a range of areas as well as completing three unique requirements: a two-year Theory of Knowledge course; the Creativity, Action, and Service experience; and an Extended Essay of 4,000 words, requiring in-depth research and writing. Opportunities for self-directed learning allow students to practice time-management and delve into individual interests as well.

In addition to internal assessments through the Diploma Program, each student completes external examinations at the culmination of their final year in order to earn the International Baccalaureate Diploma. All students are also eligible to receive an IICS High School Diploma at the conclusion of the 12th grade year.

arts, athletICs, and Co-CurrICulars

At all grade levels, the IB curriculum incorporates both arts and physical education as key components of a whole-child education. While the arts promote creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills,


and social interaction, athletics allow students to develop positive attitudes, teamwork, and respect for others, contributing to physical and social development.

Music and visual arts are core elements of the Primary Years Program; in addition to art classes, activities, and performances, at least one unit each year serves as an opportunity for a collaborative, interdisciplinary study that brings art into the students’ main classrooms. Physical education throughout the Primary years provides a venue in which students explore identity, active living, and interactions with others. In addition, the IICS academic program is enriched by a host of co-curricular offerings for students in grades 2-12. After school, Primary students may choose to participate in activities such as Turkish folklore dancing, paper quilling, choir, basketball, and football.

In the Secondary School, students may join drama productions, band, and choir, as well as a wide variety of co-curricular activities that include Knowledge Bowl, Math Counts, Photography Club, and Model United Nations. Athletic offerings include soccer, volleyball, softball, and basketball, with teams competing in a local athletic league as well as CEESA (Central and Eastern European Schools Association), which allows IICS students to travel to nearly 20 different schools to participate in athletic, artistic, and academic competitions and conferences.

sustaInabIlIty and servICe

The school aims to create an ecologically, economically, and socially responsible learning environment that emphasizes sustainability and service.

In the classroom, students explore environmental issues as well as social and economic inequalities; long-term projects and co-curricular activities, like the Animal Welfare Club and the sustainability-


oriented Roots & Shoots, provide opportunities to turn this learning into action. As part of the grade 6 curriculum, each student completes the culminating assessment of the PYP programme, the exhibition, following their personal passions in order to increase awareness and provide aid for a global issue; for the Creativity, Action, and Service course, students in the Diploma Program complete a substantial community service project. IICS students have organized annual blood drives, travel to Nepal to teach classes at a village school, and raise awareness about the plight of Istanbul’s street children, among many other efforts.

PhysICal CamPus

IICS’s two campuses offer unique learning environments tailored to the particular needs of different age groups. The smaller Hisar Campus, part of the school’s original grounds, is located in a wooded, historical neighborhood near the Bosphorus and provides a cozy and enchanting environment for young learners in Early Years through grade 3. Overlooking the Hisar castle ramparts, the property consists of a traditional villa surrounded by modern classroom buildings and houses a library, PE and music room, basketball court, climbing wall, and outdoor play area.

Students of all grade levels enjoy the facilities of the 16-hectare Marmara campus, a purpose-built construction located in rolling hills 25 miles west of the city center. Situated above a large lake, this main campus provides a base for 75% of the student body and features an Early Learning Center for students ages 3-5, a library, and a theatre, as well as ample athletic, arts, and academic facilities. A double gymnasium, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, a soccer pitch, and spacious playgrounds provides space for physical education and sport, while an open-air amphitheater, visual arts building, and music rooms support IICS’s arts offerings.

The school offers bus transportation to both campuses, and 80% of students take the bus.

Istanbul, turkey

Over 3,000 years old, Istanbul is one of the world’s most populous cities, with an estimated 14.7 million residents. Recognized by publications such as Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure as a top global destination, this historically rich and fascinating city is also home to one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies. The city’s most important tourist attraction is the historic center, which features Byzantine and Ottoman architecture and has been designated, in part, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A majority Muslim city, Istanbul has long been known for its multicultural community, which includes many expatriates. The city is home to many expat societies and organizations for adults and children, including international sports clubs and even English-speaking Boy and Girl Scout troops. IICS publishes a comprehensive relocation guide in order to acquaint new families with their surroundings.

Istanbul’s Mediterranean climate makes for hot, humid summers and cold, rainy, and often snowy winters. In


Parents say:“Innovative, student-empowering, energized, engaged, global. Really walking the talk.”

“Giving pupils the tools for discovery and self-improvement. Challenging them to achieve and get out of their comfort zone. At the same time, academic rigor and curriculum is fulfilled.”

teaChers say:“IICS lives its mission - students are always engaged with their work; the whole community is committed to forward-thinking approaches to teaching and learning.”

“Wonderful school, positive learning environment and strong-knit community.”

students say:“I love how teachers and students have very close relationships and if there is something wrong a teacher is quick to notice.”

“Students are involved in all lessons. The teacher does not stand up and talk at you, they involve you in the lesson and allow you to ask questions and share your opinions.”

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addition to plentiful historic, arts, and cultural offerings, residents enjoy walking and jogging along the Bosphorus strait, in parks, and the Belgrad Forest on the city’s northern edge.

oPPortunItIes and Challenges for the next head of sChool

Opportunities for the next Head of School include:• An excellent opportunity for a forward-looking, visionary educational leader• Leading a warm, vibrant school with a strong sense of community• Leading the oldest, and only not-for-profit, international school in Istanbul• A committed, hard-working, self-perpetuating Board• A capable faculty and staff who are proud of the school and their place in it• Building on five years of steady program growth and improvement • Living and working in the culturally and historically rich city of Istanbul

Challenges for the next Head of School include:• Promoting the strengths of IICS and building enrollment, while remaining consistent with the

school’s mission and values• Working with the Board to clarify the school’s plans for the immediate and longer-term future and

to base decisions around those plans• Continue to develop a forward-looking and progressive educational program• Continuing to develop the campuses and their facilities in order to support the program• Carefully managing the school’s finances and resources• Continuing to recruit and retain the strongest possible faculty and staff• Putting in place clear and consistent operating systems and procedures• Strengthening alumni relations and fundraising programs



desIred QualItIes of the next head of sChool

• Accessible, open, transparent, and visible on campus• An educational leader who is genuinely committed to learning• Truly understands and committed to international education• Student-centered, and genuinely enjoys students• Resilient, comfortable with challenge• Personal, relational• Able to motivate and empower others• Confident• Innovative, forward-thinking, visionary• Calm under pressure• Good communicator, articulate• Inclusive leader• Culturally sensitive• Understands governance, able to work with the Board• Understands finances and the school budget process• Good sense of humor

to aPPly

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials: • A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position• A current résumé• A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice• A list of five (5) professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each to:

John ChandlerSenior [email protected]

Art CharlesSenior [email protected]

I C s I , t h s J 2018 12. · Istanbul International Community School (IICS), a non-profit school...

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