Director Position Statement International School of Prague · 2019. 10. 15. · Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, is bisected by the stunning Vltava River. Known as “the

Director Position Statement

International School of Prague Czech Republic July 2021

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OVERVIEW, MISSION AND VISION

“We Push Boundaries and Compete with the Best”

InternationalSchoolofPrague–DirectorSearch

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TheInternationalSchoolofPraguemissionto“Inspire,Engage,andEmpower”isevidentinallcornersoftheschoolcommunity.Theeleganceofthethree-wordmissionresidesinthefactthatitisonthetipofthetongueofISP’syoungeststudentsandacrossstakeholdergroups.It’srealandframestheactionsofthishighlyaspirationalschool. Theleadershipofcurrentandlong-servingDirectorDr.ArnieBieberhasplacedISPinthevanguardofleadinginternationalschools.Thecurriculum,teachingpractices,facilities,andtheclimateforlearningaresolidlyalignedtobuildingcapacityforinnovationandchange.ThereispalpableenthusiasmandcommitmenttotheISP2020strategicdesign-thinkingplan,whichenlivenstheISPDefinitionofLearningandtheguidingsetofISPLearningPrinciples.Themissionandattendantdefinitionsandlearningprinciplesalignasthetemplatefordecisionmakingandactionsforschoolimprovement.OngoingdesignthinkingforinnovationisahallmarkofISP’squalityprogramming,andtheSchoolinvestsindevelopingcapacityforteachersandseniorleaderstoimplementkeyideasandnewlearningopportunities.TheLearningInquiryFocusTeams(LIFT)putcuriosityandactionresearchattheheartofrelevant,significant,andevidence-basedcontinuousprofessionalgrowthandlearning.

NovelwithinISPpracticesistheuseandpowerof“LearningStories”whicharenarrativesthatseektovalidatetheimpactofmission-driventeaching

MissionInspire–Engage–EmpowerTheISPDefinitionofLearningLearningisatransformativeprocessthatbuildsonwhatweknowandcando,deepenswhatweunderstand,andchangeswhoweare.ISPLearningPrinciples

• Learners’curiositydriveswhatandhowtheylearn.• Learnersknowwhatthey’relearningandwhyitis

significant.• Learnersknowwheretheyareaslearnersandhowto

gofurther.• Learnerspersistwithrelevantandrichchallenges.• Learnersconsiderandconnectcomplexideas.• Learnersapplytheirlearningindiverseand

challengingcontexts.• Learnersfeelasenseofsafetyandbelonging.

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andlearning.These“stories”provideameanstodocumentandconfirmtheimpactoftheSchool’smissionandthesuccessofISP2020onthegrowthofstudents,continuousdevelopmentofteachersandtheimportanceofpracticesthatcanconfirmthatISPisdevelopingfuture-readyyoungpeople.

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OneoftheoldestinternationalschoolsinEurope,theInternationalSchoolofPraguewasfoundedin1948bytheUSembassytoprimarilyservediplomaticandexpatriatefamilieslivinginthethenCzechoslovakia.Sincethattime,withover900studentsfromover60nationalities,theschoolhasgrownandflourishedtobecomeoneofthemosthighlyregardedinternationalschoolsintheworld.In2009,reflectingtheevolutionofthenCzechRepublictoavibrantdemocraticcountryandasamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,theschoolchangeditsstructurefromadiplomaticentitytoaprivatenonprofitindependentschool.TheschoolcontinuestoadjustitscorporatestructurestoreflecttheCzechRepublic'sevolvingalignmenttothelegalframeworkoftheEuropeanUnion.

LOCATION: “The City of a Hundred Spires”

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Prague,capitalcityoftheCzechRepublic,isbisectedbythestunningVltavaRiver.Knownas“theCityofaHundredSpires,”PragueisknownforitsOldTownSquare,theheartofitshistoric

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core,withcolorfulbaroquebuildings,GothicchurchesandthemedievalAstronomicalClock,whichgivesananimatedhourlyshow.Completedin1402,thepedestrianCharlesBridgeislinedwithstatuesofCatholicsaintsandfilled,dayandnight,withvisitorsandlocalswhouseandappreciatethissignaturefeatureofthecity.Pragueisnowthesixthmost-visitedcityinEurope,receivingwellover5million

visitorsayear.ThecitytickseveryboxontheEuropean“must-have”listfortravelers:fascinatinghistoryandarchitecture,dynamicartandmusicscenes,deliciouslocalfoodanddrink,affordableprices.Pragueappealsasithasdevelopedintoavibrant,modern,internationalcapitalcity,withgreatattractionfortravelersandresidentsalike.TheCzechstandardsforpersonalsafetyareequaltoanyEuropeancapitalcity.Giventheglobalsecuritychallenges,theCzechRepublicremainsasoneofthesafestplacesintheworld.Theeconomyisstrong,unemploymentislowandthecostoflivingisbelowthatofcomparablemajorEuropeancities.

HISTORY OF ISP

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THE ISP COMMUNITY

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Students:ThestudentsatISParesignificantlydiverse.Noonenationalitydominatesthestudentpopulation:21%US,21%Czech,11%Russian,5%Korean,4%UK,2%eachofCanadian,Dutch,Israeli,Japanese,Polish,Spanish,andSwedish.Theadditional20%halefrom32othernationalities.85%ofstudentsdonotspeakEnglishastheirfirstlanguage.Asmightbeexpected,ISPgraduatespursueaworldwidearrayofcollegesanduniversitieswhentheyleaveISP,manychoosingtheUS,Europe,andtheUK,butmanyalsoinCanada,Australia,Korea,andothercountries.StudentsatISParequicktodescribetheschoolas“welcoming”and“likehome!”Theyfeelthattheirpeersareaccepting,andtheyappreciatethemanyopportunitiestheyhavetovoicetheiropinionsandtohaveanimpactontheschool.Artsanddramaprograms,athleticopportunities,ModelUnitedNations,experientialeducation,andnewelectivesprograms(fromShakespearetoFalconStudentsNews)keepstudentsengagedandinspired.Mostnoteworthy,studentsappreciatethebroadermissionoftheschool:“ISP’scultureandethosincludeintellectualreasoning,civicduty,andglobalcitizenship.”Anotherstudentlauded“themulticulturalenvironmentthatencouragescuriosityandaglobalmindset.Thisdefinitelyneedstoremain,asitiswhattrulymakesISPaspecialplace.”Faculty:ThefacultyatISPappreciatethehighleveloftrusttheyaregivenandthemultipleopportunitiestogrowprofessionally.Theyrespecteachotherandformcloseprofessionalandpersonalties.Multipletimes,facultyculturewasdescribedas“kindandcaring,”andwiththesamefrequency,facultymembersnotedwithpridethepushtopursuebestpracticesinteachingandlearning.Oneremarked,“Sometimesit’smessy,butthewordsaremorethanjustphrasesonthewall.ISPispreparedtoinnovate.”ManyapplaudedISPforcreatinga“positiveanddiverseculturethatreallydoesempowerstudentsandteachesthemtobelife-longlearners.”Theteamethosisevidentandclearlytranslatesintobuildingacollaborativecultureforthebenefitofstudentsaswellasteachers.Andlike

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thestudentdemographics,thefacultyiscomprisedofamultinationalcadre,reflectingtheinternationalcharacteroftheschool.Parents:TheparentsatISPenthuseabouttheschool,articulatingtheirappreciationbothfortheeducationaljourneyoftheirchildrenandfortheschool’scaringethos.TheirwordsillustratetheirvividunderstandingofwhatmakesISPspecial:“ISPisgoodatstayingattheforefrontofmethodsandstrategiesineducationtoday.”“Mostimportant,theschoolpreparesstudentsforlifewhilestillbeingabletoenjoyit.”“ISPisaninclusiveschoolwherekidsandparentsfromallovertheworldgathertolearn.”“ISPcultivatesthecultureofself-drivenlearners.”Theyappreciatetheirfellowparents:“Weareawarm,embracing,supportivecommunitythatholdseachotherintimesofneed.”AndISPparentsaptlydescribewhatISPistodayandwhattheschoolwillneedinitsnextdirector:“ISPhasbeenonalongsteadyjourneywithclearfocusandcommitmenttobeingaprogressive,learner&future-focused,constantlyimprovingschool.Findingsomeonewiththecapacity,courageofconvictionsanddepthofunderstandingtoleadinthesameveinwillbekey.”BoardofTrustees:ProfoundlyimportanttosuccessatISPistheroleclaritythatexistsacrossgovernanceandleadershipfunctionsoftheschool.Theschoolisguidedthroughpolicyandthegoodwillofaneleven-memberboardplustheDirectorandtwohonorarymembers.Votingmembersserveathree-yeartermandcangoverntwoconsecutiveterms.Strategicplanningisappropriatelycollaborativeandimpactful.TheBoardofTrusteesisclearandconfidentabouttheirspecificandcodifiedrolesandresponsibilitieswithastrongbiasforgoverningtheschoolstrategically,deliberately,andincollaborationwithleadershipteam.Trusteeslookforandsupportstrongleadershipfromthedirectorandrespondtorecommendationsfromseniorleadershipbalancedwithattentiontostudentandfinancialimpact.

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THE PROGRAM

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TheBoardclearlyseesthedirectorastheeducationalleader,guidedbythe“StrategicandFuture-FocusedGovernance”learningstory,anarrativeforexcellenceinschoolgovernance.Theboard’sown“learningstory”definestheday-to-dayimplementationoftheSchool’sBylaws.Theobservedespritdecorps,qualityofconversation,andproductivitybetweentrusteesandseniorleadershipspeakofauniquelypositiverelationship.Expectationsfordeliveringtop-flightprogramsandprofessionalperformancearesharedbyall.

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TheprogramatISPillustratesadeepcommitmenttotwoessentialquestions:“Whoisthischild?”and“Whatdoweneedtodoaseducatorstohelpthesechildrengrow?”Inquiry-based,theprogramemploysproject-basedlearningtomakeunitsofinquiryauthenticandmeaningful.Ineverygradethereistimeduringtheyearwherestudentsarepursuingtheirowninquiry.Forexample,Grade2studentsdesignedandputonaWellnessFair,Grade4delvedintothemeaningof“death”indifferentcultures,middleschoolstudentsexploredhowcodingisusedtodevelopvideogames.“Voiceandchoice”arehonoredintheclassroom,andstudentsareengagedinStretchDayswherestudentsareoffthetimetablesotheycanaccesslearningopportunitiesinPragueandbeyond.Studentstakedeepdivesintotheirlearning.Atthesametime,theISPprogramfostersandembedstheappropriatefoundationaldisciplinaryskillsacrosstheentirecurriculum.ThePK-12transdisciplinaryskillsandvaluesfromthemission(below)arethreadedthroughoutacademicstandardsandlearninghabits.

• Thinkcriticallyandcreatively• Workcooperativelyandindependently• Listenandcommunicateeffectively,and• Actwithcompassion,integrity,respect

andinterculturalunderstanding


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ISPisknownforbeingalearningcommunityfilledwithmotivated,passionate,andhighlyqualifiedteachersandleaders.TheSchoolisdescribedacrossconstituencygroupsascultivatingalearningclimatethatisbothinclusiveandinspirationaltoactivelearningacrossthecommunity.Oneofthebestdescriptionsofhowstudents,teachers,andleadersworktogetheristhatitisaplacethatbestoperatesfromaframeoftrust,empowerment,andanattitudeof“Let’sgetgoing!”

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Awell-resourcedintegratedtechnologyprogramwithiPadsintheearlieryearstoApplelaptopsinGrades4-12,ismaximizedwithsupportfromtechcoachesineachsectionoftheschool.TheschooliscommittedtoongoingdevelopmentofitsRoboticsprogramandcodingisintegratedintothecurriculumacrossgradelevels.TheEarlyChildhoodProgram,inspiredbyReggio-Emilia,isplay-basedandencouragesthinking,investigating,exploring,andproblem-solving,bothinsideandoutsideoftheclassroom.TheElementaryProgram,rootedinunitsofinquiry,developskeyknowledge,skills,andunderstandingsinliteracy,math,andthesocialandphysicalworld.StudentshavetheopportunitytolearntheCzechlanguage,GermanandSpanish.MiddleSchoolstudentsdevelopkeycompetenciesinavarietyofsubjectareasandlearntoapplyknowledgeandskillsinrealworldcontexts.LanguagesinMiddleSchoolincludeFrench,Spanish,Mandarin,or

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German.UpperSchoolstudentsworktowardachievingtheISPDiplomaandallmaychoosetopursuetheIBDiploma.ResultsontheIBDPfortheschoolareexcellent.

Theprofessionalcultureisobservablyfocusedoncontinuousimprovement,alwayslookingoutwardtoensurethoughtfulandresearch-basedconsiderationsforbest-in-classlearningopportunities.Thespiritofinnovationisenergizedbyanorganizationalculturethatinvites“prototyping”andtakingcalculatedriskinthenameofimprovingteachingandlearning.


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FINANCE AND FACILITIES FOR LEARNING

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students.Inrecentyears,advancementeffortshavealsobroughtinadditionalincome,withsupportfortheannualfundandendowmentgeneratingapproximately€240Kperyearoverthepastthreeyears,aswellas€250Kreceivedincontributions.Inaddition,theschoolhasalreadyreceivedsignificantpledgesanddonationsduringtheQuietPhaseofitsfirstCapitalCampaign.

Endowmentholdingsarecurrentlyintheamountof€700K.Inordertoallowforfurthergrowthofthisfund,theBoardcontinuestocommittobuildingtheprincipalamountwithoutdrawdown.ThePlacesandSpacesforLearningTheISPcampusisuniquelysuitedtoactivelearningandhowstudentsandtheirteacherscollaboratetogether.Aroundeverycorner,fromonehallwayandcommonsareatothenext,thereare“collaboratories,”quietstudynooksandcrannies,androomsdevotedto


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FinancialStrengthTheBoardofTrusteesandtheLeadershipTeamhaveensuredastrong,stable,andsustainablefinancialpicturetomeetthepromiseoftheschool'smission.TheInternationalSchoolofPrague(ISP)hasahistoryofoperatingwithpositivefinancialresults,limited-to-nodebt,whileattractingandretainingaworld-classfacultyanddeliveringatotalofover€7Mworthofcapitalinvestmentoverthepastsixyears,intoitspurpose-builtfacility.Itscurrent(2019-20)operatingbudgetstandsat€16Mwithaccountingdepreciationof€1.1M,andanticipatedoperatingrevenuesof€18M.ThemajorityofISPincomecomesfromtuitionandfeesgeneratedbytheenrolled900+

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individual,silentstudy,self-managedwithownershipandrespectbyISPstudents.Amasterplanguidesfacilitydevelopmentandwithoutanoteofcomplacency,theseniorleadershipandBoardcontinuetodiscusshowbesttobringadditionaldesignthinking,makerspaces,andcreationofadditionalmulti-disciplinelearningareas.Thecurrentconceptdesign(s)ofISP’smasterplanseeksto“Createdynamicandresponsivelearningenvironmentswhichbringtheschooltogetherasonelearningcommunity.TheSchool’sstrategicthinkinginISP2020alsodrivesfacilityrenovationandfreshdesignconcepts.Discussionsareongoingonhowbesttocontinuallyimprovespacesfor

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learning,whichareinformedbyeducationallydrivendesignideasalignedwiththemissionandlearningprinciples.ParticularlypleasingishowtheSchoolhascommittedtoproto-typingclassroomdesign,ensuringmaximumflexibilityofspaceusage.ThenewEarlyChildhoodrenovation,forexample,illustratescreativenewwaystoorganizelearningspaces.Informationtechnologyinfrastructureiswell-

fundedandsupportedasanessentialteachingandlearningtool.Buildingfromstrengthandreliability,theITenvironmentsupportsongoinginnovationandsophisticateduseofhardwareandrelevantsoftwareasan“amplifierforlearning.”


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QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF

YearISPEstablished: 1948

AccreditationAgency: ECIS,CIS,IB

TotalEnrollment: 909

ElementarySchoolEnrollment: 352

MiddleSchoolEnrollment: 242

UpperSchoolEnrollment: 315

PercentageofAnnualStudentTurnover: 16%

PercentageofStudentswithFinancialAwards: 0.5%(Scholarshipstudents)

Three-YearAverageofFacultyTurnover: 9%(12%forSupportStaff)

Student/TeacherRatio: Ave.8:1

Tuition(2019-20):

• PK€13,440(+€1,500CAF*)• K-Gr5€17,050(+€3,000CAF)• Gr6-8€18,480(+€3,000CAF)• Gr9-10€20,190(+€3,000CAF)• Gr11-12€20,840(+€3,000CAF)*CapitalAssessmentFee

OperatingBudget: €16,072,000

Reserve: €4,019,000

Endowment: €677,000

NumberofFaculty: 127(including12Administrators)

NumberofOperationalStaff: 91

NumberofBoardTrustees:11votingmembers,Director,plustwohonorarymembers

NumberofStudentNationalities: 60

AverageFacultyTenure: 7years(4yearsmedian)


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KEY LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

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ThenextleaderoftheInternationalSchoolofPraguewillhavetheopportunitytoprovideleadershipforawidelyrecognizedinternationalschool.InordertoservetheSchoolfullyandwell,thenextHeadofSchoolforISPwillbringasetofkeyleadershipskillsandattributestothework,asdescribedhere:• Innovativeeducationalleader.Leadsand

drivesacademicexcellence.Skilledandexperienced,thenextleaderofISPwillaspiretoimplementaworld-class,future-focusedprogram.Embedresearch-based,innovativepedagogyacrosstheschool,underscoringtheskillsstudentsneedfortheirfuturesuccess.

• StrategicThinking:Giventhecomplexand

aspirationalnatureoftheSchool,thenewleaderwillbeasystemsandstrategicthinkerwithatrackrecordforproactiveandcreativeproblem-solvingbyanticipatingissuesandconsequences.

• Recruiteroftalent:Abilitytoattract,

develop,andretainanoutstandingcadreoffacultymemberswhodemonstratetheenergy,training,andhumanitytodeliveranoutstandingprogramforallISPstudents.Trackrecordofsuccessinattracting,developing,andretaininganequallystrongleadershipteamthatpartnerseffectivelywiththeISPDirectortomanagetheorganization.

• Communitybuilder:Buildrelationships

withsensitivityandwarmthtobringtogetherthesignificantlydiverseISPcommunity.Furtheraschoolcultureofwidespreadengagementandcommitment.Ensureaclimateofresponsivenessandfollow-through.

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• Cultureofphilanthropy:Understandandimplementeffectivefundraisingstrategies,includingprogramsinannualandcapitalgivingaswellasmajorgiftstobuildthecultureofphilanthropyatISP.Articulatetheneedfor“time,treasure,andtalent”fromtheISPcommunity,growingthecapacityofallconstituenciestocontributetothesupportofenhancementstotheprogramatISP,frombuildingprojectstoscholarshipprograms.

• CompetitiveEdge:Enhancetheidentity,

valueproposition,andreputationofanISPeducationacrossthelocalcommunityandaroundtheworld.GenerateoutreachandcommunicationstrategiesthatcapturetheheartofanISPeducation.Deepenthequalityofholistic,innovative,andeffectiveprogramsandensureacompellingstoryofstudentachievementwithhigh-qualityuniversityadmissions.

• Effectivecommunication:Implementa

consistentandintentionalcommunicationmodelacrossconstituencies,inspiringcommitmenttothemission,clarifyingtherationalefordecisions,andbuildingsharedunderstandingsacrossdivisions.Abilitytolistenactivelyandspeakeffectivelyaspivotalcommunicationskillsforengagingtheinternalandexternalcommunities.

• ExecutiveExpertise:Leadan

internationally-minded,culturallycomplexorganization,balancingacademicexcellencewithoperationalefficiencyandeffectiveness.Bringinnovativespiritandenterprisebalancedwithstrategicleadershipandfinancialmanagement.Setkeyprioritiesforongoingmission-drivenimprovementandbringaddedcoherencetothesystemsandinfrastructureoftheschoolthroughthoughtfulanalysisandplanning.

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KEY PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL QUALITIES

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• ChangeLeadership:Provenabilitytosetkeyprioritiesforongoingmission-drivenimprovementandtocreatestrongcommunityawareness,knowledge,andrelationshipstoensureacoalitionofstakeholdersupportforprograminnovationandsustainableimplementation.

• ResponsetoGrowth:Trackrecordofestablishing

thesystemsandinfrastructuretoaddressenrollmentgrowth,achangingdemographicinapplicantpoolandtheprogrammaticneedsforscalingISP,Pre-K-12.

• GovernanceandCollaboration:Thecollaboration

betweentheBoardofTrusteesandtheschooldirectorhasresultedinremarkableschoolgrowthandimprovementoverthelastdecade.ThenextISPschooldirectorwillbringthedispositionsandtrackrecordforensuringagenerativeandcollaborativepartnershipwiththeBoardofTrusteestoensuretheSchoolremainsresponsiveandfullyabletodeliveronthepromiseofthemission.


APPLICATIONPROCESS

Interestedcandidatesmayapplyonlineat:https://rg175.com/candidate/signup

Acompleteapplicationincludes:

● CoverletterexpressinginterestinthedirectorpositionattheInternationalSchoolofPrague● Fullyupdatedresume● Writingsamplethatmaybeapersonalstatement,anarticleforaschoolpublication,arecent

speech,orsubmittedscholarlyarticle--whatevercanhelpinformthesearchcommitteeofexpertise,interests,academicfocusandexperience.

● Contactinformationforfivecurrentreferencesasanadditionalpartoftheapplication.Consultantstothesearch:

CoreenHester and [email protected] [email protected]

Timeline:TheSchoolseekstomakeanappointmentforthenextHeadofSchoolatISPforJuly2021.AllapplicationsshouldbesubmittedexpeditiouslyandnolaterthanNovember15.TheSchoolhasbeguninterviewingforthepositionandreservestherighttomoveforwardwiththisappointmentwhentheappropriatecandidatehasbeenidentified.

Thesuccessfulcandidatewilldemonstratethebackground,experiences,anddispositioncharacterizedbythefollowingpersonalandprofessionalqualities:

• Experienceinahigh-performingschool

• Creativeproblem-solver• Handlescomplexityskillfully• Strongcommunicationskills• Highemotionalintelligence• Senseofwhimsyandgoodfun• Warmthandempathy• Creativityandinnovative• Commitmenttocollaboration• Energeticandambitious• BusinessAcumen

Documents

Director Position Statement International School of Prague · 2019. 10. 15. · Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, is bisected by the stunning Vltava River. Known as “the