Institutional Metamorphosis 2011 - 15 Vision & Goals

2011-2015 Vision & Goals by Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.D.

President of ACS Athens

Institutional

MetamorPHosis

2005-2009: institutional change

• Mission

• Accreditation

• Governing

• Finances

• Infrastructure

• Enrollment

• Academics

• Innovation

• Student Services

• Student Activities

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Mission

ACS Athens is a student-centered international

school, embracing American educational

philosophy, principles and values.

Through excellence in teaching and diverse

educational experiences, ACS Athens challenges

all students to realize their unique potential:

academically, intellectually, socially and ethically --

to thrive as responsible global citizens.

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Accreditation

• Accredited by Middle States

Association Of Schools & Colleges until

2014

• Accredited by the International

Baccalaureate Organization to offer the

IB Diploma

• Authorized by the Greek Ministry of

Education to offer the Greek High

School Diploma Equivalency

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• The 3 MSA Accreditation Goals

• Improving Student Writing

• Improving Quantitative Reasoning

(Mathematical Problem Solving,

Computational Skills)

• Improving Civic Responsibility

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Governing • Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

• Chairman:

Mr. Constantine Stergides

• Vice-Chairman:

Mr. Simos Dimas

• Treasurer:

Mr. Suheil Sabbagh

• Secretary:

Ms. Georgia Koumantaris

Tzouros

• Member At Large:

Ms. Ann E. Butler

Vision & Goals

2011-2015

Members:

Ms. Vanessa Adam

Mr. Yiannis Alafouzos

Mr. Timothy Ananiadis

Ms. Ann E. Butler

Mr. Simos Dimas

Dr. Saleh S. Jallad

Ms. Georgia Koumantaris

Tzouros

Mr. Christopher Leavey

Mr. John Marder

Dr. Gerry Monopolis

Mr. Tassos Potamianos

Mr. Suheil Sabbagh

Mr. Constantine Stergides


• Finances • 4-year stretch of balanced and surplus budget

• 50,000 annual financial aid assistance

• 25% Alumni tuition discount

• SKAI Scholarship program (cumulatively 600,000 €)

• Hasib & Diana Sabbagh Athletic Scholarship Program (cumulatively 400,000 €)

• Procter & Gamble (cumulative 60,000 €)

• Summer Camp (cumulative revenue 520,000 €)

• Corporate Basketball Program (120,000 €)

• Other: 120,000 €

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Infrastructure (Facilities)

• More than 1,6 million € allocated in facilities improvement

• Elementary School Cafeteria/Multipurpose room

• Replacing carpets from all classrooms and offices with environmentally friendly materials in Elementary School and Middle School

• Totally remodeling ES/MS/Academy libraries

• Construction of classrooms and offices for the Institute of Creative and Critical Thinking (ICCT)

• Completing the new wing for the Office of Student Services

• Remodeling all administration offices

• Replacing all windows with energy-saving aluminum windows

• New Elementary School Dance & Music Center

• Creating a Gift shop

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Infrastructure (Technology) • Setting up 4 additional computers labs

• Full implementation of the new Academic Management System (Skyward)

• Full implementation of the new Accounting Software System

• 80% of classrooms are equipped with interactive white-boards

• Complete upgrade of network wiring – fiber optics - and architecture

• Upgrade and redesign of website functionality (over 1 million unique hits per year)

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Enrollment

• 2005: 585 (end of year)

• currently: 816

• 2009: 825 (projected)

• Cumulative Net Increase: 41% over 4 years

• Over 50% of applications were submitted online

• 2009-10: for the first time, a waiting list is established for new applicants

• Separate admissions process & applications were created

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Academics (Teaching & Learning) • Continue recruiting highly qualified US trained

faculty

• Implement a comprehensive faculty orientation, training and development programs

• Establish the “Festival of Learning and Creativity” with exhibits, presentations, discussions, displays, of faculty work and accomplishments

• Implement a comprehensive Faculty Exchange Program with USA-based and international schools

• Continue with the program of “faculty professional growth and development”

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Academics (Teaching & Learning)

• Enhance the Science/Math, Arts, Literature, Foreign Language, Environmental Studies, and Greek Programs

• Enhance the IB Program with American educational philosophy on teaching and learning

• Enhancing the curriculum with more AP course offerings

• The first ever “Virtual Science Fair” by all the Middle Schools students took place

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Innovation

• Creation of the Institute of Creative & Critical

Thinking, with new facility and a full-time

Director

• Innovative programs for K-12 students

• Grant underwriting for major projects

• Adult education courses

• Evening & weekend programs

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Student Services

• Developed effective and efficient SAT preparation program

• Developed a parent education program on choosing the best higher education institution fitting the student

• Total Electronic Student Portfolio (TESP)

• Initial Agreement with 24 U.S. Universities & Colleges

• Offer opportunity to qualified students to spend 10 days

visiting Colleges and Universities: Attend Classes, Meet & Interview with Admissions Officers & Academic Advisors

• Experience & understand the challenges of Student & Academic Life in a U.S. Higher Education institution

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Student Services • Optimal Match Learning Program

• Refined the OM comprehensive program

• Established the “High Student Performance” program

• Enhanced further the OM program with additional state of the art teaching and learning tools

• Created a comprehensive OM specific faculty awareness and development program

• Introduced the “Touch Math” approach in teaching Mathematics

• Established and organized the Annual Conference on Learning Differences since May 2006.

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Student Activities • Athletics

• Varsity Teams Championships (Basketball)

• Recreational (After-school programs)

• Academies (Tennis, Swimming)

• Civic Responsibility

• Environmental programs

• Community Service

• Volunteerism

• Student Clubs

• Forensics

• MUN

• Music Performances and after-school classes

• Theater

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


Vision & Goals

2011-2015

2010-2015: institutional metamorphosis

• Metamorphosis:

• A complete transfiguration or transformation; a complete

change of form, structure and substance

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Metamorphosis of an Institution:

• Vision

• Praxis

• Reflection

• Celebration

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• Vision:

• Establish ACS Athens as the center of

Morphosis* by integrating knowledge, belief,

innovation and behavior, and engaging students,

faculty, staff, administration, parents and friends

Vision & Goals

2011-2015

* Morphosis: Holistic, Meaningful and Harmonious Education… for a Lifetime


• HOLISTIC:

• A holistic approach to education successfully combines

academic, emotional, physical, intellectual and ethical

components of learning to provide students with the tools

to become healthy and balanced individuals who can

successfully cope with the changes that the university

experience and life beyond will bring.

Vision & Goals

2011-2015



• MEANINGFUL:

• A meaningful education unfolds within a framework of

principles and values, and leads learners to define and

achieve their personal, academic and professional goals.

Learning is meaningful when it is connected to that

which is most important in our lives; when it speaks to

our dreams, strengths, desires and talents; when it leads

us to fall in love with life and learning.

Vision & Goals

2011-2015



• HARMONIOUS:

• A harmonious approach to education ensures that all

dimensions of the teaching and learning experience

cohere. Mission, beliefs, principles, values and practices

in an educational community must be consistent and

mutually reinforcing if the learning experience is truly to

promote the classical ideal of living a full life with ethos.

Vision & Goals

2011-2015



• PRAXIS:

• Institutional Leadership

• Infrastructure (Facilities & Technology)

• Finances

• Enrollment

• Academics

• Innovation

• Student Affairs

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Institutional Leadership

• Board of Trustees

• President

• Functional Area Leaders

• Academic Department Chairs Council

• Faculty/Staff

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Facilities

• Existing Buildings

• GREEN BUILDINGS: increase use of green energy sources and reduce energy waste

• RENOVATE CLASSROOMS: re-plaster walls, renovate bathrooms throughout the campus

• RENOVATE SCIENCE LABS

• RENOVATE COMPUTER LABS

• REPAIR BUILDINGS ROOF INSULATIONS

• INSTALL BUILDINGS STORM LIGHTING PROTECTION

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Facilities

• PURCHASE NEW LAND - Acquire two school adjacent land lots totaling about 1,000m2.

• New Buildings

• DORMITORY for students, - About 1,500m2

• NEW BUILDING for Early Childhood program to house the increased number of students in Jk and KD programs and other Elementary school activities - About 1,500m2

• NEW CLASSROOMS due to student growth – About 18 new classrooms/science /computer/music labs, incorporate them in the existing or new construction buildings above. Elementary school will have its own science lab

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Facilities

• Athletics:

• NEW ATHLETIC PLAYGROUNDS for Elementary and Middle schools will be created to accommodate the increases in number of students (4000 m2)

• NEW CLOSED GYMNASIUM, (light metal structure over current tennis area), for use by the Elementary students during the day and Tennis/Volleyball ASAP / ART CENTER programs in the evenings/weekends, (about 2,000m2)

• Resurfacing of soccer field, tennis courts, closed Gymnasium and other

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Technology

• Fully functional wireless campus

• Remote access to library resources

• Starting 2010-11, laptop purchasing program will be available for Juniors and Seniors

• Starting 2011-12, all high school students eligible for laptop purchasing program

• Starting 2013-14, all middle school students eligible for laptop purchasing program

• Collaboration with U.Penn. to implement an educational search engine (pilot starting Jan. 2010)

• 100% of classrooms & labs will be equipped with interactive whiteboards (by 2011-12)

• Starting 2011-12, pilot program on using e-books for course instruction

• Developing full capacity for delivering online courses

• Upgrading appropriately all computer labs by 2012-13

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Finances

• Continuing with a surplus budget

• Assist the Board of Trustees to fundraise €5,000,000 for new

building construction

• Establish an endowment fund of €2,000,000 – dividends to

be used for scholarships and fellowships

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Enrollment

• Continue with a 5-6% annual increase

• By 2015, the enrollment target will be 1,060. The breakdown

will be:

• Elementary School – 380

• Middle School – 240

• Academy – 440

• Total - - 1,060

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Academics

• Move towards establishing the AP (Advanced Placement)

Diploma program

• Continue offering the I.B. (International Baccalaureate)

Diploma program

• Offering quality high school courses (non-A.P., non-I.B.)

• Provide the option to students to select any combination of

courses from the above categories

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Faculty/Staff

• Continue hiring U.S. educated and trained faculty/staff

• Expand professional development with exchange programs,

conference participation, action research and publications to

all faculty/staff

• Offer opportunities to complete post-graduate degrees

• Target: More than 80% of faculty have post-graduate degrees

in their field

• Target: In a cycle of two years, all faculty should participate

in at least one professional development program

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Innovation

• Develop online or hybrid high school course offerings for ACS Athens students and students from other institutions

• Increase the number of college level courses offered to ACS Athens students, in collaboration with U.S. colleges and universities

• Organize conferences and/or workshops in:

• leadership

• technology

• learning differences

• Teaching & Learning

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Innovation

• Develop online or hybrid high school course offerings for ACS Athens students and students from other institutions

• Increase the number of college level courses offered to ACS Athens students, in collaboration with U.S. colleges and universities

• Organize conferences and programs on:

• Academic leadership

• Technology & education

• Learning Differences

• Teaching & Learning

• Year-round programs:

• Academies: Swimming, Tennis, Dance, etc.

• Summer Youth Programs: Summer Camp, Summer Courses, etc.

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• PRAXIS:

• Student Affairs

• Develop fully the Student Wellness Center

• Addressing the well being of students academically,

intellectually, emotionally, artistically, ethically, socially and

physically

• Provide optimized counseling services, academic advising and

student activities

• Ensure that 100% of the students are engaged in one of the

activities of the Center

• Ensure that more than 90% of the senior class makes it into

their first choice university/college upon graduation

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• REFLECTION

• Commitment

• Dialogue

• Improvement

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• CELEBRATION:

• Recognition of stakeholders’ contributions

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


• CELEBRATION:

• Celebrate Student Success

Vision & Goals

2011-2015


Vision & Goals

2011-2015

• CELEBRATION:

• Celebrate Student Success

Nikolai N. Khaladjan

Award 2009


Vision & Goals

2011-2015


Vision & Goals

2011-2015

Documents

Institutional Metamorphosis 2011 - 15 Vision & Goals