Strategically Speaking - June 2016

RESPECT I HONESTY I RESPONSIBILITY I COMPASSION

STRATEGICALLY SPEAKINGANNUAL REPORT JUNE 2016

CONTENTS

MissionThe American School of Doha is committed to the intellectual and personal development of our students, inspiring and empowering them to become positive, active global citizens.

VisionASD is a future focused community where learning is...

collaborative

fun and engaging extended beyond walls

creative to foster innovation data-informed and evidence based

authentic, solving real-world problems encouraged in a technology-enhanced environment

ASD is…where students are encouraged to extend their own learning.

ValuesRespect, Honesty, Responsibility and Compassion.

Message from Simon Younger, Chairperson of the Board of Directors 4

Message from Thomas Hawkins, Director of ASD 5

Strategy 1: Positive, Active Global Citizenship 6

Strategy 2: Intellectual Development 8

Strategy 3: Personal Development 10

Strategy 4: Community Engagement 12

Strategy 5: Supporting Infrastructure 14

4 AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DOHA

MESSAGE FROM SIMON YOUNGERCHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSWelcome to this year's edition of Strategically Speaking, our annual report on progress being made in the strategic advancement of the American School of Doha’s (ASD) educational mission. It is my honor to provide this introductory message, my first since being appointed to the position of Chairman of the Board earlier this year. I would like to acknowledge the distinguished service and contributions of Mr. William Cattan, our outgoing Board Chairperson, who served on the Board of ASD for over ten years and as Chairman since 2012. Will oversaw and steered ASD through a period of significant growth and positive change.

This report also reflects ASD's first year under new director Dr. Thomas Hawkins. Under Dr. Hawkins’ leadership, ASD's mission has continued to advance with a strong focus on the five guiding strategies put into action via a detailed plan that is regularly monitored and measured. In addition to focusing on ASD's strategic actions, Dr. Hawkins’ approach has been to take a fresh look at all opportunities for continuous improvement across the school, and drive change in areas of most value.

In support, your Board is making efforts to increase communication and transparency to better inform the school community about its role and activities. Key amongst these has been planning for a membership refresh as elected positions become open. It has been great to see the interest and support from those offering their services to the board. The election process conducted in May was well supported by the ASD community and we will have the pleasure of welcoming your elected Board members for the new school year.

I am confident our approach will stand us in good stead as we face exciting challenges moving forward. As the Campus Improvement Project moves towards safe and successful completion, we have exciting times ahead as we occupy and utilize more of our new and first class facilities. At the same time, with the ongoing support of the State of Qatar and the Embassy of the United States, development work continues on a second ASD campus.

I hope you find this edition of Strategically Speaking an informative insight into ASD's efforts to inspire and empower students to become positive, active global citizens.

Regards,

Simon P. YoungerChairperson of the Board of Directors

Board of DirectorsThe Board of Directors consists of a twelve member Board, three of whom are elected by parents and the remaining nine members appointed by the U.S. Ambassador. The officers are Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Treasurer.

The Board maintains school policies and appraises the school’s performance. The Board establishes and approves a yearly budget, ensures the school’s goals and objectives are met and evaluates the performance of the school according to the school’s mission, vision and strategic plan.

The permanent committees are Finance and Personnel. There are also work groups consisting of Governance, Strategic Development, and other areas that are formed on “as needed” basis.

The Board meets monthly during the school year, both as a whole Board and in working committees. Regular meetings consist of Executive Sessions and Public Sessions.

2015-16 Board of Directors:Simon P. Younger (Chairperson)Shaikha Al-Jabir (Vice Chairperson)Tom McHale (Treasurer)Hamad Salah Al-BakerBader Al ManaKhalifa Al RayesJeffrey AsselstineChan CondieChip FordRyan GlihaJanet Mundy

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DOHA 5

MESSAGE FROM THOMAS HAWKINSDIRECTOR OF ASDWelcome to the 2016 version of Strategically Speaking, where we capture the school’s success in words, pictures and statistics. This is the ASD report card to the community. We hope you enjoy the story told in these pages of the boys and girls, men and women, programs and initiatives which capture the essence of life at ASD during the 2015-16 academic year.

The ASD Mission, Vision and Values, which form the basis of our ASD Strategic Plan, were reviewed and revised in the spring and summer of 2015 as I was beginning my tenure as the fifth Director at ASD. More than 50 members of the community, including Board members, parents, staff, teachers, administrators, and students came together for the ASD Educational Summit, which resulted in the new vision and strategies outlined, and reported on for the first time, here. And though the mission and values have remained unchanged, the school vision has taken a more “future-focused” approach, addressing the challenges of the innovative, data-informed, technology-enhanced, interconnected world in which we live.

The five strategies that support us to achieve our mission and vision seek to enhance:

Positive, Active, Global CitizenshipWe will challenge our students to become positive, active, global citizens who, inspired by their understanding of global issues, become agents of positive change to improve our world.

Intellectual Development We will enhance the academic and intellectual development of our

students and adults through challenging curricula, innovative approaches to deep learning, and creating optimal learning environments for student growth.

Personal DevelopmentWe will foster the social, emotional and physical development of our students and adults through positive school culture, engaging programs, and inclusive opportunities for understanding the world in which we live.

Community EngagementWe will develop and maintain strong partnerships with the Qatari and global community to ensure great opportunities for students and to support delivery of the ASD Mission.

Supporting InfrastructureWe will advance an effective and efficient infrastructure which supports student learning, facilitates professional staff growth, and encourages community involvement.

The direction contained in each of these strategies guide our actions, decisions, allocation of resources, and development of initiatives at ASD. Strategically Speaking unpacks and celebrates the work, progress and accomplishments of the school in each of these areas.

You will see captured here the progress made by a professional, committed and caring staff of 225 teachers, 160 professional and support staff, and 16 leaders who daily inspire our students to become positive, active global citizens through rigorous intellectual development, structured personal development, community engagement

and a world-class facility and infrastructure that keeps ASD thriving.

The success of ASD would not be possible without the support of significant volunteers and contributors from across the community, including the Embassy of the United States and the U.S. Ambassador who serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. In addition, our volunteer Board of Directors provides guidance to me and my leadership team as well as strategic oversight of the school on a regular basis. And our generous corporate sponsors not only provide financial support for projects and initiatives annually, they have guaranteed the loan on the school since 2007 which was paid in full in August 2015. And finally, the parent volunteer groups (PTA, AMA, Booster, CAST, Junior / Senior Fundraising Committee, and Alumni Association) are all positive, active, and engaged supporters of everything that transpires at ASD. We owe a debt of gratitude to these and all the parents and volunteers who support our efforts to provide great American-style education in a diverse, multi-cultural environment.

It is my great pleasure to share with you the story of our growth as a school this year, and it is an honor to serve as the Director of the American School of Doha and its fantastic community.

With warm regards,

Thomas L. Hawkins, Ed.D.Director


POSITIVE, ACTIVE, GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Strategy 1: Positive, Active, Global CitizenshipWe will challenge our students to become positive, active, global citizens who, inspired by their understanding of global issues, become agents of positive change to improve our world.

Diversity & World LanguagesIn an aim to celebrate the diversity of the student body, ASD has continued to emphasize the importance of events such as International Week, World Language Week, and Qatar History Week which provide all students with the opportunity to learn about the diverse backgrounds of their peers in an education setting which cultivates a respect and understanding of all 67 nationalities represented in our student body. Curricular connections have been embedded across disciplines to further enhance this essential learning. ASD has continued to refine world language learning opportunities by engaging language teachers in on-going professional learning and curricular refinements. A school-wide language policy was developed this year and optimal models of language offerings continue to be explored and implemented. To further enhance the importance of culture and language, cultural learning trips have been offered to countries such as Switzerland and England.

Learning ServiceService continues to be at the heart of learning at ASD. ASD engaged in a curricular audit in the areas of world issues and global environmental issues in an effort to further enhance their importance and development as an essential part of the curricular program. This year saw the establishment of a learning service committee with cross-divisional representation and the development of a clearly defined, shared

definition of learning service, in addition to the development of a school-wide learning service framework outlining learning service projects at every grade level. Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5 students have been provided with ample opportunities to learn about the importance of service and to become inspired and empowered to make a positive difference to the world around them. In the lower elementary division, grade level service projects, focused on both societal and environmental issues, have been implemented throughout the year. Students have been engaged in a variety of learning service opportunities such as the beautification of our ASD campus, organizing a food drive for needy workers, making and selling playdough to support Red Crescent relief efforts, to name a few. This in addition to a division-wide conservation focused Earth Hero challenge. The upper elementary division has continued with its long-term commitment to support the Machakos Education Centre in Kenya in its mission to build a school. Students have been engaged in this yearlong endeavor to raise money through varied student participatory activities, culminating in their annual Walk-A-Thon. Other initiatives such as the toy drive and the World Wildlife Fund project have become annual fundraising initiatives. Furthermore, this year, there has been an increase in upper elementary student initiated service projects across the division throughout the year. The middle and high school divisions

have continued to boast an impressive program of learning service throughout the year, providing their students with the opportunity to practice, first-hand, the life of a positive active global citizen. This year witnessed middle school students participate in the Week Without Walls learning service program, both locally in Qatar, regionally in the UAE, and internationally in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, offerings of learning service electives provide an opportunity for all students to put learning service into practice. High school students have engaged in a wide variety of service projects such as Habitat for Humanity in Thailand, Footy 4 Freedom in Mozambique, whale shark conservation in the Maldives, reef conservation in Oman, student teaching at a local Tanzanian school, and on-site ASD student tutoring of workers. This in addition to various student led initiatives as supported by NHS and other school-based organizations.

Publishing our ValuesThe ASD Values are guiding qualities for students to live a life of character and integrity. By publishing ‘Honesty’ the third book of four in our Values series, we highlighted our values and illustrated the actions and feelings connected to these values. ASD students relate to the stories because they are relevant narratives to the children’s lives. We are looking forward to publishing the last book in the series, ‘Responsibility’ in the 2016-17 academic year.



INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

Strategy 2: Intellectual Development We will enhance the academic and intellectual development of our students and adults through challenging curricula, innovative approaches to deep learning, and creating optimal learning environments for student growth.

CurriculumIntellectual Development at the American School of Doha (ASD) is facilitated through a strong Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 12 standards-based curriculum. During the 2015-16 academic year work continued on an implementation plan to move our science program from the AERO standards to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The science and engineering practices are being taken into account in redesigned assessments. The implementation of Common Core math continued to move students towards a conceptual understanding of mathematics. ASD’s external results indicate that ASD students are achieving well in this area.

New curricular projects this year included the decision to adopt the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework as the basis for our Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 12 Social Studies program. The new Fine Arts curriculum will be anchored in the National Core Arts Standards. Both C3 and NCAS are in line with widespread curricular changes in both the US and many international schools.

Middle school has strengthened their elective program particularly in the learning service courses. The school-wide learning service committee has focused on a common definition of service learning and completed an audit of learning service, as well as global and environmental issues across the school.

Student learning within our classrooms reflects the new focus on practices, processes and inquiry. We see engaged students demonstrating and articulating learning through hands-on, real world problem solving.

The School has been deliberate in fostering teacher collaboration. In addition to weekly PACT (Professional and Collaborative Time) meetings on Tuesday afternoons, cross-divisional vertical meetings have been put in place between elementary school and middle school, and middle school and high school. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure seamless transitions for students across the divisions in terms of curriculum alignment and rigor.

The Student Support Services committee worked throughout the year to refine the school-wide common process for supporting students with diverse needs in the areas of learning support, EAL (English as an Additional Language) and counseling services. All elementary teachers will be trained next year in ESL (English as a Second Language) in the Mainstream. This professional learning program will ensure that all teachers are equipped to support English language learners in the classroom.

Some exciting new initiatives developed this year include the Curiosity Project for upper elementary students. The purpose of the project supports student autonomy and ownership of their learning. The project is anchored in the “Five Cs” of creativity, critical thinking,

communication, collaboration and citizenship. Middle school has refined their portfolios to include the “Five Cs” for the Extravaganza project.

Robotics at ASD has grown to include programs at each division. ASD students have been successful in several robotic competitions, locally and internationally. Our high school team won the Qatar National Robotics Olympiad and represented Qatar at the World Robotics Olympiad. The upper elementary school is using the motivational effects of robotics to excite students about science and technology. We currently have our Grade 3 students complete exploratory units using our NXT Lego Robots. Next year, we are planning to expand this program using the upgraded EV3 Robots for Grades 4 and 5 in the new library’s ‘maker space’.

Optimal Learning EnvironmentThe data dashboards at each division are being used to track student learning and inform decision making around student needs and programs. ASD is at the forefront of tracking and utilizing student data with the development of these dashboards.

ASD student learning results continued to be incredibly strong on external, standardized measures of success. The international standardized Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) scores from Grades 2 - 9 indicate that ASD students are performing above to well above international norms of American and international schools abroad.


MAP FALL-SPRING MATH GROWTHMAP COMPARISON SPRING 2016

The percentage of ASD students who scored 3 (pass) or higher in AP exams taken in May 2015. It compares ASD to NESA schools and the World. *AP exam results are only available in July of any given year.

AP> = 3 PASS % AVERAGE IBDP POINTS

The graph above shows the average total points received by ASD IB Diploma students compared to the World average. *IB exam results are only available in July of any given year.

ASD NESA WORLD

11/12 12/13 13/14 14/150

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

PASS

PERC

ENT

Comparing RIT scores of ASD students from Grades 2 - 9 to their peers in the U.S. and for the Spring of 2016 MAP test.

221 AP students in Grades 10 - 12 undertook AP exams this academic year and 255 students were registered for IB courses this academic year.

AP & IB GROWTH UNIVERSITY MATRICULATION 2015-16

This year ASD’s 143 seniors are matriculating to post-secondary institutions in various locations around the world. The graph above shows the percentage of ASD graduates who will be attending university in each respective country. *Southern Hemisphere acceptances will be received in the summer of 2016.

United States (63%) Bahrain (1%) United Kingdom (3%) Canada (15%)

Spain (2%) Netherlands (3%) Qatar (14%)

This graph above and the following two graphs compare the growth from Fall to Spring.

MAP READING FALL-SPRING GROWTHMAP FALL-SPRING LANGUAGE GROWTH

Language Usage data for Grades 2 and 9 were not available from NWEA.


PERSONALDEVELOPMENT

Strategy 3: Personal Development We will foster the social, emotional and physical development of our students and adults through positive school culture, engaging programs, and inclusive opportunities for understanding the world in which we live.

Positive School CultureStudents need to be socially and emotionally well in our school to learn effectively. Across the school, counselors work with students and teachers to ensure that the counseling programs support students in their learning as well as in their social and emotional development. This year’s focus on student wellness required the school to examine its’ program and practices, and make required improvements.

Eight individuals including teachers, counselors, parents and students from the American School of Doha (ASD) attended the Challenge Success Conference hosted by the Stanford School of Education. The total cost of these trips were underwritten by the generosity of the ASD community. While there, a High School Mission Statement for student wellness was created for our Wellness@ASD initiative. The statement, “ASD High School is committed to nurturing students’ social, emotional, physical and intellectual well-being,” has been attested by students, teachers, counselors, administrators and parents, and continues to guide ASD towards wellness at our school. Action steps were put into place based on the feedback and recommendations received. Teachers taught at an all-school Mini NESA, which helped spread the message and sessions were presented to engage parents in discussions around helping students achieve balance in their lives.

Our teachers’ ability to see how the students engage with their homework

has strengthened the type and effectiveness of assessments that are presented to the students. By shadowing different students, our faculty also have a much clearer understanding of the distinct challenges that students face within a school day and highlighted what we as faculty ask and can expect from our students during different times of the day.

The middle school has administered the same survey as the high school and is incorporating their findings into their SWAT and Pastoral Care program. Through the House system, the middle school continues to promote active community participation within the school. Counselors have also continued to promote wellness within their classes and interaction with students.

Wellness is an important component of the Guidance Curriculum from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 2. The curriculum is based on the ISCA and ASCA standards and students learn from an early age they can make positive or negative choices that impact their wellbeing. Learning how to choose a positive attitude and a joy of life is an integral part of learning and students learn techniques and strategies to minimalize stress and challenges. In addition, students learn positive imagery and visualization and know in what circumstances they can implement these strategies. Exploring what strategies work for students in remaining calm and happy and taking responsibility for their personal wellness is an essential aspect

of our curriculum.

Engaging ProgramsInternational Week is a highlight of the ASD experience and exemplifies how we are able to come together as a community: Whatever our nationality, we are all human beings that live in a world community. We are interdependent upon one another and have a responsibility to each other and to the Earth.

Students at ASD have the opportunity to participate in a variety of athletics and activities from elementary through high school. Our sports programs compete within QPPSSA (Qatar Private Primary School Sports Association), QUESS (Qatar United English Speaking Schools) and MESAC (Middle East South Asia Conference), as well as with local schools, universities and club teams in Doha.

In the Fine Arts, several productions take place throughout the year, which include student and teacher directed One Acts, Improv nights and advanced drama productions. IB students also participate in IB TAPS London trip that allows students to take workshop classes and interact with other students from different schools. Every year, each division has a main stage play production. Past performances have included Crazy for You, 13 and Mulan Jr. Many students are involved in the drama events with upwards of 80 students involved in the main stage productions and 50 or more in the One Act plays.


Inclusive OpportunitiesThe concert bands ensembles performs at times throughout the year at concerts as well as school events. There is also the opportunity to audition for the AMIS (Association for Music in International Schools) Honor Band Festival held each year throughout the world as well as the MESAC Fine Art exchanges. In the past choir members have participated and traveled internationally with the AMIS Honor Choir. Students have also sung and played for The Qatar Model United Nations Opening Ceremony, ASD International Week Opening Ceremonies, as well as concerts for parents and peers. At each event and throughout the school year, our art student’s work is displayed prominently through the school. These showcases highlight the level of creativity and expression that lives within ASD.

Participation in athletics, arts and activities continue to be a tremendous part of the ASD experience. Well over two thirds of ASD’s student body have participated in some form of extracurricular event within this academic year. Each year new activities are added to enrich the student experience.


COMMUNITYENGAGEMENT

Strategy 4: Community EngagementWe will develop and maintain strong partnerships with the Qatari and global community to ensure great opportunities for students and to support delivery of the ASD Mission.

Cultural ConnectionsEngagement of our community is a hallmark of ASD, and this year continued the important development of those engaging partnerships across the entire school. Some of the ways we engage locally and globally are highlighted. Cultural celebrations are great opportunities to enhance community involvement. International Week 2015 was highlighted with the Arab Mother’s Association (AMA) tent full of host-culture food, music, handicrafts, falcons, cultural traditions and that quintessential “majlis” feel. As always, each nationality at ASD was represented at the opening flag ceremony, where the 2210 students and over 500 teachers, staff and support workers all cheered on the representatives. This combination of excitement and acceptance of one another at ASD is emblematic of our mission to provide positive, active global citizens. More than 40 Qatar nationals, including ASD long-time parent and benefactor H.E. Sheik Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani came to visit and be interviewed by our sixth grade students during this year’s Qatar History Day. This day continues to bring good will, great stories, and wonderfully supportive people into the school to inspire our students intellectually and personally to learn more about the fascinating history of Qatar.

CelebrationsCelebrations of friendship across the community continued with ASD’s twelfth annual Friendship Festival. Again the largest festival to date, the day featured

more than 4000 visitors and nearly 100 vendors/sponsors of the event. Hosted and run by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) this festival featured games, fun, food, handicrafts and innovative ideas which generate not only enthusiasm in the school but additional funds, which the PTA uses to support initiatives across the school. The PTA, like the AMA and other parent volunteer groups, provide opportunities to students through sponsorship of English and Arabic speaking authors, artists and musicians. The partnerships cultivated through sponsorship and attendance at these cultural events allow ASD to continue to provide world-class facilities, programs and education to all of our students.

Arts and Athletics PartnershipsArts are also great ways to develop partnerships. Arts thrived this year with the support of the Creative Arts Support Team (CAST). Besides the fantastic drama and musical performances from across the school, ASD hosted the AMIS (Association for Music in International Schools) High School Band and Orchestra Festival. Students from other international schools across Asia, Europe and the Middle East came to ASD for a weekend of music instruction and celebration. In other events, students were inspired by professionals from Jazz at Lincoln Center, Qatar Music Academy, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the Air Force Central (AFCENT) Command-sponsored band in cooperative concerts and workshops. These partnerships

serve to inspire our students to pursue their dreams in arts and music. The first Annual ASD Film Festival was sponsored by the Alumni Association. This festival brought professional filmmakers from the Doha Film Institute to screen student films and speak with young filmmakers about the craft and the institutes which support this innovative and engaging art. Sporting partnerships at the school included numerous local (QPPSSA - Qatar Private and Public School Sports Association) and regional (MESAC - Middle East Sports and Activities Conference) events with great support from the Booster Club. Young athletes meet and compete with student athletes from schools here in Doha and around the region, fostering greater understanding of individuals, differences, and cultures in this international and interconnected world. In addition to helping to host tournaments, the Booster Club supports the athletics program across the school and promotes sportsmanship among athletes and visiting parents.

Service PartnershipsSome of the most influential partnerships for the school are in the area of service. This year Mr. Dalglish of the UNHCR visited to inspire our students to engage in service opportunities. As a result of Mr. Dalglish’s visit, two high school students took it upon themselves to initiative a service trip for Nepal. Myriad other service groups across the school work to make a positive impact on our world.



SUPPORTINGINFRASTRUCTURE

Strategy 5: Supporting InfrastructureWe will advance an effective and efficient infrastructure which supports student learning, facilitates professional staff growth, and encourages community involvement.

Strategy 5 aims to support the American School of Doha’s (ASD) core educational mission through facilities, finances, human resources and all of the other elements that make up the school’s infrastructure. Even in a time of economic uncertainty, ASD has continued to bolster its core infrastructure with the goal of enhancing the educational program and advancing the mission. Strategic investment in the 2015-16 academic year has led to continuous improvements of ASD’s facilities, security and finances, in addition to sustained excellence in other areas.

Campus Improvement ProjectThe Campus Improvement Project advanced substantially and is nearing completion at the close of the 2015-16 academic year. The redesigned Gate 12 and High School Greenhouse, built with generous support from the Jassim & Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, were finished in March, and the remaining improvements in the Middle and High School will come on line in June and be ready for use in 2016-17 academic year. These will include the introduction of a new Middle/High School Gym, additional Middle School Science and Art rooms, a new Middle School Presentation Room and additional classroom and office space to better accommodate an expanded school population.

These improvements will be followed by enhancements to the Elementary School in early 2016-17. A new Elementary

School Library appropriate for a school of ASD’s size and reflective of ASD’s educational program will open in fall 2016. A new learner pool sponsored by Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd. will allow aquatics programming to extend to ASD’s youngest students, while a new gymnasium will provide climate controlled play spaces year round.

SecurityIn addition to the improvements planned in the Campus Improvement Project, the 2015-16 academic year saw substantial investment in security infrastructure throughout ASD. The foundation laid by the introduction of the DragonCard system in the previous school year bore fruit with the implementation of swipe card access at all gates. Automated turnstiles, supported by a generous security grant from the U.S. State Department, were installed at Gates 2, 8 and 12, with additional turnstiles to be introduced at Gates 6 and 10 as the Campus Improvement Project nears completion. Perimeter walls were extended around the campus, and an enhanced guard force began thorough enforcement of more stringent access control restrictions.

FinancesWith economic uncertainty a theme of life in Doha, ASD’s Board of Directors has moved quickly and decisively to ensure the school’s financial health. For the second time in four years, tuition revenues will remain flat in the 2016-17 academic year and improvements in facilities and educational programs

will be funded with efficiency savings in other areas. A budget efficiency task force charged with ensuring prudent spending has been formed and is diligently reviewing ASD’s budget, looking for savings in areas that do not impact the mission and vision. Reserves remain strong and spending has been maintained well within budgeted amounts, all while continuing to support the high quality educational program parents and students expect and deserve.

PeopleWhile physical improvements and financial health are necessary components of excellence, they are not sufficient in creating a high quality school. In the end, the school’s mission and vision are advanced by people, from teachers to teaching assistants to administrators and maintenance staff. ASD inducted six new school leaders, including the new Director and several principals, and was able to improve educational practices and operational efficiencies throughout the year. The school also refined its recruiting practices, hiring 32 new teachers and two new leaders for the 2016-17 academic year while retaining nearly 88% of its current excellent faculty to ensure consistency and continuity while adding new expertise.

In addition, ASD’s commitment to continuous professional learning ensures that those teachers and staff members we retain stay challenged, motivated and current with high quality educational


practice. Numerous consultants worked with ASD staff this year, and every faculty member at the school engaged in at least one professional development workshop. As a learning organization, we pride ourselves on continuous professional learning.

A great school rests on the solid foundation of robust infrastructure. Through healthy finances, enhanced facilities, strengthened security and clear alignment around the mission and vision, ASD continues to foster excellence through investment in its support systems and its people.

SupportThe American School of Doha wishes to express its gratitude to the following companies who, through their generosity, have continued to support ASD in a variety of ways, including upgrading equipment used in classrooms and for after-school activities, establishment of new programs or continued support of established programs and for the further improvements made to the campus and facilities:

ExxonMobilChevron Phillips Chemical Company of Qatar LLC (CPChem)Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd. (Oxy)

www.asd.edu.qa

www.facebook.com/TheAmericanSchoolofDoha

www.linkedin.com/company/american-school-of-doha

@TheASDoha

OUR VISION, YOUR FUTURE - GYMNASIUM & EXPANSION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS OPENING AUGUST 2016

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Strategically Speaking - June 2016