Leopard's Tale

American International School of Lusaka, Zambia

Faculty Farewells

16/5/2019

As we begin to wind down the school year, we are bracing ourselves to say farewell to departing students, parents, and faculty. This year, nine of our teaching faculty are moving on. AISL is a better place thanks to their hard work and numerous contributions. Please join me in saying farewell and thank you to these excellent teachers:

Dana Schwarzkopf for her five years of service as a Secondary design teacher. Dana has been instrumental at restructuring the Design and Advisory programs as well as supporting the Grade 10 students with their Personal Projects. Students will greatly miss Dana’s eagerness to lend a hand and support, despite her busy schedule as she earned her doctorate degree. We know that Dana will continue to have a positive influence on her students in the future as she moves to Oman and reconnects with former colleague Kathleen Bowin at the American British International School.

Francesca Mulazzi for her four years of dedication to AISL in her wide variety of roles as the Secondary Diploma Programme coordinator, extended essay coordinator, CAS coordinator, DP language and literature teacher, EAL specialist, and differentiation coach. Francesca’s work ethic has been unparalleled. She is renowned for stepping up and being willing to take on new roles whenever called upon. Her organization and straightforward approach to student care will be greatly missed. We wish Francesca all the best as she embarks on a great adventure in Spokane, Washington, USA, where she will be revisiting her role as a Secondary Principal.

Iole Pizzola for her five years as our Primary SEN teacher and Head of Primary SEN. Over the years, she has built strong protocols for the department regarding communication and differentiated support. She also tirelessly researched, vetted, and networked additional support resources around the Lusaka area and Southern African region. Her strong work ethic and attention to detail shine through in everything that she does. Iole’s ability to nurture personal relationships between families, educators, and SEN professionals, has created a strong and positive student service model. We will miss her quiet dedication and subtle sense of humour. We wish her and her family the very best as they return to the United States to be near family.

Karen Beaty for her two years of service as one of our Kindergarten teachers. She has been a very collaborative member of the Primary faculty, not only as an integral member of our science curriculum committee, but by supporting with school-wide and community events over her two years such as Zambia Day and the ISAZ TTT Conference. In addition to Karen’s even-keeled and positive character, we will miss her willingness to help out and sense of adventure. We wish her and her family a smooth transition as they return to Vancouver, Canada, where she will resume teaching in her former school district.

Ken Hoffman for his seven years of service as MYP Individuals and Societies teacher, DP World History teacher, and CAS coordinator. Ken will be remembered by his students as a passionate educator, one that made history come alive through animated stories. Ken and his wife, Joy, have also been beacons of hope in the local community as founders and managers of RHO Appleseed Community Center, and NGO in Bauleni. Best of luck to Ken as he continues in the field of education in California, USA.

Maria Albornoz for her two years of dedication as a Student Support Services teacher. Maria came to AISL as a novice in her trade and will be leaving as an admired professional. She will be missed by students and teachers alike for her support and advocacy of students with learning challenges. Maria’s genuine smile and kind disposition have left an indelible mark on all that she worked with. She will be returning home to Chile with her husband and will continue her career in the field of education.

Mark Cormack for his two years of service as the PYP French teacher. He has been instrumental in the implementation of phases of language development as part of our Primary Modern Language Program. He also played a key part in supporting the Primary Talent Show. In addition to his collaborative, kind, and cheerful spirit, we will miss his passion for movies, his initiative for learning Nyanja, and his accompaniment on the ukulele in our assemblies. We will miss him and his family as they return to Vancouver, Canada, where he will resume his role as an Assistant Principal in his former school.

Olaia Ruiz for her three years of service as an MYP and DP Spanish teacher. Olaia is known for being a hands-on, innovative instructor that often worked behind the scenes with various projects and little fanfare. Most notably, Olaia has been instrumental in training staff in various aspects of the Middle Years Programme as well as the role of the Personal Project supervisor. We wish Olaia all the best in her future endeavors.

Rod Oliver for his four years of service as MYP Individuals and Societies teacher and DP Geography teacher. Rod has been a strong student advocate and could be found on the bleachers at most every athletics event. His students will remember him as a teacher that was always willing to give up his time to provide extra support. Moreover, students will miss his intriguing classroom discussions. We wish Rod all of the best in his future teaching and traveling adventures.