Dr. Daniel Jubert
Head of School

Hailing from the USA, Dr. Daniel Jubert has been involved in international education for 16 years. Previous to his arrival in Cape Town in 2016, he was Head of School at Shanghai Community International School, Pudong Campus, in Shanghai, China, and has also worked at Escuela Internacional Sampedrana in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He holds a doctorate degree in education and a masters degree in educational psychology, both from the University of Minnesota, along with state licenses in school administration and school counseling.

Dr. Jubert is passionate about pursuing innovate practices in education. He believes that AISCT students experience a true liberal arts education, one that combines the rigors of university preparation with the opportunities to grow in the arts, athletics, and international-mindedness. Dr. Jubert is also heavily involved with African international schools, as he serves as the Board Chair for the Association of International Schools in Africa.

Dr. Jubert is joined in Cape Town by his wife and three children, all who attend AISCT.

HEAD OF SCHOOL’S WELCOME

Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year at AISCT! We will once again welcome a year that looks different from years past, but if last school year taught us anything, it is that we can successfully balance all of our priorities and ensure an incredible learning experience for all of our students.

AISCT remains resolved to do everything it can to ensure we continue with on-site learning because we believe doing so is in the best interest of student learning and our entire community. The school set three guiding principles a year ago that continue to serve our community well:

  • Being back together as a community, to the greatest extent possible
  • Prioritizing community health, safety, and wellbeing
  • Continuing to provide a strong, rigorous, and balanced educational program to meet the learning needs of all students

With these principles in mind, we were on-site for almost the entire academic year, managed to see the return of sports, drama, dance, music, and other after-school activities, and welcomed back camps, International Week, Prom, StuCo events, PATA events, service-learning opportunities, and senior impact projects.

We kept ourselves safe and healthy, replacing morning high-fives with morning hand-sanitizing and temperature checks, getting used to speaking and learning through masks, and finding new ways to connect and collaborate from 1.5 meters apart.

On the learning front, we upheld all of our traditions and pushed ahead with new and exciting initiatives inspired by the pandemic like Flexi-Friday and additional outdoor learning environments. We successfully hosted our WASC virtual accreditation visit and received the highest possible six-year reaccreditation through 2027.

Throughout all of this, we embraced the motto of “Progress, not Perfection,” recognizing that we too are learning along the way. AISCT is set for an equally impressive year, building on the immense success of last school year and the knowledge that yes, we can do this! We of course recognize that we need to be flexible and adjust to ever-changing realities. In conjunction with this Head of School Welcome Letter, the school has set out a comprehensive plan to operate during the pandemic. If you have not done so, please take time to review the full COVID-19 Protocols Document and our COVID-19 Flow Chart. Please note both documents will be further updated as the health guidelines change.

I am in awe of what AISCT has accomplished in its history and proud of what we accomplish today in our changing world. We are ready for whatever comes next. Should you be a prospective family learning more about our school, I hope that you will take the opportunity to plan a school tour, whether virtual or on-site, and see for yourself what an AISCT education has to offer your child and your family.

Sincerely,


Dr. Daniel Jubert
Head of School

ADMINISTRATION TEAM

Ms. Jodi Lake
Director of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation

Ms. Jodi Lake grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She has been involved in international education for over 35 years. Previous to AISCT, she was Director of Teaching and Learning at the International School of Kenya. Prior to moving to Africa, Ms. Lake served as Curriculum Coordinator at Escuela Campo Alegre in Caracas, Venezuela, and as an upper elementary school teacher in Kobe, Japan, and Torreon, Mexico.

Ms Lake holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Michigan State University. In addition, she holds a Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principal’s Training Center.

Ms. Lake is very involved in the African region, as she serves on the Professional Learning Design Team for the Association of International Schools in Africa, ensuring strong professional growth for teachers in African international schools.

Ms. Lake believes that all children can and will learn. By developing trust and a caring community, the doors will open for students to learn, develop their creativity and passions, and ultimately impact the world.

Mr. Peter Thorpe
High School Principal

Hailing from Edmonton, Canada, Mr. Peter Thorpe has been an upper school principal and vice-principal at three different international schools over the past 19 years. Working in Germany, China, and the UAE, Mr. Thorpe brings a wealth of upper school leadership experience and knowledge to the position.

During his educational journey, Mr. Thorpe discovered what he believes to be the incredible value of an international education, allowing students and teachers to tackle real world issues from multiple, global perspectives.

Mr. Thorpe holds a master’s degree in international education from Endicott College and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta.

Mr. Thorpe is joined at AISCT by his wife and two children.

Mr. Peter Young
Elementary & Middle School Principal

Mr. Peter Young joined AISCT in July 2018, after having served as an elementary school principal in Washington, D.C. for six years. Prior to being a principal, he served as an assistant principal for one year and prior to that taught Grade 5 in several schools from Northern Virginia to Boston. During this time, he met his wife Leah who is a part-time teacher in the high school at AISCT.

Passionate about early childhood education as well as the elementary years of education, Mr. Young knows that these are the formative years, when positive habits of mind are formed and students learn important foundational skills that will support their ability to learn at a high level later in school.

Mr. Young earned his bachelor’s double majoring in Elementary Education and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

Mr. Young is joined at AISCT by his wife Leah and their two children.

Mr. Julian Saunders
Technology Director

Mr. Julian Saunders earned a Master of Science degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. After conducting field research in South Africa and Ethiopia, he followed his passion for research and education by joining the New York Consortium of Evolutionary Primatology, a doctoral program focusing on primate evolution and behavior, where he indulged his penchant for technology by building cloud-based platforms to facilitate collaboration between cross-continental research teams. Later, his interest in conservation led to him co-founding the Primate Conservation Committee as part of the Primate Ecology and Genetics Group, as well as co-founding the Baboon Research Unit at the University of Cape Town. These endeavors led to the establishment of the Imfene Conservation Program, an outreach program for children using a data-driven approach to conservation education.

The change in his education focus from adults to children, combined with his strong belief in the power of technology to positively impact the world, led him to his current position of Technology Director at AISCT.

Mr. Saunders promotes the use of technology, ranging from coding to robotics, to empower students to collaborate, creatively solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively, and to tackle local and global challenges.

SCHOOL BOARD

AISCT is overseen by a Board of Governors comprising Larry Balli, Willem Buhrmann, Michael Dougherty, Paul duToit, and Kristy Dewi, who have been appointed according to the bylaws of its Deed of Foundation.  The Board is responsible for the school’s fiscal solvency and overall success.  Its responsibilities include:

  • Oversee and promote the overall success and fiscal health of the school;
  • Appoint and evaluate annually the Headmaster, who administers school policy;
  • Develop, approve, and insure the implementation of school policy, and insure efficient and
    logical allocation of the school’s human and material resources;
  • Monitor the use of the school’s existing facilities and develop new ones which might
    enhance program delivery;
  • Ensure the maintenance of the school’s good relationships with the government of the
    Republic of South Africa in general and the Ministry of Education in particular;
  • Meet periodically in accordance with the stipulations of the Articles of Association. The
    meetings are managed according to the Deeds of Foundation.

The School Board at AISCT operates with a self-perpetuating, “corporate governance” model, a model endorsed by such organizations as the Council of International Schools and the National Association of Independent Schools. The corporate model of a self-perpetuating board allows the board to choose itself and its successors and to focus largely on the strategic future of the school and generative thinking, leaving the operation of the school to the head of school.

Three of the Board Members are designated as “Directors” by virtue of their having established the school and financed its start up in 1992.  These three are Larry Balli, Michael Dougherty, and Kristy Dewi.

In the event that a Board Member resigns, he or she will be replaced by appointment of the Board Directors.  The criteria for selection in that case will be, as it was for the existing members, an interest in supporting AISCT, a willingness to invest time for meetings and activities, and the background, connections, and position to advance the school’s mission.

The Board evaluates the Head of School annually. Parents, teachers, and students have the opportunity to evaluate the Board’s performance in annual surveys and at meetings convened periodically by the Board to communicate the school’s financial position and plans for the future.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

AISCT convenes a School Council throughout the course of the year. The Council consists of seven members, three of which are community members elected by the school constituents, three of which are appointed by the ISF Board, and one teacher representative.  The Council serves to advise and help guide the direction of the school.  The AISCT Headmaster has a standing invitation to attend all meetings.

School Council member elections take place at the start of the academic year in August, followed by a Council meeting in September.