2011-2015 Vision & Goals by Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.D. President of ACS Athens Institutional...

2011-2015 Vision & Goalsby 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.



• 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



• The 3 MSA Accreditation Goals• Improving Student Writing• Improving Quantitative Reasoning

(Mathematical Problem Solving, Computational Skills)

• Improving Civic Responsibility



• 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


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 €



• 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



• 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)



• 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



• 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”



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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.



• 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


2010-2015:institutional metamorphosis

• Metamorphosis:• A complete transfiguration or transformation; a

complete change of form, structure and substance



• Metamorphosis of an Institution:• Vision• Praxis• Reflection• Celebration



• 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


* 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.




• 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.




• 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.




• PRAXIS:• Institutional Leadership• Infrastructure (Facilities & Technology)• Finances• Enrollment• Academics• Innovation• Student Affairs



• PRAXIS:• Institutional Leadership

• Board of Trustees• President• Functional Area Leaders• Academic Department Chairs Council• Faculty/Staff



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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.



• 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



• REFLECTION• Commitment• Dialogue• Improvement



• CELEBRATION:• Recognition of stakeholders’ contributions



• CELEBRATION:• Celebrate Student Success




• CELEBRATION:• Celebrate Student Success

Nikolai N. Khaladjan Award 2009



Shaping the minds o f young peop le w i th Ethos

in a Ho l i s t i c , Mean ingfu l & Harmonious way,

to make the wor ld a bet ter p lace to l i ve in

2011-2015 Vision & Goals by Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.D. President of ACS Athens Institutional...

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