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Our Mission

 

A global community that connects diverse people, ideas and resources, AAIE helps international educators lead with vision, wisdom, courage and integrity.

From: Mark E. Ulfers, AAIE Executive Director
To: The AAIE World Community

Dear AAIE Members and Friends,

Consider that you are lucky in knowing the goodness of what you have.  It's the realization that what you've always wanted is being part of the life of a school.  Welcome to the 2018-19 school year. 
 
Change Leadership and Self
Change is a good thing, and in my new role as AAIE executive director, I'm enthusiastic about our shared future.  I'm thankful to the AAIE board for appointing me to lead AAIE in the coming years.  Yet, I miss the daily dose of high energy and the hubbub of school life.  So often one does not recognize what you love until it is gone.  Yes, you are lucky to be in the daily company of young people.  And confronted with so much new in repatriating to the USA, I am reminded of the sentiment that as we seek to lead change within our schools, we must also consider how we must change ourselves.
 
A Communication Pledge
The AAIE board and I pledge to thoughtfully communicate with you.  We will remember the complexity and pace of your lives as school leaders.  We will be brief, to the point and will not clutter your email box.  Please commit to do your best in reading what we send. We'll focus on the important stuff, not the urgent. 
 
Right Place, Right Time
The AAIE office has moved to Princeton, New Jersey.  Through collaboration with ISS and thanks to president Liz Duffy, we have been given office space, which of course allows us to refocus resources on programming and support for our world community.  This transition comment is not complete without recognizing AAIE's Florida team the past three years who placed AAIE on a rock solid footing: executive director–Yolanda Murphy-Barrena, finance–Terri Williams-Baksh and marketing and communications– Derek Harwell. Thank you.  
 
A New Look
Our AAIE logo has been restyled to ensure anyone who sees it knows we serve leaders around the world and the four puzzle pieces speak of a leader's mandate– to bring, vision, wisdom, courage and integrity to each day, which is also the essence of the AAIE mission.  With thanks to the Office of Overseas Schools, you will see changes to our website as we work shoulder-to-shoulder with Finalsite designers. 
 
Linking Together + Stronger Relationships = Belonging
Linking and networking our world community together is all about building stronger relationships with each other and ensuring a palpable sense of belonging.  We need each other.  This starts with staying in touch.  The direct links to join the various NETs are below.   Currently AAIE offers the following member discussion groups (Click below to join):
   
HeadNET
PrincipalNET
BizNET (for Business and HR Managers and staff) 
CounselorNET (for all school counselors & psychologists)
LearningSupportNET (for all teachers, counselors, psychologists, supporting uniquely abled students)
MACANET (Marketing, Admissions, Communication and Advancement - Department leaders
TLNET (Teaching & Learning - Curriculum Leaders, Department Chairs, Instructional Coaches, etc.).
 
Your "Top Three" Leadership Challenges
Last spring the AAIE board sent to you a three-question survey.  We wanted to know of your three top leadership challenges (disguised as opportunities)– and in the midst of your busy spring and end of term– you told us.  In my next AAIE note to you, I'll provide a summary of findings.  There are a few surprises, so stay-tuned.  We will use your perspectives to build out the February 4-6, 2019 AAIE Leadership Conference in San Francisco. CLICK HERE if you would like to offer your responses to the original spring survey. 
 
February 2019– To Serve International School Leaders Around the World.
San Francisco is the place, calling all of us together.  The AAIE Leadership Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency on February 4-6, 2019.  Please register as soon as you can, while a conference planning group of fellow school heads and principals outlines a more international community-based concept that builds on the expertise and talent of our own school leaders and thought leaders who know and understand life and learning overseas.  We will be looking for you to speak, present, actively participate and provide ideas for key themes in the coming weeks.  Yes, San Francisco is the place– but it is the people of AAIE who bring the goodness and meaning to our learning and ideas for leading.  We need you on February 4-6, 2019 and please register at www.AAIE.org.  
 
And Finally…
You are the best natural resource we have at AAIE.  We want to create the circumstances where you bring your knowledge, expertise and experiences to the table.  Each day you challenge the status quo– we surely cannot stand still– and at AAIE, we'll work to provide new perspectives, research, best practice, and stories of success to blend with the talent of our world community to best support you.
 
At AAIE, we will do our part.  We will do all possible to ensure the diverse AAIE international community is a place of belonging, where we learn about and from each other.
 
 
On Behalf of Our Board,

All Good Wishes

Mark


Mark E. Ulfers, Executive Director
Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE)

AAIE Board of Trustees

Kevin Glass- President

Jeff Paulsen- President-elect

Christine L. Brown

Barry Dequanne

Gregory Hedger

Ron Marino

Fran Prolman

Kathy Steson

Oli Tooher-Hancock

Email: mark@AAIE.org
Website: www.aaie.org
Mailing Address: AAIE PO Box 3496 Princeton, NJ 08543-3496
Physical Address: AAIE 15 Roszel Road Princeton NJ 08540
Phone: +1 609-716-7441
or +1 609-452-0990
Cell: +1 970 488 9416

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