The International School of Latvia is an independent, co-educational, non-profit day school that provides educational services for students from Pre-K through Grade 12. The school was founded in 1994 and is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. ISL is an IB World School with authorization to offer all three IBO programs.
ISL has approximately 200 students that represent over 30 nationalities. ISL has 29 full-time teachers; most of those are American citizens.
Mission
The school’s mission is to help students become creative, critical, analytic thinkers by providing them with an international education that features high standards and a respect for diversity.
Facilities
The school is developing a new purpose-built facility in Pinki. It currently resides in a wing of the Horticultural School. Among the facilities are classrooms, 3 computer labs, a gym, a swimming pool, an auditorium, and more. But, the new campus should be opened by September 2011 so all facilities information will be changed then.
Curriculum
ISL is an IB World School and uses all three IB programs. The school has an ESL program and offers German and French as foreign languages for students who do not need English support. Other classes include health, Latvian, music, art and PE.
Extracurricular Activities
the school offers a variety of after school activities including athletics, service activities and an assortment of clubs. Older students may participate on teams that compete in the Central and Eastern European Schools Association.
Technology
Classrooms are wired for internet, many classrooms have SMART boards and the school has three computer labs.
Professional Development
As with all IB World Schools, ISL is committed to the professional development of its teachers and offers them a generous PD allowance.
Employment
Qualifications for teacher candidates include certification or enrollment in a certification program, two years teaching experience, a commitment to being part of a learning community, ability to work well with colleagues, willingness to sponsor extracurricular activities, flexibility and good health. Job openings are listed on the school website and on the Search website. An application form is online. Teacher salaries are said to be competitive and usually tax-free. Benefits include travel allowance, furnished housing, resettlement allowance, medical insurance care, life insurance, a PD allowance, and small class sizes.
About Latvia
Latvia was founded in 1918 but was occupied by the Soviet Union until 1991. The country became a member of the European Union and Nato in 2004. Latvia is one of the Baltic States, and its capital is Riga. The country has a number of UNESCO world heritage sites. With 500km of beaches and medieval towns, there is plenty to keep a new teacher busy exploring. Riga has restaurants, bars and clubs that draw locals, tourists and expats.
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