Mission
The mission of the International School of the Americas (ISA) is to challenge all members of the school community to consistently reflect on and question what it means to be acting at one’s fullest potential as a learner, leader, and global citizen. Students and teachers are asked to use their education to improve themselves, their school, and the local and global community.
Mission in Action
ISA’s small size and structure provide the sense of not just community but family. Relationships are fostered through intentional practices to build deep learning, real support, and honest dialogue. Students and teachers feel supported, valued, and empowered.
Teachers and students value relationships, appreciate diversity, accept differences, take risks, and help students set and achieve individualized goals for learning. Students are known and individual accommodations are made for learning styles, differences, talents, and interests.
Teachers design curricular and pedagogical experiences, enact grade-level teaming, integrate curriculum within and between the disciplines, facilitate communication with families, and lead students in travel. Through authentic, performance-based learning, students grapple with complex questions, look at multiple perspectives, make judicious decisions, and find solutions not only for themselves but also for the world community.
Students are provided equal access to ISA via an open application process with lottery selection, heterogeneous grouping, and the expectation that all students will meet a high academic standard. Enrichment experiences including travel, field trips, internships, and community service are available to all students regardless of socioeconomic constraints. The doors of learning are open to all students at ISA.
