AIS Global Exchange 2021-22

ONE YEAR IN, HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL, DR. ERIN ROBINSON, REFLECTS ON HER TIME SO FAR

NAME JUST THREE SPECIAL MOMENTS FROM THIS YEAR. That’s a challenge!

Special moments involve just seeing a students’ joy - be that presenting in Model United Nations (MUN), playing with their team, putting on a show, debating in Mock Trial, racing across a finish line, showing AIS to prospective families or being enthralled in the heat of a robotics competition.

One proud time was when our teachers participated in Spring Training; voluntary, professional development workshops to share learning with their peers. Each session was packed and I loved the pride our teachers showed in their own craft.

And although this is not a ‘moment,’ when everyone finally returned to campus after being away from each other, we noticed a disconnect. Many students weren’t holding doors open for example, or saying good morning. So we focused on role modeling and building community through the Middle and Upper School pastoral teams. I’m proud of the noticeable shift our students made. It makes a big difference to how welcoming our community feels.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO GO BACK AND CHANGE?

I try to stay present and look forward. When we’ve had challenging and sad times I’m appreciative of how the community comes together. I am equally grateful when the student community challenges us to be better.

WHAT ARE YOUR KEY GOALS MOVING FORWARD?

I’m going to continue my quest to try and further build community and improve communication by lifting up our students’ voices

CAN YOU SHARE ANY SURPRISES OR FUNNY MOMENTS?

Supervising the field during lunch involves many surprises and funny moments - like the time I was nearly run over during a soccer match! It mortified the students but was actually pretty funny.

IF YOU COULDN’T FAIL, WHAT WOULD YOU LOVE TO DO?

I’ve always been a risk taker, but with more time I’d love to pursue art, play piano or get back into competitive horseback riding - things I loved when younger.

I’ve been talking to AIS Secondary School Visual Arts and Design teacher, Mr. DiGregorio, about ceramics because I used to enjoy pottery. There is something special about molding shapes out of clay with the rhythm of a wheel. Even better is that when something goes awry, you just pound it back down and start over again!

THE VIEW FROM HERE

An interview with our school founders

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THAT GRADUATION DAY, 30 YEARS AGO?

Roy: Incredible pride, especially as I was handing one of the diplomas to our eldest daughter, Vicky.

Olga: That first graduating class of 1992 had ten students from eight countries. They all joined AIS in 1987 when they were in Grade 7, the year we’d moved to larger premises on Long Island Drive* - they were graduating from the high school building we had constructed there.

*AIS began in 1985 with two Grades, 5K and Grade 1 and three languages in addition to English - French, German and Spanish.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGES OVER THE YEARS?

R: When we arrived in Atlanta in 1982 there was no international school. So we began by finding like-minded people to join us in creating one.

O: Yes, and the support was incredible. We kept outgrowing our buildings and campuses - so one of the biggest changes was moving AIS here, to the site of the old North Fulton High School in 1995.

WHAT ARE YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR HAPPIEST MEMORIES?

O: When AIS moved into its first building, watching the children come out of school that very first day. They looked so happy, it was an incredible feeling.

From their 26th floor apartment, the founders of AIS, Roy Plaut and Olga Gomez Plaut, have a perfect view of the entire school campus. And it works both ways - anyone looking up during a home soccer match will see Roy out on his balcony with a huge AIS banner, flashing lights whenever the team scores a goal! This and their presence at AIS events and positions as ‘Chairman Emeritus’ and ‘Trustee Emerita,’ are proof of their continuing affection and involvement in the school.

This year marks 30 years since the first class graduated from AIS in 1992. We joined Roy and Olga to find out what’s changed, what remains the same and what their hopes are for AIS in the future.

R: There have been so many; increasing student numbers, getting all three accreditations from the International Baccalaureate, adding Chinese as a language, all the STEAM and athletics offerings - the superb music and drama shows of course. Then there’s the local and international recognition that comes with all of that - there’s a lot to be proud of. We also rejoice in having both our daughters as graduates.

IS YOUR ORIGINAL VISION OF AIS STILL RECOGNIZABLE TODAY?

Both: Oh yes!

R: I don’t think people realize how many things have been there from the beginning. The Mission and Core Values have not changed.

O: The IB system, including the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) idea that students should ‘give back’ was attractive to me because of my social work background, and it was a pleasure helping to start the program. The school now has over 80 CAS groups!

Also having a vigorous Financial Aid Program enables economic diversity throughout the school - something which benefits all students.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE HOPES FOR THE SCHOOL?

R: The school’s Strategic Planning group tries to envisage world situations ten, twenty or even 30 years ahead and then see how the school adapts to each of the scenarios. We need to make sure AIS students are flexible, adaptable and well prepared for whatever the future might bring.