GISSV Annual Report
Mountain View I San Francisco
2024/25
GISSV belongs to a unique club of 136 officially recognized German Schools Abroad (DAS) worldwide. Member schools must uphold high standards with commitment to
• High quality of instruction
• Internationally recognized qualifications
• Individualized support
• Cultural exchange
• German Language/Multilingualism
All schools are regularly inspected by education experts from Germany.
Of the six US-based DAS schools, only four offer the prestigious Abitur combined with the American High School Diploma, and GISSV is the only school west of Washington, D.C. to provide this unique opportunity
In addition to this GISSV is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Each of these renowned agencies also conduct regular quality-assurance inspections at GISSV.
Welcome from the Head of School
Dear GISSV Community,
I am honored to contribute the foreword to this year’s Annual Report. Annual reports highlight milestones and achievements, but at GISSV, they are really about people—students, parents, faculty, staff, and the Board—whose dedication makes those milestones possible.
Having joined just eight months ago, my wife and I have felt warmly welcomed and very much at home. It has been a joy to see every day how much heart goes into this school, and I want to thank all of you—parents, students, faculty and staff, and of course our Board—for making that spirit so tangible.
For me personally, this short time has already been filled with highlights: celebrating a successful graduating class and their festivities, welcoming new students at our joyful Einschulungsfeiern, and experiencing the unique atmosphere of our Community Fest. These moments show what GISSV is about—achievement, belonging, and joy.
Because one foreword cannot cover it all, I warmly invite you to join us in November for Highlights & Horizons – The Annual GISSV Fair. There, the
leadership team will share more details about our achievements and plans—and, most importantly, offer the chance to ask questions and exchange ideas in person.
Thank you for your trust and support. With a strong Strategic Plan, a dedicated Board, a deeply committed faculty & staff, and a vibrant community, GISSV is well prepared for the future and everything we want to create together.
And if the following years feel as inspiring as these first eight months have, we are indeed on an excellent path.
Warm regards,
Dr. Wolfram Schrimpf Head of School
Welcome from the President of the Board of Directors
Dear GISSV Community,
The past year has been a landmark one for our school. As a Board, our foremost responsibility is to ensure strong, stable leadership, and in February 2025 we welcomed Dr. Wolfram Schrimpf as our new Head of School. Bringing his vast global experience, his appointment represents a major milestone for GISSV, and we are already reaping the benefits of his leadership and seeing how he will guide us with vision and stability in the years ahead.
In parallel, the Board undertook another significant endeavor: the development of the strategic plan 2025-2030. This process engaged all levels of our community: students, faculty, staff, leadership, board, parents, and alumni—and has provided us with a clear framework for the school’s continued growth. It is a plan that reflects our shared values and establishes both the structures and priorities that will define our future. Now we have our guidepost for the next five years to remain focused.
With these foundations now in place, our focus as a board is to continue upholding the highest standards of governance. We remain committed to ensuring that our work is strategic, forward-
looking, and always aligned with the mission of GISSV. Our priorities for the year include the implementation of the strategic plan, focusing on a long-term solution for our Mountain View campus, and a continuation of board culture improvement.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my fellow trustees for their dedication and partnership. Their commitment has been essential in navigating this pivotal year, and I am deeply proud of the work we have accomplished together.
As we move into the next phase with implementing the strategic plan and providing our support to Dr. Schrimpf, we look forward to working hand in hand with the entire community. Together, we will ensure that GISSV not only thrives but continues to be a place of excellence and belonging for years to come.
With warm regards,
Shamala Hinrichsen Board of Directors, President
GISSV’s New Mission and Vision
Vision
We go beyond preparing students for the future. We empower them to shape it.
Mission
At GISSV, we foster academic excellence, champion belonging, and equip students with the skills to navigate languages, cultures, and the complexities of a global society. We provide a rigorous learning environment for students that seek a German Abitur and American high school diploma. In our strong community, close studentteacher relationships cultivate both intellectual and emotional growth.
Together, we shape the future.
Wir machen Kinder und Jugendliche stark für eine globale Zukunft: neugierig denkend, kulturell offen und verantwortungsvoll handelnd.
Wir vermitteln mehr als Fachwissen: Wir fördern das Denken, Verstehen und Mitfühlen. Die Kinder und Jugendlichen lernen auf Deutsch und Englisch – in einem Umfeld, das herausfordert und unterstützt. Wir begleiten sie von der frühen Kindheit bis zum deutschen Abitur und zum amerikanischen High-School-Abschluss. Dabei wachsen sie nicht nur akademisch, sondern auch als Persönlichkeiten: stark, sozial und bereit für eine vernetzte Welt.
Leadership Team // 2025/26
Dr. Wolfram Schrimpf Head of School
Désirée Appadurai Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Starting October 2025
Tanja Zimmermann Head of Secondary School (MV: Grades 5-7 | SF: 5-8)
Dr. Frauke Ritter Vice Head of School MV
Morena Waack Head of Kibili MV, Head of Steering Committee
Ivo Betten Head of Secondary School (Grades 8-10)
Stefanie Wenk 2nd Vice Head of School SF
Noëlle McGregor Head of Kibili SF
Sebastian Berk Head of Secondary School (Grades 11-12)
Mike Nielsen Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Until end of September 2025
Gale Adams-Davis Head of Elementary School (MV & SF)
Jenny Jungeblut Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Teachers by Numbers
Our teachers and staff are highly educated, with qualifications from Germany, the USA, and many other countries around the world. The vast majority of our teachers speak German, and each year we successfully recruit new talent from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, within the US and abroad. We are fortunate to have local, German-speaking and non-German-speaking teachers, which is invaluable as we navigate strict visa requirements for internationally hired staff. This combination of international and local expertise allows us to maintain a strong, diverse team.
hold
Degrees
Enrollment by Numbers
Returning students
526
539
Students total
(+13 enrolled with a later start date)
436 Nationalities
38+
103
New students
Languages spokenatGISSV
With solid financials as a foundation, our path to growth requires heightened fundraising efforts. See below last year’s unaudited results and this year’s budget projections.
Revenue - Unaudited 2024/25
- Unaudited 2024/25
Expense - Unaudited 2024/25
Expenses - Unaudited 2024/25
Revenue - Budget 2025/26
Revenue - Budget 2025/26
Expenses - Budget 2025/26
Expense - Budget 2025/26
For the upcoming year, our budget reflects a strategic outlook aimed at both fiscal stability and key investments. In the Spring of 2025 we projected an enrollment of 550 students, We are currently at 539 students enrolled and there are still numerous students waiting on visas. We implemented a 3.4% tuition increase across all programs and campuses. This budget outlook accounts for a significant reduction (over 70%
compared to previous years) in the cash subsidy from Germany. On the expense side, we have factored in a 2.4% cost of living adjustment for all staff and a number of new positions, including counseling, inclusion, and additional homeroom and administrative roles. Our rent at Mountain View campus goes up each year by 3%. We have also allocated funds for new Board Initiatives.
Fundraising
We are deeply grateful to the generous donors and the incredible parent, teacher, staff, and student volunteers who supported our 2024/25 fundraising efforts. Your time, energy, and support have left a lasting impact on our school community.
Thanks to you, the Holiday Market drew record crowds despite the morning storm, becoming a vibrant, joyful celebration that extended beyond our campus. The Gala honored 25 years of GISSV, a remarkable milestone made possible by the support and dedication of our community.. And your generous contributions to our Annual Fund had a direct and meaningful impact on our programs, teachers, and—most importantly—our students.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our mission. Together, we are shaping the future.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to our corporate sponsors, whose generous support during the 2024-2025 school year helped make possible programs like Formula 1 STEM and financial aid, enriching our students’ experience and strengthening our community.
$300,000
Total proceeds from fundraising
Annual Fund
Tuition alone does not fully cover the cost of educating a student at GISSV, especially amid a 70% reduction in funding from Germany and the high cost of living and operating in the Bay Area. Delivering on our mission and attracting and retaining faculty has become more challenging than ever. That’s why the Annual Fund is so important. Your participation and generous support helps bridge the funding gap and ensure our students continue to thrive.
27% Annual Fund reached 27% participation $926 Average gift
$1,000+ 4% of our families donated more than $1,000
$50,000
Our deepest thanks to the GISSV family who donated $50,000 to the Annual Fund!
Alumni
With 25 graduates in 2024/25, our dual-diploma program has now empowered over 200 students since 2012 with both the prestigious German Abitur and the US High School diploma. Our graduates are accepted into top-tier universities in the US, including UC Berkeley, Davis, Santa Barbara, and San Diego, as well as Cornell, Tufts, NYU, Stanford, Columbia, Georgetown, and more.
Thanks to the Abitur from GISSV, our students can enjoy the full benefits of a German education— including direct entry to Germany’s top universities and access to virtually free higher education.
List of Universities | Class of 2025
Germany
• Technische Universität München (4 students)
• Universität Regensburg
• Hochschule Bund
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
• Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg
• Universität Hamburg
• other
Austria
• Universität Wien (3 students)
• Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg
Switzerland
• Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zürich) (4 students)
Europe
• Universitat de Barcelona
• other
USA
• University of California Berkeley
• other
Our alumni excel at prestigious institutions such as the Universities of Freiburg, Berlin, Tübingen, Hamburg, Köln, Bonn, TU München, and RWTH Aachen and many more. Many also pursue studies at renowned universities across Europe, positioning themselves for success on the global stage.
Looking at our graduating class of 2024/25 one can truly see that GISSV is delivering on its mission to prepare students for global opportunities.
Highlights and Horizons –the Annual GISSV Fair
In November, we will launch a new, trade showstyle campus fair, providing parents and students with a unique opportunity to meet and engage with team members from every area of the school—from preschool through high school and from inclusion through administration—to learn about key highlights and new initiatives
Looking Forward to 2025/26
As we step into the new school year, we do so with gratitude for how far we’ve come and excitement for what lies ahead. In February 2025, GISSV proudly celebrated its 25th anniversary—a milestone that honored our history and reminded us of the strength of this community.
Our focus for the next year is clear:
• Bringing our Strategic Plan to life and translating shared vision into concrete progress.
• Securing a long-term campus solution in Mountain View that reflects our ambition and supports our students’ learning.
• Growing our San Francisco campus to include 9th and 10th grades, opening new pathways for our students’ journeys.
These are not just projects on paper—they are steps toward ensuring that GISSV continues to thrive as a place of excellence, belonging, and opportunity.
As always, our greatest strength lies in the people who make up this community: our students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni. In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing updates, gathering your ideas, and celebrating together— whether at our Holiday Market, Gala, or simply in the everyday joys of school life.
All families are encouraged to attend:
San Francisco, November 12, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Mountain View, November 19, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
With your continued partnership, we are ready to shape the next 25 years with the same spirit that brought us here: courage, collaboration, and care.
Mark Your Calendars
October 23, 2025 Fall Society Meeting
November 7, 2025 Laternenfest, San Francisco Campus
December 13, 2025 German Holiday Market
May 21, 2026 Spring Society Meeting
MV Campus
310 Easy Street
Mountain View, CA 94043
SF Campus 117 Diamond Street San Francisco, CA 94114
GISSV
GISSV