Matt Ihle - Junior School Principal What are your first impressions of ISF and of Florence? Well, after just moving from North Africa, I am very glad to be surrounded by green again. I grew up in the Northwestern United States and always had mountains and trees around me. ISF has struck me strongly as a community. I watch children and parents greet each other each morning and I look forward to developing relationships with all of our families and feeling like a part of the community. What drew you to a career in education and how long were you teaching before becoming a principal? I am intrigued by the learning process, especially children’s motivation to learn. That was a major focus of my Masters’ program. Teaching has always been an honored profession in my family. My mother was a teacher and my grandmother was one of the first women principals in Oregon. She was offered the position as elementary principal in World War II until they could find a man to do the job. She retired in the late- 1970s after over 30 years. I was in my 5th year of teaching when I was asked to stay and serve as principal of a large, international school in Honduras. I was 28 when I started as principal in 1993 with 740 students. If you hadn’t become a principal, what other plans did you have for your career? I was happy teaching and was really enjoying honing my craft when my Superintendent asked me to accept the principalship. I think I would have enjoyed touring the world as a teacher. Instead we returned to the States so my wife and I could continue our academic preparartion. I also believe that I would have enjoyed the foreign service if I had not become a teacher. How do you, as a principal, promote good relationships? Ah, this is the real job of a principal. I work at listening. I try to create a sense of welcome to my office, so concerns and successes are both shared. I invite conversations and try to ask about important things, like family. I also try to communicate decisions within the framework of the values and goals that we have developed and that the students’ best interest is my goal. Were you ever sent to the principal’s office growing up? If so, for what? Once, but I don’t remember the reason. I do remember a middle school science teacher spanking me with a paddle because I was running around the class room during a break. What one teacher do you remember most and why? I remember my kindergarten teacher invited me (and each of my classmates over the course of the year) to her house for tea on a Saturday. That was so special. What do you consider your greatest achievement? My family. Each one makes the world a better place by how they care for people.
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