2023-24 IMPACT REPORT

23 24 IMPACT REPORT

“IST is such an AMAZING place for learning! My child has had some of the most caring and challenging teachers. They take their time to understand my child just as they understand the class. The school and teachers focus on the whole child.

My child has soared as an inquiry based student and taken on Singapore Math with gusto. The specials teachers go above and beyond and often leave me in awe with what the children can do. IST is the place for my kiddo for many years to come, I can’t thank you enough for all you do for each and every child.”

-IST Parent

Table of Contents Mission, Vision, & Values...4 A Message from Our Head of School...5 Life at IST...7 A New Era for IST...12 Investing in Excellence...15 Expanding Possibilities...16 Spring Benefit...20 The Trailblazer Fund...21 Recognizing Our People...23 A Note of Gratitude from Our Board...25 Paths to Contribute...29

A Message from Our Head of School Dear IST Students & Families, As I reflect upon the last school year, I am truly impressed with the vibrant life that we lived together, the rich learning in which we engaged, and the progress we made in developing our institution. In many ways, the current season of our school's growth can best be described as a "coming of age."

Having just crossed the 10th anniversary of our school's founding, we entered last year with our eyes fixed on the next decade of our growth and maturation as an institution. What an exciting time to be a Trailblazer!

Last year, we dove head-first into this chapter with an ambitious portfolio of projects, initiatives, and events. We began the year by reviewing and rewriting our Mission and Vision as a school, an essential step in ensuring our North Star was aligned with the community we serve. This led to a Strategic Institutional Review where we worked with stakeholders to bring clarity around the DNA of the school and how to align this with our new Mission and Vision. We rebranded the school, we piloted three new major events with the Trailblazer Parent League, and we began preparations for the redesign of our middle school program and the launch of our high school. The year culminated, of course, in the grand move from Hudson Bend to our new Bee Cave Campus.

Our slogan for the year, Forward as One, served as a rallying cry for the most important part of maturing as an institution: ensuring that we tackled all of this work together as a community. Last year was marked by an inspiring level of parental support, engagement, and volunteering in every aspect of life. As the new Head of School, it was an invaluable resource and support to have such an engaged parent community that was willing to try new things, be patient and understanding in our transition, and continue to invest in our community.

The heart and soul of our school is and will always be the students, their learning, and the excellent faculty who help them on their educational journey. Both inside the classroom and out, our students tackled deep, meaningful questions at all levels of the school—from "Does it float?" in PreK to "Did the egg crack?" in Grade 4 to "How can we serve?" in our NJHS club, our students were living out the IB learner profile attributes on a daily basis.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of all the work we tackled last year, we can indeed look back and be proud of the great work we did together as a community. We entered the 2024-2025 school year with an even clearer understanding of what it means to be a Trailblazer, and we got there by living out our slogan: we moved Forward as One. We have much about which we can and should be proud from last year. I invite you to enjoy the review of last year presented in this Impact Report and celebrate the great accomplishments of our Trailblazer community.

In Gratitude,

Brian P. Couch Jr., EdM Head of School

Student Life and Achievements at IST Academics All of our Grade 8 students met or exceeded grade level norms on both the NWEA MAP Mathematics Test and the ERB CTP Test All Middle School students participated in The Stock Market Game during math class. Of 2,000 teams nationally, one of our teams placed in the Top 5 Two-thirds of our middle school students were accepted into the National Junior Honor Society Four middle school Mandarin students participated in the 2023 CLASS National Essay Contest, earning Honorable Mention for their outstanding efforts.

We hosted 40+ field trips across the region for our primary students to connect classroom learning to real-world experiences Grade 5 Students hosted NYT best-selling author Varsha Bajaj for a day-long visit featuring writing workshops and discussions

Co-Curricular and Service Activities Our Destination Imagination team won 1st place in Regionals with a High Instant Challenge Award, 1st place in Texas with a prestigious Renaissance Award and won 1st in the middle school engineering challenge at the Global Finals in Kansas City, against over 2,000 teams from across the globe!

Our competitive First Lego League Robotics Team, won 2nd place in the regional competition for robot design, achieving the highest score in IST history. Coach Jeff Zollner earned the Coaches Award for skill and expertise mentoring the team IST Student Council attended the LEAD Conference in Arlington, Virginia organized by the National Association of Secondary Schools Principals A Grade 4 student participated in the National Science and Geography Bee, winning the championship for Science and earning 2nd place in Geography.

He received an invitation to compete internationally IST’s annual food drive resulted in over 4,045 pounds of food donated to the Central Texas Food Bank All of our middle school students participated in the worldwide Kahoot! Cup 2023 Middle School students embarked on an enriching Travel Week: 6th graders delved into nature and science at the Teton Science School in Wyoming, 7th graders experienced history and culture in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, and 8th graders immersed themselves in the natural wonders of the Florida Everglades.

Athletics Our Grade 4 student placed 1st in Cross Country championship for G3-4 Two of our girls on the Cross-Country team were recognized for their performance in the APSA championship Our Co-ed Soccer Team advanced to the APSA League Championship and won the APSA conference championship for the third year in a row

Educational Excellence: Leadership and Innovations IST welcomed international school recruit, Brian P. Couch, Jr. as Head of School to lead the institution into its next decade Head of Middle School, Chad Hyatt, was selected to participate in a curriculum review at the IB's Office in The Hague, Netherlands with an elite group of educators from around the world Head of Primary, Ashley Swindle, hosted a roundtable for Texas International Baccalaureate Schools (TIBS) welcoming approximately 120 educators and professionals from schools statewide, with a breakout session featuring Grade 1 lead teacher Amy Munson IST hired a dedicated full-time school counselor to help implement a new social-emotional learning program and support student well-being Processes and Systems MYP leadership introduced a streamline student intervention and tracking system and introduced Student Learning Records MYP leadership introduced a reading buddies program to bolster peer-topeer learning IST educators expanded mathematics extension groups for our students, including those in need of extra time and those with exceptional abilities Revamped the PYP assessment data framework to more effectively track and analyze student progress

A New Era for IST IST began its journey in 2013 on our picturesque Hudson Bend campus, a serene setting overlooking the beauty of Lake Travis. This campus became a vital stepping stone in our school’s growth and a nurturing environment for our students. It was a place where cherished memories were made: sunsets over the lake, sports days, vibrant Holi celebrations, Thanksgiving feasts, promotional ceremonies under the warm sun, collecting 4,000 pounds of food for the food drive, marveling at the eclipse, and hosting inspiring exhibitions. Hudson Bend will always hold a special place in our history, symbolizing the foundation of our community and the start of our remarkable journey.

We are deeply grateful to the dedicated team and countless volunteers who facilitated “The Great Move” from Hudson Bend to Bee Cave, even while we were simultaneously operating summer camps at our new campus. Your tireless efforts—sorting, organizing, cleaning out, and packing—ensured a smooth transition and set the stage for the next chapter in IST’s story.

By completing this great move, IST has embarked on a new era filled with pride, progress, and boundless possibilities.

Our dream of a new campus in Bee Cave was transformed into a reality because of gifts from generous Trailblazer families to our Here We Grow capital campaign. These educational spaces are a testament to a shared belief in our mission, and the potential of the next generation of globally minded problem solvers.

Investing in Excellence We continue to be inspired by the extraordinary generosity of our community, which raised over $600,000 in donations last year. These contributions have been instrumental in strengthening the school’s financial position and enhancing the opportunities we provide to all of our students.

Thanks to the community’s generous support last school year we were able to establish and accomplish the following: Launched a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program and hired a dedicated school counselor to support student well-being Recruited new Director of Admissions and Enrollment from top-tier competitor We increased salaries to position ourselves as a leading contender in attracting and retaining top talent We invested in a comprehensive phonics curriculum, strengthening our literacy instruction and providing students with a solid foundation in reading and language skills Covered essential IB fees, allowing us to expand and sustain our academic programs Introduced 1-to-1 devices for Grade 2 students and new iPads for Grade 1, enhancing digital learning opportunities We prioritized the growth of our teachers by sponsoring our educators’ professional development through opportunities including IB training and the Key West Literary Seminar We are profoundly grateful for the collective generosity that has made these achievements possible and look forward to building on this success together.

Tution & Fees 84% Donations & Fundraising 10% Auxiliary Programs 6%

Total Revenue

Capital Expense 3% Salaries & Benefits 59% Administrative 5%

Facilities 23%

Instruction 10%

Total Expenses

Giving to IST Gifts to IST expand possibilities for the next generation of globally minded problem solvers. Last year was a pivotal chapter in IST’s journey: saying goodbye to our first home at Hudson Bend, building a new facility and moving into our next home in Bee Cave, welcoming a new Head of School, and most importantly, supporting 206 students reaching for – and attaining – their own ambitious goals as shown on this Report’s preceding pages.

One continuous thread has made all this possible: the philanthropic spirit and contributions by individuals committed to the success of future Trailblazers.

Thanks to the dedication, generosity, and support of families, friends, and community members like you, IST has continued to grow, excel and inspire as we blaze a new trail in Austin’s education landscape. Together, guided by a new strategic plan, we are laying the foundation for the school’s future — one that promises great potential for current and future students to meet tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities.

2024 Spring Benefit The Spring Benefit held on April 20, 2024, was a time of celebration in our community, unifying all of us around a shared vision of building an innovative, enduring educational institution that cultivates globally minded leaders, ready to serve our world.

Thanks to generous attendees, we raised a record-shattering $471,367 during the benefit. These funds help ensure that we are delivering on our promise to cultivate a global-minded community of leaders, prepared for an ever-changing world. Special thanks to co-chairs Caroline Harris and Zoie Itkin, whose time, energy, and dedication made the event a smashing success.

IST teachers continued a beloved tradition of volunteering special experiences for students during the auction – private art lessons with Ms. Lemon, a climbing adventure with Mr. Zollner, a STEM Glow Party with Ms. Passi, a Piñata Party with Ms. Cantu – and more.

TRAILBLAZER FUND Every Family. Every Year. Every Gift Matters.

With leadership by board member Ashley Tuck and Diane Kwon, the 2023-2024 Annual Fund Chair and class parent, the Trailblazer Fund provided essential support to enhance our curriculum, retain talented educators, and provide enrichment opportunities that foster student growth beyond the classroom.

Contributions to the Annual Fund are vital to the organization’s operating health, directly impacting students, educators, and programs. These gifts are often matched by donors and employers and help us cover the costs of an IST education. Forward as one!

“Contributing to the Trailblazer Fund is an opportunity for us to make a direct impact on our children’s academic journey, allowing IST to access top educational resources and talent which tuition alone does not cover. The community, academics, and environment we help build at IST will leave a lasting imprint on our children, and in many ways, shape who they will become.”

-Diane Kwon, 2023-2024 Annual Chair

TPL Officers/Leads President Annie Tufton MYP VP - Michelle Waterbury PYP VP - Ashlie Dulien Treasurer - Lindsay Rincon Secretary - Jackie Sandoval Class Parents JPK - Natalie Malnor PK / K - Zoie Itkin K - Moon Wang 1 - Connie Ditto 2 - Debra Doliner 3 - Lindsey Sendlein 4 - Sarah Warren 4 - Holly Bunnell 5 - Leah Wardle 6 - Emily Reich 6 - Anna Robinson 7 - Laura Kuchinsky 8 - Anniina Jokinen

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our faculty and staff for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our school and community. Your hard work and passion are the foundation of all that we achieve, and we are deeply appreciative of all that you do.

A Note of Gratitude As I reflect on this extraordinary year, I am filled with gratitude and pride. The 2023–2024 school year was a milestone for the International School of Texas, embodying the Trailblazer spirit by charting bold new paths. I view two important factors to IST’s success as being the remarkable IB education administered by great teachers and the strong, close-knit bonds within our community.

Thanks to our senior leadership team and their partnership with the Board of Trustees, IST sharpened the focus of its Mission, Vision, and Values, launched a rebrand, laid the groundwork for a high school, leveled up the middle school program, completed our new purpose-built campus and sold our old campus, all while faculty remained steadfast in their commitment to the education of our students.

One initiative from this year that truly resonated with me was our reaffirmed commitment to neutrality in education, creating a space where students can freely explore ideas, challenge perspectives, and grow as critical thinkers. With this we initiated internal trainings and engaged in discussions to help guide the institution through multifaceted topics. This helps IST provide an environment that is a neutral ground for our students to develop into not only productive members of our society but passionate leaders with the tools to propel themselves in their life journey. IST fuels students with the knowledge on how to navigate through today’s and tomorrow’s complex problems. Of course, this cannot be done without our beloved faculty and staff. I cannot express enough of the profound gratitude I feel for these Trailblazers in education, whose dedication creates these opportunities for our students.

Beyond the distinguished pedagogy, the sense of community at IST is truly remarkable, and events like this year’s Spring Benefit highlight its strength. Families and educators came together to volunteer, share their talents, and generously support the Annual Fund, exemplifying the collaborative spirit that defines us. However, building and sustaining a strong community requires constant care and focus, as it is the foundation our students will emulate in the future.

By prioritizing connection, generosity, and shared purpose, we create a legacy that shapes lives.

I encourage all families to join in this vital work with your time and resources ensuring IST’s community remains a model for our children. As it is said, it takes a village…

We have accomplished in one year what many schools hope to achieve in five—a testament to the resilience and passion of our administration, faculty, families, and students. Thank you for your trust, support, and belief in our mission. Together, we are building not just a school but a legacy of excellence and global-mindedness.

With gratitude for trails, we blaze together,

Jason Waterbury 2023-2024 Chair, Board of Trustees

Donor Recognition Donors in 2023-2024 School Year (7/1/2023 - 6/30/2024) **Total giving exceeded the 2024 tuition gap amount

Madeeha Abdulla and Atif Siddiqi ** Irina and Michael Ajouz** Darcy Alkus Barrow and Christopher Barrow** Amanda and Jonathan Allen** Kelly and Josh Avigael** Tyler Babb and Allie Kern Bruce and Terilynn Babb** Greg and Kaitlyn Bae Charissa Bates Hope and Cleve Bellar Adi and Rebecca Bereshkovsky** Rosalie and Brian Berg Ambra Bourne-Dumas and Jean-Pierre Dumas Judy Bowen Barbara and Jeremiah Boyle Ansley Bridges Holly and Anthony Bunnell Sudeep Burman and Haley Carter** Eric Cheung and Marlena Lee Rahul Chhatwal and Jasmine Thakkar Jen and Rob Cohen Donna Combs-Williamson Brendan Costello and Diane Kwon** Timonthy Costello Bill and Meagan Cotton Mary and Brian Couch Crystal and Jamaal Crayton

Josh Davenport Chauntae Davies Jenn and Jason De Jong ** Connie and Shey Ditto** Debra and Adir Doliner Deepa and Sapana Donde Ashlie and Louis Dulien III ** Martin Eberle and Kathrin Fluegel** Carol Elias Karina and Andrew Farthing** Magda and Michael Fazio** Carol and Rob Fondren** Jenna and Tyler Frost Alicia and Bruce Furst Zhuo Gao and Na Jia** Michelle and Sam Gerzon Antonia and Charles Giefer Claudia Goldberg Sara and Ali Golshani** Caroline and Jeremy Harris** Johnny Harris Debbie Hobbs Ariel and Tommie Hobbs Sherry Hunter Chad Hyatt Zoie and Andrew Itkin** Marsha and Phil Itkin Fatou Jagne and Cherno Njie** Bettina and Ariel Jakobovits

Donor Recognition Angela and Adam Jaskolski** Kasey and Michael Johnson Brian and Carli Jones Jason Jones Alegra Haynes Thore and Neesa Karlsen** Jeremi Karnell and Cindy Schultz Lawrence Keepers Danny Kievit Ema Kisel Maha Khan and Hamza Saigol Marina Khattak and Aly Orady** Addison Miller and Kim Kneen-Miller Cara and Vu Kong Molly and Stephen Kosoris** Sophia Leakas and Vitor Menezes Laura and Ari Kuchinsky Susan and David Laitala** Dean Liotta Christina and Derek Lothringer Sana Syed and Shahbaz Malik** Natalie and Dan Malnor Tommie McClain Pamela Moore David and Patricia Nicol Michael and Sherri Nicol** Robert Nicol Maria Ortiz and Jesus Vargas Hani and Anthony Overfield Chuong Pham and Sovichear Noch Elizabeth and Thomas Phariss Vikram Phatak and Anniina Jokinen Jayprabha Prabhu and Rohit Mainkar Kristin Ray Emily and Michael Reich**

Lindsay and Jeremy Rincon** Anna and Russell Robinson Jayanthi Sampathi and Abhishekh Neeraty Nora Sanchez and Luis Landois, Jr. Sila and Sendur Sellakumar** Elena and Jason Senior Bindia and Parag Shah Yara Cantu Sittler and Tim Sittler Jennifer and Brendan Smith Sara Solomon Maria Solovieva-Nelson and Justin Nelson** Kristin and Shawn Strickler Breanna and Colin Sweeney Jay and Danielle Taylor** Lindsay Taylor Mary Ann and Khristopher Thayer Nicole Thomas Crystal and Glenn Thompson Allison and Dayne Thornicroft** Reginald Tuck Ashley and Cody Tuck** Rhonda Tuck Annie and Richard Tufton Eefje Van Minsel and Collin Chan Paula Cortes and Jorge Vela** Moon and Kean Wang** Sarah and John Mark Warren Leah and Stephen Wardle Michelle and Jason Waterbury** Nicole and Steven Welch** Izabella and Michael Wentz Shannon Williams Tasha and Brian Yacktman** Kimberly and Michael Yacktman**

Donor Recognition Business Donors to IST and the IST Spring Benefit Adel Vardell Photography Alejandro Ospina Austin Bounce House Austin Elite Gymnastics Baylie Beebe Photography Blazer Tag Adventure Center Card My Yard Caylee Dearth Performance Horses ChampionsTX – Lakeway Cyced Dart’Em Up Fairmont Austin – Garrison Free Rein Coffee Company Harmony Lab High Five iRoc Space Radio Kerri Meigs Photography Kitestring Pediatric Therapy KGS Studios Korman Fine Jewelers Lake Travis Laser Skincare & Aesthetics Leave It to Kievit Lee’s Kitchen & Cocktails Margaret Webb Life Coach Muse Med Spa

Nordstrom Pikopyes Town – Lakeway Pretty Kennels Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre Restore Hyper Wellness & Cryotherapy Robin Jackson Photography Sarah Warren Sea World – San Antonio Serasana – Bee Cave Serene Hills Dentistry Shipley Do-Nuts – Lake Travis Skydive-Spaceland – San Marcos Southern Tire Mart Steiner Ranch Steak House Surflift ATX TenTen The Hills Country Club Tiff’s Treats Thrive Hormonal Health & Business Toothbud Pediatric Dentistry Truluck’s Wild Heart Yoga Y6 Family LLC YCG Investments

Every effort has been made to recognize donors according to their wishes – if we misspelled your name, you wish to remain anonymous, or any name needs correction, please contact Sumaya Saati at s.saati@istexas.org or 512.351.3403 extension 1025.

Paths to Contribute The Trailblazer Fund is at the heart of IST’s giving efforts. Gifts to the school ensure that our students have access to the very best educational resources.

Supporting best-in-class educators, cutting-edge technology in the classroom and innovative extracurricular programs, your contributions to the Trailblazer Fund help deliver promises set out in our new strategic plan and enhance every aspect of our students’ experience.

The Trailblazer Family grows stronger when we support each other. Our goal is to have 100% participation from our community. Every gift counts, no matter the amount, and shows your commitment to IST’s mission of inspiring global citizens and leaders oriented towards service.

Ways to Give Gifts may be made online by clicking here, or by check addressed to: International School of Texas Attn: Development 15506-C TX. Highway 71 Bee Cave, Texas 78738 IST also accepts gifts of stock, charitable annuities, and donor advised funds.

Business sponsorships are available for specific school events and offer marketing and visibility opportunities, while affiliating your business with the school’s community and supporting our mission.

Every contribution directly impacts our students by supporting innovative programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and transformative experiences that make IST a school like no other.

International School of Texas is a 501(c)(3) with Tax ID: 46-2877379

2023-24 Board of Trustees & Leadership Jason Waterbury, Chair Jenn McClain DeJong, Vice Chair Donald Yacktman, Treasurer Magda Fazio, Secretary Michael Ajouz Thore Karlsen Molly Kosoris Jeremy Rincon Ashley Tuck Tasha Yacktman Robert Yacktman Brian Yacktman

www.istexas.org