Announcement from Gerry Hull and David Hawley

To AIS parents, teachers and staff,

I am of two minds in delivering to you the following news.

I regret to inform you that our president, David Hawley, will be leaving Atlanta International School at the end of July 2006. The record of achievement at AIS during David’s tenure of leadership is, I believe, beyond challenge. Enrollment is up substantially, college admissions have improved significantly and the school’s financial condition is excellent, better than it has ever been in the school’s history, just to point to a few of the school’s many accomplishments. Of course, these results were not achieved by David alone, but it was David who recruited, organized and led the excellent team that is currently in place. The school’s accomplishments therefore are David’s accomplishments. I applaud David and thank him for his remarkable contribution. I will personally miss his brilliance as an educator, his creativity, his deep loyalty to AIS and his ever present smile of optimism.

I am, on the other hand, delighted to inform you that David is moving to a prestigious and unique institution as Director of the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific. The College will be fortunate to have him and David has certainly earned and deserves the right to accept their invitation. Below is a letter from David, which I know you will want to read and enjoy. Congratulations, David.

Sincerely,

Gerry Hull, AIS Board Chair

Letter from David Hawley:

Dear Gerry Hull, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and members of the AIS community:

As I complete my tenth year at AIS, a unique opportunity has been presented to me: an invitation to become the Director of the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific. After much reflection with my family and in light of good timing as we complete AIS’s strategic plan for the next five years, I have decided to accept this position effective 1 August 2006.

It would take something exceptional to draw me and my family away from AIS. Pearson College fits that standard. Pearson College, located on eighty-five acres of rainforest on the southern coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, is one of the only schools in the world to offer full scholarships to every student. Selection committees in over one hundred countries choose students to attend Pearson College based on the promise the student shows to contribute to positive change in her or his home community. The students complete the International Baccalaureate program in residence in Canada and then go on to study in the world’s top universities. One of the unique aspects of Pearson College is that students are encouraged to complete a full year of community service before attending university. The college is named in honor of Lester B. Pearson, former Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. It was his vision to welcome students, without regard to race, religion, politics or social class, so that the college would be comprised of students who "are from all levels of society and will be genuine representatives of their own peoples."

Recently, I visited a former AIS parent whose business required him to relocate to New York. This parent is a generous supporter of AIS in many different ways. My visit with him and his family was to thank them for all they have done for the school. He commented that it was his family’s goal that when they leave a place, they leave it in better shape than the shape it was in when they arrived. As I reflect on my ten years at AIS, I am hopeful that my family and I have met that same measure.

All of the successes of the past decade at AIS are ultimately a result of the work of highly dedicated faculty and staff, supported by a committed board of trustees, parents and the wider AIS community. All of these forces combine to give AIS a well deserved reputation as one of the top international schools in the world. We are seen as a leader in truly living the ideals of respect and international understanding, pursuing high standards of achievement for every student and in sharing our work with the rest of the world. Our primary school program is one of a kind and our professional development summer grants for teachers are similarly distinctive. In the past ten years we have completed two strategic plans, built a new wing to the library, a performing arts center, a sports & activities center and acquired six acres of land to give the school options for the future. Most importantly, we have assembled a world class faculty and staff, many of whom are leaders in the IB world. And the administrative team is well poised to continue another decade of success – and more.

I have had the joy of experiencing all of this as a parent of two students at AIS. They have thrived here because of the quality of care and the warm relationship between students and teachers. For this, Leisa and I – and Sophie and Nico - will be forever grateful.

It has been a great honor to be part of AIS for nearly half of its twenty-one year history. I am happy to have another challenging opportunity ahead to contribute towards the high ideals as captured in the words of the President of the United World Colleges, HM Queen Noor of Jordan: "Each UWC Graduate is potentially a future architect of peace... The fundamental values of a UWC education are increasingly relevant to global stability and peace and I truly believe that the world will be a better place because of the contribution of our Graduates." And in the words of the former UWC President, Nelson Mandela: "The striking feature of the United World Colleges is that they embrace the entire world across all divides of race, history, culture, wealth, religion, economic status and political belief: they are unique and they are conscious of their responsibilities."

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve AIS and its mission and I hope to stay connected and continue to contribute to its success in partnership with the United World College movement.

Sincerely,

David B. Hawley