International School Playa del Carmen

Información generál

WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PLAYA DEL CARMEN (ISP)

Playa del Carmen is a new and wonderful community that brings people together from all over Mexico and the world. While we all may originally come here for the beauty of the beaches, jungle, culture and weather, we stay for the people.

We are an adventurous, open-minded, and generous people, who want to make the world a better place. We also want to educate our children to follow similar paths.

The International School of Playa del Carmen plans to educate Playa’s children with the most modern and respected educational philosophies and texts, while encouraging students to be thoughtful and giving humans, eager to make a positive difference in the world.

At ISP, academic excellence is key. We will be using both the Mexican SEP curriculum as well as the American Common Core Curriculum. Students will receive dual certification, and this provides our graduating students with diplomas that will allow them to apply directly to North American and European universities, as well as Mexican. Our teaching methods focus on real world skills through inquiry and project based learning. Students will develop their math, science, history, language arts, artistic and athletic skills with lessons that focus on problem solving for today’s real life challenges. ISP encourages our students to explore their intellectual and artistic capacities, as well as their abilities to serve their communities.

ISP follows a standardized, International Educational program that is used throughout Mexico and the World at the best International and American schools (e.g. IAS Cancun, ASF Mexico City, International School Bangkok, etc.).

GOALS FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS:

1. In the next five years, ISP will work with AdvancED (http://www.advanc-ed.org/) , ASOMEX (Association of American Schools in Mexico) and the Tri-Association (Association of American Schools of Central America, Colombia, Caribbean and Mexico) to acquire international accreditation and school improvement programs

2. Create a world class school that allows our students to graduate and gain acceptance into the best universities in the world

3. Incorporate our community’s organizations, businesses, and people into our educational program to give our students experience in the real world

4. Provide professional development for teachers and administrators to ensure that ISP follows cutting edge pedagogical strategies

5. Provide a world class extra-curricular program that allows students to pursue their passion for the arts, sports, health and community service

6. Create not only a school for our students, but also a community center for our families where we can come together to work to make Playa del Carmen a better place for our children, families and friends

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PLAYA DEL CARMEN FACT SHEET

1. ISP will use similar academic and organizational programs as those used at International and American school all over Mexico and the world (American Foundation School Mexico City, International American School Cancun, International School of Paris, International School of Bangkok)

2. ISP will be accredited by both SEP (Mexico) and AdvancED (USA)

3. Kinder and Primary students will be educated in a bilingual environment with native English and Spanish speaking teachers

4. Secondary and Preparatory students will cover all Spanish and Mexican history courses required by SEP in Spanish, and all other courses in English

5. ISP encourages a well-rounded education that incorporates the arts, physical education and community service

6. ISP will not have “Pre-First.” Students will proceed directly from Kinder Three to First grade

7. A research based, age appropriate literacy and numeracy program will be used in kinder and primary school

8. Students will use Inquiry/Project Based learning to improve their real-world skills

9. Secondary and Preparatory classes will be encouraged to conduct extensive educational and career planning throughout their high school years

10. The use of technology is key to today’s education, and ISP will ensure that students will have access to consistent, high speed internet, and the technological tools they will use in their later education and professional lives.

11. Because students learn better in comfortable environments, an enriching aesthetic environment will be provided at the school

ADMINISTRATIVE BACKGROUND

Dr. Alicia Meno has been teaching and administrating at schools in the United States and Latin America for the past 20 years. She has a Master’s degree in bilingual/multi-cultural education (specializing in English-Spanish) from Columbia College, and a Doctorate in curriculum development from DePaul University. Alicia taught for 10 years in Chicago’s inner city with a largely latino community, and won teacher of the year award at A.N. Pritsker School in Chicago. In the second half of her educational career, Alicia worked at International schools serving as librarian, teacher, curriculum director, principal, and director of schools in Bogota, Cartagena, CES-IAS Cancun, Colegio Puerto Aventuras, and the International School of Playa del Carmen.

Alicia looks forward to using her in-depth education and experience to create a world class school at ISP. Dr. Meno is the author of Professional Development Reform (2008).

Jim Conklin has taught and administrated in Canada, Korea, Taiwan, Bogota, Cartagena, Cancun and Playa del Carmen. He has served as teacher, coach, department head, curriculum designer, assistant principal and principal, and specializes in high school education, creative writing, professional development, and writing.

Mr. Conklin graduated from the University of British Columbia, Canada with an MFA in creative writing, and has teaching certification with the Ontario College of Teachers.