By Carla Marschall, Head of School
Dear YIS Community,
It is a great pleasure to commence in the role of Head of School today! Last week, I was on campus for a number of meetings as part of the Council of International Schools preparatory visit. This was a wonderful opportunity to begin to think collaboratively with the rest of the School Leadership team on areas for development.
Over the past months, I have done much learning about the people and inner workings of the school, and I am looking forward to continuing this learning with in-person conversations with many of you. These conversations are intentional ways for me to get to know you and also to better understand the school’s structures, systems, and culture. This knowledge will provide insights into where meaningful change might be possible in the future. As the Japanese proverb goes, “Hear one, understand ten” (一を聞いて十を知る).
I will be engaging in a number of activities to better understand the YIS context. These include:
- Shadowing students from each school section (to learn more about the purpose of the “Shadow a Student Challenge,” please click here)
- Having 1:1 interviews with faculty and non-faculty staff members
- Holding parent focus groups
- Taking part in YIS events and activities
After a few months of taking part in these experiences, main themes and trends that have emerged will be communicated with you. I believe that this feedback loop is essential for us to recognize areas of perceived importance for the community.
YIS is a special place, shaped by its long history and rich school culture. In my role as Head of School, safeguarding the legacy of the school while developing it into the future will be two parallel, yet essential tasks. I am looking forward to engaging in this process in partnership with you.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Susie Clifford, Director of Learning, who acted as interim Head of School until now. She has provided strong continuity and stability of leadership. Her dedication to the role and commitment to the school are to be commended. We will meet frequently in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.
As a short reminder, at the bottom of this message, you will find a summary of my professional experience, previously shared in the welcome message in August. Personally, I am coming to the school with my two children, who are in Grades 1 and 5, as well as my husband, David. I am sure you will see us around the school as a family. 皆さんにお会いできるのを楽しみにしております。
Best wishes,
Carla Marschall
Carla Marschall is an experienced international school leader, who recently completed three years as Director/CEO at Dresden International School, an IB World School in Germany. Prior, she acted as Director of Teaching and Learning at UWC South East Asia in Singapore. During her seven years at UWC South East Asia, she co-authored two books, Concept-Based Inquiry in Action (2018) and Worldwise Learning: A Teacher’s Guide to Shaping a Just, Sustainable Future (2022) which focus on concept-based learning and global citizenship learning. She has also written for educational organizations Edutopia and Oxford University Press. Carla has held other leadership roles in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Germany and served as a classroom teacher both in the United States and Germany. Carla is a multilingual leader, who values and models the importance of language learning. Carla holds a Bachelor from University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Master of Educational Leadership and Management from the Institute of Education, University of London. A lifelong learner, she is currently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Durham University, which will be finished in April, 2026.