Beautiful Campus

Nestled in the green hills of Wiesbaden, Germany outside of Frankfurt is the small yet mighty Wiesbaden Campus of the Frankfurt International School (FISW). FISW was opened in 1992 to serve the growing international population in the area and now serves 225 students. This intentionally small school is certainly one of the most fabulous that I have visited! 

Culture Building Leader

The campus is led by Dr. Jeremy Majeski, a brilliant future-focused leader that I could have spent a whole week learning from. He’s also a great follow on LinkedIn, seriously look him up!! Jeremy leads the faculty with great care and a keen eye for school culture improvement. 

Highlights

It was a pleasure connecting with the dynamic teachers at FISW. Whether they were teaching or preparing lessons they were generous with their time. One of my favorite questions to ask when I visit international school campuses is, “What are you working on this year that excites you?” As educators who have incredible influence over young minds, it’s so important to use sparks of excitement to fuel the fire of the school year. The faculty at FISW are excited about various elements of their roles, but one thing is for sure, phenomenal learning takes place in their classes!

FISW is equipped with beautiful facilities. Including a recently constructed creative arts building and the nicest outdoor education classroom I’ve ever seen. At FISW, cross-curricular connections are often woven into lessons. For example, the outdoor education teacher incorporates math and science learning outcomes into their lessons. This a clear sign of a strong school culture, because a focus on teaching and learning is connected to school culture improvement. 

The leadership and faculty at FISW have what my mentor, Jon McAloon, would call “a quiet discontent”. Don’t worry, it’s a good thing. A quiet discontent is the understanding that what is can always get better. This was evident from conversations about a variety of topics and perhaps provides a glimpse into why FISW is such an exceptional campus. 

3 Key Takeaways

1. Be Intentional: School culture is built with intention, not by accident. In fact, accidental school culture is often negative. 
2. Understand Your Context: School culture improvement is a context-specific art form which varies from school to school.
3. Bigger Doesn’t Always Equal Better: Intentionally small schools can provide incredible environments for student flourishing. No matter the size of your campus, focus on its unique elements. 

Build culture, unlock potential. Visit my Connect Page or send a message on LinkedIn. 

Stay tuned for more international school visits – up next Zurich International School!

Peace & Blessings, 

– Josiah