Nassau, Bahamas -
As Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) commences its second
five-year strategic plan and prepares for the expansion of the Secondary
School, the school has recognized the need to strengthen their
development efforts. With this primary goal in mind, LCIS is pleased to
announce the appointment of Dr. Joanna Paul as the school’s new
Development Director.
Dr. Paul began her career as an
educator in Los Angeles, California where she was embedded in the
educational community as a teacher, a high school principal, and a
district administrator for twelve years. Her desire for less city and
traffic and more community and nature transported her to the island of
Eleuthera where she headed the Deep Creek Middle School (DCMS). Dr. Paul
worked as a school leader at DCMS and The Island School for seven
years. In her most recent role as Director of Education and Advancement,
she was part of the team that completed a $15 million dollar
comprehensive campaign ahead of schedule for The Island School. Her
leadership allowed DCMS to exceed its fundraising goals for four
consecutive years. She has developed a deep bond with The Bahamas and a
belief that this is one of the best countries in the world to live and
work in.
In Eleuthera, as both a new mother and leader of
a young institution, she was prompted to investigate the best
educational opportunities in The Bahamas. Those queries led her to LCIS.
“I’ve always searched for progressive schools that focussed on critical
thinking, connectivity, creativity, and community building,” she
explained. Dr. Paul did her doctorate research on international schools
that best prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century. “I
was attracted to LCIS because of the school’s focus on larger global
issues and the skills that these children will need to be leaders in the
complex future. I can't think of a school in the region that is making a
bigger impact,” she added. “The world should be paying attention to
what is going on at LCIS!”
When she was approached about
the Development Director position at LCIS, she already had a good
understanding of the school and community to bookend her extensive
leadership in schools. It was a natural fit. Dr. Paul has embraced her
new role as Development Director at LCIS wholeheartedly. “I really
believe in the quality and future of this school. We might be small, but
we are having an incredible affect on the lives of the children who
attend our school. There is real momentum behind this school model and
it is leading us towards a fantastic future,” she added. “I’m excited to
help this school reach the next level through fundraising,
communications, and constituent relations. The development of a new
secondary campus and the growth of our endowment will be exciting
opportunities.
I am thrilled to be a part of the team of school leaders and volunteers who will be enacting this strategic vision.”
Both Dr. Paul and her Pre-K daughter are adjusting well to life and
work at the school. “As an international family we appreciate the
diversity of the student body and the staff at LCIS as well as the focus
on both Bahamian and global topics in the IB curriculum,” she said. “I
have such an appreciation for teachers, especially those at LCIS. I
cannot think of better people to share the responsibility of teaching my
child with. This is the strongest group of teachers I have ever seen in
The Bahamas.”