International School of Denver

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Roberto d’Erizans as the next new Head of School! ISDenver’s Head of School, Bob Carignan, announced to the community on May 7, 2024, that he will retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Bob started in the Fall of 2017 bringing fresh ideas, initiatives, and a culture of unity to the International School of Denver during his tenure. Thanks to Bob's leadership, our school is in a position of strength and poised for continued growth and success. Under his guidance and partnership, we have firmly established our school as a leading institution that blends the International Baccalaureate curriculum framework (age 3–Grade 8) with best practices in language learning. This is achieved through our unwavering commitment to global citizenship, academic excellence, and holistic education while fostering an inclusive and supportive community for every student. Following his announcement, the ISDenver Board engaged Carney, Sandoe & Associates as executive recruiters for our search. The process involved input from across our entire community, including faculty, staff, students, and parents. Following an international search, Dr. Roberto d’Erizans has been unanimously appointed as the next ISDenver Head of School. A self-described teacher at heart, Roberto’s collaborative and distributed leadership style fosters a positive and inclusive school culture. His professional and academic background is equally impressive. Roberto shared his enthusiasm for ISDenver, drawn to the school’s vision, commitment to language immersion, and culture of belonging. In his words: “I am driven by a belief in the transformative power of education to shape individuals and communities. I could feel that in ISDenver.” Above all, Roberto sees in ISDenver a community he is excited to join, and we are excited about what his future leadership will bring to us. Dr. d’Erizans will begin his tenure on July 1, 2025. To learn more about the process, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dRJa3k9U

The International School of Denver is all about excellence! And that is because of our amazing staff, our pride is our extensive search for the best. Not only academically, but professionals with values aligned with our school. We are thrilled to announce that our new staff is here! Welcome to Gaspar Sahuquillo! Upper Primary Spanish Teacher Gaspar joins the International School of Denver community in the 2024-25 school year. Gaspar starts his tenth year of teaching, after most recently teaching at the Colegio Arenales de Carabanchel in Madrid where he instructed both Primary School and Physical Education for six years. Gaspar holds a degree in teaching with a specialization in Primary Education and Physical Education. He completed his university studies at the University of Castilla La Mancha (UCLM) and has a C1 accredited by the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) and a B2 (FIRST) by the University of Cambridge.

Having a good business partner is crucial for success. By embracing the concept of a "classroom without walls," we aim to provide our students with opportunities to learn and engage with the world. Our goal is to nurture global citizens who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to thrive in an interconnected world. For this reason, it is fundamental to have partners around the Denver metro area who embrace our philosophy. Dani Robb, our Director of FUN and Summer Camps, explains one of our recent experiences with a fantastic partner. "If you know me, you know I love my dogs. I have two - Zoe and Alex. Alex just happens to be diabetic, so I must have an experienced vet! That's where Goodheart Animal Health Center in Cherry Creek comes in. Dr. Alex Robb (no, we're not related, and yes, he and my dog have the same name) and his team put their patients and clients first. When we decided to write a vet summer camp, I knew I had to give them a call to see if we could give our campers a first-hand experience. Within 5 minutes, we had a field trip scheduled for our campers to tour their facility! Our summer campers got to experience first-hand what it's like to work as a vet and a vet tech. Angela and Andy lead the tour all around their facility. Campers even saw a dog under anesthesia getting their teeth cleaned! Maybe most importantly, campers learned the importance of giving animals their space and respecting their different personalities, just like us. We are so grateful to have collaborative partners across the Denver Metro area. Thank you for having us, Goodheart Animal Health Center!"

At the Football camp, the students were thrilled at the unique opportunity to spend a week learning from exceptional college players like Adrian Jackson. This experience not only enhanced their football skills but also gave them valuable life lessons. Today A'Jon Vivens shares his experience as ISDenver Football camp lead teacher. "Football is the most popular sport in America and is becoming even more popular as social media continues to grow. I feel that it is essential for the campers who choose ISDenver this summer to learn proper fundamentals, the importance of playing as a team, and, most importantly, how fun football can be! I played football throughout high school and five years in college at Colorado State University. Many students know me already, so I knew they would gravitate to others who also played at higher levels. That is when I decided to invite my friend Adrian Jackson, who I played with at Mullen High School, who was an Under Armour All-American, played football, and graduated from the University of Oregon, to be a coach. We were also joined by my Colorado State teammate Jaylen Thomas, who played with me for four years. He then graduated and played a year at Kent State University, where he earned his master's as well. It was important for the kids to see and learn about what it takes to make it to that level and for us to talk to them about the importance of competing, working hard, and good sportsmanship. We want to be able to inspire them to go after their dream, whatever it may be, and show them that they can reach the goals they set." Well said A'Jon!

“Quiero ser un buen profesor.” He terminado mi quinto año como docente y sigo pidiendo el mismo deseo que el primer día: “quiero ser un buen profesor”. Hace tiempo comprendí que ser un buen profesor es un camino en el que siempre se anda, pero nunca se alcanza la meta. Justo en el momento en el que crees que has llegado a la cima, aparece un nuevo reto que afrontar, un nuevo libro del que aprender, o un nuevo compañero al que admirar. Al fin y al cabo, tiene sentido, ya que si nos esforzamos en hacer que nuestros alumnos aprendan a aprender, es porque creemos que siempre hay algo más por aprender. Tan solo hace falta querer hacerlo. “I want to be a good teacher.” I have just finished my fifth year as an educator, and I still wish for the same thing I did on my first day: “I want to be a good teacher.” I understood long ago that being a good teacher is a journey you are constantly walking, but you never reach the destination. When you think you've reached the summit, a new challenge to face appears a new approach for the classroom, or a new colleague to admire. After all, it makes sense; if we strive to make our students life-long learners, it is because we believe there is always something more to learn. You just need to want to do it. Our 3rd-grade Spanish teacher, Javier San José, was accepted to the summer Institute at the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, a very selective, prestigious, and challenging program organized by Teachers College, Columbia University. You can read his complete article describing his experience on our website - https://lnkd.in/gzzefuGq

We are waiting for you at the Bastille Day celebration organized by RMFACC | French American Chamber of Commerce - Rocky Mountain Chapter this weekend!

In our fast-paced world, technology is ingrained in every facet of society, and education stands as no exception. As educators, it's imperative to embrace these technological leaps and wield them adeptly to enrich the teaching and learning journey. However, traditional modes of professional development for EdTech often miss the mark, delivering isolated, marathon-length sessions devoid of context and relevance to the classroom. A new paper, authored by ISDenver Education Technology Specialist Steven Lamb, explores an approach that brings meaningful training right into the heart of the classroom called educational technology integration. https://lnkd.in/gAZ4g-W3

Research is debunking the previously held approaches to immersion education and giving way to methodologies that should be shaping the way that we as language school educators think and teach. International School of Denver Head of School, Bob Carignan, underscores new research that has helped inform our Admissions policy as well as pedagogy at the International School of Denver. The student outcomes and data of the approach are compelling. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/g7upgZNf

ISDenver Faculty & Staff log 71K minutes in a recent fitness challenge. Just another reason we love living in the Rocky Mountains! https://lnkd.in/gCYB2sJz

Did you know that the International School of Denver started as a French school? In 1977, almost half a century ago, ISDenver put down deep roots within the Denver French community. While today they've added both Chinese and Spanish programs, they are so proud of their legacy as a French school. When you join the French program at the International School of Denver, you are not only joining the longest-lasting in the Rocky Mountains but also the gold standard of education with the International Baccalaureate framework and program fully accredited by the French Ministry of National Education. #frenchlanguage #french #immersion #internationaleducation #denver #internationalbaccalaureate #sponsor #beaujolais