WHO WE ARE

The Operator – International Schools Services

International School Services
The operator of the school, International Schools Services (ISS), works with more than 500 international schools and thousands of educators each year, creating the largest global footprint in international education support. Since its inception in 1955, ISS has launched and managed more than 110 international schools; placed approximately 50,000 educators; and developed ground-breaking learning programs, such as the World Language Initiative and Level 5 Creativity & Innovation Hubs. With its headquarters in Princeton, USA, ISS currently owns or operates nearly 20 international schools around the world and promotes innovation and best practices for global education through its core services that include founding and managing student-centered, future-oriented schools. ISS staff has extensive experience in all aspects of international education, with most senior leaders having served as Heads of Schools across a variety of continents.

The Founders – Roman and Chitra Stern

Roman and Chitra Stern have been entrepreneurs in Portugal since 2001. They are the founders of Martinhal, a group of high-class hotels focused on families in Sagres, Quinta do Lago, Quinta da Marinha and Chiado. They are also involved in a series of real estate development projects in the Parque das Nações at Avenida Dom Joâo II, such as the new Ageas Headquarter and the Martinhal Residences, launching in 2020. Being an international family in Portugal, with four children of their own, Roman and Chitra have a passion for families and care deeply about the next generation growing up and being ready to make a difference in an ever more globalized, volatile and competitive world. In their various engagements and pro bono activities, including as an Executive Committee Member of “Portugal In” (a taskforce to promote Foreign Direct Investments in Portugal), they seek to support Portugal in its effort to further international outreach and economic perspectives.

Founding Leadership Team

Dr. Nils Remmel, Founding Head of School, originally from Germany, lived in Switzerland, where he graduated from University St. Gallen, a leading European business school, with a PhD in management. After starting his professional career in consulting, he was appointed Director at Institut Montana Zugerberg, a leading boarding school in Switzerland, with a 90-year legacy and fully accredited, offering the IB Diploma and Cambridge IGCSE programs alongside the Swiss national curriculum. He has been appointed by the Council of International Schools (CIS) as an educational expert to chair accreditation team visits worldwide ensuring the quality of education in international schools (K-12).

Stephen Plisinski, ISS Senior Leadership Executive, is an international professional with over 40 years of experience in various teaching and leadership roles. Throughout his career he was a Head of School at American/ International Schools in Myanmar, Ethiopia and India. He also held leadership and teaching positions at other schools around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, several African countries. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Business Administration.

International Accreditation and Memberships

It is of utmost importance to us to ensure highest quality in our educational programs. This is achieved through the implementation of rigorous standards and employing faculty and leadership with a long-standing experience and successful track record in international education. To spark a regular reflection how we can still advance and innovated the education at United Lisbon, we measure ourselves at highest external standards set by leading global educational institutions such as:

  • The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO): United International School Lisbon is a candidate school* for the Diploma Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students.
  • The New England Association of School’s and Colleges (NEASC): We have embarked on the process of receiving accreditation from NEASC, which will be completed once the school starts operating.
  • The Common Ground Collaborative (CGC): United Lisbon joins a group of leading international schools around the globe in building a highly innovative learning ecosystem throughout Early Childhood, Primary and Middle School.
  • The Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS): United Lisbon is a member of the network of international schools in the Mediterranean that fosters partnerships and creates opportunities for teacher engagement and student learning beyond the school itself.

* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.

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