WIS launches teacher academy and lauds MAP growth results

Today Windhoek International School ( WIS) formally launched the ‘WIS Teacher Academy’ in a ceremony held at the school auditorium in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC).

The WIS Teacher Academy aims to elevate the quality of education in Namibia and the surrounding region by providing exceptional professional learning opportunities for educators. The academy’s primary focus is to enhance teacher effectiveness, promote collaboration among educators, parents, and the broader education community, and create clear career pathways for Namibian and regional teachers.

“As Namibia’s international school, WIS has a responsibility to actively contribute to national priorities by demonstrating a strong commitment to the development of local talent through the establishment of the WIS Teacher Academy,” said Ethan van Drunen, Educational Director at WIS, during his remarks at the launch.

Ms Ayesha Wentworth, Director at the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture said, “I am particularly excited about the launch of the WIS Teachers Academy, an initiative designed to empower our educators through high-quality, research-based learning opportunities. By fostering a culture of continuous professional development and collaboration, we can transform our educational landscape, making it more responsive to the needs of our learners and society.”

Spearheaded by the WIS Primary Principal Ms Marcelle van Leenen, the WIS Teacher Academy is set to kick off in August of 2024 and promises to set a newly collaborative tone for teacher learning and development, contributing to quality education and to the MoEAC’s priorities identified by Ms Wentworth at the event.

The academy will offer a wide range of programs, including:

1. Sharing student-centred pedagogy: Workshops on teaching methods that prioritise student engagement, critical thinking, and active learning.

2. School leadership: Knowledge sharing for current and aspiring school leaders to create positive, safe, and effective learning environments.

3. Collaboration and symposia: Online and in-person facilitation for the exchange of best practices, fostering partnerships within the education sector in Namibia and regionally.

4. Knowledge transfer and understudies: Providing opportunities for educators to learn from and collaborate with experienced professionals through mentorship programs and educational conferences.

In addition to the Academy launch, WIS presented certificates of achievement to the Primary School and Middle School Teachers for their stellar contributions to the school’s excellent results attained in the NWEA MAP Growth Standardised Assessments. These assessments are given at WIS and in over 2300 international schools across 145 countries. The assessments measure achievement and growth in Grades 1-8 for the subjects of Mathematics, Reading, and Language Usage. WIS students in primary and middle school take MAP Growth tests at the start and end of each school year.

Mr Van Drunen shared that WIS students in grades 1-8 have demonstrated that over the past two years:

• WIS surpassed international standards by 9% in reading

• WIS surpassed international standards by 14% in mathematics

• WIS surpassed international standards by 13% in language usage

Mr Van Drunen attributed these results to Windhoek International School’s talented and caring teachers, and an increased focus on high impact instructional strategies, saying, “This is a clear indication of what happens when the International Baccalaureate curricular framework is used alongside clear standards-based learning objectives.”

As Windhoek International School closes off a very successful and enriching academic year, a special thank you goes out to the teaching staff for their dedication to facilitating an environment of academic excellence and meaningful growth. Their contributions in unlocking the potential of each WIS student are appreciated and celebrated.