The Aga Khan Academy, Maputo, hires Maike Silver as their new Junior School Principal

The Aga Khan Academies have hired Maike Silver, currently Assistant Elementary Principal and PYP Coordinator at Cebu International School in the Philippines, to lead the Junior School at their growing Academy in Maputo, Mozambique.

The Aga Khan Academies are a growing network of international schools established by His Highness, the Aga Khan. Their mission is to develop the next generation of leaders of civil society and they operate a needs-blind admissions policy. Students are considered for places at the Academy based solely on their academic ability, regardless of their ability to pay school fees. Each Academy is an IB World School and will eventually offer the PYP, MYP and DP. However, despite their international outlook, they remain very much rooted in the culture and traditions of their host countries.

The Aga Khan Academy in Maputo opened in 2013 and is the youngest of the three Academies currently operating within the network. It is an IB World School and currently caters from students from Pre-K to Grade 8. The School will eventually enrol around 700 students up to Grade 12.

Society conducted a targeted search for Junior School administrators with international experience, ideally with some time spent in a developing world context. Our search focused on individuals with expertise in the IB PYP.

Originally from Germany, Maike joins AKA from the Philippines, where she has been the Elementary Assistant Principal and PYP Coordinator at Cebu International School since 2014. She has been working in international schools since 1996 and has been a PYP workshop leader, consultant and visiting team member of the IBO since 2007. She has worked in all three International Baccalaureate regions.

On her appointment to AKA, Maputo, Maike commented:

“I am delighted to join the Aga Khan Academy in Maputo as the new Junior Principal and PYP Coordinator. The vision of the school to develop leadership capacities with a strong focus on tolerance, ethical judgement and moral reasoning for students and teachers is what attracted me to the Academy. Beyond aiming for high academic standards, I welcome the opportunities to develop a shared understanding of global issues, and cultivate leadership skills so that we can share the responsibility of making this world a better and more peaceful place.”

Of working with Society, Maike added:

“I would like to thank Society and, in particular, Kerry Wallace, for reaching out to me and following up on all my queries before and after the appointment. The mix of professionalism and personal touch has made this experience truly amazing.”