Robbie Beecher: All We Ask from Students Is to Arrive with Open Mind

Mr Robin Beecher (R) delivering a speech at the beginning of the new school year at the American English Academy. Photo courtesy of AEA

Mr Robbie Beecher Cmgr.  FCMI. Cert. Ed. is the newly appointed Principal of the American English Academy, Sofia and a member of the Board of Directors of the school. He is an Anglo-American dual national with over 30 years of experience in Education and Training.

He has been a senior manager within Colleges and National Education & Training providers managing up to 60 staff, 40 Colleges and budgets up to ?17m with over 2,700 learners.

When joining the team of the American English Academy, Robbie said: “I am immensely proud to have been appointed as Principal of this very special school. I look forward to working with the excellent team that exists within the American English Academy and working with the board to raise the Academy’s standards to benchmarking outcomes for its learners and stakeholders.”

The American English Academy is a fully accredited K-12 American international school which was established in Sofia in 1992.

Mr. Beecher, what should students expect of the new school year?

All we ask from our students is to arrive with an open mind, to hold high expectations of themselves and others, to never give up, to be challenging, to be respectful to each other, enjoy every moment of the community in which they belong, and above all have a huge amount of fun!

 

Taking over as Principal, which is the first challenge you will have to address?

As with taking over most new roles personal challenges are immense. Within AEA my first challenge will be to establish a rapport with the community and stakeholders of the School and add a true value to the community. This will include the development of a ‘Parent Teacher Organization’. In terms of the educational management the first challenge has been to ensure a quality of delivery within our very unique curriculum mix.

Will you seek to change any aspects of the curriculum, teaching or anything else at AEA?

You know I have nearly 27 years educational experience, and within this period I have always seen change. Change may be organic or forced. It may be derived from internal and external sources. It is inevitable that some change will occur and for this year the most significant change catalyst has been the revisions to the Bulgarian Educational Legislation which has required our wonderful team to adapt our curriculum delivery to meet its demanding standards. This in addition to lifting the standards in the International Curriculum that we offer to meet the very exacting international standards set by Accreditation International (Ai).

For the future, we will embrace the culture of change and seek continuous change that effects the greatest benefit to our learning community, our students. We are particularly well positioned to achieve this goal given the exceptional and varied teaching talent that we have within the organization.

Upon your appointment to the office, you have said the American English Academy is "very special". What is it that makes it so special in your opinion?

The American English Academy is not only very special because of its unique offer to its students and their parents. It also fosters a truly international perspective within its community spirit that engages with students from over 30 different countries and celebrates their culture in a secular environment.

Why should expats looking for international education in Bulgaria choose AEA and not any of your competitors?

The American English Academy has always attracted students who have developed personally into the potential leaders of the future. The AEA has had exceptional academic achievements with students progressing to some of the most influential Universities in the world.

Parents who require that their children develop as outstanding young people within a truly cosmopolitan environment that celebrates a multitude of cultures, that seeks to open the door to higher education and careers, then they should come along and see what we can offer their children. I feel sure that they will be as impressed and as honored as I was when I first met the AEA.

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