Search Associates is pleased to announce that the International Community School of Abidjan (ICSA), Cote D'Ivoire has recently appointed Jessica Delgado as their next Lower (Elementary) School Principal to commence in August 2024.
In his announcement welcoming Jessica with delight to the school community, ICSA's Director, Michael Breece, shared some details about her, paraphrased below.
Jessica brings over 20 years of experience as an educator in international schools, as well as private and public schools in the United States. In her most recent role as Associate Head of Lower School at Riverdale Country School in New York, she oversaw curriculum development, hiring and retention, professional development, budget management, and more. Her expertise in leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has allowed her to lead training workshops, present at conferences, and serve on DEI committees.
Prior to her current position, Jessica held various roles: School Counselor, Teacher, and Director of Admissions at American international schools in Bolivia, Egypt, and Spain. Not only does she have experience teaching health education and working as a school social worker in public schools, but she has also led Student Support Teams in multiple schools, all the while working to create and implement more inclusive practices. She adds,
There are many things that excite me about joining ICSA! I am excited to join such a welcoming, caring, diverse community that cultivates a collaborative and inclusive learning environment where everyone is learning, and everyone can thrive.
Jessica spent her first 13 years living overseas in Paraguay and Spain while her parents worked at international schools. At the age of 26, she returned overseas as an educator, working in Madrid, Cairo, Bolivia, and Barcelona. Her international upbringing and background working abroad has fostered her passion for cultivating diverse, inclusive environments where all students can thrive. Jessica believes deeply in relationship building, collaboration, and creating equitable systems within a school. Jessica shares what centers her in challenging times:
A mantra I use often and fondly is one that I learned while working at an international school in Barcelona. It’s a Catalan phrase, “poc a poc,” meaning little by little. It’s a reminder to hurry slowly and take things one step at a time.
Jessica holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Social Work, and a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health. She has also completed extensive training and certification related to leadership, counseling, and DEI. In her free time, Jessica loves being active with running, swimming, and yoga. This avid reader and puzzle maker has recently been enjoying paint-by-number projects as well.
Search Associates would like to thank all the candidates who applied for this position and to everyone who assisted and supported the successful Lower School Principal search process for ICSA.
