Leadership Spotlight: Cassandra Hazel
ISS Leadership Search was honored to support the Director search for the American International School of Monrovia (AISM) in Monrovia, Liberia. Congratulations to Cassandra Hazel for accepting the position, beginning July 2024! Cassandra was most recently the High School Principal at Modern Knowledge Schools in Bahrain.
Cassandra has previously worked in the United States, Marshall Islands, Kuwait, Morocco, and Bahrain in roles such as Principal, Counselor, AP Coordinator and Instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology; a Graduate Certificate in School Leadership and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Liberty University; a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University; and a Doctorate of Psychology from California Southern University.
In this feature, learn about the early inspiration for Cassandra’s love of service and learning, how she approaches leadership today, and what she looks forward to in the new chapter ahead at AISM.
What drew you to pursue the world of education? And what drew you into international education specifically?
Very early on, I witnessed my mother be of service as a missionary and educator. This early modeling of service and my love of learning have been constant themes throughout my life and career. I have been able to enhance both through international experiences. I have different perspectives through multiple lenses as a parent, educator, and leader. Through these experiences my children have been exposed to a variety of curricula that are academically challenging, dynamic, real-world, and student-centered. I have found that international education strongly considers that authentic learning involves ongoing construction of meaning through a constant cycle of inquiry, critical thinking, feedback, and reflection.
Please tell us about your education philosophy and your leadership style. What can your new community expect?
My educational and leadership philosophy has been molded by my international experiences and academic background. I have observed that successful learning is often enhanced through connections, communication, and collaboration across diverse perspectives.
I believe as an educator, I am a mentor and should use my energy, resources and creativity to encourage students to be lifelong learners, reach their academic goals and become productive human beings in the process. All students have the potential for learning and learning is maximized when students own the process through personal relevance, choice, autonomy, and creation.
Congratulations on your new role at the American International School of Monrovia (AISM)! What are you excited about in this new role?
I am looking forward to the opportunity to listen, learn, and partner with the AISM community. Together, we will continue the exceptional learning opportunities already in place and build on current initiatives to ensure all students receive relevant, exciting, and engaging learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. I am eager to witness how the school’s mission is being implemented throughout the various programs. I am excited to embark on this new journey with AISM’s dedicated community of educators, students, and parents.
What is an interesting fact or story about you that you would like to share?
I competed in a Spartan Race!
What was your experience with ISS Leadership Search like?
My experience with ISS was extremely positive and I appreciated the high levels of professionalism, transparency and support throughout the entire process.
Many thanks to Cassandra for sharing these career reflections and hopes ahead! We look forward to seeing her thoughtful leadership in collaboration with the AISM community.
If you’re interested in pursuing a school leadership position, please check out our current leadership searches or get in touch with the ISS Leadership Search Team.