ISS Facilities Management Society Introduced

An exclusive collaboration between the premier educational facility management association and a global school management and operations leader, now brings opportunities for raising facilities management practices and standards in international schools, equity and inclusion.

International Schools Services (ISS) and APPA, “Leadership in Educational Facilities” (APPA) signed a strategic exclusive collaboration agreement to provide support and career development opportunities to international professionals through the first ISS Facilities Management Society. The Society supports Facilities Management professionals, Head of Schools, Principals, Business Managers, and Operations Managers to enhance their knowledge and skills in FM.

Learning and working in a safe and well-maintained environment has never been more important. Schools that provide high quality education must also provide and maintain adequate and financially sustainable school facilities. Facility Management is a rapidly changing field driven by technology, change of work habits, health and safety requirements and stakeholder expectation. International school facility managers, school boards, owners, and school administrators must keep up with the fast-changing standards and trends while adapting to changing regulations for the maintenance of healthy and safe work and learning environments.

The society provides access to APPA’s body of knowledge, industry trends, updates, exclusive seminars, training and professional development programming, and globally recognized professional certification. The society is also a place where school professionals exchange ideas, share information, and network with other like-minded professionals from international schools around the world.

Both organizations believe this collaboration will support schools and their professionals to excel and provide high standard services to their communities. This unique initiative combines APPA’s leadership and expertise in educational facilities management with ISS’s knowledge and experience in developing school facilities and managing international schools.

“APPA is extremely pleased to establish this collaborative relationship and partnership with ISS, the preeminent representative of international pre-K-12 schools”, says E. Lander Medlin, President & CEO of APPA. “APPA prides itself on cultivating community and contribution that drive results. We believe this is key for an educational facilities professional to collect and connect with fellow professionals to share experiences and best practices, to learn and grow, to better themselves and their school’s learning environment.”

“We are very excited to collaborate with a reputable organization like APPA,” says Dr. Yael Cass ISS Director of School Operations. “This initiative brings a much-required attention to the particulars of facilities management practices in international schools and the need to enhance the ability of school leaders and facilities professionals to tap into best practices knowledge and know how. The accessibility to knowledge, trends, learning opportunities and networking with other professionals in the international schools sector provides a backbone support to build capacities for improved practices and financial sustainability in providing safe learning environments”.