It is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you to Tirana International School.  Because I have been here only one year, the memory of being new to TIS is fresh on my mind; so, I can easily identify with families trying to adjust to our school community and the country.  I will do everything possible to help you settle in to our school, and I know you will find others who are equally eager to lend you the support you need.

Following the spirit of QSI, we strive to offer a rigorous overall program—with equal emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and success orientations—in an accepting, friendly, and supportive environment.  I want students and parents alike to know that we are a faculty and staff of caring, supportive people whose mission is to challenge, encourage, inspire, and support you in every way.

We pride ourselves on the amount of individual attention we can give to students. In the pre-school and lower elementary age levels, we have small classes, with two English-speaking adults—a teacher and paraprofessional teacher—in every classroom. Class sizes are small in all other levels, also.  Most of our teachers are from North America, with English as their native language; we also have Albanian nationals as professional and paraprofessional teachers.

As you become acquainted with the way we operate, you will find Tirana International School, which serves students of 21 different nationalities, to be a small, student- and family-friendly learning community characterized by openness, respect, curiosity, and a sincere desire to improve in all areas.

I am particularly excited to have a part in bringing to the TIS community a new facility in a new location.  We have acquired six hectares of land on the edge of town, in a fast-growing and up-scale area, building designs are still evolving, and the pre-construction process is well under way.  It is my hope to open school in August, 2013, with a brand new building in a beautiful park-like environment.

Dr Jerry Ashby