Academic Excellence | Decrypting the Core Strength of CIS Academic Excellence
As a flagship school under CIEO (Canadian International Education Organization), CIS is dedicated to providing a world-class international curriculum to prepare students for top global universities.
Our school offers both the Alberta Curriculum (Canada) and Cambridge A-Level Curriculum, giving students multiple pathways to achieve their academic goals.
We invited key members of the CIS academic leadership team to share insights on curriculum choices, personalized learning support, faculty development, and future planning in this exclusive interview.
Q: What makes the Alberta Curriculum unique? How does it help students achieve academic success?
Howard Stribbell
ClEO Director of International Education & Governor
- 25+ years of experience in international education, school operations, and leadership
- Current Roles: Director of International Education at CIEO, Board Member of CIS
- Founder of COSA (Canadian Overseas Schools Association), Board Member of ACAMIS
- Education: Bachelor's Degrees (Honors) in Education & Arts, University of Lethbridge, Canada; Master's Degree in Educational Leadership; Doctorate in Technology, Education, and Management
"I came overseas to start the first-ever Alberta international school. At that time, there were no other international schools using the Alberta Curriculum. This raises an important question—why choose the Alberta Curriculum? "
I was born and raised in Alberta, studied within the Alberta education system, and worked as an educator there. Because of my deep understanding of the curriculum, I truly believe it provides an advantage—what we call the ‘Alberta Advantage.’ When we look at standardized test results, Alberta students outperform students from other provinces in most exams, particularly in science and mathematics. This strong academic foundation ensures that our students are well-prepared for university.
Of course, Alberta Curriculum students are not limited to Canadian universities. While Canada welcomes international students, the global recognition of the Alberta Curriculum also allows them to attend top universities worldwide. More importantly, students who follow this curriculum are academically well-prepared for the challenges of higher education.
Q: CIS offers both A-Level and Alberta Curriculum. How should students choose the right pathway?
Stefan Sjodin
ClEO Deputy Director of International Education
- 23+ years in education, including 13 years in leadership roles.
- Expertise in school system transformation, professional development, and leadership coaching.
- 12 years in China as an international school principal and senior leader in top schools.
- Core values: transparency, compassion, and inclusivity.
"Many of our schools offer both the Cambridge IGCSE/A-Level Curriculum and the Alberta Curriculum. Both are excellent academic pathways that can lead to top global universities, but they have distinct differences:"
A-Level Curriculum:
Provides deeper subject specialization, ideal for students who want to focus on a few key subjects.
In the final academic year, students typically study only three subjects, allowing for greater depth in those areas.
Alberta Curriculum:
Offers a broader academic scope, emphasizing critical thinking, interdisciplinary integration, and practical application.
It is well-suited for students who want a more well-rounded academic experience.
Both curricula are globally recognized by leading universities. The choice depends on students’ learning styles and academic interests.
Q: How does CIS ensure personalized support for every student?
Dr. Rose Anne Kuiper
Head of Curriculum
- An educator with 30 years of experience from Ontario, Canada.
- Holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child Studies and a Bachelor of Education.
- Holds a Master of Education (University of Toronto) and a Doctor of Education(Western University, London, Ontario).
- Has held various significant roles in education, including Superintendent of Student Achievement, Learning Supervisor, Principal, and Teacher.
"Differentiated instruction is crucial in an international school environment. Our students come from diverse academic backgrounds, each with different levels of readiness. Our teachers use differentiation strategies to meet students where they are and guide them toward academic excellence."
At CIS, we develop Student Development Plans (SDP) to track individual progress. Each plan includes:
• Current academic status
• Personal growth goals
• Future university aspirations
These plans are shared with parents, allowing them to actively participate in their child’s academic journey and adjust goals as needed.
Q: How does CIS support students in developing strong academic English skills?
Dr. Kathy Salmon
CIS Consultant
- Dr. Kathy Salmon: ESL Specialist
- Co-writer of Alberta ESL Benchmarks 1.0 & 2.0.
- Completed Doctoral Thesis in Education from Western University on Teaching Effectiveness for EAL Learning.
- Renowned expert with extensive experience in Canadian schools and EAL education.
"English is the primary language of instruction in both the A-Level and Alberta Curriculum programs. Many CIS students enter the school already proficient in one, two, or even three languages, but they still need to strengthen their academic English skills."
We provide tailored language support to ensure students can fully integrate into an English-speaking academic environment:
- Foundation Level: Emphasizes oral communication to build confidence.
- Advanced Level: Integrates academic English into math, science, and other subjects, ensuring students understand complex terminology and subject-specific language.
- Personalized Support: Students with high English proficiency enter mainstream courses immediately.
Students with beginner-level English may join an Accelerated English Program, which helps them develop language skills while keeping up with their academic subjects.
Q: How does CIS attract global excellent teachers?
Tanja Cayley
Executive Director, COSA
- 33 years of experience as a teacher and principal in Alberta and international schools.
- Previously served as teacher, department head, assistant principal, and District Principal at Edmonton Public Schools, supporting 225 principals.
- Former principal at CIS Abu Dhabi and CIS Phnom Penh.
- Currently overseeing the recruitment of Alberta and Canadian teachers for COSA.
"CIS boasts a team of outstanding teachers from around the world. Through the Canadian Overseas Schools Association (COSA), we recruit the best teachers at international recruitment fairs held annually in Canada, the UK, and other countries."
CIS teachers hold internationally recognized teaching qualifications and have extensive experience teaching international curricula. CIS provides continuous professional development training for teachers to ensure they remain at the forefront of global teaching methods.
"Alberta's teacher certification process is also very rigorous. They are required to have between four and five hundred hours teaching experience with mentor teachers in Alberta schools."
Q: How does CIS support teachers and schools in continuously improving the quality of education?
Thomas
CIS Consultant
- Over 34 years of experience in education, with a strong international background.
- Led the school to achieve top certifications and build partnerships with global educational organizations.
- Organizer of international leadership conferences and member of the Alberta Education Accreditation Team.
Thomas emphasizes that parents want to ensure the teachers their children interact with daily have the highest skills and use the most up-to-date teaching methods.
Therefore, teachers are responsible for continually adjusting and improving their teaching methods to ensure students receive the best education in every subject.
Through collaboration with colleagues and advisors, teachers are able to continuously improve their teaching quality, help students achieve learning goals, and ensure parents have confidence in the education their children are receiving.
Choose CIS,
Unlock Global
Opportunities
At CIS, our academic leadership team is committed to delivering globally competitive education, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the world's top 100 universities.
Choosing CIS means choosing a world-class education that opens doors to top 100 global universities！
