school leadership
Ms. Head began her tenure as the third International School of Indiana Head of School in January 2019. She has made tremendous strides uniting the school community on a single campus, strengthening the academic program and culture, and leading ISI into the future with intentional growth.
The world benefits from the kind of graduates that ISI produces. These students offer the local and international communities not only their stellar intellect and problem-solving skills to face the world’s most complex issues but also the essential components of humanity and service to those with whom they interact.
-Elizabeth Head, Head of School
Elizabeth Head became the Head of School at the International School of Indiana in January 2019. She previously served as General Director of Pan-American School in San Antonio de Belen, Costa Rica, a private, international, bilingual school offering the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme to approximately 600 students from age 18 months to grade 12 living in the Central Valley of Costa Rica.
Before joining the Pan-American School, Ms. Head was co-owner, co-founder, and General Director of Lighthouse International School in Guachipelin, Costa Rica. At Lighthouse International School she had the opportunity to develop the school from its inception, opening it successfully with full enrollment in all grade levels. She also led the new school through the candidacy phase of its IB authorization process.
Ms. Head possesses a breadth of experience with IB curriculum, language immersion, and strategic growth. She was drawn to ISI for its distinct academics, particularly its commitment to IB and providing language immersion in three different languages, and the school's potential for growth.
Under her leadership, ISI has made tremendous strides toward becoming a unified school community defined by a distinctive educational program, combining the International Baccalaureate curriculum with foreign language fluency, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for diversity.
Ms. Head’s dedication to intentional growth that strengthens the school is echoed through her strategic work. Upon her arrival in 2019, she launched a listening tour that created forums for parents, students, employees, alumni, and alumni families to share their desires for the school directly with her. This commitment to listening, learning, and forging meaningful relationships with ISI constituents has been a hallmark of her leadership. A creative problem solver, Ms. Head led ISI through COVID school closures, switched to virtual and hybrid learning, and limited the adverse effects of the pandemic on students, employees, and the school as a whole. In 2020, undeterred by the uncertainty of the pandemic, she led the ISI community forward with plans to unify the school community on one campus with a successful fundraising campaign and construction of the Chen Family Lower School and Daneri Family Gymnasium. As a result, a beautiful campus with facilities that serve the entire school community has ushered in a new era at ISI and new opportunities to envision the future of the institution.
As ISI entered its 30th anniversary year in 2024, a new strategic framework was launched that builds upon its recent successes and focuses on Community Culture, Distinctive Academics, Sustainability, Engagement, and Growth. Ms. Head continues to lead ISI forward with a unified focus and relentless pursuit of our goals.
Ms. Head holds two Master’s degrees in International Education and Educational Leadership, both from Framingham State College and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, with an emphasis in secondary education from the University of Northern Colorado. She also has a university counseling certification from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is active in the Indianapolis community, serving as a board member in local, non-profit organizations since 2021. She resides in Indianapolis and is the proud parent of three ISI students.
