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Headmaster's Welcome

It is my great honor to welcome you to TASIS Portugal, the newest member of the TASIS family of schools. Joining three beautiful, renowned schools in Switzerland, England, and Puerto Rico, TASIS Portugal understands the importance of culture.

In 1956, M. Crist Fleming, a courageous and extraordinary educator, founded the first TASIS campus in Switzerland. It was the first American boarding school in Europe. Its great success and her commitment to international education spawned a legacy that continues to grow today. Mrs. Fleming would be proud of TASIS Portugal.

What will you expect to find at TASIS? A spectacular architectural combination of new and old; a research-driven approach to learning by the most committed teachers anywhere; a unique community where parents are welcome and are part of the fabric of the school; a place where children can’t wait to return to.

If these words resonate with you, and you want the best educational experience for your child, we welcome you to visit and discover what a TASIS Portugal education is all about.

Sincerely,

Keith Chicquen

FOUNDING Headmaster, TASIS Portugal

 

Leadership Philosophy

Courage to Serve. Courage to Trust. Courage to Learn. Courage to Dare.

To me, leadership is not a philosophy, but an action. I believe that the most important outcome of effective leadership is a great team. Acts of true leadership require courage, which is why Sir Winston Churchill deemed it the most important quality: “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all the others.”

 

Service

“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”

In articulating my leadership style, I reflect on what drives me personally and what matters most in my professional life. The foundation of who I am as an educator has always been defined by my commitment to the student experience. Schools exist to serve students. I believe that the first job of a leader is to serve. In the words of Max DePree, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”

 

Trust

"Trust is the lubrication that makes it possible for organizations to work."

Warren Bennis

Having built high performing teams as a coach for 25 years, I know that trust is a fundamental requirement. Trust is what allows us to engage and commit to the vision and to each other.

 

Learn

Schools are learning communities – not only for students, but for staff and leaders. We are never fully made. We learn by doing. We do by having the courage and confidence to take risks, try new things, to fail, and to grow.

 

Dare

“A ship in harbor is safe; but that is not what ships were built for.”

Grace Hopper

Schools are relatively safe, risk-averse environments. That is a good thing. However, they can also become mired in a tradition and history that can kill innovation and opportunity. The job of schools is to prepare students for life. The job of school leaders today is to ensure that their schools are ready to prepare students for a future that is much less certain than at any other time in history. Doing what we have always done may seem safe; however, it takes vision and courage for leaders to see what lies ahead and dare to be greater than they are.

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