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In hi s welcoming
address to secondary
s tudent s John K.
Johnson, IC’s new
President, quoted a
proverb that says,
“It is better to light a
candle than to curse
the darkness.” He
also stated that IC’s
students are Lebanon’s
“best and brightest”
and the real hope
for the future of the
country.
Our new President has been warmly welcomed since his arrival in September. Most of John’s career has
been in international schools and he has been the head of schools in Hungary, Romania, and China. In
addition, he has served as an administrator or teacher in schools in Egypt, Malaysia, and Norway. He
has served on regional boards for international school educational organizations such as ECIS, EARCOS,
and CEESA. Mr. Johnson has had extensive experience with school accreditation and served as an
accreditation officer for the European Council of International Schools.
Mr. Johnson reports that he has had an excellent transition since his appointment as President last
December. He has gotten to meet many alumni at recent gatherings in Boston, London, and New York
and looks forward to meeting more all over the world. He and his wife, Mary, arrived in early September
and report that they already feel settled in the Martin House and in Beirut. They also brought their
Labrador, Lucy, who is also quite at home and very interested in the numerous cats living at IC.
Among his biggest challenges will be the completion of the school’s master plan and the construction of
new buildings at IC. The Board of Trustees has made a commitment to upgrading the IC facilities as the
school moves forward. Mr. Johnson feels that the charm and splendor of IC’s historic buildings needs to
be maintained as we make them useful for a new generation of students in a new century. In addition,
the school will be moving the elementary school from the Corniche to the main campus at Ras Beirut.
When asked about the expense of these projects John said, “It will be incumbent on the entire IC Family
to invest in IC and Lebanon. IC has a very strong and committed alumni and I’m sure they will be sup-
portive.”
Mr. Johnson agrees that these are trying times for Lebanon, but quickly adds that IC is continuing its
excellent program in academics and activities that has made IC the premier school in the country. He is
confident that through the students who attend IC we will be lighting thousands of candles that will burn
brightly for Lebanon’s future.
PROFILE:
IC Welcomes New President John K. Johnson