SOCIETY 370 / 2016

Academic Excellency
at Danube International
School
Dr. Michelle Purghart is the new Head of Danube
International School. She spoke to SOCIETY about
her decision to bring her family to Vienna from
California and the importance of international
education in the world today.
learning with students from over 50 nationalities,
developing a second and third language, and looking
at the world through a universal lens.
What makes DISV special? Why should anyone
choose to send their children to school
there?
We deliver academic excellence using the
framework of the International Baccalaureate Organisation.
We are fully authorized in all three IB
programs (Primary Years Program, Middle Years
Program, and Diploma Program) and have the best
IB Diploma pass rates in Austria over the last three
years. Above all, our students are happy students,
who can communicate their needs effectively to
ensure they achieve their potential.
WIRTSCHAFT
INTERVIEW
CURRICULUM
VITAE
Dr. Michelle Purghart
received her Bachelor’s
in Education and Teaching
Credential from McGill
University in Canada, where
her teaching subjects were
English and Kinesiology. Dr.
Purghart then completed
her Master’s in Education in
Curriculum and Instruction
from the University of San
Diego, and then received her
Doctorate in Education from
UCLA/UCI in Educational
Leadership. Dr. Michelle
Purghart has worked as a
school administrator for 17
years in the Los Angeles
area, 11 as Principal before
her current appointment.
She began as Director of
Danube International School
in August 2016.
Fotos: danube international school, ludwig schedl
What drew you to Vienna
and Danube International
School?
Living in America, as a Canadian
with Czech parents, I
felt compelled to bring my son to an international
school and city. DISV prepares pupils for a world
we all want to live in and be a part of. Since arriving
in Vienna and taking my post as Head of
School, I know I made the right decision for my
family. DISV is a model school, where students
are taught to love to learn, take responsibility for
their actions, act with empathy, and discover the
world as global citizens.
What are the benefits of an international education
in an IB world school?
Students at International Baccalaureate (IB)
world schools are provided with an education
that develops strong academic, social and emotional
characteristics, in an environment where
students think independently and drive their own
learning. Pupils become more culturally aware by
How are you preparing your students for a future
that is hard to predict?
DISV’s method of learning is through an inquiry-based
approach beginning in the early years,
where we establish that students are responsible
for their own learning. The IB curriculum focuses
on the development of skills, and creates thinkers
and inquirers, which allows pupils to adapt in an
ever changing world with greater ease than students
who are asked to master knowledge, much
of which will change, be altered, or can be accessed
online.
What future plans do you have for Danube International
School Vienna?
We are currently creating a new strategic plan
to enhance the use of technology and create greater
opportunities for students athletically. We will
continue to invest in the Arts, plant upgrades, and
instructional technology infrastructure.
We are looking to become a household name
in International Education across the globe, and
would like to be a school of choice not only for
international families worldwide, but also for Austrian
students.
•
INFO
Danube International
School Vienna
Josef Gall-Gasse 2
1020 Vienna
www.danubeschool.com
SOCIETY 2_2016 | 103