María Isabel León joins MIS as its Founding Head of School

Principal of the Gimnasio Fontana international school in Bogotá, Colombia relocating to Austin to lead the Magellan International School

Austin, TX - February 2, 2009 - María Isabel ("Marisa"), a native of Bogotá, Colombia with dual Colombian and US citizenship, has over twenty years of experience in the field of education. She has been an elementary school teacher, a middle school principal, and a high school principal in various schools in Latin America and the US. She is currently the high school principal at the Gimnasio Fontana school in Bogotá, one of the leading international and bilingual schools in Colombia. Gimnasio Fontana is accredited by the prestigious Council of International Schools (CIS).

Marisa, fully bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish, is the product of international education herself, having attended and graduated high school with an International Baccalaureate diploma from the United World College USA in New Mexico. As a result of her experiences, she is an enthusiastic supporter of IB and international education. Marisa also holds a BA in History from Bryn Mawr College and an MA in Education Administration from New Mexico Highlands University.

Marisa carries on her passion for international education as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the United World Colleges (UWC) system which aims to promote international understanding by bringing together young people from all over the world to study and work together at one of the multiple UWC schools around the world. Furthermore, Marisa is a strong and knowledgeable proponent of the mission of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and has recently been nominated to join the Board of the IBO. This commitment to service, education, and international education is the thread that runs through Marisa's professional and personal life.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of MIS, Erin Defosse, Founder & President of the school, said "Marisa is a wonderful person who has a passion for international education, cares deeply about the development of children, and has the skills and experience necessary to successfully lead the launch and growth of Magellan International School."

Marisa, her husband Ivan, and two daughters Francesca and Fiona (ages 8 and 11) will relocate to Austin and join the Magellan International School family. Marisa will be on staff full time in Austin starting in July but we will be hosting several events with families and supporters of the school until then so that the community might get a chance to meet Marisa in person.

About The Magellan International School

The Magellan International School is an independent, not-for-profit, school opening in August of 2009 in Austin, Texas with Pre-Primary through 2nd Grade, adding one grade level per year thereafter. The School’s fundamental objective is to prepare children to become engaged Global Citizens of the 21st Century that can meet the challenges and opportunities facing the world in this age of globalization. The School features an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme curriculum within the context of an English-Spanish Dual Language immersion program. Mandarin is offered starting in 3rd grade. For more information visit www.magellanschool.org