Following an extensive national and international search, the International School of Orange County Board of Trustees is delighted to announce the appointment of Pascal Stricher as our new Head of School, effective July 1, 2021. Pascal will be our Founding Head of School as we embark on the exciting adventure of our independence from the International School of Los Angeles.
Currently Elementary School Principal at Lycée Albert Camus in Egypt, Pascal has over 20 years of experience directing and founding international schools in the United States, Canada and Egypt. Pascal is no stranger to the Orange County community as he previously led our campus for 10 years, until 2010, before moving to Toronto to assume the position of Junior School Principal at the International School of Canada. Not afraid of challenges, Pascal later moved to Northern California where he initiated the creation of the Santa Rosa French-American Charter School. His success there led to the institution becoming the first American Public School on the West Coast to be accredited by the French Ministry of Education. Over the years, Pascal has proven to be an innovative and visionary school leader with a keen sense of community and an extraordinary dedication to the advancement of bilingualism, and more specifically, French immersion schools around the world.
“Our community is thrilled to welcome Pascal back at our school in his new position as Founding Head of School. After interviewing many highly qualified candidates, our Search Committee came to the decision that Pascal’s strong leadership experience, familiarity with our community as well as deep commitment to bilingual education made him the ideal choice,” said Sharyn Kerr, Chair of the Board.
Pascal is a qualified French Ministry of Education elementary teacher who received his Diplôme de professeur des écoles (B.A in Education) in France, in 1986. In 2015, he was awarded the prestigious distinction of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, a French order of merit distinguishing individuals for their exceptional service to the advancement of education. In 2016, Pascal also received the Outstanding Administrator Award from the American Association of Teachers of French.