The International Baccalaureate has been a staple academic program of the international schools. ACS Athens introduced IB as an academic option in the mid-'70s, long before it became the international standard for admission in universities around the world. Throughout the years, in combination with the Advanced Placement courses, the IB courses enhanced the academic offerings of the school that students could choose from as they aspired to develop a more rounded approach to their academic portfolio.

This year, Mark McGowan joined ACS Athens as its new IB/AP Programs director. This is not his first time in Athens - he has served at another Athenian school before, but as most international educators, he has traveled around the world in the international school circuit, building expertise and global academic perspectives. He has held various leadership positions, including ToK Coordinator and Head of English at the International School of Brussels, and BTEC Coordinator at the JESS school in Dubai. In 2019, he obtained a Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principal’s Training Center in London. An avid reader, sports fan, and supporter of the arts, Mr. McGowan also enjoys traveling, swimming, cycling, and spending time with his family.

With Mark McGowan, we discuss: