International School of
Arizona Selects its New
Head of School

Dear Members of the International School of Arizona Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Head of School Search Committee, I am delighted to announce the selection of Mr. Nathan Walker as our next Head of School, beginning his role on July 1, 2027.

​​​​​​​​​​Our search committee set out to find a leader whose values, educational philosophy, and experience align with ISA’s mission: “Opening Doors to Success in a Constantly Changing World.” 

This appointment is the result of a long, thoughtful, and thorough search process that began in December when we engaged Joan Beauregard and Mark Crotty of Educators Collaborative to assist us in finding our next Head of School. Our Search Committee interviewed eleven semifinalists from an impressive national pool of applicants and selected three finalists to visit ISA. During their visit at ISA, our three finalists met with trustees, current parents, teachers, staff, and the ISA leadership team. 

Following the completion of those on campus visits on September 24th the Search Committee provided a presentation of its findings to the ISA Board of Trustees. Following that presentation the Board of Trustees approved the Search Committee’s recommendation to select Nathan Walker as our next Head of School. The Search Committee along with the Board are so thankful to everyone who participated in the process between April and September.

We are so excited to have selected Nathan Walker as our next Head of School. In Nathan, we have found an executive leader, lifelong Spanish educator, and global citizen who brings over two decades of leadership experience across PK–12, multilingual, day, and residential international communities worldwide.

Nathan brings a deep personal and professional commitment to language immersion and global education. Having earned his undergraduate degree in Spanish Teaching, he began his career as a language educator before stepping into senior leadership roles at premier international schools across Colombia, Chile, Spain, Mexico, Egypt, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia.

His extensive administrative background includes serving as Director General (the equivalent of the Head of School) at the American Institute of Monterrey in Mexico, Head of School at Istanbul International Community School in Türkiye, Associate Superintendent for Saudi Aramco Expatriate Schools in Saudi Arabia, and Head of School at Schutz American School in Egypt. Currently, Nathan is serving as a Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher, Dorm Parent, and Student Advisor at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Minnesota - an intentional return to the classroom that kept him connected to the daily lived experience of students, teachers, and families.

Throughout the search process, Nathan has continuously demonstrated a clear appreciation for ISA’s unique identity, dual French and Spanish language pathways, and strong community foundation. He shared that one of the key reasons he was interested in joining the ISA community is because ISA is a school with a distinctive multilingual identity, a close and caring community, and an exciting future. He believes deeply that strong schools depend on students being known and challenged, faculty feeling trusted and supported, and families believing in the school’s value.

Nathan understands language as a pathway to empathy, cultural identity, and intellectual flexibility. His experience leading schools accredited by international, American, and ministry bodies positions him to be an exceptional advocate for both our French and Spanish tracks, a collaborative partner to our leadership team, and a thoughtful steward of our PK-8 program.

As we look toward this upcoming leadership transition, I want to share that Jason Smith will continue serving in his role as Head of School through June 30, 2027. Over the coming months, a comprehensive transition plan will be executed in close coordination between Jason, Nathan, and the Board of Trustees to ensure a smooth, thoughtful handoff and sustained excellence for our school.

Please join me and the entire Board of Trustees in extending our warmest welcome to Nathan, his wife Ambrest, and his family as they prepare to join the International School of Arizona community! We know our community will give them a warm welcome to Scottsdale, Arizona.

With warm regards,



Errin Simpkins Travers

Chair, ISA Board of Trustees and Head of School Search Committee