Jim Laney

School Director

August 2011 marks the start of my seventh year at ICS Addis Ababa, and the start of my 27th year as an educator. My wife Ruth and I are from the state of Oregon in the USA. Two of our daughters were born in Cyprus, and two were adopted here in Ethiopia. My oldest daughter, Amalia, graduated from ICS in May 2009, and is a junior at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Tiphanie graduated in June and is starting at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, in August. Our younger girls—Samrewit and Bemnet—will both be in grade three. Ruth is our Middle School Counselor.

I have taught physics, computer programming & computer literacy, physical science and remedial math in middle and high school programs. I have also taught computer literacy in the elementary. I served as the IT Director for Taipei American School (2200 students), and have been an Activity Director, a school Business Manager, an Assistant Principal and an Elementary Principal prior to coming to ICS Addis. I have worn three jackets here at ICS Addis…for my first three years I served as Principal for both the Middle and High School, and then I served as HS Principal and Deputy Director for two years. This coming year will be my second year as the School Director.

I began my teaching career in the US Peace Corps in Kenya in the early 1980s. Since then I have taught in or worked at schools in New York City, Nicosia, Taipei and Warsaw. My first degree was a BSc in Computer Engineering, my MA is in Secondary Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and I am a doctoral candidate in International School Leadership at Boston University. Beyond certification as a physical sciences teacher, I am certified as a K–12 school administrator in New York state.

My family is active in a local church and we also enjoy getting out of town when we can. In the summers we like to camp or to enjoy the beautiful Oregon coast. Everyone in the family is an avid reader: more than 2000 books came with us in our family library, and we keep adding more every month it seems!

I also enjoy woodworking and working on cars. In Poland my project was a 1969 VW Bug, nicknamed "Ol' Blue." In Ethiopia I have enjoyed restoring a vintage 1965 VW double-cab Transporter pickup truck. However, the "Surf Rod" doesn’t get out much any more…my new role at ICS doesn’t leave me much time for active hobbies.