Leadership Conversations

Name: Paul Fochtman

Current title: Head of School

Current organisation: Frankfurt International School

Dr. Paul Fochtman, Head of School at Frankfurt International School

Since 2010, Dr. Fochtman has served as the Head of School at Frankfurt International School (FIS), an IB World School that serves nearly 1,800 students aged 3 to Grade 12 across two campuses in the heart of Germany. Originally from Petoskey, Michigan, Dr. Fochtman’s career began in the pharmaceutical industry, but shifted to education in the early 90s’. Since then, his career has taken him across the globe, from a high school chemistry, economics and physics teacher in Gaum, to principalships and a superintendent role at international schools in New Delhi and Mumbai. In 2018, he was named Superintendent of the Year by the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) – the youngest recipient of the award to date.

Dr. Fochtman studied Business and Economics at Lycoming College, Educational Administration at the University of Guam, and Business Administration at Duke University, before completing his Doctoral study at the University of Minnesota. In 2016, Dr. Fochtman was also awarded a fully-funded fellowship to the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership’s Heads of Schools program at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Dr. Fochtman and his family are deeply involved in service, having participated in several Operation Smile missions, the Kalahari Education Experience Project in South Africa, and other educational initiatives throughout Asia.

In addition to his role as Head of School at FIS, Dr. Fochtman is also an alumni parent; both of his children graduated from the school.

Show Notes

Name: Paul Fochtman

Current title: Head of School

Current organisation: Frankfurt International School

Dr. Paul Fochtman, Head of School at Frankfurt International School

Since 2010, Dr. Fochtman has served as the Head of School at Frankfurt International School (FIS), an IB World School that serves nearly 1,800 students aged 3 to Grade 12 across two campuses in the heart of Germany. Originally from Petoskey, Michigan, Dr. Fochtman’s career began in the pharmaceutical industry, but shifted to education in the early 90s’. Since then, his career has taken him across the globe, from a high school chemistry, economics and physics teacher in Gaum, to principalships and a superintendent role at international schools in New Delhi and Mumbai. In 2018, he was named Superintendent of the Year by the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) – the youngest recipient of the award to date.

Dr. Fochtman studied Business and Economics at Lycoming College, Educational Administration at the University of Guam, and Business Administration at Duke University, before completing his Doctoral study at the University of Minnesota. In 2016, Dr. Fochtman was also  awarded a fully-funded fellowship to the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership’s Heads of Schools program at Teachers College, Columbia University. 

Dr. Fochtman and his family are deeply involved in service, having participated in several Operation Smile missions, the Kalahari Education Experience Project in South Africa, and other educational initiatives throughout Asia.

In addition to his role as Head of School at FIS, Dr. Fochtman is also an alumni parent; both of his children graduated from the school.

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Leadership Conversations