To the DCI Board of Directors,

We, the undersigned members of the DCI community, write to you out of deep commitment to this school and to every student in it. DCI was built on a clear and ambitious vision: IB for All learners, alongside a commitment to sustaining and strengthening the French, Mandarin, and Spanish language pathways established by our member schools. And we are proud to be part of a diverse, global community grounded in a shared commitment to academic excellence, multilingualism, and a socially just mission. It is precisely because of that belief that we are compelled to act. We are asking the Board to take immediate, concrete action to address a crisis that is threatening the integrity, stability, and culture of our school.

Where We Are

Our school has grown significantly, and that growth is a testament to what has been built here. And we all know that growth requires change. DCI needs formal systems, clear structures, and consistent communication. Given the nature of the IB curriculum, it is imperative that those systems and structures include the mandatory IB framework of curriculum, learning outcomes, and assessment methods, in addition to the teacher-led implementation of curriculum adapted regularly to address the needs of current learners. That transition is difficult under the best of circumstances.

We do not believe this is a simple story of right and wrong. We recognize that the challenges we face are complex, and that multiple parties share responsibility for where we find ourselves today.

What we are here to say is this: the situation has escalated to a point that demands urgent, structured intervention.

What Has Happened

• The faculty has issued a formal vote of no confidence in the Executive Director: This is not a casual expression of frustration. A vote of no confidence is a significant, collective action that demands a serious, structured response beyond listening sessions.
• Trust has broken down across the community: The Open Board Meeting on March 19, 2026 clearly indicated that trust has broken between all of the stakeholders — faculty, leadership, the board, parents, and students.
• Experienced educators are being pushed out or are leaving: The loss of this institutional knowledge and dedication could cause lasting damage to our students and our programs.
• The window to act is closing: Every day without meaningful intervention increases the risk of irreversible harm to the school community.

What We Are Asking

In a moment such as this it is critical return to first principles. For DCI, that is teaching the students per the dictates of the charter. We are petitioning the Board to take the following immediate action:

• Engage an independent education consultant that is familiar with IB requirements to conduct a neutral, thorough assessment of the school’s curriculum development, leadership, culture, and communication and determine whether they are currently consistent with DCI’s charter.
• Pause enforcement on all hiring decisions made in 2026 until this assessment can be concluded, and further action determined.
• Establish clear metrics for success based upon IB assessments, not outside assessments.
• Clarify the roles and responsibilities of leadership for communicating the school priorities to stakeholders, both now and moving forward.
• Conduct this process with full transparency: inclusive of all stakeholders, communicated clearly at each stage, and concluded with findings shared openly along with actionable recommendations.

This step is a recognition that when a situation becomes this complex and this charged, all parties (including the board itself) are too close to assess it objectively. An outside perspective is not a sign of failure. It is a sign of leadership.

What We Are Committed To

As members of the DCI community, we are committed to a resolution that:

• Prioritizes teaching every learner how to process information, ask questions, and navigate knowledge with curiosity
• Supports and retains our faculty
• Appreciates that curriculum is never static nor immutable but is a process of constant evolution in response to an ever-changing world
• Preserves the IB for All mandate, and continues to reinvest in the requisite framework for future growth
• Builds the systems and communication structures our growing school requires

We urge the Board to act swiftly, transparently, and with the seriousness this moment demands. Our children are watching. Our teachers are waiting. DCI is an incredible institution that deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Respectfully submitted,