“1992, the year LISA was founded, was eventful and formative for students, parents and teachers. The first LISA class started in September, but already in the spring, students, parents and teachers got to know each other at a meeting. At that time, the idea for a support association was born, which was founded in the 1992/93 school year. From the beginning everyone was aware that this association should be more than a normal parents’ association, which, as in every school, also existed in the Europagymnasium.

The aim of our support association was to support LISA materially and ideally. LISA was a young plant at the time, but is now a mighty tree in the Austrian school landscape. The functioning partnership in the support association is jointly responsible for the fruitful growth – an intensive and creative partnership between parents, teachers and sponsors. The statutes also provide for this. At regular board meetings, the participants provide information about school operations and future projects. Numerous joint activities are planned here. Large projects, such as the expansion on the third floor of the school building, were initiated in particular with the support of the association. Membership in the International Baccalaureat Organization (IBO) is only possible because the necessary resources are generously made available through our association. Many investments that go beyond the usual state-financed investments could be made quickly and unbureaucratically.

During my work as a LISA coordinator, I was often invited to other schools and presented our project there. Working with parents has always been an important issue, so I was able to get the impression that none of the schools I visited had such an intensive and successful partnership as we had with our parents.

As an ’emeritus’ LISA coordinator, I wish for “my school” that this very important support association continues to be successful in achieving effective and harmonious cooperation between teachers, parents and sponsors.”

Mag. Karl Mühlstein

Co-founder, educational pioneer and former LISA coordinator

“The LISA support association is very important for our school operations, since large areas of international education are unfortunately still not financed, organized and carried out by the public system in Austria. Thanks to the collaboration between parents and staff in the LISA support association, LISA operations are only as successful as we know them and have come to appreciate them for almost 30 years.

I have been teaching at the school for almost 20 years, 7 of which have been coordinator and am the mother of a former LISA student. My thanks to everyone who made this unique school life, this creative, open working atmosphere possible for the development of the individual talents of all students!”

Dr. Astrid Wansch

Founder of the LISA Academy and former LISA coordinator