Meet Petar Ivanov

“Having the freedom to build a team that works so well, and does so consistently, is incredibly rewarding.”

Every school has a principal, and ours happens to run American College “Arcus” as well. We won’t be cloning him — he’s a workaholic and will do just fine managing two educational institutions. Petar Ivanov, known among his colleagues simply as Ivanov (or “the boss”), is principled, strives for excellence, and pushes those around him to do the same. He is not only the head of our school, but also its barometer and the bridge between everyone involved in the educational process: students, teachers, parents, and the school board.

Don’t be fooled by his strict and businesslike tone: he is probably just about to make a joke that will have you laughing instantly. Ivanov often says that one of the criteria he uses when choosing the people he works with is “how much they can take a joke.” After all, we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously.

Petar graduated with a degree in English Philology from “St. Cyril and St. Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo in 1994. Immediately after graduating, he became director of the Veliko Tarnovo branch of a chain of schools specialising in English language and computer literacy, where he remained for seven years. He then spent two years developing his own private educational centre. Since 2003, he has been the “acting director” of American College “Arcus” — as he jokingly describes it himself.

To his otherwise “boring” CV, Ivanov adds that he is married and the proud father of twin daughters.

1. What motivated you to become a school principal?

The truth is, I never wanted, planned, or dreamed of becoming a principal. Circumstances simply led me there. While I was still a student at the University of Veliko Tarnovo, I started teaching on a temporary basis… and I’ve been doing it ever since.

I also consider myself lucky, and I am grateful to fate and to certain people who gave me this opportunity. Having the freedom to build a team that works so well, and does so consistently, is incredibly rewarding.

2. Have you used alternative approaches in your work as a teacher?

Over my modest 32 years of teaching, I have encountered all kinds of situations and worked with students of very different ages, so naturally I have used a wide variety of teaching methods and approaches.

Regardless of the tools and approaches you use, I believe the most important thing for any educator is to do two things. First, present the material in a way that makes it accessible and easy to understand. Second, motivate students to actually want to understand and learn what is being taught.

The second part has become increasingly difficult in recent years.

3. What do you like to do in your free time?

I have two main ways of recharging. I have been playing tennis since I was a student myself. My second hobby is fishing.

4. What challenges do you face?

If we are talking about challenges related to work, lately one of the most difficult things has been finding young, well-prepared people who want to become teachers not because of the working conditions, but because they believe in the mission.

Fortunately, I still manage to find such people — and to motivate them and keep them on my team.

If we are talking about challenges in life, they are of a different nature and constantly change. But for me, the most important thing is to keep doing what needs to be done, to do it properly, and not to give up, regardless of the circumstances.

5. What is your vision for the education of the future?

The education of the future will be a blend of traditional and innovative methods of teaching and learning.

I hope artificial intelligence will be used properly, rather than becoming a temptation for students to simply copy and borrow ready-made solutions, answers, projects, assignments, and so on, without actually thinking through and understanding the material they are using.

The main challenge for the education of the future will be maintaining its quality. There is no doubt that, otherwise, it will become more flexible, more engaging, and more comprehensive.