International Community School of Abidjan
An IB Coordinators Perspective on Partnering with Lanterna for Teacher Coverage and Continuity
56+
Hours Delivery
24
Students Taught
Business Mgmt DP1
Spanish B DP2
Subjects Taught
About the school
The International Community School of Abidjan (ICSA) has approximately 560 students from more than 85 countries, with many students identifying with multiple national roots. Many of these students (~25%) hold US citizenship, while students from our host country, Côte d’Ivoire, represent about 17%.
The Challenge
Ensuring Continuity During Staff Absences
When two experienced IB teachers went on maternity leave, ICSA’s IB Coordinator, Marie-Hélène Pichette, was faced with the challenge of ensuring continuity in teaching and learning. As the schools IB Coordinator, her top priority was to maintain the quality of instruction and safeguard our students’ academic progress. Having previously worked with Lanterna, Marie-Hélène felt confident we could deliver the high standards they required.
“We had used Lanterna before and were impressed. Their professionalism — from the initial contract through to monitoring and feedback — gave us great confidence this time around.”
Initial Hesitation
Is Online Learning the Right Fit?
Despite past positive experiences, Marie-Hélène still had concerns. Online learning can be a hard sell to students and parents, especially when replacing a well-liked classroom teacher. We weren’t sure how the school community would respond.
The Solution
Qualified, Flexible, and Responsive Support
Marie-Hélène explains – “Lanterna provided IB-qualified educators who were ready to step in with minimal disruption. They adapted quickly to our school’s schedule and curriculum, offering a seamless transition. What stood out was their ability to listen, respond, and integrate into our systems without adding pressure on our staff.“
“Lanterna succeeded — twice — in delivering high-quality IB education when we needed it most. The process was smooth, and the results spoke for themselves.”
The School Community’s Response
Acceptance and Satisfaction
As expected, there was initial hesitance among students and parents. Some questioned the shift to online learning. However, according to Marie-Hélène, that quickly turned into acceptance, and ultimately satisfaction, as students remained engaged and learning outcomes were maintained.
“At first, some students missed their in-person teachers. But once the Lanterna classes began, we heard no complaints — which, in our world, is a strong indicator of success.”
A Key Advantage
Rapid Access to Top IB Talent
For Marie-Hélène one of the most valuable aspects of working with Lanterna is our ability to rapidly match them with qualified, experienced IB teachers. In education, staffing gaps can emerge suddenly, and finding the right fit is rarely easy and she feels that Lanterna makes it possible.
“The greatest benefit is their speed and quality. When staffing changes arise, we can count on Lanterna to find capable IB professionals fast.”
The Outcome
A Trusted and Reliable Long-Term Partner
Today Marie-Hélène feels that Lanterna has become an indispensable partner for ICSA. As the IB Coordinator, she needs solutions that are effective, timely, and student-centered — and according to her Lanterna consistently delivers on all three fronts.
“Lanterna has simplified our administrative challenges and given us peace of mind. Knowing we have a trusted partner when long-term absences arise is invaluable.”
“They’ve been a lifeline for our school, always competent, always willing to find the best solution for both our staff and students. We’re truly grateful to have them in our corner.”
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