Background

The Family

Almikas is a school founded owned by a family of teachers. The head of the family is Kassu Zewdie, 57. Mr. Kassu completed his primary and secondary education in a remote part of the country called Bale-Goba. He was educated by Ethiopian, American (Peace Corps volunteers in the 60s) and Indian teachers. He then went directly to the only University in the country and studied English as a major to become a high school English language teacher. He later earned a Master's degree from Addis Ababa University. Mr. Kassu was heavily influenced by his Peace Corp volunteer teachers Mr. Karl Drobnic, Mr. and Mrs. McCune, Ms. Lightfoot, Mr. McCaney and all the other amazing teachers. He fondly still remembers how they started the library and the laboratory in his high school some forty-six years ago.

Mr. Kassu served in the Ministry of Education for thirty-two years and during those years carried the positions of a language teacher, senior high school director, curriculum expert and test developer in the national organization. He bore the idea of opening his own school and finally requested for an early retirement two years ago.

His wife, Mrs. Almaz Feleke, is also an English teacher in one of the public high schools in the capital city of Addis Ababa. She completed her primary and secondary education in another remote part of the country, Jijiga, and later received her B.A degree in English language from the Addis Ababa University. She has been an English instructor for the last twenty-six years.

Their eldest child is Mr. Tensae Kassu. He received his B.A degree in English language last year and is now working on his postgraduate degree. Their young child is Ms. Hilina Gebre-Heywot. Ms. Hilina, unlike the rest of the family members, is studying theatre arts at Addis Ababa University.

Introduction
Background
Vision for School
School Objectives