The Austin International School is a non-profit association created by a group of French, American and francophone parents, the Consul of France, the Honorary Consul of France (Mr. John Harmon), and a group of Austin based business leaders.  After a three-year effort to put together financing and organizational support, the Lycée Française d’Austin was officially established in April 2001.  (In November 2004 the Lycée officially changed its name to Austin International School.) The Austin International School (AIS), which was initially conceived in response to a growing demand amongst the francophone community of Austin to offer a program of studies approved and accredited by the French Ministry of National Education, has also attracted the attention of American and other international families interested in a challenging multi-lingual education.

Jeanne Jeannin, who had over 30 years of teaching and school management experience, first headed AIS.  She founded the Dallas International School in 1987. The first year of enrollment at AIS had 65 students, representing French, American and international children. 

The interest in a French-American education is very strong throughout the world with over 400 French schools worldwide.  There are 43 French schools all over the United States, with AIS being the third French-American school in Texas.  In fact, many French and international families had been hesitant to relocate to Austin in the past due to the lack of an international school, which would ensure their children’s easy re-insertion into schools upon returning to their native country.  The standardized French curriculum makes things particularly easy for expatriate families. 

Eric Thuau is the Executive Director of AIS and has extensive experience as a Director in French schools abroad.  He was the Director of the Oyak-Renault School in Turkey from 2000-2004.  Prior to his work in Turkey, he was the Director of Les Alizes International School in the Cape Verde islands for two years.

After Mr. Thuau took the position of director at Austin International School in August 2004, a convention was signed between AIS and the Mission Laïque Française (MLF), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting French culture and language abroad, particularly through education.  With 102 years of experience, the MLF is represented in 74 schools totaling 25,000 students and 2,000 teachers in 30 different countries on six continents.  Since signing the convention in October of 2004, the MLF has contributed much to AIS:  teacher training, assistance with the growth and expansion of AIS, facilitating collaboration between AIS and other international schools around the nation, and giving management and curriculum development guidance.

With a demand for quality education in the progressive and highly educated city of Austin, and with support from the NAEYC, the MLF, and the French Ministry of National Education, the Austin International School is expanding rapidly.