TISA Lisbon IB - Theodore International Startup Academy. Primary school., LISBOA

I deliberately waited until my child’s very last day at TISA to write this review. My child is leaving not because we were unhappy, but because she has simply outgrown this stage of her educational journey, having turned 12. Choosing TISA was one of the best decisions we made as parents. Schools are often judged by their curriculum or facilities, but what truly defines a school are its people. And TISA is filled with genuinely exceptional people. Disclaimer: I am in NO WAY affiliated with school, I am just a very happy parent. A very special thank you goes to Miss Afsana. She has been an absolute rock for my child over the past two years. Every parent hopes their child will have that one teacher who truly sees them, believes in them, makes them feel safe, and helps them grow. Miss Afsana was exactly that. Her patience, kindness, consistency, and genuine care cannot be taught; they come from who she is as a person. She has had an immeasurable impact on our family. Mr. Vini, who teaches kids jiu-jitsu, is another extraordinary educator. His calm presence, wisdom, and ability to connect with children create an environment where they naturally want to learn and become better people. He understands that education isn’t only about academics; it’s about shaping character. Miss Anastasia, the art teacher, brought so much kindness and gentleness into every interaction. She nurtured creativity without pressure and encouraged every child to express themselves with confidence. Although Miss Ashley wasn’t my child’s classroom teacher, she became someone she naturally gravitated towards. That speaks volumes about her warmth and generosity. She always made time for the children and made them feel welcome. And then there is Mr. Bradley, who was her first teacher and who left school, but I am writing this for all those lucky enough to consider hiring him. Mr. Bradley genuinely restored my faith in humanity. "Kindness" is a word people use often, but he lives it every single day. The respect, patience, humor, empathy, and authenticity he showed the children, and the parents, left a lasting impression on me. Some people simply make the world a better place by being in it, and he is one of those people. Beyond the people, TISA offers something increasingly rare. Learning here extends far beyond textbooks. The children create, build, cook, swim, play chess, practice Olympic math, read for half an hour every day, explore STEM, develop entrepreneurial thinking, practice public speaking, spend time outdoors, celebrate together, and are constantly encouraged to ask questions rather than simply memorize answers. There is warmth in this school. There is humanity. There is laughter. Children are encouraged to become curious, resilient, independent thinkers who care about the people around them. No school is perfect, and no child is perfect. My child certainly had days where she made mistakes, learned difficult lessons, and had to grow through challenges. But that is precisely what childhood should be. When I look back on these two years, those moments are insignificant compared to the confidence, resilience, kindness, curiosity, and compassion she developed while being surrounded by people who genuinely cared about her. We leave TISA with nothing but gratitude, wonderful memories, and enormous respect for what you have built. I sincerely hope many more families get to experience what ours did, and if you are considering this school, go for it. They make good people out of kids, and smart and educated as well.