Dr Kristen DiMatteo, Head of the American Overseas School of Rome, reflects on five years at the helm of AOSR.
Five years ago, Dr. Kristen DiMatteo arrived in Rome to take on the role of Head of School at the American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR). It was a time of global uncertainty, shifting expectations in international education, and renewed focus on what schools should be. Not only in terms of curriculum, but also as places where learning and community go hand in hand.
Since then, AOSR has gone through more than upgrades. It has experienced a transformation.
Under Dr. DiMatteo’s leadership, the school has launched and completed major campus developments, including two new signature buildings, state-of-the-art learning spaces, and a complete redesign of the school’s facilities master plan. Just as significantly, she has led a steady evolution in academic culture. High expectations, a faculty with unrivaled experience and professionalism, and renewed attention to the care for each student that makes AOSR different in a crowded international school market.
We sat down with Dr. DiMatteo to reflect on her five years at the helm. What has changed, what still drives her, and what she sees on the horizon.
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Q&A with Dr. Kristen DiMatteo
Q: Five years is a milestone. When you think back to your first days at AOSR, what stands out?
Dr. DiMatteo: I have led multiple international schools, and I remember walking the campus and thinking, this place is special. The architecture, the students playing soccer during break, the conversations in multiple languages. It was alive in a very real way. But I also saw where we could grow, both physically and academically. My first instinct was to listen. The school didn’t need a top-down overhaul. It needed a plan to amplify what was already working and the drive to improve where needed.
Q: Let’s talk about the Piano Casa project. Two new buildings, renovated labs, upgraded libraries… That’s a big shift in a short time.
Dr. DiMatteo: It’s been a community effort, with great support from our parent elected Board of Trustees. The goal is always to offer the best. The Performance Center gives our students a real stage to share their voices. The Middle School Commons is more than a building. It shows we respect this age group. The Welcome Center makes a statement the moment you arrive: You’re seen here. Every space we’ve added or renovated is tied to our mission. Even the black box theater and the ceramics lab. They’re about giving students access to deeper learning experiences.
Dr Kristen DiMatteo, Head of American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR).
Q: A lot of schools talk about academic excellence. What does that mean to you, and how has AOSR moved closer to it?
Dr. DiMatteo: For me, academic excellence means every student is challenged, supported, and known. It’s about integrity. Over the past five years, we’ve continued to hire faculty who are not only talented, but collaborative and reflective. We’ve strengthened our curriculum across divisions and made time for teachers to grow professionally. Excellence isn’t a product. It’s a culture.
Q: Has anything surprised you along the way?
Dr. DiMatteo: Honestly, yes. The level of dedication in our community. Families, faculty, staff, alumni. It’s deeper than I expected. When we started rolling out the Piano Casa projects, the feedback wasn’t “Do we need this?” It was “How can we help?” That kind of buy-in isn’t typical. And the students rise to the challenge every time. Whether it’s the robotics competition or TEDx, they consistently remind us why all of this matters.
Q: How do you think AOSR has changed in ways that aren’t immediately visible?
Dr. DiMatteo: I’d say there’s more clarity now. We’re clearer about who we are as a school. American-International, non-profit, community-driven. We’re clearer about what we expect from students and what families can expect from us. And we’ve become more intentional. You feel it in classrooms, in meetings, in how we make decisions. We’re not reacting. We’re building.
American Overseas School of Rome
Q: What are you most proud of so far?
Dr. DiMatteo: I’m proud that we’ve been able to grow without losing what makes AOSR special. We didn’t trade warmth for polish. The school still feels like a family, but now it has more structure, more tools, and more direction. I’m proud of our faculty. I’m proud of our students. And I’m proud that we didn’t sit still. We kept moving forward, even when it was difficult.
Q: And what comes next?
Dr. DiMatteo: More listening. More building. A new strategic plan that involves the community. We’re looking at continued campus improvements, yes, but also deeper work in curriculum, student wellbeing, and alumni engagement. We’re asking ourselves how we prepare students not only for university, but for life. We’re not aiming to be the biggest school in Rome. We’re aiming to be the best school for Rome and for every student we serve.
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Final Thoughts
Dr. DiMatteo’s first five years at AOSR have brought visible change and quiet shifts that are just as powerful. The school is growing, but grounded. It’s more modern, but no less personal. At the center is a leader who believes that real excellence is built day by day, decision by decision, with students at the center.
If the last five years are any indication, AOSR’s next chapter is in steady hands.
American Overseas School of Rome, Via Cassia 811, www.aosr.org.
