ACS Abu Dhabi names Massachusetts district chief Peter Light as superintendent from 2027

The American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) has named Peter J. Light, superintendent of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District in Massachusetts, as its next superintendent. The school's board of trustees made the announcement, published on 31 October 2026. He takes over on 1 August 2027, at the start of the 2027-28 school year.

Light replaces Monique Flickinger, who has led ACS since 2018. She told the school community in September 2025 that she would retire when her contract ends in July 2027. Her nine years in charge make her the longest-serving superintendent in the school's 54-year history.

The new superintendent

• Now: superintendent of Acton-Boxborough Regional School District since July 2018
• Experience: more than 20 years in education
• Degrees: University of New Hampshire and Yale University
• Further training: an educational administration licensure programme at Endicott College and a superintendents' programme at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

Light first told the Acton-Boxborough school committee in February 2026 that he had accepted the Abu Dhabi post, some 18 months before the start date. He said then that he remained "fully committed" to his work in the district for the 2026-27 year. The district has since hired the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston to find his successor.

The search

ACS ran an international search with International Schools Services (ISS), which handles executive searches for schools. A trustee committee co-chaired by Serena Carnevale and Gaby Fadel led it, with a representative of the US Embassy among its members. ISS held focus groups with teachers, staff, pupils and parents to draw up the profile for the role.

Under Flickinger, ACS moved to a new campus on Saadiyat Island and set up an Arabic Institute of Excellence.