Leadership

Kevin Glass, Head of School

Committed to creating globally-minded students poised to shape the 21st century, Kevin’s vocation and calling is international education. His career in education includes leadership and teaching positions in South and West Africa, Central and North America, and Central Asia. Prior to joining Atlanta International School, Kevin was Director of Tashkent International School in Uzbekistan for five years.

Kevin serves on various local, national and international Boards, including the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE), the Academy for International School Heads (AISH), the Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE), Horizons Atlanta, the Atlanta Area Association in Independent Schools (AAAIS) and the Buckhead Coalition.

Kevin has a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Framingham State College (USA), a Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Biology and Chemistry from Cambridge University (UK), and a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Degree in Bacteriology and Virology from Manchester University (UK).  

Kevin is married to Stefani, a career diplomat currently on family leave from the German Foreign Service. They have three children all of whom attend AIS, in the German language program.

Matt Hajdun, Head of Primary School

Matt fell in love with international education, language learning, and Latin America while studying abroad focusing on sustainable development and organic agriculture in Costa Rica, while earning his Bacherlor's degrees in Biology and Elementary Education.

He also earned a Masters' degree in Reading Instruction and Intervention as well as an additional endorsement in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). 

Since 2005, Matt has been working in education, where he started as a volunteer teacher and principal at a small, rural school for orphaned children in Honduras. Additionally, he has worked in the USA, Brazil, Belgium, and Colombia as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher, and Curriculum Director.

In 2012, Matt received the Milken Educator Award for his work in supporting more inclusive policies and embedding service learning into the curriculum. 

Multilingual education is Matt's primary passion.  His partner, Emily, and their son, Asher, enjoy family time out in nature, and their two dogs. 

Dr Erin Robinson, Associate Head of School & Head of Secondary School

Erin is "all in" at Atlanta International School because the mission, values, and aspirations speak to who Erin is as an educator. Prior to joining AIS in 2021, Erin led school communities in Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Colorado. She had the pleasure of leading school-based, regional, and global efforts in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Her passions also allowed her to support the development of social and environmental entrepreneurship curriculum. 

Erin holds a PhD in educational leadership and her doctoral work focused on cultural competency in education with additional research interests in student voice, student engagement, and outdoor education.

Throughout her career, Erin has sought to support students, staff, and parents to thrive in an inclusive school environment where learning is at the center. As a third culture kid herself, Erin appreciated the opportunity to grow up in diverse environments. Outside of school, Erin loves spending time exploring with her family, local and global service, and reading. 

Dr Marsha Maxwell, Head of Innovation, Research & Technology

Dr Marsha Maxwell is a neuroscientist, teacher and technology specialist. With over twenty-three years of strategic, tactical and operational technology experience, Marsha creates innovative environments and applications that harness the power of new technology and neuroscience to enhance a teacher's reach, better engage students and foster a culture of innovation in an organization. Her work has been used in projects for institutions as varied as NASA and Sony.

Her areas of specialization include data science, mixed reality, artificial intelligence, space exploration and machine learning. She holds a BS from Spelman College in Chemistry and an MS (Biology) and a PhD (Neuroscience) from the California Institute of Technology.

Reid Mizell, Head of External Relations

One of the founding board members of the school, Reid brings extensive expertise in brand development, marketing strategy and planning, strategic alliances, sponsorship and integrated marketing execution.

She began her consulting career developing export marketing programs for French and American firms. She honed her organizational leadership skills as VP of Marketing for a US technology firm and as CEO of marketing agencies in the U.S. and Australia.
 
Reid holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Emory University (USA) as well as a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Master of Business Administration in International Marketing from Georgia State University (USA). She spent one year of graduate study in the Marketing Group at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (France).

Paul Saeger, Associate Head of School & Head of Finance and Operations

Paul brings a depth and breadth of experience to AIS that encompasses 28 years as a professional and manager in accounting, finance, cash management, investments and analysis.  

Paul worked with Stonewall Insurance Company for 15 years, where he rose from Junior Accountant to Officer to Treasurer in ten years. More recently, he served as the Senior Financial Manager for the Vesta insurance companies.

Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business/Accounting from the University of Alabama, Birmingham (USA). He earned his CPA in 1990.

Helen Muñoz, Early Learning Center Principal (Grades 3K & 4K)

Helen Muñoz has been an international educator for over 15 years, the majority of them in leadership roles, stretching across 3 continents. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education from Bristol, England.

Before joining AIS as a Grade 1 English teacher, Helen was a Grade Level Leader at the International School of Panama and prior to that Primary Deputy Principal of the British International School in Phuket, Thailand. She is now returning to a Leadership role as the ELC Principal and cannot wait to be back where her passion lies in the awe and wonder of Early Years.

Throughout her career, Helen has nurtured students from 18 months to 11 years, building positive relationships with them, their families and teachers as they pursue their learning journeys. She is driven by cultivating student agency and is an advocate for play-based learning.

Carmen Baker, Lower Primary School Principal

Carmen has been a primary school educator for over 20 years. Since 2006, she has worked as an English Primary School teacher and Grade Level Leader at Atlanta International School (AIS).  She holds a bachelor's Degree in Sociology and a Masters Degree in Child Education.

Currently, she is working towards obtaining her doctorate degree in teaching and learning. Carmen is dedicated to fostering the joy of learning and inclusivity of all learners within the AIS community. She also believes it is also important to build positive relationships with students, families, and teachers to ensure that everyone feels safe, have a sense of belonging, and have fun being an AIS Eagle!

Alain Poiraud, Upper Primary School Principal

Between 1986 and 1993, Alain worked in France and also taught French in a pilot immersion program in Louisiana. Alain joined Atlanta International School in 1993.

Alain holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a teaching certification from the École Normale de la Roche-sur-Yon (France). He also has a National Coaching Degree (BE 1er degree) from the University of Nantes (France).  

From the University of Caen, France, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, in French as a Foreign Language and is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in International Education Administration.

Joseph Redding, Director of Community and Belonging, Primary School

Joseph's leadership journey at AIS began as a Grade Level Leader in 2023. Additionally, he has served on accreditation and quality assurance teams for AdvanceED, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) within the Cobb County School District.

In his spare time, Joseph loves cycling with his family, solving Rubik’s cubes, and completing puzzles.

Tina Santilli, Middle School Principal

Tina is dedicated to the joyful pursuit of excellence in diverse and inclusive learning communities. She believes in the power of relationships and, as a student-centered leader, knows a child’s natural curiosity and desire to learn has no limits. Tina understands that it is the job of educators to nurture and stretch these natural inclinations of their students.

Tina holds an MA in Education and Human Development from George Washington University, a BA in Special Education  from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Transformative School Leadership from Bay Path University. Her experiences as a teacher and leader in education have taken her to East Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and most recently India where she was the Head of School at a three programme IB school in Mumbai. 

Tina has already felt the warmth of the AIS community and is excited to join a school with such an illustrious history and an amazing reputation for excellence. Her hope is that she can add value to an already outstanding team.  

Outside of school, Tina enjoys traveling, exploring new places and cultures, scuba diving, kayaking, community service, and curling up with a good book. 

Gary Paterson, Upper School Principal

Gary has a BSc (Hons) in Pure Mathematics from the University of St Andrews and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education from the University of Bath. During his 20 year career in education he has taught in public and private schools in Scotland, England, Mexico and the US including AIS, where he worked as IB Diploma Coordinator between 2015 and 2017. 

A process-orientated educator, Gary places a strong emphasis on using data as an evaluation tool and has been on the leadership teams of several schools, most recently consulting for six secondary schools in the UK. His experience includes working on the Royal Society of Art’s ‘Opening Minds’ pilot and being a long term contributor to the International Baccalaureate curriculum design.

The author of Professional Development Plans for a range of schools, Gary recently trained in the use of Collaborative Operating Systems to facilitate problem-solving in educational settings, became an Apple Educator and has an MEd in Educational Leadership.

Katrina Daniels-Samasa, Director of Community and Belonging, Secondary School

Officers

Shelley Giberson, Chair

Susannah Parker, Vice Chair

Barbara Quiroga, Treasurer

Members

Neerja Breja

Scott Britton

Beth Kytle Chandler '98

Heidi Deringer

Carrie Doyle

Cal Fallaize

Peter Guan 

Sarah-Elizabeth Langford

Matthew Mazzawi

Chandler McCormack

Dr. Mark McKenna

Keshav Mehta

Fasil Muche '93

Linda Pak Bruner

Barbara Rogers

Eric Schmook

Stacy Shailendra

Felix Stellmaszek

Rick van Nostrand

Lin Wang

 

Ex Officio

Kevin Glass, Head of School, Ex Officio Trustee

Olga Plaut, Trustee Emerita, Founder

Roy Plaut, Chair Emeritus, Founder

Monique Seefried, Chair Emerita

Deb Sudbury, Chair Emerita

Sylvie Obispo - Early Learning Center

Sylvie has been teaching Early Years for the past 15 years, previously having taught in Spain, France, USA and Congo. Sylvie believes that spending her day with little people is a joy where she gets to learn with them and from them every single day.

"Doing this in a language [Spanish] that isn't the native language for many of them is a very enjoyable challenge, which gives great fulfillment when they start expressing themselves in Spanish."

Sylvie speaks Spanish, English and French.

Rocio Fabbrini - 5K

Rocio has been with AIS since 2012 and is a teacher in the Lower Primary 5K Spanish program. She is part of the Primary School Restorative Practices Leadership Team, and has been a part of different committees including the Human Resources Advisory Council and the Professional Development Committee.

Before joining AIS, Rocio held various roles in education in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, including at the University of Ciudad Juarez where she taught freshman students.

Rocio has a Bachelor's degree in Education from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional - Mexico, a BA in Business Administration from Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Juárez, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Centro de Investigación y Docencia, and a certification in Early Childhood Education from Ceneval Mexico.

Rocio grew up in a family of educators, spanning from college professors to kindergarten teachers. Her passion for working with children and guiding them through their formative years has been a driving force in my career choice.

Rocio speaks Spanish and English.

Natalie Tubb - Grade 1

Natalie is a U.S. citizen who joined AIS in 2021. She has over 10 years of elementary teaching experience in the metro Atlanta area. 

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Georgia. She has also earned a Math endorsement, Gifted endorsement, and an ESOL certification.

Natalia enjoys creating a fun, engaging, creative, and welcoming classroom environment for her learners.
 

Beatriz Bendek - Grade 2

Frank Machinello - Grade 3

Frank has been at AIS since 2016 and teaches Grade 3 English.

He started teaching in Connecticut and then moved overseas where he lived and taught at Mary Mount International School in Rome, Italy and the Shekou International School in Shenzhen, China.

Frank has a Masters Degree in Elementary Education and a completed Certificate from Principal's Training Center.

During his teenage years, Frank worked at summer camps which then inspired me to get into education. As an AIS parent, Frank loves that his children go to school where he works. 

Mareena Kohtala - Grade 4

Mareena joined AIS in 2021 where as well as Grade Level lead she is also an Upper Primary Math coach.

Prior to AIS Mareena taught at Korea International School, the English Modern School, Doha, Qatar Academy in Qatar, and at Dolvin Elementary, Johns Creek, GA. 

Mareena holds the following teaching qualifications; Educational Leadership Certificate, Ed. S. Instructional Technology, M.Ed. Early Childhood Education and B.S. Elementary Education.

Mareena loves learning new things, and sharing them with others, as well as the chance to learn with colleagues, families, and students that represent so many different nationalities and cultures at AIS. 

Mareena speaks English and Finnish.

Arndt Häfele - Grade 5

Arndt joined AIS in 2003 as an Upper Primary School German teacher. Arndt has also taught at the Bavarian International School in Munich, Germany. Arndt holds a Masters in Educational Leadership.

Arndt speaks German and English and loves the international and inclusive friendly environment at AIS.

Jutta Schlicker-Martinez - Grade 6

After a short stint in the AIS primary school in 1997-98 as a language support teacher, Jutta returned as a full time teacher in 2001. She has been the Grade 6 Head of Year since 2009.

Jutta teaches Middle Years and Diploma Program German language and literature. She holds a BA in Comparative Literature from Eckerd College and an M.Ed. in Advanced Teaching from the University of The People.

One of her most memorable AIS experiences was supporting the "Houses to Homes" initiative during two trips to Guatemala where she built several houses for families alongside amazing AIS colleagues and students. As a former Latin teacher, Jutta is currently trying to get a Latin/mythology interest group off the ground with the help of a student.

Jutta spent her formative years in Saarland, German. Her undergraduate studies took her to St. Petersburg, Florida, and a marriage to Puerto Rico. Both of Jutta's children are AIS graduates who credit their AIS education for lifelong friendships and rewarding careers.

Jutta loves that AIS provides the space to live and share her cultural identity. Her mother tongue is German, and she speaks English, French and Spanish.

Jason Simons - Grade 7

Jason is a Middle & Upper School Learning Support Teacher. He joined AIS in 2011. 

Jason used to volunteer for Model United Nations and was a Middle School assistant Golf Coach. Currently, he participates on multiple committees and has a deep interest in Social Emotional Learning.

Jason holds a BS in Philosophy and Sociology from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. He has a Master of Arts Teaching Degree from Chicago, Illinois with a specialization in emotional/behavior disorders and learning disabilities.

Before AIS, Jason has lived in England and France, where he studied the French Language at the Institut international d'études Française in Strasbourg.

Jason is a lifelong learner who believes in helping all students "Choose Their Paths". He loves AIS for being such a creative, innovative and supportive institution.
 

Adam Mayes - Grade 8

Adam is a Middle Years Program Product and Digital Design teacher. He joined AIS in 2021. He was also an InVenture coach, taking the team to the Nationals in 2021.

Adam holds a BA in Furniture Design and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Brighton.

Before AIS, Adam lived in many different UK locations, including Brighton, Oxford and London. He also lived in Israel and Palestine while an international school student himself. Adam spent nine months working in Cyprus.

Adam’s grandfather inspired him to be inquisitive from a young age using woodworking tools. Adam loves the AIS community, people, and outlook.

Neisha Howard - Grade 9

Neisha joined AIS in 2022, teaching Individuals and Societies. She teaches grades 6, 9, and 10 during which she has explored many and varied topics.

Neisha loves teaching students to thoughtfully examine what has been presented as the historic truth, and watching them come to their own unique conclusions - by critically thinking and asking questions.

In her spare time, Neisha loves going to historical locations, watching history documentaries, reading books about African American and American history, and relaxing with tea.

Chris Barry - Grade 10

Chris has taught at AIS twice, from 2015 to 2017 and then again from 2022 to present. He is a Physical & Health Education teacher, working across all Secondary School grades. He is also the Middle School Cross Country coach. 

Chris grew up in Oxford, UK and lived in London for 10 years. As well as Atlanta, he has also taught overseas in Shanghai for 5 years.

Chris holds a BSc Sports Science & Health Science, PGCE, Registered International Athletic Administrator, and is working towards his MA in Educational Leadership & Management.

Chris loves the continued desire to develop and grow a positive culture of community and learning for all at AIS. He was inspired from a young age by a number of excellent educators.
 

Michelle Meyers - Grade 11

Michelle started at AIS in the primary school in 2017 and moved to the secondary school in January of 2020. She is a Secondary School Learning Support Teacher and has also been a basketball coach, CAS group supervisor, Data and Assessment coordinator and Tutor.

Michelle went to university at Virginia Tech where she also worked at Walter Reed with wounded veterans. After, university Michelle worked with kids with Autism while getting her Masters from George Mason University. Michelle also spent two years in Leipzig, Germany where she was a learning support teacher. She speaks conversational German.

Michelle comes from a military family and always knew she wanted to do something where she could serve, to have an impact and help others. 

The thing that first drew Michelle to AIS was the culture, diversity, and the ability to be a part of a student's international education, that she valued so much as a child. 

Alison Keohane - Grade 12

Alison joined AIS during the summer of 2020 as a Middle School Design teacher. She is also the Grade 10 Personal Project coordinator, and student Architecture club supervisor.

Alison is from New York, and has lived in Glasgow, London, Florida, and Vermont. Prior to AIS, Alison worked at Eastern Florida State, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and Brenau University in the Interior Design program.

Alison holds a BA, Sarah Lawrence College, Architectural Theory | MA, Savannah College of Art and Design, Interior Design | NCIDQ (Interior Design Certification).

Alison believes that good design can do good in the world.