The leadership team at Dresden International School school comprises the Directors (CEO and CFO) and senior educational leaders (Principals and IB Coordinators/Assistant Principals). Our leadership team is responsible for working together to achieve the mission and strategic goals set for DIS annually.
Director
Carla Marschall brings a distinguished career as leader and IB practitioner to DIS. Carla has served most recently as Director of Teaching and Learning at UWC South East Asia, East Campus in Singapore. During her seven years at UWC South East Asia, she co-authored two books, Concept-Based Inquiry in Action (2018) and Worldwise Learning: A Teacher’s Guide to Shaping a Just, Sustainable Future (2021), which focus on concept-based learning and issues-based learning across the K-12 continuum. Carla has held other international school leadership roles in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Germany and served as a classroom teacher both in the United States and Germany. Fluent in English and German, Carla is a multilingual leader, who values and models the importance of language learning. Carla holds a Masters in Elementary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management from the Institute of Education, University of London.
Business Manager
Andrea Harnisch grew up on the edge of Saxon Switzerland. After completing her vocational training in the field of taxes, she began a course of studies in business administration with a focus on taxes and auditing, graduating as a Diplom-Kauffrau (certified merchant). Afterwards, Mrs Harnisch started her first employment at Arthur Andersen, Steuerberatungs- und Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft. In 2002 she joined Ernst & Young, also a tax consulting and auditing company. Andrea Harnisch has been working as a Business Manager at DIS since 2006. She is married and has one son and one daughter. Both children enjoy attending DIS with great pleasure.
Primary School Principal
Mr. Boreham is a citizen of Australia and was appointed Primary Principal in 2022. He was Primary Principal for seven years at another IB PYP school, the Luanda International School of Angola. Prior to that, he held various leadership and teaching positions in both Australia and an international school in Thailand. In addition to being an experienced school Principal, Chris is also a PYP workshop teacher trainer and has considerable school development experience working with accreditation agencies and school boards.
Secondary School Principal
Ana Gonçalves is a Portuguese French citizen who grew up and studied in France until she went abroad to study the poetry of Seamus Heany in Northern Ireland. This marked the beginning of her international career in education. She trained as a teacher in England in order to get a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Thereafter, she worked in England, Portugal, Germany and, very recently, in Indonesia, where she worked as an Assistant Principal in charge of Wellbeing. Ana holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management. In the course of her career, she held several positions in leadership and is now excited to explore the role of Secondary School Principal at Dresden International School. Ana is an International Baccalaureate school visitor and workshop leader. She is also a New England Association of School and Colleges (NEASC) and a Council of International Schools (CIS) school visitor. Ana speaks English, French, Portuguese and Spanish and is currently learning German.
PYP Coordinator & Assistant Principal
Ms. Aguirre was appointed Primary Years Programme Coordinator for PK3/4 - Grade 5 in 2020. Kim Aguirre has served in teaching and leadership positions in international schools in the United States, Germany, and Austria. She holds an undergraduate degree in primary education from Frostburg State University, a Masters Degree in Early Childhood from Cameron University, a certificate in leadership from George Washington University, and a certificate in International Education from ECIS and Cambridge University. Ms. Aguirre is passionate about empowering students and teachers to become lifelong learners. Her personal pursuits include traveling, baking, reading, and learning to play the Ukulele.
Preschool Coordinator
Ms. Joyce Larson joined DIS in 2006 as PYP Principal, serving for 8 years before becoming Preschool Coordinator. She started her international school experience in 1998, teaching in Kraków, Poland, and eventually moving to become Wroclaw International School’s first Principal. Originally from the United States, Joyce taught in public schools before moving to Europe. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration. As Preschool Coordinator, you will find Joyce also teaching the sport and library classes at the preschool as well as parenting classes to DIS parents. She believes building relationships is foundational to successful education and strongly advocates for developing a nature component in our preschool curriculum. In a fast-changing world, she views communication and problem solving as vital life skills for the world's future adults.
DP Coordinator
Wendy Bassam-Coles is the Assistant Principal and DP Coordinator for Grades 11 and 12, in addition to teaching history and individuals & societies. She has worked in IB schools for almost 20 years in the UK, the Philippines and at DIS. Originally graduating from the University of Liverpool, Wendy gained her PGCE from the University of Birmingham and her MA in Education from the University of Bath. At Bath, her dissertation that focused on the experiences of students transitioning into the Diploma Programme received the International Baccalaureate Prize. Wendy continues to focus on the students' experience of transition and aims to enhance pastoral care and student wellbeing in grades 11 and 12. She is particularly interested in the potential impact of restorative practice and positive education.
MYP Coordinator & Assistant Principal
Flora Mather is the Assistant Principal and MYP Coordinator for Grades 6-10, in addition to teaching English Language and Literature in the MYP and DP. She has worked in IB schools for more than ten years in New Zealand, Hong Kong, the UK, and at DIS. Flora gained her MA and Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) from the University of Auckland. Flora has done additional graduate study in literacy education and worked with educational expert John Hattie, having the work she did at her school in Hong Kong published as a case study in his most recent book. Flora is particularly focused on building a social emotional wellbeing program for MYP students at DIS that builds on student skills in self-management (organizational and affective) and reflection, and further developing empathy and awareness of personal and social issues. She is also working closely with subject teams to refresh and enhance the written and taught curriculum at DIS to develop inquiry, critical and creative thinking as well as ensuring learning at DIS makes conceptually authentic, real-world connections with the world beyond the classroom.
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