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Leadership
Silke Friedrich, Executive Director & Owner
Silke Friedrich studied Social and Business Communication at Berlin University of the Arts. She has been the committed and passionate Executive Director of Berlin Metropolitan School since 2007. In this position, she has played a major role in shaping the school’s development in recent years. As the spokeswoman for BMS, she is also responsible for the structural expansion of the school in the fields of governance and curriculum. Her aim is to establish BMS as a leading educational institute over the long-term and to set new standards for a modern, values-based education. In addition to strategic development and quality management, the topic of internal and external communication is also one of her key areas of responsibility.
silke.friedrich(at)metropolitanschool.com
Samantha Hearn, Head of School
Samantha Hearn has over twenty years of experience in education, throughout which she has supported students, families, and staff as a school leader. She is passionate about nurturing students during their educational journey and believes that by establishing accessible networks of support, we encourage them to reach their full potential. As a committed advocate of student leadership, Sam believes it is vital to provide young people with opportunities to express their views and positively influence their communities. Sam successfully led the development of the Secondary School as School Principal and assumed the the role of Head of School in 2023/24 Academic Year, managing the strategic development of our K-12 international program.
Ioanna Gkiza Soeder, ELC Principal
Ioanna Gkiza Soeder leads our Early Learning Center, after having served as Preschool Team Leader and Teacher since 2018. She holds a graduate degree in education and has extensive professional experience in both Berlin and the UK. Ioanna has played an integral role in the further development of our reading and numeracy program in the Early Learning Years and in ensuring a consistent delivery of the PYP in Kita and Preschool. As an advocate of inclusion and the strong support of learning needs, Ioanna looks forward to taking on the strategic development of our Early Learning Center as Principal.
Saliha Aslan, Primary School Principal
Saliha Aslan leads our Primary School from Grade 1-Grade 6, bringing with her over 17 years of experience in international education as a school leader and educator. Before joining BMS, Saliha was Principal and Head of School at an international school in Istanbul, successfully leading the strategic vision of the school and the K-8 academic program. Saliha holds a graduate degree in school leadership and has extensive experience in leading authorization and accreditation evaluations for international schools across the world. In her role as BMS Primary Principal, Saliha is a strong advocate of transformative leadership, facilitating change by creating a culture that both inspires and builds trust amongst students, teachers, staff, and parents.
Andrés Suárez, Secondary School Principal
With over 3 decades of experience in international education, Andrés Suárez joins BMS from Sao Paulo, Brazil where he led an international Secondary School for over 9 years. He completed his graduate studies in educational leadership and innovation and has taught extensively in the subjects of History, Theory of Knowledge, and Spanish. In addition to his leadership posting in Brazil, Andrés was an IB DP Coordinator and Deputy Secondary Head in his home country of Mexico. Andrés is passionate about the holistic development of students and believes that advocating for student agency aids the social and emotional growth of students and is an essential component of developing a strong culture of academic achievement.
Toni Goll, Business Director
Toni Goll has been working for Berlin Metropolitan School since February 2007. Trained as a banking specialist, he was responsible for credit commitments in the professional real estate business of a major European bank, has experience as a corporate finance controller, and has managed the commercial transactions of major investment activities on behalf of companies. Toni Goll is head of finance and administration for the school and is also responsible for the infrastructural development of the school grounds and facilities.
Shahar Zarfaty, IT Director
Shahar brings over 20 years of experience in the Information Technology field, having worked with both large enterprises and innovative startups. He is dedicated to implementing the latest technology solutions, enhancing security, and optimizing processes to drive success and efficiency. Additionally, Shahar is committed to improving both staff and students' knowledge in the evolving world of technology, empowering them for the future.
Vivian Leone, Human Resources Director
Vivian Leone leads our Human Resources at BMS and brings with her over 8 years of experience in managing and supporting the needs of staff, faculty and organizational work structures as a whole. After joining BMS in 2017, Vivian leads the development of HR services which cultivates a strong connection between staff and management and supports their joint growth by offering collaboration opportunities, advice, guidance, mediation, and a safe space for exchange.
vivian.leone(at)metropolitanschool.com