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Leadership
Silke Friedrich, Executive Director
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
Gillian Evans, ELC Coordinator
Gillian Evans began her teaching career in 2005 in Manchester, UK which is where she gained her first valuable experiences working in both mainstream and special educational needs settings. In 2009 Gillian moved to Berlin and began working as an educator in the ELC at BMS as well as later taking on leadership roles in curriculum and team leading up until 2019 when she took on the role as ELC coordinator. Gillian is committed to providing a caring and developmentally fitting educational experience for our youngest learners.
Martina Nickel, ELC Coordinator
Martina Nickel is a state-approved educator with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Care which she earned at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Science, Berlin in 2008. During her studies, Martina was granted a scholarship and completed an internship and was later employed at a Sure Start Center in Birmingham, England. Martina has more than 15 years of work experience in the field of private childcare, educational curriculum planning for Berlin language schools, and 10 years of experience as a leader of Early Learning Centers throughout Berlin. Her areas of interest and expertise include the use of modern technologies, valuing and celebrating diversity, and strengthening a deep sense of confidence and personal competence in children.
Saliha Aslan, Primary School Principal
Saliha Aslan joins BMS this year as the Primary School Principal, bringing with her over 17 years of experience in international education as a school leader and educator. In her most recent posting, 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 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.
Erica Coutrim, Vice Principal Teaching & Learning, PYP Coordinator
Erica Coutrim joins BMS Primary this school year, after leading a bilingual school in her home country of Brazil. Erica holds a Ph.D. in education and is an expert in the field of multilingualism and educational technology. As a strong proponent of holistic language acquisition in international settings, Erica is passionate about creating strategic frameworks for teachers to successfully implement in the classroom, aiding both the development and mastery of key competencies in the Early Learning and Primary School years. As a published author and international educational consultant, Erica places keen focus on curriculum design and the role of technology in student learning.
erica.coutrim(at)metropolitanschool.com
Tim Stroh, Vice Principal Academic Achievement & Wellbeing
Tim Stroh has over 16 years of international teaching and leadership experience in schools throughout Europe. He has previously worked as the PYP Coordinator at BMS and has a strong interest in curriculum development, technology in education and concept-based teaching and learning. As Vice Principal Academic Achievement & Wellbeing, Tim is committed to developing agency in students and fostering learning connections that go beyond the classroom walls.
Jacob Christensen, CCEP Coordinator
Jacob Christensen earned his undergraduate degree from University College Copenhagen in 2005, specializing in Social Education. Jacob has extensive experience in teaching both adults and children with intellectual disabilities, having spent 7 years as a teacher for special education in his native Copenhagen and 4 years in New York, instructing children and adolescents with autism. Serving as 6th grade team leader for 3 years at BMS, Jacob assumed the leadership of CCEP in 2019, together with Ms. Antje Couball. Jacob sees the great benefit of guiding the social and emotional development of students at BMS through the CCEP Program, as it provides educators with a holistic viewpoint of their growth through the different settings of the school day.
jacob.christensen(at)metropolitanschool.com
Antje Couball, CCEP Coordinator
Antje Couball is a state approved social worker with a degree in the discipline that she earned in Neubrandenburg in 2009. During her study period, she interned in Hungary and Canada. Antje has vast work experience in social projects. She has worked for a Womens' Center and was involved in a Children's Housing Project both on national and international levels. Antje joined the CCEP team at BMS in 2011. She has been the CCEP Coordinator since 2013. Her final thesis focused on the implementation of the restorative justice method of family group conference within the youth welfare and youth justice system. Hence Antje's vision is that BMS embraces the restorative school principle wholly.
Samantha Hearn, Secondary School Principal
Samantha Hearn has 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, Samantha believes it is vital to provide young people with opportunities to express their views and positively influence their communities. Samantha has successfully led the strategic development of the Secondary School over the last four years.
Andrés Suárez, Vice Principal Teaching & Learning
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.
Hannah Bevis, Vice Principal Student Pathways
Hannah Bevis has over two decades of experience in education in different countries and international settings. She is passionate about high-quality teaching and running a thoughtful and supportive classroom. She believes strongly in working with colleagues and families to foster positivity and self-belief in her students, in order for them to grow to lead meaningful and engaged lives as adults. Committed to internationalism and with a global outlook, Hannah celebrates inclusion and diversity within her school community.
hannah.bevis(at)metropolitanschool.com
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.
Dirk Itter, IT Director
Dirk Itter has over 19 years experiences in IT, having spent professional experience in IT sales and support structures. In 2006, Dirk switched to the hotel industry, where he was able to hone his management skills as an IT manager. Later Dirk took over a leadership position, where he was responsible for the entire IT processes in many high-end European hotels. Beginning in 2018, Dirk assumed the position as IT director at BMS with the goal of recognizing both the potential of technology and to connect this potential with sensible and obtainable learning content. Teachers as well as students should profit from a secure and modern working environment and to learn a thoughtful and self-confident approach to technology.
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