School Leadership

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Meet Our Leadership Team

Our community’s leaders exemplify the ACS Core Values and work to ensure that the school is delivering on its mission on a daily basis. 

 

Senior Leadership Team

Monique Flickinger

Monique Flickinger

Superintendent

Monique Flickinger

Monique has more than 20 years experience of teaching and leading in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and Panama. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Brigham Young University, Utah; a Masters degree in Education from University of Victoria, Canada; a certificate of Teaching and Leading from Harvard University and is currently writing her dissertation for her doctorate at the University of Wyoming. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Brad, and together they have raised two adventurous children (Lexie and Peter) who are now grown and married. Monique loves to cook, can always find a little extra time for shoe shopping and has a known weakness for chocolate!

 

Dr Victor Guthrie

Dr. Victor Guthrie

Assistant Superintendent

Dr. Victor Guthrie

Victor has more than 20 years of experience in education. He has managed and led departments in seven different educational institutions, including two organizations with enrollment greater than 35,000 students. Most recently, Dr. Guthrie was the Chief Technology Officer for the Laguna Beach Unified School District in Laguna Beach, California, a position he held for eight years before joining ACS in the fall of 2013. Dr. Guthrie holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, a Master of Business Administration in International Business and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership in Transformational Change. Dr. Guthrie and his wife Amber, a kindergarten teacher at ACS, have two young daughters and together enjoy cooking, traveling, camping, hiking and off-roading. They are both lifelong learners, and are constantly pursuing educational enrichment.

Amy Greene

Amy Greene

High School Principal

Amy Greene

Amy completed her BA in history and her MEd at the University of Maryland. In 2002, after five years of teaching high school social studies in the United States, she accepted a job at the Zurich International School in Switzerland, where she held a variety of positions: teacher, Ninth Grade Academy Coordinator, Advanced Placement (AP) Coordinator, and for the last eight years, High School Assistant Principal. Amy’s educational philosophy reflects her experience playing NCAA Division I basketball; her understanding of teamwork, coaching, and hands-on learning is reflected in her focus on advisory programs, facilitative leadership, transitions, and Project Based Learning. An avid reader and enthusiastic traveler, Amy and her husband Rob Pfeiffer, a Middle School Math teacher, can often be found playing or watching sports with their children Bobby and Callum.

Karl Poulin

Karl Poulin

Middle School Principal

Karl Poulin

Karl hails from Canada and has worked in international education for more than 20 years. He believes in the power of communities, learning and staying true to oneself. Karl has a master’s in Educational Leadership and is working on completing his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Before joining ACS, Karl taught and served in various leadership positions in China, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic and in Lebanon. He has three sons; Matthew, Cameron and Freddie. He joined the ACS community with his wife, Sabine, who works in the Elementary School, and their son, Freddie. Karl is a passionate hockey fan (Go Leafs Go!) and enjoys reading, cooking, diving, traveling and getting out for the occasional run.

Heather Collins

Heather Collins

Elementary School Principal

Heather Collins

Heather joined ACS in 2020 from the International School of Düsseldorf where she worked as the Elementary School Principal. She has enjoyed working and living in many different communities around the world. The diverse experiences from Colombia, Mexico, Canada, USA, Syria, Brazil and Germany, have helped shape who she is as a leader, educator and learner. Heather enjoys getting outdoors and exploring because she believes the world we experience outdoors on a daily basis continuously sparks our curiosity and feeds our inherent need to learn. She is joined in Abu Dhabi by her husband, Kevin, who works in the High School as a Science teacher. They have two adult children, Georgia and Sam, in Canada. 

Dr. Jen Ricks

Dr. Jen Ricks

Director of Curriculum and Professional Learning

Dr. Jen Ricks

Jen has served schools, districts and state departments of education in various capacities throughout her career. She holds a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies, master’s degrees in history and secondary education, an Educational Specialist degree in School Administration and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Jen grew up in coastal North Carolina and is a true southerner at heart. In her spare time, Jen enjoys exploring new places – especially beaches.

Christina Devitt

Christina Devitt

Director of Learning Innovation and eLearning

Christina Devitt

Christina joined the ACS community in 2021.  She holds a degree in Computer Science and Masters in Liberal Arts and Philosophy and has been a teacher and technology leader for many years, working in schools in Brooklyn, NY (where she and her husband call home), Japan and Indonesia. She has relished working in schools at a time when digital tools and the innovator’s mindset are helping to transform every aspect of education, not to mention being critical to keeping us all connected. 

Leadership Team

Bobbi Donison Charles, Assistant High School Principal

Bobbi Donison Charles

High School Assistant Principal

Bobbi Donison Charles

Bobbi is from Canada. She is passionate about her students and prior to her appointment as HS Assistant Principal was the Dean of Academics. Prior to ACS, Bobbi held various teaching leadership roles in Canada and China. Bobbi holds a Master of Arts in Education, Learning and Technology from Royal Roads University. She is joined in Abu Dhabi by her husband, Jason Charles, who teaches Science at ACS High School and her two children, Elijah and Coco.

Rob Desormeau

Rob Desormeau

Middle School Assistant Principal

Rob Desormeau

Rob is from Ontario, Canada, and has been an educator in international schools for more than 15 years in China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He enjoys living overseas and the many traveling experiences that have helped him continue to be an open-minded, lifelong learner. He is also an avid sports fan who grew up playing multiple competitive sports. Rob is joined by his wife, Amy Mulvihill, who teaches in the Elementary School, and their two children Byron and Cleo, who attend ACS Elementary School.

Evelyn Lucero

Evelyn Lucero

Elementary School Assistant Principal

Evelyn Lucero

Joining ACS in 2022, Evelyn has more than 20 years of experience in education as a K-12 curriculum coordinator, classroom teacher and instructional coach. She also worked at Saigon South International School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as the Elementary School Literacy and Social Studies Coach and Summer School Director. She has also worked in Beijing, China and Los Angeles, California, USA. Evelyn is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Master in Educational Administration from California State University, Northridge and a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Azusa Pacific University. She holds a Teaching Credential and Administrative Credential from the state of California. 

Jean Rueckert

Jean Rueckert

Director of World Languages

Jean Rueckert

Jean is an experienced international learning leader and World Language specialist in K-12 education with three decades of service in highly regarded independent and international schools. Before joining ACS, she worked in Minnesota, India, Singapore and Ethiopia, in schools valuing the development of multilingual, global citizens. Jean holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Secondary Education, a Master of Arts in Spanish, as well as Ed. leadership certificates in Understanding by Design and International School Leadership. Jean thrives as a learner and contributing member of a team. She is passionate about empowering other learners, young and adult. When outside of school, Jean enjoys walks with her husband, dance classes and traveling.

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Dr. Hanadi Dayyeh

Director of Arabic Programs

Dr. Hanadi Dayyeh

Hanadi is a specialist in Arabic language and linguistics and has taught Arabic to native and non-native speakers for more than 15 years. She led and audited Arabic programs in several international and American schools in countries including Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE and has trained Arabic language teachers in international conferences and private schools. She chaired the Near East South Asia (NESA) Arabic Advisory group and is also a member of the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) World Language team that oversees the development, implementation and review of world languages standards and benchmarks in international and American overseas schools. She also has developed Arabic programs for both heritage and non-native speakers from KG1 through middle school. Hanadi and her husband moved from Beirut where she was the Curriculum and Arabic Program Coordinator. They have two daughters, one in university and another in our High School.

Meme Spurgeon

MeMe Spurgeon

Director of Student Support Services

MeMe has worked in education for more than 25 years. She believes that fairness is not about giving everyone the same thing, but about giving each student what they need to be successful. This is what drives her as an educator and a leader. Her experience with special education prompted her to create and author a direct-instruction program. She has served in various leadership roles in grades K-12 and holds a Master of Education in Exceptional Student Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her greatest reward is that she plays a role in the lives of so many students, by helping them surpass milestones and overcome barriers many people thought were impossible. Outside of school, she enjoys outdoor activities both on land and in the water. MeMe is an avid reader and does not go anywhere without her Kindle. She also likes to attend concerts, plays and any theater-based activities and is ready to take full advantage of the numerous activities offered in Abu Dhabi.

Preben Gietz

Preben Gietz

Director of Athletics and Activities

As an international educator, Preben has more than 10 years of experience in providing students of all ages with opportunities to participate in sports and in developing co-curricular activity offerings. He has worked in schools of all sizes and in many different cultural settings. Preben's personal background - being born in Germany, having grown up in an international environment in Belgium where he obtained the International Baccalaureate diploma and attending college as a student-athlete in the United States – allows him to appreciate the value of cultural diversity within a school’s community and the role co-curricular engagement plays in developing a young person’s character. He holds a Master of Education in Athletic Administration from Endicott College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Clark University.

Preben and his wife, Emily, have two young children. He enjoys being active, listening to a wide range of podcasts and has recently developed an interest in cooking, which Emily hopes is not just a fad.

Operational Leadership Team

Jodi Lefort

Jodi Lefort

Director of Admissions

Jodi Lefort

Jodi and her family joined ACS in August 2016 but have lived and worked in the region since 2000. She has a daughter enrolled in ACS and three adult children.

Jodi has more than 25 years’ experience as an educator. Before arriving in Abu Dhabi, she was Assistant Director of the Takatuf Scholars Programme, a scholarship program initiated by Oman Oil Company. Prior to this, most of Jodi’s career as an educator has been at the tertiary level working with academic writing and student support programs. In 2007, Jodi joined other like-minded colleagues in the region to form the Middle East North Africa Writing Centers Alliance (MENAWCA). Jodi served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in the early 90s, working as a teacher trainer at Luhansk Pedagogical Institute in Ukraine. She has an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction.

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Yvette L. Campbell

Director of Institutional Advancement

Yvette L. Campbell

Yvette has been actively involved in the Abu Dhabi community prior to joining ACS leadership in 2019. She served as a business development consultant to the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and has also served as a Board of Trustee member at ACS. In the United States, she was the President and CEO of the Harlem School for Arts and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Yvette holds a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and Dramatic Art-Dance from the University of California Berkley. Her eldest daughter is a 2019 graduate of ACS and her younger daughter is a 2022 graduate of ACS. Yvette is a passionate and committed not-for-profit professional who enjoys dance. 

Marise Philip-Jayendran

Marise Philip-Jayendran

Director of Human Resources

Marise Philip-Jayendran

Marise comes from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. She is a certified human resources specialist and has worked both in healthcare and education in Canada, South Korea, China and South Africa. She and her husband, Jay, are the proud parents of 'Kaitlin, ACS class of 2019 and Celina, ACS class of 2022. The Jayendrans enjoy traveling all over the world and experiencing new adventures.

Joni Wills

Joni Wills

Director of Communications

Joni Wills

Joni is an integrated marketing communications professional with more than a decade of corporate experience ranging from established, global companies to a developing start-up company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She and her husband have a daughter in the Elementary School and a son who is a future Viper. Joni enjoys exploring new places, reading as much as possible, traveling and pretending to be an excellent chef. 

Zoltan Karaszy

Zoltan Karaszy

Director of Finance

Zoltan Karaszy

Zoltan is from Budapest, Hungary. He earned his degrees (DMS and MBA) with Oxford Brookes University. Previously, Zoltan worked as the Director of Finances and Operations at the American International School in Budapest for 24 years.  He joined ACS in 2014, originally as Director of Operations, Health and Safety for the first three years. Zoltan is joined in Abu Dhabi, by his wife, Klara. They have three adult daughters, Kriszta, Lilla and Ida. Zoltan and Klara enjoy performing arts, music, singing, reading, jogging, bicycling, skiing and being outdoors with friends in their free time.

Mahmoud Bafagih

Mahmoud Bafagih

Director of Government Relations

Mahmoud Bafagih

Mahmoud has been a member of the ACS community since 1995. Originally from Mombasa, Kenya, Mahmoud has lived in the UAE for more than 30 years. Mahmoud loves watching, playing and coaching soccer. He is the proud coach of the ACS Under-14 Boys Soccer Team!

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Waheeda Al Tamimi

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Waheeda Al Tamimi

Waheeda has been with ACS as it has grown from a small school with 550 students to the full IB institution it is now. Her institutional knowledge helps guide the Administration every day and her smile is infectious. Originally from Yemen, Waheeda has been living in Abu Dhabi for many years. She has a married son and is a proud grandmother of two.

 

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Dr. Antonis Slicher

Director of Project Operations

Dr. Antonis Slicher

Antonis holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a PhD in Construction Management, with a career in the construction industry spanning more than 25 years. Antonis is responsible for delivering our new campus on Saadiyat Island, and has served on the Building Committee since 2017. Originally from the Netherlands and Greece, Antonis and his family have been with ACS since 2012. His son Philippos graduated from ACS in 2019 and is currently a second-year university student in the Netherlands, while his daughter Antigoni is an ACS senior this year. Antonis and his wife are both ACS Athens graduates, where they also met, and Kalli has been working in the Middle School for many years. Antonis enjoys traveling, walking, listening to music and practicing his flight simulation skills.

Manoj

Manoj Kunnanoth

Facilities Manager

Manoj Kunnanoth

Manoj has been with the ACS family for more than 30 years. He has witnessed each and every change that was brought to the school campus since then. He is originally from Kerala, a small state in India. His wife, Seema, is the MS and HS art assistant, and they have two boys, Manas and Abhijay. When he has free time, he enjoys playing cricket and watching movies.