Tara O’Brien is originally from outside San Francisco, California and has worked in international education for 17 years. She has taught and served in administrative positions at international schools in Budapest (Hungary), Doha (Qatar), and Lausanne (Switzerland).  
She is passionate about education and a lifelong learner. Tara O’Brien holds a Master’s degree, Educational Specialization in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Harvard School Management and Leadership Certificate. After giving birth to her second child, she began her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, focusing on Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development. She finds it rewarding to take intentional steps towards achieving a long-term goal and believes that a school should continually strive to grow and improve.

Tara O’Brien believes that positive and supportive relationships create the foundation for learning. When students feel a sense of belonging in their community, they become active, self-motivated, and courageous learners. Central to education and self-determinism is the human need to learn about and value one’s uniqueness, feel a sense of belonging in one’s community, and understand that one can make a positive impact on one’s local and global community.

 Nicholas Heymans, originally from South Africa, has over a decade of experience in boarding schools across South Africa, Russia, and Berlin. He has successfully led boarding programs, managed ICT and Technology departments, and served as master in charge of hockey. His passion lies in creating positive, inclusive environments for students from diverse backgrounds. Nicholas strongly believes in the principles of positive education, fostering resilience and a growth mindset in students. 

Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of South Africa and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Advanced Teaching (IB). He has taught ICT, Coding and robotics, English, Math, and History and is actively involved in sports coaching.