Staff Biographies
Head of School / CEO
Edith Suter
Born in Ludwigshafen, Mrs Edith Suter spent her formative years in Germany before moving with her family to the UK when she was a teenager. After completing a bachelor’s degree in economics from the renowned London School of Economics, a teaching qualification from Kingston University and an MBA from the Open University, Mrs Suter began her career teaching German to seven year-olds at Danes Hill Preparatory School, an independent school in Surrey. Her varied and extensive teaching career includes senior appointments at successful state and independent high schools in greater and suburban London. These include Head of Sixth Form and Head of Economics at The Tiffin Girls’ School, a state grammar school consistently achieving a top five placing in the UK Government’s teaching league tables, as well as Head of Economics at Croydon High School. Before joining ISVA, Mrs Suter’s most recent appointments were as Deputy Head of Lodge School, Surrey, an independent school close to London and as Governor at The Hawthorns, one of the largest Preparatory schools in England. In addition to her mainstream UK teaching and managerial experience, Mrs Suter was also Director of Studies with the pioneering online subsidiary of Southbank International School, the first school in the UK to be authorised to offer all three IB programmes. Mrs Suter’s daughters perfectly reflect her passion for education by having achieved degrees at Oxford University and London’s prestigious Slade School of Fine Art. headofschool@is-va.com
Deputy Head / Head of Secondary
Barbara Greenham
Mrs Barbara Greenham grew up in Berlin where she attended the Pedagogic Faculty of the Free University Berlin. She completed her studies, passing both the First and Second State Exams, qualifying as a fully trained teacher. After working for a number of years in Berlin teaching History and German, she moved to the UK with her British husband, where she completed the Cambridge Institute of Linguists Diploma “English for International Communications”.
While living in the UK, Mrs. Greenham taught German up to A-level at several secondary schools including King’s School Peterborough, the renowned Cathedral School.
Moving to different countries with her husband, she taught German and History at various international schools including the International School Düsseldorf and the International School Moscow. She also worked at different language institutes teaching German as a foreign language preparing international students for the Goethe Institute examinations.
Mrs. Greenham’s lasting commitment to teaching and her wide experience both in German and international educational fields make her ideally suited to ISVA’s requirements. Her knowledge of ISVA over the last 7 years, in particular its pupils and parents, serve to ensure continuity in the curriculum and responsiveness to the individual needs of our pupils, ensuring continuing close cooperation between parents and all members of the teaching staff.
Administration
Barbara Klietz
Ms Barbara Klietz, our administrative accountant, is a native Berliner.
Her first work experience was in the publishing business. Upon completion of her apprenticeship, Ms Klietz chose to work in the educational sector. Ms Klietz has worked at International School Villa Amalienhof since 1998, where she was able to combine her financial and administrative knowledge with her love for children. Ms Klietz is responsible for all the contracts with parents, embassies and businesses. In 2001 she successfully completed further training as a tax accountant. Ms Klietz is an avid sports person and, weather permitting, enjoys riding her bike to school, jogging around the Hahneberg and helping out with school community activities.
Anke Davis
Ms Anke Davis was born in Germany and raised and educated in England, but returned to Berlin in 1983. After her apprenticeship in Berlin’s famous department store KaDeWe, she continued working in the customer service department for eight years. After having two children she went on to work in the online department for a television production company. She joined our ISVA team as PA to Head of School in April 2008. Ms Davis enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the cinema and reading.
Aksana Junker
Ms Aksana Junker was born in Belarus. In her homeland she was awarded an Honours Degree in Intercultural Communication and Linguistics and completed Diploma Studies in Management. At the University of Vienna she continued her studies with a Masters degree in Cultural Differences and Transnational Processes. While in Vienna, Ms Junker taught English and Russian at a Russian school. In Berlin she now combines her love of foreign languages and cultures with her love of children by working at ISVA. She enjoys active sports and spending her free time in nature.
junker@is-va.com
Teaching Staff
Susanna Auster
Ms Susanna Auster was born in Germany and moved to the UK with her family when she was a child. She attended primary and secondary school in the UK and completed a Joint Honours bachelor´s degree in German and French at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Ms Auster completed a PGCE at Southampton University and began her teaching career in Southampton. Since then she has taught in British and bilingual schools in Norway, Italy, Germany and Spain.
auster@is-va.com
Claudia Bednarzik
Ms Claudia Bednarzik was born in Nordhausen where she attended a grammar school and passed her A levels. She then studied Primary school education with British studies and early foreign language learning as a major subject at the University of Leipzig. During her studies she spent 2 months in York (UK) and six months on a Canadian Indian reserve in British Columbia where she gained valuable teaching experience at TsiDelDel School. In 2006, Ms Bednarzik completed her studies with the First State Exam and began working as a research assistant at the Department of Primary Education at the University of Leipzig. Later, she completed her teaching practice at a primary school in Leipzig. After that Ms. Bednarzik moved to Bavaria and became a class teacher at the International School of Regensburg. In 2011 Ms Bednarzik studied art at the University of Regensburg and obtained an additional qualification for teaching art. Now she is looking forward to exploring Berlin and to specializing in teaching German at the ISVA. Ms Bednarzik devotes her free time to her love of nature, literature, photography and painting.
bednarzkik@is-va.com
Susan Burisch
Mrs Burisch is our reception teacher. She grew up in Oxfordshire, England and qualified as a nurse at the Radcliff Infirmary, Oxford. Thirty years ago, she married and moved to Berlin, where she initially worked at the US military hospital in Dahlem. After a number of years in nursing, she moved into the educational field where she taught English for eight years. Over For the last five years she has worked at ISVA helping young children develop many of the life skills they need before beginning the first grade. Ms Burisch has three grown children; she and her husband enjoy spending holidays as a family in their caravan.
burisch@is-va.com
Colin Christensen
Mr. Christensen graduated from the University of Lethbridge in Canada with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degree. During his final internship, he taught at a private school in Glasgow, Scotland. Following this, he remained teaching full time in Science and Mathematics. In 2007, he moved to Cologne, Germany and taught predominantly Physics and Chemistry within the upper secondary school. During this time he has been working towards Chartered status in both Chemistry and Physics. In his free time, he enjoys hill walking and travelling. Recently, he has moved to Berlin and he thoroughly enjoys the positive atmosphere at the school.
christensen@is-va.com
Carl Craner
Born in Coventry, England, Mr Carl Craner wanted to be involved in the sporting industry in some shape or form from a young age. Mr Craner graduated from Liverpool John Moore’s University, one of the best sporting universities in England, in 2008 before spending time working and managing in the sports and leisure industry. He qualified as a teacher in the summer of 2011 after previously working at William Parker School teaching PE to secondary students. Mr Craner is a keen observer of all sports, especially football and running.
craner@is-va.com
Jerome Tenaille d’Estais
Mr Jerome Tenaille d`Estais, our French language teacher, comes from Paris, where he studied and received a Master’s Degree in French literature and pedagogy. He came to Berlin in 1995 where he taught in different schools and at the university level. He began teaching at our school in 2001. Mr Tenaille d’Estais loves to share his interest in cinema and culture with his students.
destais@is-va.com
Daniela Henschel
Mrs Daniela Henschel has joined ISVA as German teacher in Secondary School after having worked at SEK El Castillo in Madrid for the past five years. She is originally from Germany – born in Berlin, grown up in Brandenburg – with a university degree as a fully qualified teacher of German and English from Free University Berlin and an Erasmus year spent studying English Literature and Teaching Methodology of EFL at Trinity College, Dublin. After leaving university, Mrs Henschel undertook Graduate Teacher Training at Trinity and All Saints in Leeds. In England she then taught German to students aged 11 to 18, first at a state school in Hull, Yorkshire, later at Oakham School, Rutland, covering GCSE and A-levels but also teaching German native and non-native students preparing for the International Baccalaureate. Mrs Henschel is particulary interested in bilingual education, especially now that she is bringing up her own daugther with Spanish and German, and loves reading (naturally!), languages and salsa dancing.
henschel@is-va.com
Elizabeth Kang
Mrs Elizabeth Kang, our secondary art teacher, was born in Seoul, Korea and raised in the United States. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 from Clark University in Massachusetts (US). Mrs Kang is certified by the University of Cambridge International Examinations to undertake assessment of candidates’ Coursework for the IGCSE Art and Design exams. She has had several international exhibitions as an artist, both in Europe and in the United States. Since 1999, following her post-graduate studies at the Sotheby´s Art Institute in New York, she has been dedicating herself to promoting emerging international artists and developing young students to excel in the arts.
kang@is-va.com
Ashley Kirsch
Mrs Ashley Kirsch recently moved to Berlin from Idaho in the western half of the United States. She lives here with her husband, a Berlin native. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.A. in Foreign Languages, focusing on German and ESL studies. She also received a B.S. in Secondary Education. During her studies she took a semester to study abroad at Philips Universität in Marburg, Hessen. In her early twenties she lived in Munich as an Au-Pair. Mrs. Kirsch loves to travel and explore various parts of the world. She discovered her passion for traveling after spending a year in Argentina during her Year 10 in High School. Mrs. Kirsch loves to be in the classroom. Her goal as a teacher here at IS-VA is to brighten the horizons and opportunities of her pupils’ young minds by sharing her knowledge of the world and bringing new and positive experiences to their education.
kirsch@is-va.com
Beverley Knox
Delighted with the move to Berlin, Mrs Beverley Knox has previously taught in independent and state schools in England for the last fifteen years. She has held positions as consultant for National Strategies (supporting schools with curriculum changes and with Teaching and Learning), as well as Assistant Headteacher and Head of Department. Educated at the University of Wales (undergraduate) and Bristol University (post-graduate) in English and Drama, she has recently presented her research on teaching methodology at a conference at York University. Her children are currently studying at Oxford and Sheffield Hallam Universities.Other interests include theatre, travel and cycling and she has completed a number of longer cycle rides for charity both in England and abroad.
knox@is-va.com
Susie Mathias
Mrs Susie Mathias has been living in Germany for 11 years now and enjoys the bilingual life here with her husband and four daughters. She studied Music, Dance and Drama in London, and then trained as a primary school teacher in Oxford. Before joining ISVA Ms Mathias ran English courses for all age groups starting with Kindergarten to old age pensioners. She is thrilled to be reunited with the British education system. Her favourite children (aside from her own, of course) are those in year 1.
mathias@is-va.com
Tamara Mohs
Ms Tamara Mohs, one of the primary assistants, has worked in the Nursery since 2006. She grew up in a German-British bilingual home in the Berlin borough of Spandau. Ms Mohs has numerous years experience working with young children and loves her work. She is particularly pleased to be working in an international environment where she can use her language skills in English and German to help the children learn. The children respond to her patient attitude, sparkling eyes and smile.
mohs@is-va.com
Sarah Powell
Ms Sarah Powell grew up in Yorkshire, England. On leaving school she lived in Florence before moving to Ireland where she lived for seven years. She gained her Bachelor of Arts Hons and MA in Latin and Classical Civilisation at Trinity College, University of Dublin. Following graduation, she taught at Rathdown Boarding School, set on the Dublin coast. Ms Powell completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at King’s College, London. She then spent three years working at Cumnor House School and Shrewsbury House School in London. She has also travelled extensively and spent time teaching in Omani national schools in both Muscat and Suwaik.
powell@is-va.com
Karl Proctor
Mr Karl Proctor is the Mathematics Teacher at ISVA. He studied Engineering at Coventry University before taking a two year PGCE in Mathematics Teaching Sheffield Hallam. Originally from Nottingham in England he spent the first nine years of his teaching career in the State sector. Here he taught in a number of schools, teaching pupils from Year 5 up to Year 13. This has given him a wealth of teaching experience which is both valuable and varied. Now living and teaching in Berlin, Mr Proctor enjoys cycling, running and checking out the sights of the city in his spare time. He also likes his football and is a massive Hertha BSC Berlin fan. If you don’t see him watching Hertha youmight catch him checking out an ‘Eisbaren’ Ice Hockey game instead.
proctor@is-va.com
Cornelia Pykett
Miss Cornelia Pykett teaches Year 2 at ISVA. She comes from London and gained a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Media Practice from University of Westminster. Miss Pykett worked as a camera woman in the film industry for 7 years in the UK and New Zealand before moving on to casting and props. She travelled extensively before qualifying as a teacher at South Bank University, London and worked in one of the largest inner city schools in London. She has great interest in music and plays the steel pans in carnivals around the world.
pykett@is-va.com
Alison Richardson
Ali Richardson works as an Early Years assistant alongside Mrs Burisch and Mrs Warechowicz. She originates from Glasgow, Scotland and has been living and working in Berlin since August 2010. After completing her BSc (hons) Podiatry degree at Glasgow Caledonian University she enjoyed practising throughout the city of Glasgow and the surrounding area of Lanarkshire. Continuing in the field of Healthcare she completed training in the field of Operating Department Practice. During this time throughout her professional practice she has cared for children in the clinical area. Furthermore, she has been involved in mentorship for student health professionals. In her spare time she enjoys home baking and cooking. Since moving to Berlin she has taken up bike riding and weather permitting, enjoys the journey from home to ISVA.
a.richardson@is-va.com
Rebecca Sauer
Mrs Rebecca Sauer is a British qualified teacher who studied in Sheffield, Berlin and Oxford. She has been working at this school since 2004 and currently teaches History, Geography and Global Perspectives in the secondary department. She has piloted the Global Perspectives IGCSE course within the school, which follows an inter-disciplinary, skill-based approach to learning. In 2010 Mrs Sauer completed her MA in Education specialising in literacy development and overcoming learning barriers. She is particularly interested in the education of bilingual students.
sauer@is-va.com
Cameron Stevens
Cameron Stevens is an Australian Primary school teacher with an extensive background in the arts and media. He has at various times also been a Radio broadcaster, musician, multi-media educator and art handler. Mr Stevens’ practice is further informed through his work within the education departments of cultural institutions such as Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and Art Play. Mr Stevens has spent the last three years employed by Melbourne’s Federation Square where he designed and managed the education department.
stevens@is-va.com
Christopher Stringman
Mr. Christopher Stringman was born in Bristol and educated at Swansea University. He then went on to study for his PGCE in Plymouth. As well as teaching in England Mr Stringman has also taught in Slovakia where he worked for an international educational charity. He then spent a short time teaching English as a foreign language in Italy. He has also taught in international schools in Spain and Germany as a primary school teacher. In his spare time Mr Stringman enjoys golf, reading and writing and hopes to improve his German this year.
stringman@is-va.com
Anita Stubbe
Miss Anita Stubbe was born and raised in Kuwait before moving to Berlin in 2003. She graduated from the John F. Kennedy High School in Berlin and studied graphic media and illustration at the University for the Creative Arts in Maidstone. After graduating from university Miss Stubbe undertook an internship at a contemporary art centre in Copenhagen before returning to Berlin. She speaks English and German, as well as fragments of French, Arabic, and Hindi. She has been working as a Primary teaching assistant at ISVA since 2010. As well asassisting in Year 2, she teaches Art in Years 1, 2, and 3.
a.stubbe@is-va.com
Maria Stubbe
Ms Maria Stubbe has been a primary teaching assistant since January 2005 and since 2009 she teaches ESL to all primary students. She was born in Bombay and lived in Kuwait, where she graduated from Carmel School and went on to secretarial school. She lived in Kuwait from 1977 to 2003, where she worked as a secretary in a number of well-known firms. In 2003 she moved to Berlin, with her husband and teenage daughter, when there was another war threat from Iraq. Ms Stubbe speaks many languages and helps the young children, especially those from an international background, adapt to life in school.
stubbe@is-va.com
Sheila Thomas
Ms Sheila Thomas was born in the UK and received her first degree in Zoology from the University of Oxford. She subsequently qualified as a Teacher of Science at the University of Bristol. Her teaching career has been spent inschools across the UK (in England, Wales and Scotland) and also more recently in Budapest, Hungary where she spent three years before coming to Berlin. During this time she also obtained her MA from Oxford University. In addition to many years teaching she has also spent time in scientific research, publishing, university administration and bringing up four children of her own. I her spare time Ms Thomas enjoys many sports, including running and hill walking, live music, reading and spending as much time as possible with her family and friends.
thomas@is-va.com
Michelle Verrier
Ms Michelle Verrier grew up in beautiful South Wales. She obtained an honours degree in Politics in Birmingham prior to building a successful career within the Insurance industry. Following QTS, Ms Verrier taught Reception and Year One classes at one of the UK’s top independent schools where she also had responsibility for coordinating PSHCE and Religious Education. During 2004-05, she was one of only 250 teachers chosen worldwide to take part in an incredible twelve month Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in the United States. Ms Verrier completed a Masters degree in Education with the Open University, specialising in curriculum development and learning difficulties. Ms Verrier is a creative and nurturing teacher, who believes in providing children with stimulating learning environment where they feel safe and secure. In her lessons she endeavours to strike a balance between creating a fun environment in which the pupils can enjoy learning and feel relaxed and able to achieve; and retaining a professional atmosphere in which success and, more importantly, effort are valued. She has always relished the opportunity of teaching in Germany and is excited about living and working in Berlin.
verrier@is-va.com
Agnieszka Warechowicz
Ms Agnieszka Warechowicz comes from Poland. She studied Education in Krakow. During her studies she went to England and worked as a teaching assistant at the Primary School in Kingston upon Thames. In 2007 she earned her Master’s Degree in Education at University of Pegagogy in Krakow and decided to gather more of the international teaching experience and moved to Holland where she joined the international School in Hilversum. She worked with teenagers, leading workshops with the focus on young learners with dyslexia needs. She moved to Berlin in 2008 and took few German language courses whilst working with young children. She is particularly interested in methods which support the natural development of children, including their individual learning styles, e.g. the Montessori Education and recently Fröbel pedagogy.
warechowicz@is-va.com
Martin Zschache
Mr Martin Zschache was born in Leipzig where he also gained his degree in teaching for primary schools. The last two years he took part in teacher training at a primary school in Taucha near Leipzig. Before his studies he did his civil service at a Montessori School. In 2008 Mr Zschache spent half a year in Lancaster (UK) for an intership at the Cathedral Catholic Primary School.
zschache@is-va.com
