Rijksstraatweg 200
2241 BX Wassenaar
The Netherlands
Tel.+31 (0) 70 512 10 60
Fax+31 (0) 70 511 24 00
|  | About ASH School Organization ASH is divided into three schools, Elementary School from Preschool to Grade 4, Middle School from Grade 5 to Grade 8, and High School from Grade 9 to Grade 12. Each of the schools have their own support services, specialist staff, and libraries, but these are also integrated across all schools to ensure the highest possible standards.
We have one primary goal: to ensure that our students make the maximum learning progress during their time at ASH. The expertise of our teachers, and the relationships they have with our students, are key. The School Board, the Leadership Team, and our Support Staff exist to make sure our teachers have the resources they need to work effectively with the students. |
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| The ASH Board of Trustees (The School Board)The Board of Trustees of the American School of The Hague is responsible for the long-term educational and financial health of the school. The committee is composed of thirteen members who serve three-year terms. When a vacancy arises, the Board asks parents to nominate themselves or others for membership. The Nominating Committee, consisting of two Board members and three parents, interviews all candidates. The prospective candidate then comes before the full committee for an interview. Once a candidate is selected, his or her name is communicated to the parent body. If there are no objections, the nominee can begin his or her term. Objections must take the form of a petition with twenty-five or more signatures, after which an election is held.
Much of the work of the Board of Trustees is done in our five standing committees. They are the Trustees, Finance, Facilities, Nominating, and Strategic Planning Committee. Members serve one-year terms.
Board of Trustees and Officers (2012-2013) Derrick Shirley - Chair
Eric Adler
Sara Crabtree
Geert Jan Dirven
Karel Drastich
Jo Hansson
David Koris
Heinrich Loechteken
Sean Rooney
Gilles Sindic
Adrienne Vriesendorp - Vice Chair
Ellen Worling
Chrisoula Papadopoulou - ASH PTO Representative
Interest in joining the Board of Trustees is usually high among parents. The outstanding level of educational and professional achievement among ASH parents ensures that our Board includes members from the business, scientific, engineering, and educational fields. Further, a cross section of nationalities ensures that the diverse population of our school is well represented, with a minimum of four members being American.
The Board holds open meetings several times per year, in the High School Library at 7:00 p.m. All members of the American School community are invited to attend. Open Session Board minutes and agendas are posted on the Board link of the ASH website. The Board also posts notices in the weekly school newsletter, the Flash. |
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ASH has an exceptionally dedicated and knowledgeable faculty. With its excellent reputation and attractive location in the Netherlands, ASH has been able to recruit quality teachers with a wide range of nationalities and educational backgrounds.
The majority of our teachers come from the US, but we have teachers from many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. We also have teachers from The Netherlands, especially teaching Dutch and physical education. More than 80% percent of our teachers have Master's degrees and more than 30 of our teachers have been at ASH for more than fifteen years.
ASH believes in developing teachers, and has an active professional development program for faculty members. All teachers have an annual professional development plan in which they identify their own learning aims. Professional development activities include working with consultants who come to campus, internet courses, conference attendance, and, what teachers clearly indicate as the best learning opportunity, working with colleagues. |
| |  Richard SpradlingDirector
Rick Spradling is a native of the USA, and received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of West Florida, a master's degree in English literature from Indiana University, a second master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama - Birmingham, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of South Carolina.
He has held various teaching positions in both elementary and secondary schools in Indiana, Zambia, and Cameroon, and taught as a Visiting Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of South Carolina. Rick was director of the American International School of Libreville, Gabon, and of the American Cooperative School of Tunis, Tunisia, where he was named a National Distinguished Principal.
He has served on numerous accreditation teams and advisory boards, written several articles for national and global publications, and given presentations at various regional conferences, as well as serving on accreditation committees for Middle States Association (MSA) and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS). During his overseas career, he has been president of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), the Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS), and the Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA), and treasurer of the board of ECIS. Before coming to ASH, Rick was director of the American International School in Vienna, Austria.
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 Ton RavensbergenBusiness Manager Ton Ravensbergen, a Dutch native, has been, the business manager of ASH since May 2002. Prior to coming to ASH he worked for 13 years for the Royal Dutch Airline, KLM, in several international financial positions, and for three years as Chief Financial Officer for an international manufacturing and maintenance company of airline components. He has a degree in economics from the University of The Hague. |
 Tim MessickElementary School Principal Tim Messick received a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Oregon in the United States, and he also holds an Advanced Certificate of International School Administration, as well as principal certification from the College of New Jersey. He was a classroom teacher at the elementary level in Alaska and Oregon before assuming the position of Head of St. Paul’s (Elementary) School in Washington State.
Tim served as Associate Principal of the Primary Division of the Hong Kong International School for six years, and as Director of the Lower School at Providence Day School, an independent (private) school in North Carolina, before joining ASH.
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 Mary RussmanMiddle School Principal This is Mary Russman’s eighth international school and her third principalship. Mary has lived and worked in Greece, England, Italy, the United States, Bangladesh, Nepal, Argentina and Zimbabwe.
Mary has taught classes, has been a school counselor, a Dean of Students, and a Secondary School Principal. She has worked at Elementary, Middle and High School levels as well as University.
She has a Bachelors Degree in Education from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Counseling from the University of La Verne in Athens, Greece and is starting a Doctorate in Education Program.
Recently named “Distinguished Principal of the Year”, Mary attributes her success to her family, friends, colleagues, students and parents and staff. |
 Paul MackaillHigh School Principal Paul has been teaching IB History and Theory of Knowledge at the American International School in Budapest for the past ten years.
Prior to that, Paul was High School Principal at the American Community School in Cobham, outside London. He also taught upper elementary school in the U.K. (his native country), was a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University in the U.S., and taught IB and AP social studies at the American School in Kuwait. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree from Manchester University in the U.K. and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in the U.S. |
 Kili LayDirector of Curriculum & Staff Development Kili joined the American School of The Hague at the beginning of the 2012 school year and comes to us from her position as Curriculum Director at the Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona; a position she held for five years. A graduated member of the Sigma XI Honorary Scientific Research Society and recipient of the Clarence L. Remynse Scholarship for achievements in Science, Kili holds a BA in Biology and Chemistry from Bucknell. She completed a Masters in International Educational Leadership from Lehigh University in May 2012 and has taught several levels of High School Chemistry, including AP Chemistry at Greens Farms Academy (GFA), a highly regarded independent school in the United States.
Kili is a regular participant in international school accreditations, assisting schools in validating their commitment to their mission statement and school standards through CIS and MSA. She is a member of the ECIS Curriculum and Assessment Committee and works to bring best practices in curriculum development to international schools.
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 Fabienne Matasic - GouverneurHuman Resources Manager
Fabienne Matasic-Gouverneur is an experienced HR professional, with a degree in HR management, and considerable experience in Human Resources. She has worked for Shell and was most recently HR Manager at the DVB bank here in The Netherlands.
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 Lesley MurphyExternal Relations Director Lesley Murphy an Irish native and has lived and worked in The Netherlands for almost 10 years. She is a communications and marketing specialist and Holds both a Bachelors Degree and Masters in Economic & Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Lesley joined ASH in September 2010 and is responsible for marketing, communications and external relations activities for the School.
Prior to joining ASH, Lesley held the position of External Relations Director at the American International School of Rotterdam and has a strong background in Client Relationship Development and Marketing having worked for more than 10 years with the Irish Government, locally and internationally on Foreign Investment Development. |
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