Meet Our Staff

Deborah joined the EYFS team in January 2022 as the Nursery Teacher and EYFS Co-ordinator, and as such is the latest addition to the Middle Leadership Team. She graduated from university in 2007 with a Bachelors in Education, completing a semester in Bordeaux, France, as part of her course. This led to her moving there in 2010, where she taught in a bilingual school for several years. Since then, Deborah has travelled and worked in a number of different countries, and says she is now looking forward to calling Bucharest home. Deborah has a passion for music and sport and uses these to make her lessons more engaging for the children. Outside of school, Deborah enjoys getting out and about with her daughter and trying out new ice-cream shops.

Madalina joined our team in 2015, having graduated from the University of Galati with a degree in French and English Literature. Before deciding to return to Romania, Madalina had been working as a teacher in an international preschool in Poland. This year Madalina is the Assistant Teacher for Year 2 and also teaches French to Key Stage 1 children. She is one of the friendliest members of our community always happy to help. When not in school, Madalina loves travelling the world and enjoys reading and going to the cinema.

Ioana joined our Early Years Team in 2022, having graduated from Dimitrie Cantemir University with a degree in Primary and Pre-school Education. Her first teaching experience was in Prague, where she worked as an English Teacher Assistant in an international primary school. She describes herself as a caring and warm person who loves working with children, helping them to build confidence and to work independently on assigned tasks. In her free time, Ioana enjoys travelling, reading, and exploring portrait photography.

Alan originally joined IBSB in 2007, and is the current Head of the Primary School. He is an experienced teacher from the UK, with over 20 years spent in education, having previously taught in Essex, near London, where he was deputy head. In 2014, Alan returned to England with his young family, but missing Romania and IBSB, returned in 2015 with a new zest for life and a clear vision for the future direction of the Primary School, built on trust and a desire to create a happy, child-centered, dynamic learning environment. Away from school, Alan indulges his passion for travelling with his family- exploring new areas and having fun adventures- and enjoys skiing and time in the mountains, swimming, and reading with his children.

Victoria is originally from Dublin, Ireland, were she worked as a teacher following graduating university in 2006. Before arriving at IBSB, Victoria previously taught internationally in Japan, Spain, and, most recently, Mexico. Victoria will be joining the Key Stage 1 team as a Year 1 teacher, saying she is extremely passionate about teaching and helping young students to develop the key skills they need to become confident, successful, happy learners. In her free time, Victoria enjoys travelling, reading, and doing yoga. She is very much looking forward to exploring the city of Bucharest and eating a lot of delicious Romanian food in the coming months. She is also excited to learn about Romanian history and culture and hopes to visit many of the wonderful locations throughout Romania during the school breaks.

This is Orla’s 10th year at IBSB, and was her first teaching position abroad, having taught in Ireland for six years before arriving at IBSB in September 2012. This academic year she will teach in Year 2. She has a degree in Irish and Geography and a degree in Education from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, as well as a certificate in Special Educational Needs. She has taught in a number of situations, including Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, and Special Needs Schools. This year she continues in her role as the Primary School PSHE Coordinator, as well as the Charity Links Coordinator, and an important member of the Middle Leadership Team. Her interests include sports- especially the Irish native sport of hurling- reading, travelling, and collecting stamps from around the world!

Adelaide arrives to Bucharest directly from Darlington, a town in the north east of England, having spent three months teaching in the mountains of Gura-Humorului prior to this. She graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a BA in Primary Education in 2020 and has since worked in a wide variety of schools and educational settings around the north of England. Adelaide has specialist knowledge and experience in teaching English as a foreign language and supporting children with special educational needs and has used this extra training to work closely with refugees in the UK and further afield. She is passionate about helping children and young people achieve their goals, both in and out of the classroom, and creating a cohesive learning environment where children feel confident to share their thoughts and ideas. In her spare time Adelaide loves to travel and learn about the history and culture of different countries, including Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Australia to date. She also has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys participating in activities such as sailing, hiking, surfing, and open water swimming. She is most excited to be fulfilling her dream of teaching internationally and being able to explore more of what Bucharest (and Romania) has to offer.

Iulia joined IBSB in 2022, having dreamed of becoming a teacher since she was a child herself. She graduated from the University of Bucharest with a Bachelor of Arts in in Turkish and English, form the Faculty fo Foreign Languages, before carrying on to complete an MA in English translation. She is passionate about teaching and learning and enjoys finding the best way to support students to help them grow both academically and emotionally. She believes that education is the way to fill the world with kinder and better people and that children are the world’s chance for a brighter future. In her free time, Iulia likes to spend time with her two sons and to go on family trips, watch movies, read, and play board games.

Alison is from London, her father was in the British Army so she attended boarding school in Sussex, England from the age of 9-18 and lived abroad in a variety of countries (Brunei, Germany, Cyprus). She met her husband at University and has lived and worked abroad in Cyprus (again!) and the UAE.
Her previous career experience is in the field of Human Resources, Recruitment and Administration and she started working in education in 2013, because she feels the education sector is a challenging, rewarding and inspiring area in which to work. Imparting knowledge and helping to teach new skills is incredibly important and fulfilling. Alison has three children who attend the IBSB Secondary School. In her free time she likes travelling, experiencing new cultures, learning new languages and her whole family love animals.

Aliviana joined IBSB in 2019, having taught at British schools in Kuwait over the past seven years. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and studied Creative Writing and Education at the University of Southern California. She believes that the most effective manner of teaching is to inspire a passion for learning in her pupils, and is looking forward to another year of teaching and learning at IBSB. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, exploring new places, reading, and watching films. She is enjoying getting to know the city of Bucharest and she hopes to continue to explore the rest of Romania as restrictions begin to ease.

Lee was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, in the North East of England, and has worked as a qualified Primary Teacher since graduating from Northumbria University in 2012. Joining IBSB in 2019 (having previously taught in the UK and in the Middle East), Lee is the current Year 5 Teacher and Key Stage 2 Coordinator, and as such, is a core member of the Primary Middle Leadership Team. He enjoys travelling and experiencing new cultures and continues to enjoy his time in Romania – taking full advantage of the nearby ski resorts in the winter months. Outside of school, Lee is extremely passionate about football, whether it be playing, watching, or even just talking about it – his favourite team is Newcastle United, obviously- and can often be found on the terraces, supporting Rapid Bucuresti.

This is now Rab’s second time teaching at IBSB as he was with us 6 years ago and he says he is glad to be back. Rab is from Glasgow in Scotland and taught in many schools there before moving over to Romania to teach internationally. Rab has a passion for Science and Magic and has used his skills to entertain and teach children, introducing the successful Science Week to the Primary School programme. Away from school, Rab is a keen climber and mountain biker and has recently started growing fruit in his new orchard down near Giurgiu.

Tom joins IBSB as a Year 6 teacher, joining us from the International school in Kuwait, where he taught for 3 years. He is a keen traveller, with considerable time spent exploring countries in Asia, and a year in Australia. Outside of teaching, Tom says he is an avid football fan supporting Newcastle United and regularly attending matches when home in England, but is now looking forward to finding a Romanian team to support and watch in Bucharest. He also enjoys other sports and was a volunteer at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the European Athletics Championships, and the UK School Games. When not enjoying all things sport, he likes listening to live music and attending festivals, and says he is especially looking forward to exploring Romania and the surrounding countries, as soon as it is safe to do so.

Alexandra joined our team in 2018 as a Primary School Spanish Teacher and Teaching Assistant. She graduated from the University of Bucharest (English-major and Spanish-minor) in 2010 and since then has been working as a devoted and passionate teacher. She says she especially loves working with the younger children because she enjoys sharing the innocent way they perceive the world, full of hope and dreams for the future, as well as courage and determination. Alexandra also says she is herself a child at heart, which helps her create special bonds with each of her students to best help her students develop the necessary strategies and skills needed to be the very best they can be and to live a life full of meaning and purpose. Alexandra has already shown what a positive impact she has on her students, and now in her role as Head of MFL in Primary, she has the opportunity to extend her support and encouragement to all learners of language at IBSB. In her spare time she loves reading, spending time in nature, travelling, doing yoga, and ice-bathing.

Oana is the Year 6W Assistant Teacher and a highly valued member of the Primary School EAL Department. Graduating from the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature, Oana has been teaching for the past 20 years in both Romanian and international schools to students of different ages, with a proven track record of supporting students to consistently achieve above average progress and attainment across the curriculum. She is an enthusiastic and self-motivated teacher at heart, who enjoys working with children and says she couldn’t imagine herself doing anything else. Having completed her Teaching Assistant NCFE qualification in 2013, she is now involved in developing the knowledge and skills of her colleagues through regular CPD sessions. Away from school, her hobbies include travelling, reading, and cooking.

Alina is always a happy and smiling face around IBSB and has made a home for herself here. She is our TA for Year 3O and also the KS1 German Teacher. She studied foreign languages in University and has a passion for teaching in the MFL department. She has also taught French at IBSB. Alina has just returned to work after her 2 year maternity leave and is enjoying life as a busy new mum. She really loves children and takes time to get to know her students well. In her spare time she enjoys reading and visiting with friends and family. Alina has been at IBSB for 7 years and is a helpful and dedicated member of the team. She is looking forward to another great year and to working with colleagues and students both old and new!

Ioana joined our team in 2014, having graduated from the University of Bucharest. She is a positive and warm person who loves working with children, helping them achieve their full potential. Ioana has recently returned from her 2 year maternity leave and is very happy to be the Year 1F Teacher Assistant and also KS1 Spanish Teacher. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching films, and reading.

Alexandra joined IBSB in 2021. She was born in Bucharest and moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was 7 years old and studied Liberal Studies at California State University, Northridge. She enjoyed an early career in real estate until family circumstances brought her back to Romania at the end of 2018. Back in Romania, Alexandra was able to explore and reconnect with the country of her birth, taking the opportunity to pursue a passion she had had for many years, completing a Master’s Degree in Cognitive Science with a focus on child development, moving into the field of teaching. She also completed her CELTA qualification at International House. In her spare time, she loves reading, exploring nature, and skiing. She also really likes playing tennis, even if she admits that she is not very good at it.

Luiza joined the IBSB team almost twelve years ago after eight years of teaching in other international and state schools. This year she is the Year 4 Assistant Teacher and the EAL teacher for Key Stage 2 in the Primary School. Luiza graduated with a joint degree in Romanian and English language. She enjoys working with children, having a genuine interest in helping not just the most talented but also the less inclined to achieve their full potential. She believes that the art of teaching lies is the art of guided discovery. Luiza completed a Teaching Assistant NCFE qualification in 2013. Her hobbies include reading, travelling, exploring nature, learning about new cultures, roller-skating, and listening to music. Luiza also loves animals and is the owner of a very playful dog.

Simona joined IBSB in 2022, having taught Romanian for several years in other educational settings. She graduated from the University of Bucharest with a degree in Romanian Language, with a minor in English Language and Literature, before going on to complete a masters in Philology. Being a passionate learner, her main goal is to support children to reach their highest potential by developing their appetite for knowledge and lifelong improvement of the self. When not in school, Simona loves spending time in nature, reading, and listening to music.

Paul has been at IBSB since the school opened and as such is one of the school’s founding staff. He is responsible for implementing all aspects of the Primary School P.E. Programme, including the after school swimming club. He is a qualified water polo coach and a physical fitness coach, and was himself a professional water polo player, having won the Romanian Championship twice and the Romanian Cup once with the Steaua Bucharest Water Polo Team. Presently he is a first class water polo referee and has started coaching the IBSB Water Polo Team. He has also organised the first interschool triathlon and again competes in this sport himself on a regular basis and is a national champion in the team relay. If this was not enough, Paul is also the Romanian record holder for the fastest time to swim the English Channel and is now pursuing his dream to complete the open water endurance swim challenge, starting in America next year. Outside school Paul is a busy father of two and when not playing with his children uses most of his time to train and as such is a great role model for any students hoping to pursue a life in sport.

Alexandru has been a member of the IBSB Physical Education Department since the start of 2022. He is a qualified martial arts teacher, a fitness instructor, and personal trainer, and was himself a competitor in both national and international karate Shotokan and Kempo competitions, with high results achieved over his 13 year career. His new focus is dedicating his time and knowledge to the benefit of the little children, trying to get the best out of each and every one of them. He believes in every child’s potential and that they can one day become their best self, both mentally and physically. Both in and outside school, Alexandru is always leading by example, striving to be at his best every day, for himself and those around him. In his free time, Alex likes spending time with his family, going to the gym, reading a good book, playing chess, and walking his dog.

Catalina joined the IBSB team in 2022, having taught Music for 7 years in BSB, then Piano and Violin in Naidin Concert and Young Musicians Music School. Bringing students new experiences, enlarging the horizon for what Music is and how can develop the child and their perception towards life, makes teaching a joy and a necessity for being Catalina. When not in school, Catalina enjoys travelling with her family as her main hobby, as a speaker of four languages, which she says makes the trips abroad a lot easier and more interesting.

Robert was born in Erlangen (Germany), but raised mainly in Bucharest, having family in both countries and being influenced deeply by both cultures. He studied History and International Relations at the University of Bucharest, beginning his professional working life within a multinational company, before making the shift to the educational field in 2018 as a German teacher in a private school of Bucharest, also offering lessons in History and Geography, in accordance with a well-established German pedagogical system. He has experience working in the tourism industry, collaborating with one of the biggest Romanian tourism companies, as a cultural guide for German-speaking tourists, and has published a number of articles on topics relating to some of his passions: diplomacy, economy, history, and politics. In his free time, Robert enjoys swimming and playing tennis, going to the theatre and classical concerts, watching films, and supporting his favourite football team, Bayern Munich.

This is Evi’s 5th year at IBSB having taught previously in Greece, Germany, Brazil, and the UK in a variety of settings. Growing up in the small seaside town of Amfilohia in Greece (near the Ionian Islands) music has always been present in her life. With 28 years’ experience playing the piano, Evi is a wonderful example of a lifelong learner, as she continues her education following seminars in piano performance, music production, and music psychology from universities and academies around the globe. She has spent a big part of her life travelling, in order to experience culture and music in different settings, performing classical music as a solo pianist as well as a chamber music ensemble member around the world. She says ‘Every year I learn something new about a different part of the world and with it more about myself, as music surrounds us always in everyday life.’ Evi enjoys sharing her passion for music through teaching practical skills, such as playing piano, singing, and writing music, while integrating all aspects of music, technology, and other art forms. Since joining IBSB, Evi has explored many aspects of music creation, music production and management, putting on a variety of shows. Outside of teaching, her interests include music production, dancing, specifically ballet, swimming, watching films, and spending time in nature. She has taken part in dance shows in Bucharest and joined the cast of a movie production by the Romanian National Television.

Delia joined IBSB in 2021 as a Primary School Counsellor and SENCO Coordinator. Upon finishing her MA, Delia started practising in private clinics as a licensed psychotherapist, working with children and adults struggling with anxiety, life transitions, depression, behavioural difficulties, and self-esteem issues. She says she enjoys working with children to identify obstacles and create effective strategies for working towards goals. Outside of work, Delia enjoys traveling, doing sport, and learning new skills.

Kendall first joined IBSB in 2005 and after a period away returned as Head of School in 2011. He has taught in variety of situations including Primary Schools, High Schools, and at University Level, working as a teacher, senior teacher, Head of Department, Director, and Head of School. He graduated from Victoria University with a BCA in Marketing and Management and a BA in Economic History, before continuing on to study toward a Post Graduate Diploma in English at Canterbury University. He is currently completing an MA Educational Leadership at the University of Bath. As Head of School, Kendall is responsible for overseeing the day to day running of the school, ensuring that the school ethos and philosophy are imbued into every aspect of school life. He also teaches English and is a passionate advocate of debating and public speaking. Outside school, Kendall enjoys reading, swimming, running (occasionally), playing tennis, and trekking to far distant locations, such as Mt Everest, Mt Kilimanjaro, and Mt Kinabalu, located on the small island of Borneo.

Matthew joined IBSB in August 2017 as Head of the Secondary School. He is an experienced teacher of Science from the UK with 20 years’ experience in education. During this time, he has taught in a selective boys grammar school in London, a school for the children of British military personnel in Cyprus, and a comprehensive academy in Worcestershire in the UK, before moving overseas again to the UAE where he was Deputy Head Teacher in charge of the curriculum. Whilst in the UAE, Matt was part of the team that successfully obtained both BSO accreditation and full CIS accreditation for his school. Matt is also an ISI Team Inspector for BSO schools and a Peer Accreditor for COBIS. Matt enjoys travelling and has taken advantage of his time overseas to visit many different countries. He is also a massive Rugby fan and passionate supporter of Gloucester Rugby.

Alexandru has been a member of the IBSB Physical Education Department since the start of 2022. He is a qualified martial arts teacher, a fitness instructor, and personal trainer, and was himself a competitor in both national and international karate Shotokan and Kempo competitions, with high results achieved over his 13 year career. His new focus is dedicating his time and knowledge to the benefit of the little children, trying to get the best out of each and every one of them. He believes in every child’s potential and that they can one day become their best self, both mentally and physically. Both in and outside school, Alexandru is always leading by example, striving to be at his best every day, for himself and those around him. In his free time, Alex likes spending time with his family, going to the gym, reading a good book, playing chess, and walking his dog.

Daniela is an valued member of the IBSB MFL Department, now in her third year teaching French at IBSB to students in Key Stages 2, 3, & 4. With more than 10 years experience teaching languages (French, English, and Romanian) in an international school environment, Daniela (or Dana as she prefers to be called) has learnt how important it is to invest time and energy into building positive relationships in the classroom, greeting her students with a big, friendly smile at the start of each lesson, encouraging them to set high goals, and providing the right level of support and challenge needed to keep them engaged throughout the learning process. When not at school, Dana spends most of her free time playing with her two boys, which means she lives a very active life, but is also very well-positioned to understand and support the needs of her students on a day to day basis.

Ciprian is our Secondary School Physical Education Teacher, and one of our longest serving staff members, having joined the school close to its official opening in 2000. He is a teacher who has over the years played an important role in the lives of the students who have passed through this school. He is a specialist swimming coach, Judo coach, and alpine ski coach, with success achieved in national competitions. In addition to running PE lessons, the after school swimming club and football club, Ciprian also organises and coordinates a number of interschool sports events. When not teaching, he can usually be found working on his training programme or enjoying conversation with the students, and is one of our more popular staff members on campus.

Diana joined our team as a Secondary School French Teacher in 2007, taking on her role as the new Head of MFL in 2011, and as such is responsible for continuing the tradition of outstanding grades across all Modern Foreign Languages. A graduate from the University of Bucharest, Diana has continued to develop her knowledge by attending seminars both nationally and internationally. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Diana has also helped in organising and running the very successful Key Stages 4 & 5 Work Experience Programme. Diana has always appreciated the valuable conversations between students and teachers regardless of their mother tongue and is currently herself learning Italian- and rumour has it is planning a world tour in the future.

Ioana joined IBSB in 2019, as a Spanish and EAL teacher, and will also be a Form Tutor for Year 9. She is a graduate from the University of Bucharest, with both a Bachelor and Master’s degree, who worked for a number of years in the public school system, teaching children aged 6 to 14, before eventually making the move to an international school environment. Of teaching, Ioana says she is a passionate teacher who feels a deep sense of gratitude for every moment spent in classroom, appreciating the fulfilment that comes from helping students, who she hopes will aspire to become polyglots with a passion for learning languages. In her free time, Ioana loves playing with her two sons, enjoying lively debates with her friends, and spending time in nature.

Aurora is a key member our Modern Languages Department, with responsibility for the delivery of the Spanish curriculum for KS4 and KS5. Following graduation from the University of Bucharest, Aurora taught in the Romanian system for more than twenty years before eventually joining our team in 2010, and since this time has consistently supported her students to achieve outstanding results in both IGCSE and A Level exams. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Aurora is also an Assistant Form Tutor for 9V and is a staff member working with our sixth form student in the CAS Programme. Aurora says she enjoys her work at IBSB as she loves teaching the language of Cervantes, taking every opportunity to share her passion for Spanish culture.

Originating from a small ex-German town in the heart of Transylvania, Rodica has grown up immersed in the German language and culture since early childhood. She is a graduate of both English and German from the Bucharest Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures and has a Master’s Degree in the English Translation of Literary Texts. She has now been teaching German at IBSB for more than a decade to students across the Secondary School, in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, and says she feels very privileged to be able to share her passion for all things German with her students. When not at school, Rodica enjoys spending time with family, reading, and travelling.

Ioana is our linguistically adept German teacher. She graduated from the University of Bucharest, completing a Master in Literary Studies, before going on to work as a German Teacher, as well as a teacher trainer. A passionate teacher, she strives to continuously develop her teaching skills as a lifelong learner, attending development training courses for teachers both in Romanian and abroad. She says of teaching, that she likes personalising learning and adapting materials to her students’ needs, creating new activities to make the lessons more interactive, fun, and efficient for all levels.

This is Evi’s 5th year at IBSB having taught previously in Greece, Germany, Brazil, and the UK in a variety of settings. Growing up in the small seaside town of Amfilohia in Greece (near the Ionian Islands) music has always been present in her life. With 28 years’ experience playing the piano, Evi is a wonderful example of a lifelong learner, as she continues her education following seminars in piano performance, music production, and music psychology from universities and academies around the globe. She has spent a big part of her life travelling, in order to experience culture and music in different settings, performing classical music as a solo pianist as well as a chamber music ensemble member around the world. She says ‘Every year I learn something new about a different part of the world and with it more about myself, as music surrounds us always in everyday life.’ Evi enjoys sharing her passion for music through teaching practical skills, such as playing piano, singing, and writing music, while integrating all aspects of music, technology, and other art forms. Since joining IBSB, Evi has explored many aspects of music creation, music production and management, putting on a variety of shows. Outside of teaching, her interests include music production, dancing, specifically ballet, swimming, watching films, and spending time in nature. She has taken part in dance shows in Bucharest and joined the cast of a movie production by the Romanian National Television.

Luis joined the IBSB Creative Arts Department in August, 2022. He is a qualified actor and teacher, who has travelled the world working and studying Drama, with experience in professional theatre in various countries, including Spain and the UK, where he received special mention in several local newspapers and websites for his excellent comic timing, strong stage presence, and ability to morph into various characters. His passion for acting eventually took him to LA, where he experienced a different way of living for the creative arts. He then worked on different short films and features in Canada, whilst completing a full yearlong course in Film Production, and following this worked on a Netflix show, with his eclectic skill set growing to encompass stage and film combat, circus acrobatics, horse riding, and motion caption, to name just a few. His passion, however, lay in coaching his fellow actors, which has says inspired him to undertake a Master’s in Education in Drama in the UK, to make education his fulltime reality. Now, his focus rests firmly on helping the next generation of budding actors and directors to realise their dreams, whatever they may be, within or outside the creative arts. He believes that in order for humans to be happy and successful in life, they must do what they really want to do. Luis is without a doubt a teacher who is full of life and love for his profession, always smiling and leading by example, striving to be the very best version of himself each and every day, for himself and those around him. In his free time, Luis likes traveling, discovering new places around Bucharest, watching movies, and participating in sports – especially football.

Johanna first joined us in 2005 as a teacher of Italian and has since that time extended her role to include Head of Social Sciences, Teacher of Sociology and Psychology, Coordinator of the CAS Programme and Coordinator of the Duke of Edinburgh Programme. She is also involved in assisting students with University Applications. Involvement, care, and responsibility are some of the values that Johanna espouses, working with students to provide every member of our school with the opportunity to achieve and to make a positive difference. For this reason she was awarded the ECIS Teacher of the Year Award in 2011-12. Both in and out of the classroom, Johanna has one of the biggest smiles on campus and no doubt will continue to enrich the lives of both staff and students at IBSB.

Iona joined IBSB in 2017 to teach Sociology in her first international teaching post. Originally from Wiltshire in the South West of the UK, she has lived most of her life in East London in the UK and has taught in several London Colleges and Sixth forms. Iona worked in educational support and youth work prior to training to be a teacher. She started out teaching English, adult literacy and study skills to adults and worked for eight years at an FE college in Tottenham, London. Following this she decided to move into teaching A levels with a focus on her specialist subject, Sociology. She believes sociology helps students to look differently at the world, giving them the valuable analytical skills needed to thrive in higher education. Outside of school Iona enjoys watching films, is a keen musician and enjoys making music with others. She is interested in all types of music, including folk and world music. She is excited about continuing her expeditions to different places in Romania and is keen to learn more about Romanian culture and history.

Jayne joined our team in 2016 to teach Business Studies. She gained her teaching degree in 2007 after a change in career from being an International Trade Manager for a British bank. Once qualified Jayne undertook her first two years of teaching in Bristol; her home city, in a Sixth Form College. In 2009 she moved to her first international teaching post in Bahrain. After five years as Head of Faculty, she moved to a new challenge in Thailand, joining Regents International School as Head of Department and University Applications Coordinator. She was able to expand her horizons in teaching the IB Diploma Programme alongside IGCSE and A Level in Business Studies, Economics and Accounting. Outside school, Jayne enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, going to the cinema, skiing and cycling. After spending time in the Far East she also wishes to discover more regarding meditation, mindfulness and yoga.

As the daughter of diplomatic parents, Blessy grew up travelling the world and attending international schools before coming to Romania, so she is well-placed to relate to our students and the challenges they face. She says that moving from a private Indian school to an international school was initially an exhilarating experience- with Model United Nations, speeches, drama, inter-cultural events, and so many other activities that the regular private schools in India did not offer. In addition to teaching Economics and Business Studies, Blessy also runs the MUN Club, and is involved in supporting University Applications and Student Mentoring. Believing in the potential of all students and maintaining the view that success is more about hard work than ability, Blessy will continue to play a key role in supporting and guiding our students as they work toward achieving their dreams.

James joined IBSB in 2017, having taught in Hong Kong for five years. He is originally from Grimsby in the the north east of England, and attended Essex University where he specialised in the history of philosophy for both his BA and MA. Outside of school, James is a keen climber and has run some trips to local climbing walls. He also has a passion for music and enjoys playing a variety of string instruments, including the guitar, mandolin, and banjo.

Aidan joined IBSB in August 2020, and is currently in his 7^th year of teaching. He was born and raised in Limerick, Ireland, where he trained as a Geography and Physical Education Teacher, before moving to Kent in the UK to continue his teaching career, with a further 4 years teaching in international schools in the UAE. Aidan says he is extremely passionate about Geography and aims to instil the same passion in the students he teaches. Outside of teaching, Aidan loves to travel. He tends to favour active, outdoor trips and always tries to explore a place in depth, when time allows. He confesses himself to be a sucker for a beautiful view and relishes the challenge of a tough hike to get to one. He is also a big sports fan, who enjoys an active lifestyle, playing football and tennis on a weekly basis.

Mihaela has been teaching Biology for 14 years (most of which she has spent in IBSB). She graduated from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, with a degree in Genetics, which she still finds fascinating. Her aim is to inspire her students with the same passion she has for the subject from their first year in the senior school until they graduate, and her students‘ grades show that she is certainly achieving her aim. She is also the Head of Science, overseeing admissions tests for science, and is an active supporter and volunteer in our schools Community Action Service programme. She is a chair of the Environment Committee, working at improving the quality of our schools ecological background and increasing awareness and understanding of global issues, and can usually be found in the science rooms offering students extra help in her free periods.

Originating from northern Romania, Daniela completed her Bachelor’s Degree in chemical engineering, specializing in organic chemistry, before receiving a two year Erasmus Mundus Master’s Scholarship in Natural Sciences to study in France, Portugal, and Canada. In 2015, Daniela was awarded the Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship, allowing her to complete a PhD. in collaboration with the University of Hamburg, working with research groups from the University of Basel, University of Gothenburg, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Strasbourg, and many other world renowned research institutions. In her free time, Daniela is very much an outdoor person, enjoying practicing yoga, hiking, spending time in nature, and travelling, which has she says has enabled her to explore her interest in other country’s traditions and cultures.

Originally from the UK, Joy joins us from Dubai, UAE, where she taught for 4 years (her first international teaching post), and grew to love the international school learning environment. Prior to this, Joy taught for 10 years in the UK, gaining a wide variety of experience from Key Stage 3 through to Sixth Form. Outside of school, Joy enjoys an active life, spending as much time as possible outdoors running, cycling, and doing yoga, amongst other things, and says she is very much looking forward to adding snowboarding to her long list of interests, taking full advantage of the Romania winters!

Loredana, was a mathematics and physics teacher at IBSB from 2005-7, and having taught at a number other international schools over the past eight years, including three years at an international school abroad, she returned to IBSB for her second term in 2014. With eleven years teaching experience, teaching both the English National Curriculum and the IB Programme, Loredana has much to offer our students, and will no doubt put her knowledge and skills to good use in taking on the responsibility of teaching both IGCSE and A Level Physics, including A Level Mechanics. When not in school teaching her students, Loredana is most likely to be found spending time with her family, and where possible travelling as she enjoys visiting other countries and meeting new people.

Cristina is a good example of a lifelong learner, having graduated from the University of Timisoara, Faculty of Mathematics with a degree in Mathematics and ICT, before continuing on to complete an MBA whilst working at IBSB. She has also completed a course in International Hospitality Tourism Leadership and during the summer break works in Greece as a tour guide. She joined the school in 2004 and is a teacher that has the ability to get the best out her students. She is a Form Tutor, the Secondary School Clubs Coordinator, and in 2014 was promoted to Head of Department, which will certainly keep her busy. She says her passion in life is travelling, and so most school breaks she is off somewhere enjoying other cultures, making friends wherever she goes.

Darren joins us from Leicestershire, England, where he worked as a Lead Practitioner for Mathematics and an Assistant Head of Mathematics. Before then, Darren worked at an International school in Rome. Mathematics has always been a huge part of Darren’s life and career, where after obtaining a first class degree at Sheffield University, he went on to do research at Glasgow University on Differential Geometry. It was during this period that Darren caught the “teaching bug” and went on to become a successful teacher in the UK for over 13 years. Outside of teaching, Darren is a huge football fan (and a follower of Leicester City) and plays as a 5/6 a-side goalkeeper. He also enjoys playing pool, keeping physically fit through a variety of means (anything from Yoga to HIIT training), and enjoys time with his lovely wife and new baby daughter.

David joins IBSB having completed his Mathematics teacher training in the UK. Prior to specialising as a Mathematics teacher, David worked as an English teacher, with a considerable amount of time, five years to be precise, spent in China. Growing up beside the Lake District National Park (NW England), David says he was imbued with an appreciation for nature and a sense of adventure. Outside of school, he enjoys travelling and spending time in the great outdoors. He is a keen skier and snowboarder and always welcomes the opportunity to go hiking, saying he is very much looking forward to exploring Romania, especially the world famous Apunseni, Transfagaras, and Carpathian mountain ranges.

Kelly joins IBSB from Thailand, where she spent four years teaching at a prestigious international school in Bangkok. Before that, she trained for her PGCE at UCL’s Institute of Education and then taught in UK schools for three years. Kelly did not, however, find her way into teaching immediately, post-graduation. Her first job, fresh from a degree in mathematics from the University of Leeds, was working as a computer programmer, where she says she enjoyed the day to day challenge of applying the skills learned studying maths to solving complex coding problems. Fundamentally, though, her heart was always with mathematics, and so she applied to become a teacher in order to pass on her love of maths and problem solving to the next generation. Outside of school and the world of mathematics, Kelly has been heavily involved with school trips and activities, especially the Duke of Edinburgh Award. She is a keen traveller, and plans to do lots of exploring both in Romania and abroad.

Originally from Manchester in the UK, Bohdan has been teaching for close to twenty years, both in the UK and internationally. His first five years teaching internationally were in Bucharest, which he says he enjoyed tremendously. He then moved on with a desire to see more of the world, working in a number of countries within the Middle East and Asian regions, before eventually returning to Romania in 2017. His main passion is teaching ICT and Computer Science, saying he loves sharing his knowledge and experience with his students. Being from Manchester, his other passion is football. You’ll have to guess which football team he supports. He is also an avid motorbike rider, programmer, and a dedicated AFOL. When not at school, Bohdan spends most his free time with his wife, riding around Romania, and enjoys working on DIY projects around the home.

Michelle joins IBSB  as the new Head of English, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from a number of years teaching, both in New Zealand and internationally, in the Middle East, Europe, and South America. Originally from New Zealand, where she trained and first taught, Michelle joined the mass kiwi migration west in search of an international life of adventure. Above all else, Michelle says she looks forward to sharing her love of the English language and literature with her students, inspiring the next generation of would be writers. Outside of school, Michelle has a passion for travel and new cultures, and in her down time can be found doing typical English teacher things, like reading and correcting people’s grammar.

Aydin is a true international, being born in Bulgaria, raised in Turkey, and for more than twenty years working as a teacher in Romania. His teaching focus is ICT and Computer Science, with a background in solution development in management and career counseling. He says he is particularly looking forward to challenging the students in the areas of Programming, Artificial Intelligence, 3D Printing, Robotics, Web Development, and Gaming. In his free time, Aydin enjoys participating in a variety of sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, cycling, and snowboarding, and was a volunteer in the UEFA Euro 2020 European Football Championship as a Mobility Maker Team Lead. He is also an avid traveller, seizing every opportunity to visit other countries to make new friends and learn about different cultures.

This is Peter’s thirteenth year teaching at IBSB. Peter hails from Wirral (just outside Liverpool) and he completed a degree in English Language and Literature before completing his PGCE and moving to Romania to teach at IBSB. After spending twelve years as a core member of the Primary School team, he has now moved across to our Secondary School for a new challenge. Peter will be teaching English in Key Stages 3 and 4 and is looking to promote literacy-related events and enjoyment of all aspects of the subject. Over the years, Peter has picked up enough Romanian language skills to survive in Bucharest and has travelled all over the country he now considers home.

Tara joins IBSB as an English teacher, arriving from Abu Dhabi where she taught for three years. Prior to moving abroad, Tara attended university, completing a degree in English Literature at De-Montfort University and a PGCE in Secondary Education at the University of Leicester, then worked as a qualified Teacher in Leicestershire, England. Tara says of her teaching, that she is passionate about English Language and Literature, seeking not only to pass on her love of reading, but also to empower her students to think critically and communicate effectively. As an avid reader, she is particularly looking forward to browsing the shelves of the school library, and has already planned a visit to Bucharest’s largest bookstore, Carturesti. Outside of work, Tara says she is a self-professed “nerd” who enjoys gaming and playing Dungeons and Dragons. She is also a keen traveller and as such is eager to explore the many beautiful cities and locations of Romania.

Carmen joins IBSB as the Secodary School EAL Coordinator, having spent twelve years in Spain working as an English teacher. She graduated from the University of Bucharest with a BA in Modern Foreign Languages (English and Spanish), before moving to Spain to perfect her Spanish language skills and gain first-hand experience of the vibrant Spanish culture. Whilst in Spain she completed a course in Simultaneous Interpreting, at the University of Extremadura in Caceres, whilst studying TV, Radio, and Movie Production, then accepted an Erasmus scholarship in Brescia Italy, where she successfully completed her training working for a local TV station. Spain beckoned once more, moving to Barcelona, where she worked as an English teacher, completing her CELTA qualification at International House. Carmen says she is excited to be a member of the IBSB community, and is looking forward to creating a warm, friendly, motivating learning environment for her students.

Cristina joined IBSB in 2021 as a Secondary School Counsellor and SENCO Coordinator. During her BA, she volunteered for Autism Transylvania Foundation (AAT) for a semester; it was then that she realised how special autistic children are, dedicating the next three years to working as a therapist for ASD children whilst continuing her studies. Upon finishing her MA, Cristina opened a private practice and continued working with ASD Children, along with teenagers and adults. In addition to running her private practice, Cristina also provided focused support supervising, facilitating behavioural change, and assisting with curricula adaptation for an autistic child in a private international school in Cluj-Napoca, prior to relocating to Bucharest. Outside of work, Cristina enjoys reading, traveling, and hiking.

Bogdan joins the Secondary School Student Support Team, having worked as a translator since 1999, both in Romania and the UK, and with 20 years teaching experience as an English Teacher, having completed a BA in English and Romanian from the University of Craiova. His passion for the English language started at a very young age, inspiring him to initially pursue a career as a translator and later a teacher of English, enjoying working with students of all ages to ensure they fall in love with Shakespeare’s mother tongue. He speaks highlight of his time living in London, where he worked as a translator, becoming well-acquainted with the British lifestyle and culture. As a fully converted anglophile, Bogdan says he is very happy to be a member of the IBSB community, where children learn to speak English as a native speaker, and looks forward to supporting the children on their learning journey each and every day. Outside of school, Bogdan enjoys riding horses in the woods with his riding students, as a long time horse-riding instructor, with occasional guest appearances on Romanian TV stations and other media outlets.

Lea joined IBSB in 2012, quickly becoming a valued member of our community handling the day to day office activities, organising school events, overseeing admissions, public relations, and strategic marketing for the school in regards to specific events and school advancement. Lea says she loves working in a school environment because every day is different, offering plenty of opportunity to promote the excellence of IBSB education to prospective and current parents. During her free time, Lea enjoys doing yoga, travelling, and reading books to keep up to date with new and inspiring ideas in education.

Marius first joined IBSB in 2003 and after a period away returned as IT Director. He is responsible for the management, strategy and execution of IT infrastructure for the organization. Marius also oversees technical projects in alignment with organizational goals, supervising IT team, while working closely with management, external vendors and advisors.
In his free time, Marius enjoys spending time with friends, watching 4D movies at the cinema and bike riding.

Alexandra is the school librarian, having joined IBSB in the spring of 2022. She considers her background to be a mirror of her passions and capabilities, first pursuing her passion for cinema and film, in completing a BA in Film Studies (Scriptwriting and Filmology), and then an MA in the History of Ideas, Mentalities, and Popular Culture. Post-graduation, Alexandra sampled the corporate life, working as an audit analyst for one of the Big Four, before seeking out a more creative career. In joining IBSB, Alexandra says she is looking forward to sharing her passion for books and reading, and is excited to explore new ways of making reading for pleasure and general interest fun and engaging for the tech savvy, digital generation. In her spare time, Alexandra enjoys reading, with her favorite author at the moment being Ocean Vuong a Vietnamese American poet, essayist, and novelist, recipient of the Ruth Lilly/Sargent Rosenberg fellowship, the Whiting Award, and the T.S. Eliot Prize for poetry. She also enjoys spending quality time with her friends and journaling.

Flori joined IBSB in September 2000 as one of the original team members, and as such has seen the school grow from just 9 students to more than 350 today. Originally joining the team as a teaching assistant, Flori took some time out in 2010 to have her first child, returning to work in the school office as the Admissions Officer, and is now also involved in PR. After 16 years of work at IBSB, surrounded by students, staff, and parents, Flori says she feels like IBSB is her second home. When not at school, she likes spending time with her family, travelling, and discovering different places, cultures, and people. She enjoys reading and doing sport and can be found more recently participating in many of the school Triathlons and Marathon events.

Ana first joined IBSB in September 2001 as a teaching assistant, after graduating University. She then moved from the classroom to the office, bringing with her the experience of the classroom, taking over the responsibility for organising school lunches, school transport, after school clubs, trips, and events. Whether in the classroom or the office, Ana says that working at a school is a fulfilling experience as the children teach you so much about discovery, imagination, curiosity, and joy. Outside school, Ana enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, going to the cinema and cooking for friends.

Iulia joined IBSB in March 2007, as a graduate from the Faculty of Law at University of Spiru Haret, where she completed a Bachelor and Master Degree in Law and Public Administration. On a day to day basis, Iulia brings not only a warm friendly smile to the school, but a wealth of knowledge and experience. As a lifelong learner, Iulia has continued to develop her knowledge since joining the IBSB team, attending HR and Safer Recruitment courses and seminars. She plays a primary role in regard to ensuring safer recruitment policies and procedures re followed, and assisting new staff and their families to settle into life here in Romania. Outside work, Iulia enjoys travelling and exploring beautiful countries and meeting new people. She also enjoys skiing, photography, and spending time with her daughter.

Elena joined IBSB in April 2006 as an Economist, quickly becoming a valued member of the office team, handling the day-to-day planning, implementing, managing, and controlling of all financial-related activities. A graduate from the Faculty of Financial Management Accountant, University of Spiru Haret, she completed her academic studies with a Master Degree in Audit and Financial Business. In her free time, Elena says she likes to relax, with much of her free time spent reading books and watching movies.

Andreea joins the office team as the new Head of Admissions. She describes herself as a happy, optimistic, enthusiastic person by nature; a positive thinker with a can-do attitude and the courage to try new things, to be original, always thinking outside the box. She graduated from university in 2005, immediately joining a financial institution in Bucharest, growing professionally from teller to Branch Manager and Head of Department, before moving on to Italy in 2010 to work for Group Holding in their Innovation Department, and then Austria to coordinate the implementation of group projects for all CEE Banks. In total, Andreea has more than 15 years’ experience in multinational companies, with expertise in sales and business development, project management, and commercial strategy. She describes herself as a lifelong learner, and has recently certified as a life coach to support others on their learning journey. When not at school, Andreea spends most of her free time with her two children, who she says challenge her to be the very best version of herself. She also enjoys experimenting with interior design ideas, playing chess, and travelling when time allows.

Iulia is the latest acquisition in our Admissions department. Before arriving to IBSB she has mainly worked in the corporate environment, growing from a curious junior level into a senior specialist in projects’ implementation and markets’ technical support. She describes herself as a disciplined, problem solver and hard working person. She is fluent in English, French and Portuguese. Iulia enjoys dedicating her spare time to her family and close friends, to explore new travel destinations and to study as much as possible about psychology, interior design & styling.

Claudia joined the IBSB team as a member in the financial department. She completed a degree in Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, before going on to do her master’s in Financial Audit and Consulting. Related to accounting, she has over 15 years experience working in a variety of companies across a number of business sectors. When not at work, Claudia likes spending time with friends, reading, and going to the theatre.

Cristina joins the IBSB Finance Department with eleven years’ experience working in the banking sector in a variety of positions, and several years in insurance, where she provided support in the payment allocation and identification department. Joining IBSB in 2022, Cristina says she is very much looking forward to getting to know the staff and parents, having learnt early on in her career that building and maintaining positive working relationships is essential to establishing a sense of job satisfaction. In her free time, Cristina likes to spend time with her family (she has 3 children); she especially loves going to the seaside and the mountains, or a little closer to home, the many beautiful parks of Bucharest, where she regularly walks, rollerblades, and rides a bike.

Roxana joined IBSB in October 2017 as a member of the office administration team, assisting the Head of School in the day to day running of the school, providing logistical support in a number of key areas, including community liaisons and interschool relations and events. Roxana also plays an important role in supervising the activities of the 6th form students, ensuring school policies and procedures are followed in accordance. Roxana says that she really enjoys working in a school, because she finds it a warm and cheerful environment with the presence of the children, who always bring a smile to her face and a feeling of joy to her day. Outside school, Roxana enjoys spending time with her family, reading, travelling, and discovering child friendly locations for her daughter in Bucharest area.

Dan joined IBSB in January 2007 and since this time has been involved in various areas of support across the school. In his current role as System Administrator, he is responsible for the smooth functioning and development of the IT infrastructure in our school, saying he is always happy to offer his support to our staff and students in their day-to-day encounter with the IT world within IBSB, and does so with a warm, welcoming smile. Outside school, most of all, Dan enjoys spending time with his daughter. In addition, he enjoys travelling, music, movies, video games, staying in touch with technology and everything that involves physical activities.

Florin is our MIS Administrator. He joined our team in 2009 and is responsible for the smooth running of the IT system in the school. In addition to ensuring that all our school servers, computers, tablets, electronic whiteboards, and printers are running smoothly, Florin is also involved in a host of other jobs, including maintaining and updating SchoolBase (the school MIS), issuing reports, and maintaining all staff and student accounts, which added together means that he is usually the last staff member to leave school each night. Outside school, Florin enjoys spending time with his family and friends, watching movies, and keeping up to date with the latest innovations in technology.

Andreea joined the IBSB team seven years ago, as part of Marketing and PR Department, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Public Relations from National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) in Bucharest. Post-graduation, Andreea focused on public relations roles for several years, before eventually turning her attention to the field of marketing, as way to put her creative skills to good use. Now 11 years on, Andreea has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with a wide variety of social media, website management, strategy and content creation, events and product promotion, and brand awareness campaigns. In her free time, Andreea loves to read, to play with her two cats, and to travel to exotic locations, far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.