Dr. David Dean (2009-2012), Chair
Nationality: British
Children: Marie-Therese: (11th Grade), Nina-Louise: (9th Grade), Maximillian: (3rd Grade)
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My wife, Elisabeth, and I have been associated with MIS since 1995 when our eldest daughter entered Pre‐Reception. So far we have accumulated 30 years of experience with the School and will accumulate another 20 years before our youngest child graduates. In this time I have seen how MIS has developed and have a genuine long‐term interest in the success of the School.
I strongly believe that MIS will succeed if it equips our children with the skills, capabilities and cultural awareness to help them address the unprecedented opportunities and challenges that the 21st. Century will bring.
- Academic success will be key for our children and requires the School to attract and retain the best possible teachers – teachers who are not only able to help our children to learn and instil in them curiosity for the world around them, but who can also inspire them to achieve "great things".
- Also key to our children's personal development will be a deepened awareness and appreciation for different cultures – this can probably play an even larger role in the School's curriculum.
As a Board member I aim to develop MIS into one of Europe’s pre‐eminent international schools. This will not happen over night, and it will require changes to be made, starting with increased parental engagement in School activities and improved communication within the entire MIS community.
On a personal note: I grew up in the UK, completed my undergraduate degree and doctorate in Physics at Oxford University and moved to Germany as a Post‐doctoral researcher in 1982. Since 1985 I have been with The Boston Consulting Group, a leading top‐management consultancy, and am now Senior Partner. I work with some of our most global and successful clients in the technology field. I have been married to Elisabeth for over 20 years – she has served as MIS Area Representative for Tutzing/Feldafing.
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Adam Bird (2011-2014), Vice-CHair
Nationality: American
Children: Matthew: 8th grade, Sophie: 5th grade
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My wife, Kristen, and I have lived in Munich for the past 18 years. Our two children, after beginning their schooling in German kindergarten, have attended MIS since the Early Childhood program. Having spent my childhood in Geneva, Switzerland and attended the International School of Geneva, I have always considered myself fortunate to have been the beneficiary of an international education. We are thrilled that our children have a similar opportunity to receive a top-notch, rigorous education in a supportive, multicultural environment.
Education is more important than ever in our increasingly global society. The quality standards are being raised constantly along with the requirements to be successful in higher learning and beyond. Therefore, I would like to focus my term on the Board on:
- Accelerating the progress of the past few years and continuing to strive to achieve the highest possible academic standards
- Redoubling our efforts to attract and retain motivated, world-class faculty
- Assuring that MIS has the appropriate resources to be able to support our high academic and social aspirations
- Increasing the level of accountability for performance, as well as maintaining a high level of transparency and communication with the MIS community
I believe that my professional background will allow me to contribute substantively to the MIS Board. Since completing my university education in the US, I have been a management consultant for 20 years. Presently, I am a Senior Partner with Booz & Company, where I lead one of our global practices. My profession has allowed me to work with the Boards and top managements of organizations on a wide array of strategic and organizational issues. In addition, I have had extensive personal governance experience, notably serving on the Board of Directors of Booz & Company.
Our family has a long-term commitment to and interest in the continued success of MIS. As such, we have always been actively involved in the school community. Serving on the Board would be a further extension of our bond with the school.
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Nationality: British
Children: Jacqueline (11th grade), Marcus (10th grade), Michael (5th grade)
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I am a British citizen but grew up in Stockholm, Sweden. After graduating with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, I moved to Munich together with my (now) wife in 1990. In Munich I earned a second degree in Economics while working in parallel at the European Patent Office.
I have held several positions at the European Patent Office and am now responsible for our co-operation with China, Korea, Japan and the United States.
My children have been at MIS since their early days, with the exception of a three-year period between 2004 and 2007 which we spent in Bangkok, Thailand. There, my children attended the International School of Bangkok (ISB) which gave both them, my wife and myself a good insight into another international school.
As parents, we entrust the school system with our most precious part of our lives, namely our children. When I graduated some 25 years ago, knowing a couple of languages was an asset which stood out. These days are gone now as the competition among students is extremely tough. We need to make sure that MIS can equip our children with the tools and expertise to compete among the best in the world.
We need to make sure that MIS continues to develop and excel as one of the World's leading international schools.
As a member of the board, I will endeavor to make sure that MIS delivers the best teaching possible and, equally important, that parents feel that they are getting value for their investments.
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Christian Bergaust (2009-2012), Treasurer
Nationality: Norwegian
Children: Fabian (10th grade), Felix (8th grade), Moavilde (7th grade), Matilde (3rd grade)
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My name is Christian Bergaust I’m a Norwegian citizen living abroad for the last 25 years. I met my wife Marika in Sweden. We married in Holland and have four children. My children have spent their whole “school lives” at MIS. This means that we have six years of EC 4/5/6, thirteen years of junior school and seven years of middle school experience – so far.
Before my children started at MIS we made our “family world tour” for eight months with overseas living and cross cultural skills enhancement via extended stays in the USA, Fiji, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
I have a university degree in Business Finance & Administration. I have experience from the automotive and pharmaceutical industries – latest as CFO of a pharmaceutical company. I have gained management experience from assignments in Sweden, UK, Belgium and Germany. Parallel to this I’m an entrepreneur and co‐founder of a successful company in Sweden.
Some years ago I switched from an expat‐ to a local employment contract. Suddenly MIS was one of our largest expenses. Or is it an investment? A brilliant faculty in combination with no cultural barriers and the opportunity to learn the world’s most important languages fluently must of course be seen as the most important investment we make in our lives ‐ not only for our children but also for us as parents. I would very much appreciate it if I got the opportunity to be a part of the team that lays out the strategies for the future of MIS and the education of the MIS students.
Which three important questions for the future of MIS would I like to emphasize on as a board member?
1. MIS should start up a continuous programme for defining students’ specific individual needs with the objective to further strengthen the learning support area.
2. Analyse and improve the recruitment processes with the objective to get the teachers, principals and other defined important staff to stay longer with MIS.
3. Search and promote excellence. Define MIS strengths, encourage these and turn them into areas of excellence.
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Nationality: German
Children: Aurel (8th grade), Celia (10th grade MIS), Fabia (12th grade, Abitur class), Julian (4th semester ETH Zurich)
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Raising our 4 children and providing them with the individually optimal school education has always been a high priority for my wife Dagmar and me. In 1994 our family moved from Munich to Vienna, where the kids attended local Austrian schools. From 2005 to 2009 we lived in Beijing where Celia and Aurel spent four years at the International School of Beijing. Their older siblings attended the German School in Beijing and a boarding school in Sydney. In fall 2009 our family settled in Munich, our 2 youngest joined the MIS. Both children plan to graduate at MIS.
As a board member I will focus on 3 areas:
- Detailing the actions of the ‘Strategic Plan’: recently the MIS Strategic Plan has been shaped, many excellent proposals are recommended. Their further refinement into comprehensive and measurable actions requires a lot of effort, especially in the next 6-12 months.
- Engaging more parents: MIS must find ways to involve even more parents; one approach could be to support and ensure the smooth, fast and successful implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan .
- Striving for excellence in education: compared to many German schools MIS fosters a much more positive, inspirational and motivating learning environment. Nevertheless the academic progress should reflect, support challenge the student’s individual potential.
My background: After completing my Master in engineering at the University of Aachen, I worked for 2 years at Proctor & Gamble including a 1 year stay in the US. A MBA at INSEAD in France followed. In 1982 I joined McKinsey, a consulting company. In 2009 after 27 years with stays in the Munich, Vienna and Beijing office I retired from the firm. Currently I am an active board member in 2 small companies.
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Nationality: German
Children: Carolin (10th Grade), Isabel (7th Grade
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After having sent Carolin and Isabel to the German Primary School, my husband Bernd and I clearly decided for M.I.S because we met so many open-minded, self-confident students and successful alumni. We truly believe that the IB Diploma and the positive learning environment is the best foundation for all our children’s further career.
As an active mother, I am associated with M.I.S for even more than 7 years and I experienced the positive development of our kids and the school. To master the steady changing and rising challenges constant improvement and reflection is a must. As a board member I would like to actively support the mission, vision and values set in the present strategy plan. The results should be transparent and visible to the parents as association members.
Close contact and exchange with students, parents and staff is essential for future decision making. As part of the strategic goals, I would like to focus on:
- investment in best practice of teaching & didactics, quality and acquisition of teachers as top priority
- a more streamlined and coordinated Diploma Program for the last 4 years
- a flexible student support service to integrate the diverse backgrounds and capabilities of students or part-time needs
- strengthening of foreign languages beginning in Junior School
After my education for European languages and management at the ESA (English, French, Spanish), I worked several years in corporate sales and project management for a leading American software company and for a german company in the metal industry. Currently I am assisting my husband in our own business and am partner of a private limited company in the Stuttgart area. As a member of the board team, I see my role as contributing to successfully implementing the schools strategic goals.
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Dr. Marta Montal (2010-2013)
Nationality: Spanish
Children: Alessandra: 10th grade, Angela: 8th grade, Nicolas: 1st grade
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As a Board member my aim is to ensure that MIS children are provided a solid educational foundation and given the tools to excel in all aspects of life. Witnessing and working with my children through different school systems across three continents, has given me a broad insight into how school resources can be effectively targeted to ensure that each child happily fulfils their individual potential.
I am fluent in four languages and am now mastering German. After graduating in Medicine from the University of Barcelona, specializing in Sports Medicine, I obtained a Master degree in Nutrition while working as a GP for the Spanish Health System. Following this, I worked as a research scholar at St Lukes Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University before moving to Tokyo due to my husband’s work. Meanwhile, a move to London, I attended a two year Nursery Foundation course at the London Montessori Centre. As a doctor and a mother I have develop my skills as a listener and a motivator.
The following represent areas which I would like to help MIS address and excel in:
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Enriching the curriculum with an earlier and broader exposure to foreign languages to increase cultural understanding and awareness.
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A more streamlined approach to academic learning to challenge their intellect and develop the full potential of our students, matched with ensuring the school attracts and retains professional staff and trainers of the highest calibre.
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Enhancing the importance of sport in the curriculum to deepen the team learning thus helping to build the school spirit and further develop our children.
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Strengthening relations with industry and business for our children work practice and further the links with prospective universities to ease the decision making processes within the senior school.
- Emphasizing the importance of moral and ethical values within a multi cultural environment.
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Stress the importance of having a strong Alumni body that will come back to help and support our students.
This is our third year at the school and we plan that Nicolás will graduate from MIS. I am excited about the prospect of being able to assist in the development of MIS as it takes its role as one of the leading international schools.
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Melville Mummert (2010-2013)
Nationality: American
Children: Colin: 9th grade, Carlson: 7th grade, Charlotte: 2nd grade
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Our most important investment as parents is the education of our children. The Munich International School should support our children in the development of their intellectual, social, creative and physical capabilities. Next year, my wife and I will have a child in each of the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools so the quality of the M.I.S. education at each age level is very important to us.
I believe that Munich International School should set the following strategic goals as a leading educational institution:
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Foster the individual student
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Pursue excellence in education
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Invest in the best possible facilities and tools
To be a truly international school, M.I.S. must continue to integrate students of diverse backgrounds, yet foster their individuality. Best practices at comparable schools around the world should be integrated into the academic programs. Finally, M.I.S. needs a sound financial basis - independent of the annual tuition to ensure investments in the future. This is one of the most important responsibilities of the Board.
I have personally benefited from a private school education at the secondary school, university and graduate school levels. I am deeply aware of the cost and value of private schools. These institutions are most successful when board members, parents and the school administration communicate and work together to achieve common goals.
My professional background includes management responsibility at large international corporations (IBM, ABN Amro) and entrepreneurial work building my own advisory firm in Germany and the USA. As an American that has lived in Ger many almost 20 years and is married to a German, I have experienced firsthand the challenges of bridging different cultures, languages and traditions. As a Board member, I hope to add my expertise in the areas of finance, IT and management as well as my personal experiences in the USA and Europe to this team
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Annabel von Boetticher (2010-2013)
Nationality: German
Children: Alexander: 10th grade, Theresa: 9th grade, Leonard: 7th grade, Margaretha: 4th grade
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For the past seven years my family has experienced the engaging diversity of MIS. The children can only guess how privileged they are to be educated in such a positive environment. Active participation by parents in school life is as useful as it is necessary. With the knowledge and experience I have gained through my years at MIS I am glad to serve the community as a Board Member.
In dealings with the German Authorities I offer knowledge of local contacts and practices. Other areas of board responsibility of interest to me are fundraising (possible expansion of sports facilities) and the development of campus facilities. How MIS can recruit and retain good teachers is an ongoing issue, which must continually be addressed!
The Board of Directors represents the parent community. It makes decisions that will shape the future of MIS. The Board should be in regular contact with parents, students and teachers so as to be aware of what is currently being positively experienced or painfully endured. By remaining in such contact the Board can avoid engaging in uninformed decision making. A closer exchange of ideas between the Board and the Parent Teacher Organization would be desirable.
We have a common goal: MIS should be and remain a school in which our children can develop their personalities and abilities; learn the importance of values such as justness and equality, and be encouraged and challenged to excel academically and intellectually.
Personal Information: Born, raised, and schooled in Upper Bavaria. Studied Modern History, Eastern European History, and Art History. Master’s Degree in Modern History in Munich. Postgraduate Program in International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Bologna. For the past 16 years living and working (Managing Director of Ammerland Stud Farm) on Lake Starnberg.
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