Leadership

I am Amal Al-Minawi, Superintendent here at American Baccalaureate School. I have been working at ABS since 2006. I remember when the advertisement for a principal was in the newspaper and, without hesitation, I sent my CV (Curriculum Vitae) to the “brand new” American school opening in Kuwait. I had an interview with the school Director and that was my first step in the journey that I have taken with ABS. 

The accomplishments, achievements, and successes that I have been able to witness while working here at ABS have been completely amazing. It has been an honor to be able to work for this well-regarded educational institution. I have always believed that ABS is the best place for students, teachers, and administrators. 

Each day in ABS adds a new challenge for me. The school has built a strong organization from the very beginning, and this has helped them create a community where the staff can meet goals and reach the targets that they have set for themselves. I have been able to develop my leadership skills and cultivate a positive learning environment among the staff, as well as with parents. 

Here at ABS, we believe in teamwork. Innovative learning is encouraged in the classroom, as well as professional development and collaborative thinking at the teacher level. This is part of the teaching process and has helped many teachers succeed and grow. We partner with and include various school programs such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and UNESCO where students can participate in various activities. ABS has shaped the right conditions, policies, and procedures for all the stakeholders to learn, work and succeed. 

Finally, as we all look forward to the continued impact that American Baccalaureate School will have, I hope that ABS will keep glowing and growing as they continue to be a positive and constant progress in the school culture and community here in Kuwait. 

Amal Al-Minawi - Senior Principal

Since joining ABS in 2015 as vice principal, elementary principal, and this year with an expanded role, it is an honor to share an educational partnership with new and returning ABS students and families. We will continue to focus on our mission and vision in all activities undertaken, including the ABS motto, “Learners today, Leaders tomorrow.”  

2022-2023 Academic Year 
As part of students’ success with 21st Century Skills, ABS has invested in a safe environment, updated facilities, classroom technology and resources, as well as effective teaching and administrative faculty. Our cohesive leadership team includes strong principals and vice principals working under the guidance of our school superintendent.  

Our schoolwide goals from K-12 are based on consistency and continuity: student social/emotional growth as well as academic growth in all age levels and departments.  Student progress with standardized assessments of all students continues. We have set high standards with a path forward for all students to achieve. With our trained teachers and support teams, we are ready to serve all learners’ needs.  

2022-2025 Plans for Cognia STEM Accreditation 
Each department will further impart STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) into our students’ daily learning experience and embed key terms as part of their long-term vocabulary. Learning groups will begin PBLs, or Project Based Learning activities.  Our long-term aim is to establish a schoolwide STEM program. 

Ongoing  
As part of our synergic communication with stakeholders, we welcome your feedback by survey, email or in person.  

Thank you for being who you are and being here with us. It is a pleasure to be with you. 

Alicia Szydlowski - Senior Principal

As Principal of the Kindergarten Department, I am fortunate to be a part of the American Baccalaureate School team. My experience in the field of education spans over twenty years and I am proud to say that a number of those years have been with ABS. During this time, I have been able to build relationships with my colleagues and members of the community. Creating those strong bonds is paramount to me and I look forward to continuing many years of building sustainable relationships. In order to achieve this, I believe communication is a key element which is one of the many strong suits of the American Baccalaureate School. My commitment to and passion for student learning success, especially for my sweet kindergarten students is in line with the principles of our school. Teaching, learning, and community is the foundation upon which our school resides. I believe that school success is a team effort at all levels and is the reason ABS excels in the education community. Lastly, my philosophy as an educator is best summed up by Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn”.  

Jennifer Naser - KG Principal

I joined the American Baccalaureate School in the Summer of 2015 as a homeroom Kindergarten English teacher. Those years I spent with our youngest learners, having just arrived in Kuwait for my first time, remains such a fond memory to this day. The Kindergarten Department is a wonderful and bright environment to be a part of for staff and students alike. It is full of engaging and lively programs and activities all year-round.  

I joined the KG Administrator Team in 2017 and can honestly say that my skillset in Education and Leadership has grown more than I could have imagined, thanks to the training and resources made available to us by the school. ABS places great value on communication and continuous improvement, which ultimately pushes us towards significant growth and success on both an individual and school-wide level. I love being apart of this team and working collectively for the success of our students.

Rachelle Parsons - KG Vice Principal

I extend a warm welcome back to both our new and returning students and families. I joined the ABS (American Baccalaureate School) community as a Vice Principal in 2019. Who would have guessed how many challenges we would journey through together and how much stronger we would all become? I am so excited to have been a part of ABS in the past three years and look forward to another year supporting both our students and teachers. The ABS community creates an environment for growth for both students and teachers. This is a learning environment you cannot miss! Moreover, as we navigate and explore the unknown, our team upholds a positive outlook as we work together for the success of all our students.

Shereen Kroutz - Elementary Vice Principal

ABS’s vision includes educating lifelong learners-including its staff. I formally started my career in education at ABS as a Grade 1 self-contained teacher in 2014. With training and support, I was then promoted to the position as Head of Department. After a couple years away from ABS, I was invited back as a Vice Principal for the Elementary Department. My journey in education has been enhanced by my exposure to the global community promoted in our vision. I know I am here today because of the ones at ABS who believed in me. It is my privilege to invest into the ABS community- students, teachers, and families. 

Jaclyn Guzman - Elementary Vice Principal

ABS is an exciting place to work where school management encourages everyone to do their best. Here at ABS, teachers, administrators and students are destined for a great future. ABS is a true reflection of Kuwait in terms of cultural ethics, religious norms and moral values. We educate our students not only to be successful professionals but also to be future leaders. We provide every opportunity and facilitate our students to face the challenges of 21st century education. We also understand the importance of the digital world, so to meet future requirements, we have introduced multiple technology-aided programs at ABS. Our students compete in every field of education whether it be related to Science, Technology or Arts. ABS provides countless opportunities to all staff members to grow professionally and contribute to communities after they move on to other parts of the world. I highly value my stay at ABS for multiple reasons. For instance, the knowledge and skills I am gaining over the years, supports my long-term leadership career. Thirteen years ago, my journey started at ABS as a middle school math teacher and within years, the school recognized me as the Middle School Principal. I’m glad to share that ABS has always appreciated my work and provided me with ample opportunities, from local or international conferences to professional development workshops. I feel honored and proud to be part of an institution that considers every employee to be an integral part.

Mian Sadiq - Interim Middle High School Principal

I am honored to serve as the Senior Vice-Principal for grades 6-12 at ABS. I am delighted to be a part of such an amazing school. As an education leader, I am passionate about engaging youth and teachers around meaningful learning. I believe in the power of collaboration and that together we have the ability to overcome challenges and to see possibilities in the problems that we may face. 

The key to engaging students and staff around the shared vision of ABS is building and maintaining a supportive, nurturing, stimulating, and fun environment. Every day I stand ready to collaborate, listen and lead as ABS continues to succeed. ABS strives to be a place where all students understand who they are, what they do well, and where their passions, interests and talents connect with the world. 

Education is my passion, and a driving force for lifelong learning. Bringing out the best in every child is a goal I strive to achieve as a leader in education. A genuine inspirational leader is one who understands that no one child is identical to the next. The ability to train, guide, and mentor other educators to do the same creates a positive learning environment for all. Part of my responsibility as a great leader is being able to fulfill this mission. As an educator at heart I assure you that everyone at ABS is committed to supporting all students throughout their educational journey 

Kayla Johnson - Senior VP of Middle High School

As a new member of the ABS family, I am thrilled to begin serving as a High School College Counselor in the ABS Counseling department.  Since joining ABS, I have been able to experience significant personal and professional growth.  The staff at ABS are welcoming, professional, and work to make sure everyone is comfortable and performing at the highest caliber for our students.  As a college counselor and College Seminar instructor, I'm able to work with our students in two capacities.  This role has enabled me to serve the individual needs of our students during high school and as they prepare to move into the next stage of their lives.  I'm excited to see what this year holds.

Ashley Jackson - High School Counselor

Since joining the Elementary Department at ABS in August 2014, I have had numerous opportunities to grow and learn professionally with my team and as an individual. Working here has been utterly amazing thanks to the support of staff, parents, and students. I have been presented with opportunities to advance based on my interests and experience and have been thoroughly supported to excel in new positions. As I begin my position as Middle School Counselor, I am confident that this will be a smooth transition. I am excited to be able to work with the incredible students who I have taught previously, as well as getting to know our remarkable new students. I look forward to assisting students with learning strategies, self-management, and social skills as well as working with the MSHS department.  

Arika Beverly - High School Counselor

My career started at ABS as a math teacher. With much trust and support, I developed my capabilities and grew in the role in to become HoD. As I earned an MBA and my social phycology certificate, I had the privilege of becoming Elem counselor. This position is humbling since I can work directly with students helping them face daily challenges and supporting them to tap into the fullest potential. Students, teachers, and parents have all witnessed unprecedented circumstances and changes upon the educational system. However, ABS mission continues to prioritize and to prepare today’s learners to become tomorrow’s leaders. More than ever, I feel inspired to carry out my role as a counselor and to work with everyone to ensure our students and teams evolve and become more resilient, while maintaining parents’ trust in the value we deliver. 

Dima Khaddage - Elementary Counselor

I became a member of the ABS community in 2010 as part of the Elementary Department, where I proudly served our students as a teacher & Head of Department then I was promoted to a position as a KG/Elementary Curriculum Coordinator. Being a part of the ABS team has provided me with professional growth and limitless experiences.
ABS focuses on education support that runs very well for our students. In ABS the curriculum with a STEM focus has not only engaged our students but also has had a positive impact on increasing our teacher’s instructional capacity and skill. Our students have become willing to communicate, collaborate, create, and critically think.  Students feel safe to analyze, predict, take risks with their learning, and are vested in self-assessment and seeking improvement. We are developing future leaders who will contribute to the global community.

Marian Sami – Elementary Curriculum Coordinator

I’ve enjoyed teaching Science for Elementary School over the past 13 years, and had considerable experience in working at ABS. Each year brings up new excited challenges and goals for me, and this year, will be also another interesting one as I got promoted to be the Dean of students for Elementary. ABS is a valuable place for communication, improvement and enlighten skills that pushes up toward success and growth. 

Sahar Nabtiti – Elementary Dean of Students