School Leadership

Ms. Elizabeth Fennell

Ms. Samar Yassin

Dear Vision Community,

Samar Yassin is honored to serve as the Vision International School Boys Division Principal. Born in Brazil and of Lebanese heritage, she holds a bachelor’s degree in general physics from the Lebanese University, a Teaching Diploma in High School Science from the Modern University of Business and Science (MUBS), and a master’s degree in Multidisciplinary Sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

With more than 17 years of experience in education, Samar’s professional interests include curriculum development, inclusive education, and project-based learning. Her educational philosophy is inspired by Aristotle’s words: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” She believes that true education goes beyond academic success and must also nurture students’ emotional, social, and ethical development.

Samar is eager to collaborate with the talented VIS staff and engaged families to cultivate an environment in which every student thrives academically and develops into a well-rounded individual prepared to make meaningful contributions to society. She is fully committed to supporting the continued growth and sustained excellence of Vision International School.

Ms. Mona Shosha

Ms. Mona Shosha, the Girls’ Division Principal, is a Swiss-Egyptian educator who has grown up in Doha, Qatar. As a proud alumna of Doha College, she pursued a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, which she has completed with Honours.

However, she discovered her deep passion for education earlier on in her life and has since dedicated herself to professional development and educational leadership. She holds a Post Graduate Certificate for Education (PGCE) from the University of Nottingham, completed Middle Leadership training with the British Council and most recently, achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) for the UK Department for Education.

With over 16 years of experience in education, a decade of which in leadership roles across two different counties, Ms. Mona has supported her students and staff in achieving their academic and personal development goals and has fostered positive, lasting relationships within the school community.

Whether cheering students on in competitions, celebrating their success and achievements, collaborating with staff, or working closely with parents to provide enriching opportunities that extend beyond academics, Ms. Mona’s enthusiasm and commitment to a student-centered, holistic approach are ever-present.

Beyond her professional life, Ms. Mona enjoys reading, travelling, and expressing creativity through art. She treasures quality time with her family and two daughters and finds joy in exploring the world alongside them.

She is excited to join the visionary team at VIS and looks forward to working in partnership with staff, students, and parents to contribute to the continued growth and success of the students and the school.

Ms. Charlotte Verrell

Charlie is honored to serve as the Early Childhood/Elementary School (EC/ES) Principal at Vision International School for the 2025 – 2026 academic year. She has been working in education for the last 18 years, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to educational excellence. Charlie is a passionate and child-focused educational leader who believes that every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and inspired every day at school. 

With a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Education from the University of Auckland, and a Master of Education from Curtin University in Australia; Charlie leads with the belief that strong relationships are the foundation for meaningful learning, and that every child has unique strengths worth celebrating. Charlie is deeply passionate about designing meaningful, student-centered learning experiences that promote inquiry, critical thinking, and a love of learning. She believes in fostering strong parent partnerships, working collaboratively and engaging with the community, and most importantly spending time with the students. 

Outside of school, Charlie enjoys unwinding at the beach, getting lost in a good book, and sipping Karak! She has a deep interest in the Middle Eastern region, drawn to its rich cultural diversity and warm, welcoming communities. 

Charlie feels proud to be a member of the VIS community and with a strong foundation in child-centered leadership, she will continue to work in close partnership with the elementary and early childhood team to create a safe, inclusive, and dynamic environment where every child can flourish both academically and socially.

Ms. Arwa Mohammed

With a deep passion for education and student success, Arwa Mohammed brings over 20 years of rich experience to her role as Assistant Principal for Early Childhood and Elementary School at Vision International School. Known for her warmth, professionalism, and commitment to excellence, Arwa has dedicated her career to nurturing young learners and supporting teachers in creating dynamic and inclusive classrooms.

She brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as a Teacher, AP and SAT Coordinator, Head of Department, Instructional Coach, Discipline Lead, and Vice Principal. Her exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication led to her well-deserved promotion to Assistant Principal.

Arwa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Pharmaceutical Studies and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Planning from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Her academic background, combined with extensive hands-on leadership experience, allows her to approach her role with both academic rigor and a compassionate understanding of student and staff needs.

Born into a mixed heritage family, Arwa brings a rich multicultural perspective that helps foster an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds. She is passionate about empowering every child to reach their full academic, emotional, and social potential while building strong partnerships with families and the school community.

Arwa is honored to serve as part of the Vision International School leadership team and looks forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of the VIS community.

Ms. Chenese Manikram

Chenese is honored to serve as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation at VIS. She is a dedicated educator who is passionate about curriculum development, teacher training, and student-centered learning. She is skilled in leading teams, implementing effective literacy programs, and fostering a collaborative school culture. With a passion for improving student outcomes, she leverages innovative teaching strategies and professional development initiatives. Her experience in the international school setting has equipped her with the ability to adapt to various curricula and engage meaningfully with multicultural communities of learners, educators, and families.

Chenese Manikram has been working in education for the past nine years. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the Embury Institute for Higher Education in South Africa and is currently completing an Interdisciplinary Master’s Degree in Education through SUNY Buffalo State University. Originally from the sunny city of Durban, South Africa, Chenese has spent her entire teaching career working internationally. She began by teaching the British National Curriculum at a primary school in England before moving to Qatar.

Beyond the classroom, Chenese is passionate about reading and traveling. She enjoys exploring new countries, learning about different cultures, and trying new cuisines. She looks forward to collaborating with the school community to support meaningful learning experiences and inspire excellence across all areas of teaching and learning.

Ms. Laila Abbasi

Ms. Laila’s bio will be short and to the point, just like her.

Originally from New Jersey, USA; Ms. Laila’s family relocated to the lovely State of Qatar in 2009. She has a husband and two sons. Previous to becoming Director of Operations at VIS, she had the opportunity to work with the infinitely gracious Al Muftah family at English Modern School in Doha as a Learning Support Coordinator.

She holds degrees in Business Management and Special Education and is fluent in both Arabic and English. She has experience teaching, in licensed realty, and has also managed/co-owned a lucrative embroidery factory with her husband. Ms. Laila has also run her own business: ABA Logic, for special needs and autistic children.

When asked to describe how she feels about VIS, Ms. Laila has stated that VIS is a school which is truly near and dear to her heart. She had the unique experience of witnessing the school’s opening in September of 2014. Even before that time, Ms. Laila can recall when the floors weren’t even installed and she is proud to have been part of the pre-opening operation and founding family of Vision International School.

Ms. Laila’s position as Director of Operations entails most of the operational intricacies of running a school. The enabling factor of her success throughout her tenure at VIS has been her extensive career experiences and challenges which have required creative solutions.

In her personal life she enjoys reading, assembling and solving puzzles and music of all genres. She also enjoys playing darts with family and friends.

Her professional motto is “Stabilize – Systematize – Optimize.”

Ms. Laila is honored to be an integral part of the VIS family and strives for excellence in everything she does. Her aspiration and goal is to contribute in every way possible to make VIS one of the best educational institutions in Qatar’s bright future.