School Leadership

Ms. Samar Yassin

Dear Vision Community,

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Boys Division Principal at Vision International School and I am truly honored to join this exceptional community. Born in Brazil and of Lebanese heritage, I hold a bachelor’s degree in general physics from Lebanese University, a Teaching Diploma in High School Science from Modern University of Business and Science MUBS, and a Master’s in Multidisciplinary Sciences from SUNY Buffalo, New York.

With over 16 years of experience in education, my professional interests and expertise encompass curriculum instruction, inclusive education, and project-based learning. Inspired by the words of Aristotle: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” This quote resonates deeply with me because true education goes beyond academic achievement and involves nurturing students’ emotional and ethical development. I believe that by fostering a compassionate and supportive environment, we empower students to grow not only as learners but as well-rounded individuals who are prepared to make positive contributions to society.

I am excited to be part of Vision School and eager to work alongside the talented educators and dedicated families here at Vision to ensure our students thrive academically and socially. Looking forward to contributing to VIS continued success and excellence !!

Ms. Mona Shosha

Ms. Mona Shosha, the new 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. Victoria Placeres

Victoria Placeres – Foege is from Montevideo, Uruguay. She is the new Early Childhood/ Elementary School Principal at VIS. She has  served in Leadership roles for the past 15 years such as K-12 Curriculum Coordinator, Assessment Coordinator, Advanced Placement Coordinator, and as an EC/Elementary School Principal for the past seven years at the Uruguayan American School. Her husband, Michael, and her daughter, Erika, will join her in Doha. Michael is originally from Walla Walla, Washington, in the United States, and he has traveled the world for as long as he can remember due to his father’s work. He is a Secondary Social Studies, Psychology and Sociology Teacher. They met teaching at the Uruguayan American School 14 years ago in Montevideo. Their daughter Erika is eight years old. She will join the Grade 3 class at VIS next August. 

Prior to becoming a Principal, Victoria taught English in every Elementary School Grade level. She completed her University Degrees in Uruguay and in the United States. She holds a B.A. in Educational Sciences from Uruguay’s National University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, USA. She has lived in Uruguay and the United States. 

In her free time, she enjoys traveling. Victoria and her husband have traveled extensively in South East Asia, Europe, and the Americas. They are now looking forward to exploring the Middle East. She also enjoys learning about cultures through their languages. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She has also learned French, Italian, and Japanese. Learning Arabic will be her goal as she prepares to join VIS. She looks forward to becoming part of the VIS community and experiencing life in Qatar. She believes that the parent-school partnership is the key to unlocking children’s potential. Please know that your child’s safety and well-being will be Victoria’s utmost priority.

Ms. Charlie Verrell

Charlie Verrell has been working in education for the last 15 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, English, and Education, and a Graduate Diploma in (Primary) Teaching from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She then went on to study her Masters of Education from Curtain University in Australia. Charlie is originally from Australia but lives in New Zealand when she is not in Qatar with her two beautiful cats. She has taught in both primary and secondary schools, predominantly as an Assistant Principal.

The majority of her career has been spent working in New Zealand, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. She has experience in British Curriculum, New Zealand Curriculum, International Baccalaureate (Primary Years Program), American Curriculum, and Cambridge.

Charlie has worked for the Qatar Petroleum schools in both Mesaieed and Dukhan as Assistant Principal and is joining Vision from one of our network schools (English Modern School) where she held the position of Teaching and Learning Coordinator. 

Her passion for building strong relationships, collaboratively working with teams, and spending time with the families of VIS is something she is looking forward to this academic year. She is passionate about the Middle Eastern region and the Qatari culture which has empowered her to take Arabic lessons for Speaking, Reading, and Writing in her spare time and she now holds a Level 2 in Arabic. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach (Maroona and Fuwairat), drinking Karak, and spending time with friends.

Charlie feels extremely privileged and proud to become a part of the VIS family and to begin working with the students, parents, and teachers. 

Ms. Chenese Manikram

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.

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

Beyond the classroom, Chenese is passionate about reading and traveling. She enjoys exploring new countries, learning about different cultures, and trying new cuisines. In her free time, she also loves  shopping at the fabulous malls in Qatar.

Chenese is honored to begin her journey as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation at VIS. 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 Operations Director 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.