Jay Roy has had a distinguished career in education and brings a wealth of experience to Vision International School (VIS). Prior to being named Director of Vision International School, Mr. Roy held positions in the United Arab Emirates as Founding Principal/CEO of GEMS World Academy, an International Baccalaureate Organization World School in Abu Dhabi (2011-2016); and Elementary Principal at Dubai American Academy, a 1250-student school offering an enriched American curriculum in Dubai (2008-2011).
His career as an educational leader began in the United States where he served as Principal of Rollinsford Grade School in New Hampshire (1990-2008); subsequently, he held positions in administration, public, and private education in elementary, middle, and high school levels. He earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of New Hampshire. He has served as an Accreditation Team Member for the New England Association for Schools and Colleges and on the Board of Examiners for the New Hampshire State Department of Education.
Mr. Roy has had an illustrious career, winning a Fulbright Memorial Fund award in 1997, the New Hampshire Junior Achievement Principal of the Year award in 1996, the National Educator Award in 1996, and finalist for the New Hampshire Association of School Principals’ Outstanding Elementary Principal of the Year in 1995, 1996, and 1997. Mr. Roy resides in Doha with his wife of 36 years, Dolores Roy. They have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Ms. Sonia Chowdhury has had a successful career of 15 years as an educator. Prior to being named VIS’ new Girls’ Division Principal for the 2020-2021 school year, Ms. Chowdhury held leadership positions in Indonesia as the Secondary Principal at Surabaya Intercultural School, the only WASC-accredited U.S. Consulate backed school in the city of Surabaya, Indonesia; in Qatar as a Special Education Administrator for Qatar Foundation Schools at The Learning Center (TLC); and in Austin, Texas in the United States as an Assistant Principal for Round Rock Independent School District, one of the largest and most notable school districts in Central Texas.
Ms. Chowdhury earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Queens College of the City University of New York. She completed a Post-Master’s Graduate program in Educational Leadership, in preparation to become a School Principal, from Texas State University. She also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Consumer Science Education from Queens College of the City University of New York. She is a lifelong, enthusiastic learner who has a passion for teaching and learning. She maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA in all of her Graduate coursework while living by the quote from the great education scholar John Dewey: “Education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself.”
Ms. Chowdhury was nominated as Texas State University’s Outstanding Graduate Student in Educational Leadership in 2014 and was the winner of the Hester Gray Memorial Award in 2009 when she completed her Master’s Degree. As an undergraduate student, she was the winner of the NYSAFCSE Ruth Anne Schultz Memorial Scholarship in 2004.
Prior to becoming an educational leader, Ms. Chowdhury thrived for 8 years as a Middle School and High School teacher to students in both New York and Texas. She has extensive experience with the Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum from the College Board, as well as with the implementation of the U.S. Common Core, AERO and Next Generation Science Standards. She is also a certified teacher appraiser and has conducted hundreds of teacher evaluations in her career.
She is knowledgeable and passionate about instructional leadership, and working with teachers and students to help them reach their ultimate potential. She holds teaching and Principal Certificates from the State of Texas, as well as a Certificate of Completion for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Although Ms. Chowdhury grew up in New York City, she is proud to call both Texas and Qatar home. She fell in love with Qatar and its truly hospitable people when she lived here from 2016-2018. She is tremendously excited about her “homecoming” back to Qatar in the Fall of 2020. She will be joined in Doha by her husband of 18 years, and her almost 14-year-old teenage son. She is greatly looking forward to leading the Girls’ Division at VIS in August 2020.
Dr. Debbie Badawi started her career in education, as a teacher, 26 years ago. She demonstrates expertise in K-12 education and holds a plethora of credentials. They include a Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Administration, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Secondary Education/English, and multiple certifications in teaching, instruction, and supervision. Her diverse experience spans the public, private, juvenile justice, and international sectors of education. In addition, she has leadership experience spanning elementary through high school.
Dr. Debbie has aligned the best ideals from western and near eastern traditions and strives to inspire others to greatness. Her success is driven by remaining steadfast in service to others and maintaining a keen focus on quality and excellence. At VIS she leads her team to dream big, reach high, and rise to the challenge to make VIS an educational pillar of the future growth and development of Qatar and the world at large. Dr. Debbie prides herself in developing teams built of people who are persistent, tenacious, dedicated, and committed to better----the results, over time, are high quality, effective teachers and students who become tomorrow's leaders.
Ms. Barie Pinsker has over 14 years of teaching experience internationally and in the USA focusing on Early Childhood and Special Education. She has earned her Educational Leadership Certification (2018) from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (2010), and her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education (2005) from state universities in Pennsylvania. In addition to this, Barie has teaching certificates in ICT, Middle School English/Language Arts, and Middle School Math. Prior to coming to Qatar (2010), she worked in Germany for 3 years at a private bilingual school as a KG teacher and special education coordinator. Before launching her international career, she was a learning and emotional support teacher at a middle school located in the inner-city of Philadelphia, USA. Ms. Pinsker has experience with the International Baccalaureate (Primary Years Program and Middle Years Program) Curriculum, Common Core, Creative Curriculum, and the British National Curriculum.Although Ms. Pinsker is from New York, USA, having spent the past 8 years here, she considers Qatar to be her home. She has fallen in love with and developed a genuine respect for both the Qatari people and their country. Ms. Pinsker is excited to lead the Early Childhood (EC) Division at VIS and working with teachers, students, and parents to “Shape Local Leaders and Global Learners”.
Ms. Margo Tripsa, Director of Curriculum, Assessment and IT
Ms. Margo has served the wonderful field of education for 20+ years on three continents: Europe, North America, and now Asia. She holds an Educational Specialist Degree in Instructional Technologies, a Master's Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature and is currently working towards a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Working in international education, she has been awarded a series of honors, one of the most noteworthy being the Global Educator Award earned while working in North Carolina’s biggest school district Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools back in 2013. She has experience as a presenter at the school, district, national and international level in both the United States and Qatar on topics related to 21st-century education.
As a founding faculty member, she served the school in various roles from classroom teacher and instructional technology coach to Director of Curriculum, Assessment, Technology. As she is in her 7th year of working with students, staff, and community at VIS, she feels very honored. Her role as Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and IT at Vision International School, Qatar provides her with the opportunity to lead by example. Her expertise in curriculum, instruction, and technology affords her various leadership roles in curriculum building, implementation and review, assessment, accreditation, and design/implementation of online teaching and learning. She is committed to utilizing her skills in order to facilitate the strategic achievement of Vision International School’s goals and mission while developing staff through a collaborative coaching approach. She is passionate about leading teachers in designing and/or implementing high-quality curriculum and assessment practices, utilizing sound 21st-century pedagogical practices that maximize student learning, and developing shared strategic plans which ensure the continuous growth of the school.
Aside from her profession, she loves spending time with her two school-aged kids who also call Qatar home and Vision International School the best place to learn.
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.“ Einstein
Ms. Laila Abbasi, Director of Operations
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.
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