Other Administrators at VIS: Laila Abbasi, Director of Operations VIS is near and dear to my heart. I'm honored and privileged to have been here from the beginning of its journey. I came to Qatar from the state of New Jersey USA in 2009 with my husband and two sons - both who are now back now in the USA. I had the opportunity to work with the gracious Al Muftah family at English Modern School as a Learning Support Coordinator, and I have been in VIS from the beginning, before the floors were even installed. I hold degrees in Business Management and in Special Education. I have been blessed with a versatile career for more than 26 years. I am also bilingual. I was a teacher; a licensed Realtor, and managed and co owned (with my husband) a lucrative embroidery factory. I also ran my own business, ABA Logic for special needs and autistic children. These experiences have enabled me to excel in life and in my position as Director of Operations in VIS. My position as Director of Operations entails most of the operational and non-academic aspects of running a school. In my personal life I enjoy reading, assembling puzzles and music of all genres. The only sport I play is darts with my family. My professional motto is “Stabilize - Systematize - Optimize.” I'm proud of being part of the VIS family and strive for excellence in everything I do in life. My aspirations are to witness VIS become an essential part of Qatar's bright future. Mr. Dan Larson-Knight, Director of Information, Communications and Technology Mr. Dan Larson-Knight has experience as a Director of Technology, Technology Coach, Technology Integrationist and an international educator for nine years facilitating the integration of technology into all levels of instruction. His approach to using learning technology to implement technology infused differentiated instruction into all of the classes at Vision is recognized internationally as best practice. By encouraging our school to become 1:1, providing training for our teachers, and ensuring that we’re using cutting edge instructional strategies Vision International School will maintain its mission statement to continue, “Preparing students for the 21st century.” Through participation in and being a presenter at AASSA, EARCOS, NESA as well as online Google Apps for Education training, he has developed his abilities as a technology facilitator, coach, and administrator. In addition, He has recently completed his Master of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies including a Certificate in Educational Technologies with an emphasis on leadership, conflict resolution and management skills. Dan has lived in Canada, England, Thailand, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and now Qatar. He and his family are happy to call Al Wakra, Qatar, and VIS home. Dan continuously strives to impact student learning in a positive manner by seamlessly implementing technology and support the technology needs of the entire VIS community in the most timely and efficient manner possible in terms of both soft and hardware use. His goal is to make technology utilization as easy and as accessible as possible and to improve every community member’s understanding of the way in which technology can impact learning. Margo Tripsa, Director of Curriculum and Assessment Margo has 18 years of experience in education on three different continents: Europe, North America, and Asia. She earned an Educational Specialist Degree in Instructional Technologies from Kennesaw State University, Georgia (2017), and a Master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Greensboro College, North Carolina (2012). She also holds a second Master’s degree in Business English from Western University of Timisoara, Romania, and two bachelor degrees in Elementary Education and English Language and Literature. She has recently earned a certificate in Educational Leadership from Cambridge. While working as an international educator, she has been awarded a series of honors, one of the most noteworthy being the Global Educator Award, 2013. She is a published curriculum writer – her curriculum unit of study having been published on the Yale National Initiative website. She has delivered professional development training sessions to teachers at national and international conferences in the US and Qatar on topics related to 21st century education. As a founding faculty member and as a curriculum and assessment director she is committed to utilizing her skills in order to design systems that would facilitate the delivery of high quality education and would promote the strategic achievement of Vision International School’s mission and vision. She strongly believes in the importance of developing and implementing shared strategic plans that help build capacity at the school which ultimately translate in continuous growth and improvement. “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.“ Albert Einstein Rachel Nolan, Director of Admissions and Student Activities Rachel holds a M.Ed in International Education Administration from Endicott College in the United States, as well as a MA in International Relations and BA (Hons) in English Studies & Philosophy from the University of Nottingham in England. She joined VIS in 2016 and has with over 14 years experience in international education. Most recently she was working at Jakarta International School in Indonesia as the High School Activities Director in a HS of over 900 students. Her role included organizing and managing overseas service learning and academic trips for all high school students; hosting major conferences such as the regional Model United Nations and Debate & Forensics conventions; and coordinating all student activities and events. Prior to her role at JIS where she also studied as an international student, she was working in Higher Education in Australia, where she managed a range of international programs, high level delegation visits, study tours, international exchange & study abroad programs, capacity building projects and training programs for international government bodies and student groups. She speaks conversational Bahasa Indonesia.
