Sankoré People to Know

Kevin is widely regarded as one of the foremost architects of modern international education. Over a career spanning multiple decades and continents, he has shaped not only high-performing schools, but the very frameworks through which millions of children around the world learn.

Kevin was the initiator and lead designer of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), one of the most influential educational models globally, now implemented in thousands of schools across more than 100 countries. His work helped establish inquiry-based learning, conceptual understanding, and student agency as central pillars of contemporary education.

He has led schools in the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Namibia, Austria, and Belgium, including serving for 14 years as Director-General of the International School of Brussels, where he built one of the world’s leading inclusive learning communities. Earlier, he founded Windhoek International School, helping to establish a new model of international education in a newly independent nation.

Beyond individual institutions, Kevin is the Founder of the Common Ground Collaborative, a global initiative supporting schools and systems to design coherent, future-ready learning ecosystems. He is also a co-founder of The Next Frontier: Inclusion, a movement advancing belonging and equity across diverse learning communities worldwide.

His contributions to education have been widely recognized, including International Superintendent of the Year and induction into the AAIE Hall of Fame. He has served on numerous global boards and advisory groups, influencing accreditation, governance, and education policy across regions.

Despite his global impact, Kevin remains grounded in the classroom. A committed practitioner, he continues to work directly with learners and educators, guided by a belief that meaningful education begins with relationships, curiosity, and a deep respect for each child.

At Sankoré International, Kevin brings together a lifetime of experience, innovation, and leadership to build a school defined not only by excellence, but by belonging, purpose, and community.

Marta is an experienced international educator and school leader whose work centers on building learning cultures in which both students and teachers can flourish. With a foundation in early childhood education, she has held leadership roles across diverse international contexts, including Principal of San Alejo American School in Honduras and Elementary Vice-Principal and Early Childhood Vice-Principal at Escuela Internacional Sampedrana.

Her career spans classrooms and leadership teams across Namibia, Belgium, Honduras, and Panama. She has served as a First Grade teacher at Windhoek International School, worked in early childhood education in Brussels, and led admissions at the International School of Brussels. She currently serves as Learning Designer and Lead Literacy Coach (Grades 1–5) at Academia Interamericana de Panama, where she also mentors middle school educators in pedagogy and curriculum design.

Marta is a lead designer of Early Ground, the Early Years Ecosystem of the Common Ground Collaborative. This model integrates foundational literacy and numeracy with interdisciplinary, play-based learning experiences known as Playscapes, supporting young learners in developing essential skills through inquiry and exploration.

Her work is grounded in a deep respect for each child’s developmental journey and a commitment to intentional, research-informed practice. She brings particular expertise in formative assessment and data-informed instruction, ensuring that every learner is appropriately supported and challenged.

A strong advocate for inclusive education, Marta is dedicated to creating environments where neurodivergent learners experience belonging, discover their strengths, and thrive within empathetic communities.

An approved TED-Ed facilitator, she has successfully led student-centered inquiry programs across multiple schools. Across all her roles, Marta maintains a practitioner mindset—working alongside educators, modeling effective practice, and supporting teachers to grow with confidence and purpose.

Maisara Othman is a community builder deeply committed to creating meaningful connections between families, schools, and the wider ecosystem. With nearly 2 decades of experience, her work is grounded in the belief that strong families are the foundation of thriving communities and that when nurtured intentionally, these communities have the power to shape a better, more connected world.

At Sankoré, Maisara brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to admissions and engagement, ensuring that every family feels seen, supported, and aligned with the school’s vision. She is passionate about building bridges between cultures, perspectives, and experiences and creating spaces where children and families can grow with purpose and belonging.

Eric Laurits brings a diverse and deeply interdisciplinary grounding in the arts, pedagogy, and school design to his work advancing Sankoré International School’s mission. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Colby College, an MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory, and a Master of Education in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University.

Eric’s academic journey reflects a lifelong commitment to creative learning, teaching, and school design. His early training in music and theatre informs his belief in the transformative power of expressive, experiential education, while his graduate work in childhood literacy and prosodic progression has shaped his approach to learner-centered, transdisciplinary schooling that honors curiosity and community.

Eric has served in classroom and leadership roles across diverse educational settings. He has worked as an elementary teacher and STEAM/Project-Based Learning specialist in Fairfax County Public Schools, led innovation work in independent schools, and currently teaches (courses about picture books!) in the Elementary Education program at George Mason University.

In his current role as Head of School Advancement for Sankoré International School, Eric is helping to shape the school’s strategic vision, community engagement, and institutional identity as it prepares to welcome its inaugural class. His work centers on equity-driven design that integrates academic excellence with social responsibility, a reflection of his broader professional focus on inclusive schooling and sustainable educational models.

Eric also serves as Director of Communications for SHOFCO, where he supports narrative strategy and organizational storytelling for one of Kenya’s leading community-centered social impact organizations.

Sarah has spent the last 21 years in education, grounded in progressive, student-centered learning. The majority of her professional life has been at New York City’s Chapin School, a K-12 all girls independent school, where she served as both a classroom teacher and Department Head. At Chapin, she championed arts-integrated learning and designed interdisciplinary learning experiences that fostered collaboration, confidence, and strong communication skills, while supporting innovative teaching practice across the Lower School. She holds a Bachelor of Science from New York University and a Master of Arts from the City University of New York.

Since 2011, Sarah has partnered with SHOFCO schools in Kenya, co-creating professional learning programs focused on literacy, social-emotional learning, and cultivating student engagement and agency. In collaboration with Kevin Bartlett and the team at Common Ground Collaborative, she has designed the learning model and curriculum for Sankoré.

With over 15 years in education, Fazeelah brings extensive experience, passion, and specialized training to her role as Head of School Support. She holds a Modern Montessori International Diploma and has further strengthened her expertise through the Science of Early Childhood Development (SCED) program.

Her classroom experience sparked a strong commitment to supporting children with learning differences, particularly dyslexia, as well as those facing social and emotional challenges. In response to gaps within the Kenyan education system, she trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, delivering structured, evidence-based 1:1 literacy interventions for the past three years.

Fazeelah has also completed Zones of Regulation training and works closely with teachers and parents to promote emotional regulation, inclusive practices, and strong home–school partnerships. She remains dedicated to ensuring every child receives the support needed to reach their full potential.

Jacob is a seasoned operations Lead with over 7 years of experience across both corporate and school environments. He brings expertise in operations management, procurement, logistics, financial oversight, and facilities coordination, with ability to build and implement practical systems that improve service delivery and overall organizational performance.

He has held leadership roles in operations, where he has supported teams, improved processes, and ensured the smooth delivery of day-to-day services. His approach is practical and structured, focused on continuous improvement and making systems work more effectively over time.

At Sankoré International School, Jacob leads core operations, overseeing facilities, procurement, and support services. His work helps ensure the school runs efficiently and maintains a well-organized environment where learning thrives.