Ms. Awa has been part of the BAIS family for over 20 years! As our "Pre-K Nanny," she is a mainstay of the BAIS Early Childhood Program, having supported the learning and well-being of hundreds of BAIS students over the years.

Elin is a Swedish citizen and has a Masters degree in education. She has been in the teaching field for over 10 years, and is currently teaching in the Early Years at BAIS. Elin has been leading the BAIS early childhood program to new heights through a cobination of Reggio Emilia teaching approaches to deliver American educational standards.

Valentine is an exceptional Gambian educator who graduated from Gambia Methodist Academy. His first year of teaching was at Home to Home School as a Grade two class teacher and Social studies & Religious studies teacher in Grades 2-4. At BAIS, he has worked as a classroom teaching assistant from Kindergarten to Grade 5 as well as a one-to-one support teacher for a student benefitting from individualized support.  Mr. Valentine is well-respected and valued by BAIS families for his professionalism and for offering technological and general support wherever needed.

Ms Hala Dbouk holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Physics from Lebanese University in her home country of Lebanon.  Ms Hala put those studies to use as a science teacher and tutor and then applied her teaching talent to work with young learners, including her own children.

Ms Hala is famed for inspiring a passion for learning in her students, and she is moving to Kindergarten teaching after a very successful start in Pre-Kindergarten in 2022-23.

Nora Johnson is excited to join the BAIS community as the first and second grade teacher. She is a recent graduate of Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where she earned her B.A. in Elementary and Middle School Education with a minor in English. Nora has classroom experience teaching both fifth and seventh grade in the Kenosha Unified School District and has also served as a teacher’s assistant in an elementary summer program in River Forest, Illinois. In addition, she has worked as an inclusion aide with West Suburban Special Recreation and the American Youth Soccer Organization, supporting students of all abilities. Outside the classroom, Nora enjoys reading, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.

Fatoumatta is a university student currently finishing up her final course for a Bachelor's degree in Marketing at the University of The Gambia. She has studied in both Gambian and American university systems and is dedicated to providing a positive and  productive learning experience to students.

Kiran has taught from Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade in schools in Uganda, Rwanda, India, Tanzania and Kyrgyzstan. Ms Kiran holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and diplomas in Early Childhood Education and Montessori Teacher Education.

Michael Seefried has spent 34 years in education, serving as an elementary teacher, principal at all levels, and Director of Schools. His career has taken him to diverse school communities around the world, including Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Kuwait, South Africa, and Moldova, where he has gained extensive experience in international education and leadership. Michael proudly served in the United States Army, where he developed the discipline and commitment that continue to shape his professional work. He also serves on the board of Ambassadors International Ministries, which supports children in South Africa impacted by the AIDS pandemic.

Sainab is an ardent proponent of giving children a fair chance to attain the best in their learning journey to help them reach their full potential in a safe and loving environment. She is an experienced, UK trained Teaching assistant with a BA in English from St Mary's University, Canada

Sainab brings to the job a wealth of experience as a team-player adaptable to the ever-changing dynamics in the classroom. She is excited to bring her expertise in classroom management and student engagement to a dynamic educational institution like BAIS.

He has taught in the Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria  and at BAIS for sixteen years teaching science prior to rejoining BAIS again this year. He holds a BSc. in science (chemistry major and biology minor) and received an international teaching certificate from Cambridge University, UK. In addition to teaching, he has also worked for West African examination council as examinations administrator for nineteen years.

His hobbies are farming and research work.   Mr. Jain is excited about rejoining BAIS and working with the BAIS students and community!

Ms. Amal holds a BSc. in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Evansville, Indiana (USA), and an MA in Education from the University of Bath (UK).

With over 35 years of experience teaching ICT and mathematics to students ranging from kindergarten to adults, she is deeply passionate about mathematics. Her goal is to inspire her students and instill in them a lasting love for the subject!

Mr. Badjie has two decades of teaching experience and has taught in various institutions in the Gambia, including Alliance Francaise and the University of The Gambia.  He provides support to teachers in Gambian Cultural Studies, even teaching Gambian dance to students and weekly Gambian culture lessons to secondary.

Mme. Henriette Joof is a highly experienced and expert teacher of French language.  She has taught French to all age levels and has taught in Sweden and The Gambia, including more than ten years of teaching at BAIS.

Mr. George Shyngle is a dedicated and experienced Physical Education teacher with over 12 years experience in international school settings. He has successfully taught and inspired a variety of students across various age groups fostering a love for physical activity and healthy living.

During his studies, he spent two years as a percussionist at the State Opera of Nuremberg, gaining invaluable experience as a working musician in the world of opera.

Sekou completed his Master's degree in the Orchestral Performance Program at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. At the same time, New York City was the perfect place to expand his horizons and learn from some of the most regarded musicians in the world. He kept expanding his knowledge on West-African music culture by studying with Internationally renowned master drummer M’Bemba Bangoura from Guinea and Master Dancer and traditional Choreographer Vado Diomande from Ivory Coast.

Kimberly Seefried is entering her 36th year in education, and she is deeply passionate about supporting our most impacted learners and their families as they navigate both their educational and life journeys.

Kimberly holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Liberty University, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a Master’s in Special Education from Western Colorado University. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles—including Director of Special Services, principal, assistant principal, International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme coordinator, STEM coordinator, classroom teacher, and special education teacher—across private, international, and public-school settings.

Most recently, as Director of Special Services, she oversaw all district special population groups (Special Education, English Language Learners, Gifted and talented, and homeless services), the district’s Mental Health team (school counselors and social workers), and district nurses and health aides.

On a personal note, her family has been fortunate to live and work in international school communities in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Kyiv, Ukraine; and Kuwait City, Kuwait. The Gambia now marks their fourth international setting. She is grateful to share this experience with her wonderful husband, who has joined BAIS as the new 4th/5th-grade teacher. They have three adult children, who all live on the East Coast of the United States. As a family, they love to travel, camp, and sail.

She is truly looking forward to getting to know the students, families, and staff at BAIS and to being part of this community!

Mr. Njie has been teaching at all levels and to all ages for more than thirty years, fifteen of which have been in the Atlanta area in Georgia, U.S.A. His teaching career started as a Language Arts teacher in the Bibb County Public Schools in Macon, Georgia after he graduated from Mercer University in 1988 with a B.A degree in English and Sociology. He went on to take post graduate Teacher Certification courses at Mercer University to obtain Georgia Teacher’s Certificates in English and Social Studies (K-12). In 2015, he decided to take his talents abroad by teaching English to ESL Learners in China and Korea. From teaching public school students, international students, adult learners and university students, he has cultivated effective ways of inspiring and guiding English Language Learners.

Mr. Wilfred Alvin Palmer has over 14 years of experience teaching at international schools, specializing in Information Technology and Music. He holds a certificate as an IT Technician with A+ and N+ credentials, as well as in Cambridge Lower Secondary Music. Skillfully blending technological expertise with creative pedagogy, he is driven by a passion for holistic education and lifelong learning. Wilfred is committed to inspiring students, and empowering them to achieve academic excellence while fostering innovation, critical thinking and personal growth.