Dynamic Duo: Charting the way forward in Education

The Salon was held as a private fundraiser and featured the Head of School and Deputy Head of School of the Washington International School in Washington DC. Suzanna Jemsby and Natasha Bhalla shared their stories of how they entered the education sector and developed their careers in this field, with a focus on creating global citizens.

Suzanna became the Head of School at Washington International School in August 2018. Prior to serving WIS, she was the Head of School for the Galloway School in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to these headships, she was the Executive Director of The Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) and Head of Upper School at Atlanta International School (AIS). Before moving to the United States, she served as a teacher, grade head, and Acting Head of Secondary School at two international schools in Germany, and she began her career as a French and German teacher in London. Suzanna has a master's degree from Cambridge University in modern and medieval languages, and diplomas from the London College of Music. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a freelance cellist and a published author of short stories.

Natasha attended WIS for her primary school years, after her family moved to the United States from India. She earned a BA in English education at Virginia Tech and an MEd in social foundations of education at the University of Virginia. Before returning to WIS in 1999 to teach English, Ms. Bhalla spent three years teaching English in the Alexandria City Public School system. She was the WIS Middle School Principal from 2010-2016, after serving as the Assistant Principal for several years. She is now the Associate Head of School at WIS.