Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam welcomes new Director

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Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam (NAISR) is pleased to welcome Niki Meehan as the new Director of Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam. NAISR sat down with Niki and spoke to her about her role and how she plans to move the school forward.

Welcome to NAISR! We are thrilled to have you here as our new Director. Can you please share with us where you are from originally and which countries you have previously worked in?

Thank you so much, it’s great to be here. I was born and grew up in Scotland, then after graduating, I pursued my passions for travel and education. For more than 25 years, I have been privileged to work as a teacher and school leader in many different countries including Eritrea, Vietnam, Slovakia, Spain, China, Indonesia and now the Netherlands.

What is it about NAISR that makes you excited to work here?

I have worked in a number of international schools and I believe there is something special about NAISR; it is a relatively small school but with a big heart. Learning is genuinely personalised as teachers take the time to know and nurture each child through their learning journey, and I think that’s what enables every child to flourish.

NAISR has such a strong community ethos with great parent partnerships and the school really is the heart of our international community - for students and their parents too. I am very excited to be a part of this warm and welcoming community.

What are you looking forward to the most about living in the Netherlands?

Having lived in Asia for many years, we are excited about the simple things, such as fresh air and being able to walk on pavements (because in Jakarta, there are no pavements), the outdoor life and being able to ride my bicycle to work. Also, people might think that Rotterdam is busy, but after living in Shanghai, Bangkok and Jakarta, Rotterdam is a lovely size and scale.

How does your teaching experience influence your leadership style?

I am passionate about education and I try to remain closely connected to the students and teachers. As a school leader, you have to know what good learning and teaching look like in order to challenge and support staff and ensure a high-quality education for all the students.

My diverse teaching experience has also ensured that, as a School Director, I can build a strong staff team and effectively support all staff to grow and develop. Because, if the teachers can be the best that they can be, we can then provide the best quality education for the children. So that is my leadership style; engaged, participative, collaborative…. and tough!

What are the most important factors of being a successful School Director?

For me, school leadership is about working collectively as a school community to ensure the best experiences and outcomes for the students. This means ensuring we are aligned in our vision, shared goals and expectations and then building a positive school culture.

Collaboration is key for me - I have to work with and through the staff and also facilitate strong parent-school partnerships. I am passionate about what I do and hope that I inspire and motivate the staff to motivate and inspire the students. Every day matters for every child and it is my responsibility to ensure success for all our students.

If you would like to learn more about NAISR, feel free to speak with the friendly admissions team via admissions@naisr.nl or +31(0)104225351