Louise joined The Island Private School in September 2023 as the Principal of Primary and Pre-Primary, bringing with her over a decade of experience across both UK and international education. She previously served as Deputy Head at St John & St James—part of an Outstanding-rated federation ranked in the top 1% of schools in the UK—where she became the youngest senior leader in the federation. Her leadership was recognised with a formal commendation from the Department for Education (DfE) for exceptional academic outcomes in her classes' SATs results.Her leadership has spanned key areas such as curriculum design, pedagogical practice, assessment, behaviour strategy, and whole-school professional development.

She holds a Master’s degree with distinction in International Education (Leadership & Management) from Sunderland University, a PGCE from the UCL Institute of Education (ranked #1 globally for education), and a BA in English Literature from the University of Southampton. Internationally, Louise brought her expertise to the Heritage School in Cyprus as Teaching & Learning Coordinator and later served as a Professional Practice Tutor for Sunderland University. In this role, she trained aspiring teachers across the island to achieve their PGCE qualification and mentored experienced educators through the Assessment Only route.

Fluent in English and Greek, Louise leads with clarity, compassion, and high standards. She believes in nurturing a culture where every child thrives and every teacher grows—driven by purpose, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Tatevik Nalbandyan is a highly experienced international educator and IB expert who joined The Island Private School in September 2024 as our PYP Coordinator. With over two decades of experience in education and leadership, she brings deep expertise in curriculum development, school improvement, and international programmes. Tatevik holds an MSc in Educational and Training Systems Design from the University of Twente in the Netherlands, as well as a Diploma in Radiophysics from Yerevan State University.

Before joining our school, Tatevik worked extensively with the International Baccalaureate as a PYP Workshop Leader, Consultant, and Visiting Team Member, conducting school visits and teacher training across Europe. Most recently, she served as Deputy Director for International Programmes at Shirakatsy Lyceum in Armenia, where she also held roles as PYP Coordinator, High School Principal, and Kindergarten Principal. Tatevik’s approach to teaching and leadership is inclusive, community-focused, and grounded in lifelong learning. She is passionate about building school-wide understanding of the IB philosophy and creating strong partnerships among teachers, students, and families. Her deep commitment to international-mindedness and civic engagement has shaped both her educational philosophy and her leadership style.

Tatevik is fluent in Armenian, Russian, and English. With her strong IB background, global outlook, and warm, collaborative nature, Tatevik is a valuable addition to our leadership team and learning community.

Maria is a deeply experienced Waldorf educator and school leader who has been part of The Island Private School since September 2022, where she leads the Waldorf Primary Programme with vision, compassion, and a lifelong dedication to holistic education. Maria completed her Waldorf Class Teacher Training in Munich and holds a Master’s degree in Pedagogy from the University of Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Her qualifications also include a Bachelor's degree in Primary Education from PABO IJsselland and early training as a childcare worker. Over the past three decades, Maria has worked in a wide range of educational settings across Europe and the Caribbean, including as a class teacher at Waldorf schools in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. She has also served as a school founder and headmaster at Freie Schule Erlbach in Germany, and held roles in vocational education, counselling, and school management. Maria’s approach to education is deeply rooted in the principles of Waldorf pedagogy — nurturing the whole child through rhythm, creativity, connection to nature, and age-appropriate learning. Her teaching is thoughtful, grounded, and tailored to the developmental needs of each student, and she is known for creating warm, trusting relationships with both children and their families.

Maria is fluent in Dutch, German, and English, and brings a truly international and intergenerational perspective to our school community.

Maria is an experienced and passionate Montessori educator who joined The Island Private School in 2023 to launch and lead the school’s Montessori Programme — the first of its kind at our campus. With over a decade of international experience in Montessori education, Maria brings deep knowledge, gentle guidance, and an unwavering commitment to child-centred learning.

Maria holds multiple academic degrees, including qualifications in Pedagogy of Intellectual Disabilities and Pedagogical Therapy from the Academy of Special Pedagogy in Warsaw, a degree in Early School Education from Warsaw University, and further studies in Education Management from the Łazarski Institute. She also holds a specialisation in Montessori Early School Education from Warsaw University, along with formal training from the Polish Montessori Association in the 0–3, 3–6, and 6–9 age groups and a Diploma in Montessori Programme for 6–9 age group from the NAMC (North American Montessori Center). Before joining our school, Maria held senior roles in respected Montessori institutions in Warsaw and Nicosia. She was a Lead Teacher in bilingual Montessori classrooms at Warsaw Montessori School, served as Director and Lead Teacher at House of Montessori Kindergarten, and most recently worked at Little Gems Montessori in Cyprus. Maria is known for her nurturing presence, clarity of structure, and unwavering respect for each child’s individuality and developmental rhythm. As the Montessori Programme Coordinator, she is building a strong foundation for the programme's growth, supporting both children and educators in living the core values of the Montessori method.

Maria speaks Polish and English, and is a vital part of our diverse, child-focused educational community.

Lisa Codd is a passionate and experienced English educator who joined The Island Private School in 2024 as an English Language Teacher and now serves as our English Language and English Literature Coordinator. With over a decade of teaching experience in both local and international school settings, Lisa brings creativity, dedication, and a student-centred approach to her work. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a TESOL Teacher Training qualification. She has worked in several well-regarded schools in Cyprus, including Silverline Private School and Pascal Private Education, where she taught English, Literature, and Drama to students across KS3 and KS4. She was also responsible for schemes of work, assessment design, and pastoral care, and played an active role in school events and parental communication. Lisa’s teaching style is warm, inclusive, and highly differentiated, ensuring that every student is supported to achieve their personal best — including those with additional learning needs or English as a second language.

Lisa believes in making literature meaningful and engaging, and she promotes a love of reading through thoughtful selection of texts and interactive lessons. Lisa is a native English speaker and brings excellent communication, strong organisation, and a calm, professional presence to the English Department and wider school community.

Anita Michail is a passionate and student-centred language educator who joined The Island Private School in September 2022 as an EAL Teacher and now leads the department as EAL Coordinator. Her work is driven by a deep belief that with the right motivation and support, every learner can thrive — especially in multilingual and international environments. Anita holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from the University of Nottingham, a BA in English Language from the University of Essex, and has a DELTA qualification (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She also holds a Certificate in Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching from the University of Lancaster, adding to her expertise in inclusive education. Before joining the school, Anita built a strong foundation in teaching English across various age groups in Cyprus, preparing students for Cambridge English exams, and creating tailored, communicative, and task-based lesson plans. She has also worked as an Approved Cambridge English Assessment Specialist and held key responsibilities for diversity and creativity in previous roles. As EAL Coordinator, Anita supports students in accessing the curriculum confidently while also working closely with classroom teachers to ensure inclusive and differentiated learning practices. She brings energy, compassion, and structure to her teaching and leadership, helping multilingual learners feel empowered, seen, and supported.

Anita is fluent in English, Greek and brings a truly international outlook, combined with a warm and motivating presence in the classroom and across the school.

Tran Thuy Dung (Zung) is a dynamic and multilingual educator who joined The Island Private School in September 2023 as a PYP Homeroom Teacher. With rich international teaching experience across Cyprus, Vietnam, and Mongolia, Zung brings creativity, structure, and a passion for inquiry-based learning to her classroom. At The Island School, she designs engaging, student-centred lessons and leads professional development workshops to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration among her colleagues. Zung has earned Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the University of Sunderland (UK) and holds a Master's degree in Smart Education Technology from the University Côte d'Azur (France). She also possesses an International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) from the University of Derby (UK) and a Bachelor’s degree in French Language and Culture with distinction from the University of Languages and International Studies in Hanoi. Zung is fluent in Vietnamese, English, and French. Prior to her current role, Zung served as a Curriculum Coordinator at the Western Australia School System, where she led curriculum planning and development for the American Diploma and IB Diploma Programmes. Her previous experience also includes delivering the IB PYP curriculum at Renaissance International School Saigon and The English School of Mongolia. Zung’s approach to teaching is warm, engaging, and responsive to students’ individual learning needs. As Maths Coordinator, she supports cross-grade collaboration, curriculum alignment, and innovative strategies to make mathematics accessible, meaningful, and fun for all learners. Her collaborative spirit, attention to student well-being, and international perspective make her a valued member of the PYP team and broader school community.

Christiana Pitta is an experienced and enthusiastic educator who joined The Island Private School in September 2022 and currently leads our Greek Language programme as Greek Language Coordinator across all ages and programmes. With a solid background in bilingual education and curriculum development, Christiana is passionate about helping students embrace the Greek language in a meaningful, engaging, and culturally rich way. She holds a BA (Hons) in Primary Education from the University of Ioannina in Greece and a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Bilingualism from London Metropolitan University. She is a QTS-certified teacher and has received additional training in areas such as dyslexia support, behaviour management, and phonics. Before joining The Island School, Christiana taught in both Cyprus and the UK, including roles at Foley’s School, The Heritage Private School, and Prince of Wales Primary School in London. She has experience across Early Years and Primary levels and has also worked in supplementary Greek schools, after-school clubs, and as an exam invigilator. Christiana brings creativity, humour, and warmth into the classroom and is known for her ability to build confidence and independence in her students. As Greek Language Coordinator, she supports the alignment of Greek instruction across year groups and ensures the programme reflects both linguistic excellence and cultural appreciation.

Christiana speaks Greek (native) and English (fluent) and is committed to making language learning accessible and enjoyable for every child.