Directors

Dr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel

President

Mr. de Dardels was the former Swiss Ambassador to China, Belgium and France, as well as former Head of Mission of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and UNESCO. He is the founder and president of our school.

Hans Huerlimann

Director

Mr. Hürlimann is the Director of Education Department of the city of Buchrain in Switzerland, President of three public schools in Buchrain, and former principal of Swiss International School in Singapore. He’s the overall director of our school, concentrating on school strategy and key policy decisions.

Leadership

Francesco Masetti Placci

Executive Dean

Dr. Masetti holds a Ph.D in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science from University of Bologna and a Master’s Degree in Information Technology from the Politechnic of Milan. He has 35 years of professional experience as teacher, as a school administrator and as a corporate executive. He has taught Telecommunications, Mathematics and Physics courses in Universities and Secondary Schools in Italy, France, USA and China and written many scholar papers.

John Blake

Director of University Counselling

Mr Blake obtained a BSc in Microbiology and Biochemistry as well as a Higher Diploma in Education from National University of Ireland Galway. A respected college counsellor for 14 years, he has guided and supported students in getting them admitted to top universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe. He is also a member of the International Association for College Admission Counseling. Before joining International School Altdorf, he worked in schools in Ireland and Switzerland.

Nicoletta Scalabrin

Academic Coordinator

Ms. Scalabrin has a B.A in Arts and Literature from University Ca’ Foscari in Venice, a M.A. in Comparative Literature from La Sorbonne in Paris, a PGCSE in Literature from the University of Nottingham. Mrs. Scalabrin has 35 years of teaching experience in Languages, Literature and Arts in various International Schools in Italy, France, China and the US where she was also an assistant professor of English and French literature at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Teachers

Ann Northfield

Teacher of English

Ms. Northfield has degrees in English Literature, History, a Master’s in Literature and a PGCE from University of Hull. She has taught English Language and Literature in various schools and colleges in the UK and internationally, including 11 years at the International School of Zug & Luzern and has worked as an examiner for various boards. She has always encouraged students to develop their knowledge, to read and to communicate with people from different nationalities and cultures.

Keith Isza

Teacher of Economics and Business

Mr. Isza has 20 years of teaching experience, mostly in the USA, with the last 6 years at an American International school in Switzerland. He holds a B.A. in History, a Master’s Degree in Social Studies, two teacher certifications from the USA and he is currently completing a Doctorate in Education. He has taught mainly Economics and Business but also History, and Government and Law. He has also worked with students coaching football, wrestling, baseball, and track and field, personally enjoying running and exercising.

Yuliia Crawley

Teacher of Psychology and Languages

Ms. Crawley graduated with a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the Pedagogical University in Kyiv, Ukraine, and a Certificate of Teaching with Technology from the University of London, UK. She has lived in Europe, the Middle East and China, teaching international students of different ages, from young students to teenagers and adults. She has been teaching philosophical studies, Ukrainian and English languages, and literature. She believes that any goal can be achieved with collaboration and empathy.

Fanny Beaudier

Teacher of Mathematics and Design

Ms. Beaudier earned a Master of Engineering in Energy, Building, Environment from Polytech Annecy Chambéry, Université Savoie Mont Blanc after two years of preparatory classes. She spent three years as an engineer in France and the United Kingdom, then started teaching in an IB school located in the south of France, promoting practical applications, projects and experiences, which help learners to understanding and apply new concepts.

Tamara Schornikow

Teacher of English and German

Ms. Schornikow grew up in Australia, and completed studies in Arts and Applied Linguistics with a M.A. at The University of Melbourne. In the past 25 years, she has taught English and German Language and English Language and Literature to secondary and tertiary students attending schools and universities on three continents: Australia, China and Europe. In the last years she has taught is several Swiss international schools, and joining our institution this year.

Donghua Li

Sports Coach

Mr. Li won the gold medal in pommel horse at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, competing for Switzerland. He has been involved with sports and training for all his life. At International School Altdorf, he supports students during all of their sports activities, especially outside of class like golf and ski.

Yuqin Hong

Teacher of Chinese

Ms. Hong has obtained her Education Certificate in Mathematics from University in Shanghai. She was a Chinese IB teacher in Institut Montana and has been teaching Chinese in the Klubschule in Switzerland for more than 10 years. Ms. Hong is also a poet whose work has been published in Chinese and foreign poetry magazines. She has also published a book of poems titled The Time Code.

Nicola Seu

Teacher of History and TOK

Mr. Seu obtained his BA at the University of Sassari, an MA in History and Middle Eastern Studies at SOAS, University of London, a PGCE in History at the University of Southampton and a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Politics obtained in 2014 at the University of Vienna. In the Middle East, he attended intensive courses of Arabic and Hebrew and he has taught Languages and Humanities in Egypt, Israel, Austria, China and UK. He is also an experienced writer and journalist, publishing his work in newspapers, research papers, books and diaries.

Dino Sola

Teacher of Mathematics

Mr. Sola earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics and Master’s Degree in Iberian Linguistics at UC Santa Barbara and also holds a degree in Quantitative Techniques in Financial Markets. He has 30 years of teaching experience, in the USA and as a professor of Finance, Mathematics and Quantitative Methods in International University of Monaco.

Heidy Chavarría

Teacher of Biology and Chemistry

Heidy Chavarría holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and a Master’s degree in Integrative Biology and Physiology of Organisms from Pierre et Marie Curie (Sorbonne – Paris VI) University in Paris, France. She has taught biology and biochemistry in Costa Rica and Switzerland and has also worked as a research and scientific assistant in University.

Vanessa Domingues

Teacher of German and Spanish

Ms. Vanessa Domingues holds a degree in Languages and Cultures from the Open University of Lisbon (Portugal), a Master in Intercultural Education from the Free University of Berlin and a PhD in Language and Cultural Sciences from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany). She has been active since 2003 in the field of Bilingual Education as a teacher and since 2011 in academic research.

Tomasz Dindorf

Teacher of Physics

Mr. Dindorf studies in the USA and has a Bachelor in Physics from Harvard College, a Master in Special Education from Columbia University, and has taught Physics in secondary and high schools for 34+ years. He lived and worked in the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Sudan, before moving to Switzerland to join International School Altdorf. He has been a leading contributor to the IB academic activities as an assistant examiner, workshop leader, textbook evaluator, and co-creator of the new IBDP Physics syllabus. He practices constructivism, allowing his students to develop their own (and thus deeper) understanding of natural and scientific phenomena.

Student Service Staff

Anita Ladanyi

Boarding Manager

Ms. Ladányi joined the team of International School Altdorf in 2018 as a boarding supervisor. She graduated as a Fitness Instructor in 2001 and a Kindergarten Teacher in 2007. She has many years of experience working with children and teenage students, ensuring mentoring, safety, guidance and constant support.

Eva Harfai

Boarding Supervisor

Ms. Eva joined International school altdorf after 20 years of experience in childcare, including working in an orphanage and in institutions for social services to children picked up from the family. She also worked as caregiver and support supervisor for 4 years in a hospital. She can provide students mentoring and safety support to study in a calm, orderly environment.