Leadership & Governance
We have more than 170 teachers and support staff working at the school, dedicated to delivering the highest standard of education in the best facilities.
Dr. Tim Fries (pronounced “Freeze”) is the Director of the Anglo-American School of Sofia . Tim was previously the Elementary School Principal at AAS-Sofia. Prior to joining AAS-Sofia, Tim gained experience in many different roles in education.
Eric Burnett joins our leadership team after twenty-four years in three well-respected, diverse and dynamic international schools. He was drawn to our AAS Sofia for its dedication to protecting environments where educators can flourish and students can be “happy, confident and successful."
Julie Villers has been working in education since 1999, first as an Early Years educator, teaching students from Preschool to Kindergarten, then as an Elementary School leader. Originally from France, she moved abroad in 2000 to work at a French school in California, USA.
Angela Assed joined AAS in 2016 as a Math and Science Specialist. Angela is from Texas, USA. She attended the University of Texas in Austin and holds a Masters in Education. Angela currently serves as Director of Learning and Curriculum.
Originally from Chicagoland, Joe attended university at many different institutions, including Northland College of Environmental Sciences in WI, the City College of New York, Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, the University of Northern British Columbia in Canada, and Concordia University in Mequon, WI
Asya Alexandrova joined AAS in 2020 after over 17 years in different roles in higher education. A graduate of the American University in Bulgaria with BA in Business Administration, an MBA and an MA in Education, she has experience in different roles ranging from admissions, to general school management, to alumni relations.
Daniel Kilback joins AAS-Sofia as the ICT Manager after serving Korea International School (KIS) for seven years as the Principal of Technology. Before joining the faculty in Korea, he served as the Director of Technology and High School Assistant Principal at the American School of Kuwait (ASK).
Board
The Anglo-American School is a not for profit organisation that is governed by a Board of Directors that are all volunteers. The Board develops policies, financial guidelines, and long-term strategic plans.
It entrusts leadership and management-related issues to the Director who, in turn, works with faculty and staff to implement the best educational program possible within the parameters provided by the Board.
There are nine voting members of the School Board. The American Ambassador appoints four board members including the Chairperson. The British Ambassador appoints four Board members including the Vice-Chairperson. The ninth member of the Board is a member of the School community who is nominated by AAS parents and approved by the Board. Ex-officio, non-voting members of the school board include the Director of the School, the Director’s secretary, the PTO President and an elected Staff Representative. The Board reflects the diversity we have in our community and includes a number of parents at the school.
Each person brings different types of expertise to their role as a Board member (management, policy, finance, diplomatic, marketing etc.) and serve on Board Committees as well as attending the monthly meeting of the whole Board.
Aaron Cope is the Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia.
Gia Raskino, born in Mumbai, India, has done her degree in Sociology and prior to that did an International Diploma in Child and Youth Development with the University of the Nations.
Gillian Penswick was born and raised in the United Kingdom where she received her Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management.
David Knox is the Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia.
Pamela Della Toffola, born in Italy, received a degree in Italian, French, and Russian Philology from the University of Trieste, which has qualified her as a teacher.
Kristen McHorris is the Medical Provider at the U.S. Embassy Sofia’s Health Unit. Kristen has also served on missions in South Korea, China, Hong Kong SAR, and India.
Nickolay Rashkov serves as Bulgarian delegate to the Expert Group for International Transport at the European Commission (DGMove) and COO of EuroSpeed.
Des Malpass MBE is a law enforcement professional based at the British Embassy Sofia.
Boris Gurov is a Bulgarian national who was born in Montreal, Canada, and grew up in Helsinki, Finland.