Administration

Walter Plotkin, Director

Walter Plotkin started as director at CIS in 2010  after having spent the previous four years as the Superintendent of the American International School/Dhaka in Bangladesh. Since beginning his professional career as a teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia and his school career in Vienna, Austria, he has also worked as a school counselor and administrator in Tanzania, Zambia, American Samoa and Hong Kong.

A product of public education in suburban Washington, D.C., Walter graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in history, before going back to school for certification in education as well as a master’s degree in school counseling.

Walter is married to Joyce Tromba, a former nurse-midwife turned teacher, who is teaching MYP science at CIS. They have two adult children, Megan and Jesse, who followed them in their journey around the world, ultimately graduating from IB Diploma programs in Africa. They also have a grandson, Oscar, who was born in September 2009 and is the love of their lives.

Walter looks forward to meeting all of the CIS families and welcomes the school community members to contact him at any time if they feel that he might be of assistance.

Heikki Soini, Primary School Principal

Heikki Soini was educated in Finland and holds a Master's Degree in primary school education from the University of Oulu. He has also a Post-Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Leadership from the Finnish National Board of Education.

Before joining CIS in August 2009, Heikki has worked as Head of IB programmes in the United Arab Emirates, Principal of international schools in Norway and Finland as well as Curriculum Manager with the International Baccalareate Organization (IBO) in the UK. In addition, Heikki has 11 years of experience as a primary school teacher.

Heikki also conducts professional development workshops and PYP programme authorization and evaluation visits for the IBO at other PYP schools in Europe.

Heikki is married to Riitta with two children Maija and Mikael, who both attend CIS.

Leanne Dunlap, Middle School Principal

Leanne Dunlap's overseas experience includes four years as Middle School Principal at The American School of Warsaw, six years as a middle school teacher at the American School in Japan and three years at the American School in Rio de Janeiro, as well as a practicum in reading instruction for a year in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Leanne has a National Board Certification in Teaching and has endorsements in Mathematics, English, and Social Studies. She has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Supervision as well as Ed.D in K-12 School Administration. 

Having spent most of her career as a middle level educator, Leanne is excited about the opportunity to develop a middle school that will focus on students who are in the process of making the transition from childhood to young adults. She is looking forward to meeting all of you and supporting your child through an exhilarating and challenging middle school experience.

Caroline Brokvam, Senior School Principal

Caroline Brokvam  joined CIS in August 2011 as the first Senior School Principal (grades 9 -12), on the City Campus. She started out her international teaching career not so far away, at the International School of Stavanger, Norway.

Her background is as an English teacher; she has a PhD in English Literature and is an examiner for the IBO. She entered Administration at the International School of Manila in the Philippines, and continued her career at a government high school on the Gold Coast in Australia. Caroline is Australian, and she and her Norwegian husband Ståle have three children at CIS.

Birgitte Høgh, Chief Financial Officer

Birgitte Høgh's background is a Masters Degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Århus,  and broad experience in the areas of accounting, controlling, management reporting and financial management.

Before joining CIS in March 2013 Birgitte has worked in PwC as Manager in the Interim Management section and as Finance Manager and controller in various companies.

Birgitte is married to Lars and they have two children, Julie and Josephine.