Connect With Our Board

FIS is governed by a Board of Trustees, whose responsibility it is to hold the school in trust, taking the necessary steps to ensure that the school’s mission is fulfilled now and in the future. The Board helps provide strategic direction, governing through policy and monitoring overall progress. At all times the Board works to show diversity in discussion but unity in action.

The Board consists of 12 members: six current FIS parents, elected by the parent community; five members from the wider community who are appointed by the Board; and one faculty member elected by the faculty. Members are elected or appointed for two-year terms. Members of the FIS Community are encouraged to attend any of the six annual public board meetings to raise matters of interest or concern. Those interested in serving on the board or on one of the Board committees are encouraged to contact us at The_Board@fis.edu.

For Board meeting minutes, and frequently asked questions, please login to the Parent Portal.

Julia Heraeus-Rinnert
Chair

Julia is German and is an FIS Elementary and Upper School parent. She works in strategy and business development and has served on the Board since 2020.

Shelly Kelly
Vice Chair

Shelly is American and is an FIS Upper School parent. She works in financial services and has served on the Board since 2018.

Erik Svenson
Treasurer

Erik is Swedish and is an FIS Upper School and Elementary School parent. He is a business consultant and has served on the Board since 2017.

Finance Committee Chair

Kate Sawyer
Secretary

Kate is American and is an FIS Upper School parent. She is a lawyer and has served on the Board since 2019.

Policy Committee Chair

James Beaty

James is American and is an FIS Upper School parent. He works in biomedical engineering and has served on the Board since 2018.

Karen Claire-Zimmet

Karen is American and is an FIS Upper School parent. She is a scientist working in consumer products and has served on the Board since 2016.

Stephan Falk

Stephan is German and is an FIS Upper School parent. He is a physician and has served on the Board since 2010.

Buildings & Grounds Committee Chair

André Kobelt

André is Swiss and is an FIS Upper School parent. He is a chemist and has served on the Board since 2016.

Trustees Committee Chair

Seong-Han Kim

Seong-Han is British and German and is an FIS Primary School parent. He is an economist and has served on the Board since 2019.

Education Committee Chair

Erin Pade

Erin is American and is an FIS Upper School parent. She is a faculty member in the Elementary School and has served on the Board since 2021.

Louise Ellekilde Fogstrup

Louise is Danish and is an FIS Elementary and Upper School parent. She is the founder of an organizational development business in Europe and has served on the Board since 2021.

Carolyn Walker

Carolyn is American and an FIS Upper School parent. She is a translator and has served on the Board since 2020.

Board Committees

Building and Grounds

The Buildings & Grounds Committee works in cooperation with the Head of School and the Finance Committee to oversee and report on the operation and maintenance of the school’s facilities and grounds. Throughout the school year the committee conducts two on-site inspections, should the need arise. The committee is also presented with evidence that all mechanical plant and equipment, subject to periodic inspection, have been checked by qualified technicians and the school is suitable for use, prior to the first Board meeting in September.
Committee Chair: Stephan Falk

Education Committee

The Education Committee is a standing committee of the school responsible for staying up-to-date on all educational matters, being informed of key educational results (e.g. standardized tests and IB results) and informing the Board of Trustees on issues of educational policy and direction. The committee also comprises advisory members who represent different sections of the community (administrators, faculty, parents, and students) and different nationalities within the community.
Committee Chair: Seong-Han Kim

Finance Committee

Policy Committee

Trustees Committee

The Trustees Committee is responsible for all activities connected with maintaining a strong, committed, well-informed Board. The committee meets on a year-round basis and ensures the proper communication of Board activities to the wider school community, the orientation of new Board members, and the training of all Trustees.

The committee also looks for appropriate Board candidates and encourages them to become involved in Board and committee activities, and organizes the Board elections.

For the purpose of interviewing and nominating candidates for the Board elections, the Trustees Committee forms a Nominating Sub-Committee. The sub-committee is chaired either by the chair of the Trustees Committee or a Board member designated by the chair of the Trustees Committee. In addition, the committee includes several members from the major constituencies within the school.

The Trustees Committee annually evaluates the Board’s and the Board’s chair performance.
Committee Chair: André Kobelt

Articles of Association

The legal entity of the school is embodied in the Articles of Association, which are registered with the Amtsgericht Bad Homburg (local district court). Changes in the articles must be approved by the association at a general membership meeting according to legal guidelines and approved by the court before they take effect.

Board Organization

The Board meets at least six times a year and members of the FIS community are encouraged to attend the meetings. The Board also operates through a committee system, with five committees meeting regularly to set annual goals, make policy recommendations, and provide regular reports to the Board.

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