Board of Directors

Jonathan Cavalier – Board Chair

Jonathan joined the Board in 2019 with a desire to contribute meaningfully to the FIS. “It was a chance to represent adidas externally, to volunteer in English, and to learn about the differences between international and German school systems” he explains. “When the opportunity arose to become the next Chair of the Board in 2025, I saw it as an opportunity to use all that I’ve learned over the years to help set the direction for the school in service of the entire community.”

With a background as a Chartered Professional Accountant and extensive experience in corporate governance, he brings financial expertise, strategic perspective, and a focus on open communication and collaboration. In his leadership role, he is committed to empowering the Head of School and Senior Leadership team to guide the FIS toward its full potential as a thriving learning community.

Although not an educator by profession, Jonathan once taught at a university, an experience that deepened his appreciation for the work teachers do every day.

Teodora Aleksandrova

For Teodora, joining the Board is rooted in a deep belief that education and inclusion have the power to shape compassionate global citizens. Having lived in five countries over the past 15 years, she has experienced firsthand how diversity enriches learning and connection. “Serving on the FIS Board gives me the opportunity to give back to a community that celebrates difference and nurtures the unique potential of every student,” she says.

With a background in law and several years in adidas’s Corporate Strategy team, she brings strong governance experience and strategic insight to the FIS Board. Now leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at adidas, Teodora focuses on creating environments where every voice is valued and everyone has the opportunity to thrive, a vision closely aligned with the spirit of the FIS.

Outside her professional life, Teodora is an avid reader who finds inspiration in stories from around the world, a reminder of how learning and curiosity connect people across cultures.

Neshat Asgari Tourzan

For Neshat, joining the Board reflects both her personal journey as a parent and her professional dedication to inclusive design. “My goal is to help the FIS grow as a school where diversity is truly celebrated,” she says. Her experience in inclusive design for educational spaces inspires her to support an environment where every student and community member feels seen, supported, and empowered to learn.

As an architect, she has worked on autism-friendly and barrier-free schools and mentors young architects to embed inclusive thinking into their designs. She sees design not only as a profession but as a tool to shape belonging and accessibility for all.

Away from her professional life, Neshat finds inspiration in art, especially in the stories and myths behind creative expression, a passion that mirrors her belief in the power of perspective and imagination to bring people together.

Tomás Espinosa

Tomás’s connection to the FIS is rooted in gratitude and commitment. “I have seen how the school’s positive changes have shaped my daughters’ education and outlook. Joining the Board is my way of helping these developments continue,” he explains.

Professionally, he believes that sustained success depends on a clear strategy and a strong, committed team. Drawing on his leadership background at Schwan Cosmetics, he emphasizes that the FIS’s greatest strength lies in its faculty. For Tomás, investment in attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional teachers is essential to the school’s continued success.

On a personal note, what was meant to be a three-year stay in Germany has now stretched well beyond expectations, a reminder, he says, of how life’s best journeys often take longer and turn out richer than planned.

Dr. Thomas Lask

Thomas has a special place in the FIS history as one of the founding members of the FIS Board when the association was first established in 1995. “It’s an honor to have contributed to the FIS from the very beginning and to see how far we’ve come,” he reflects.

As a lawyer and former corporate counsel for Kennametal, he brings valuable expertise in legal and compliance matters, along with decades of insight into the school’s evolution. His deep knowledge of FIS’s development, from its earliest days to the thriving community it is now, continues to inform the Board’s work today.

Thomas’ adventurous side shines through in his fascination with Asian cultures: at the age of 21, he hitchhiked to Tehran and then continued his one year-long trip through countries in South, Southeast, and East Asia, before taking the Trans-Siberian Railway back to Germany.

Klaus Rathke – Treasurer

Serving on the FIS Board is a natural extension of Klaus’s global outlook and family experience. “As a father of American-born children and as a manager within Siemens, I value international education and the opportunity to live in different countries and find solid ways of integration,” he explains. “Through my work at the FIS, I want to give back some of the benefits and experiences we have had as a family to our students, parents, and teachers.”

With extensive experience as an international CFO and board member, he brings strong financial expertise and a focus on sustainable, compliant processes. Klaus aims to help the FIS maintain its educational excellence while remaining financially stable and ready to invest in future needs.

And in true international spirit, his fun fact reminds us that growth comes from perseverance: once a struggling English student who needed help applying for his MBA program, he went on to build a truly global career, a journey that began with that very challenge.

Dr. Verena Schraner

For Verena, joining the Board was both a personal and professional decision: “Since 2017, the FIS has been ‘the happy place’ not only for my daughters but for so many students every day. I wanted to give something back to that community.”

As part of an entrepreneurial family, she approaches life with creativity, energy, and a willingness to take thoughtful risks – values that resonate strongly with the IB Learner Profile and the spirit of the FIS. These qualities guide her contribution to the Board, where she supports the school’s ongoing development with enthusiasm and a forward-looking mindset.

Outside her professional life, Verena enjoys exploring new places and discovering the beauty of nature. Having travelled on safari through southern and eastern Africa, she still dreams of one day visiting Uganda to see the mountain gorillas, an experience she hopes to cross off her list in the near future.

Michael Sigmund – Vice Chair

When the opportunity arose to stand for election to the Board, Michael saw it as a meaningful way to give back, both as a representative of Siemens and as a parent. “Through my son, who graduated from the FIS in 2010 with an IB Diploma, I saw firsthand how important and valuable the school is for academic and personal growth,” he shares.

After eight years in the United States, the FIS was exactly the right environment for his family. Drawing on his strong network in the Nürnberg Metropolitan Region and his extensive international experience as a manager and supervisory board member, he is dedicated to helping the FIS continue to fulfill its educational mission with success and sustainability for the future.

For Michael, contributing to the FIS means combining long-term vision with practical experience and supporting a learning environment that benefits both current and future generations of students.

Anders Steiner

For Anders, joining the Board wasn’t a single decision but the result of a growing connection with the FIS over many years. “At first, the FIS was just the school my daughters attended. But over time, it became something more – a community I care deeply about.”

With a professional background in corporate strategy at Siemens Healthineers, he brings a strong strategic orientation and a broad perspective to the FIS Board. His involvement evolved naturally through ongoing discussions about school development and improvement, eventually leading to his election in 2019. Anders values the Board’s collaborative spirit: “You couldn’t tell who’s a parent or a company representative – everyone acts in the best interest of the students.”

His outlook mirrors that same balance of global perspective and local connection. Having encouraged his daughters to engage in the local community while at the FIS, Anders believes this mix of international experience and grounded local involvement is key to personal growth. And his fun fact? A three-day survival hike deep in the Bavarian Forest – with nothing but a knife, his clothes, and determination.

Amy Wiesner – Board Secretary

For Amy, joining the FIS Board came from a clear wish to contribute to the school’s future and strengthen the connection within the community: “I want to help shape a strong and vibrant future for the FIS. Clear and straightforward communication between the Board and the community is essential, and I’m eager to make that connection more open and meaningful.”

Amy has a professional background in finance and brings both strategic insight and a strong eye for detail to every aspect of her Board work. Beyond her profession, she has spent seven years volunteering with the PTO, gaining a first-hand understanding of the teamwork, creativity, and energy that keep the FIS spirit alive.

Beyond numbers and budgets, she is a bookworm, vegan recipe tinkerer, part-time skier, full-time basketball mom and cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines is her superpower.

• The Board is responsible for the management of the Association. It carries out the resolutions of the General Assembly held in the fall of each year, and is responsible for securing finances  and facilities of the Association. The annual budget is established by the Board and presented at the General Assembly. The accounting records of the school are audited annually. Work for the Association, either as a member of the Board, in advisory groups, committees or in any other ways is honorary.
• The Board members are elected by the parents of the school community and by the sponsoring companies to represent them in the governance of the school. The Board establishes the mission, vision and philosophy of the school, in collaboration with the management team, and sets the school’s long-range goals.
• The Board develops policies aimed at ensuring the safe, effective and efficient operation of the school.