The Leadership Team:
Waldemar Gries, OStD
Head of School
Waldemar Gries was born in Eschwege (Hesse). After passing the Abitur and majoring in English, History and Political Sciences at the Universities of Giessen and Birmingham (GB), he taught secondary school in Kassel. During his time as a teacher, he worked in different types of schools. From 1987 to 1993 he worked as a German Teacher Abroad in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain). In addition to his work as a teacher, he served as department speaker, head of department. As director of studies, he organized the upper school and the Abitur at his school. Since December of 2002 he served as principal at the Goethe-Gymnasium Kassel, a school with more than 1300 students and 112 teachers. Over the past few semesters, he also completed teaching assignments within the teacher-training program at the University of Kassel. He has been the principal of the German School Washington DC since August 1st 2009.
Brita Tyedmers, Deputy Head of School
1980-1985 Pedagogical University
Math and Physics teacher in Berlin since August 1985
Upper School Coordinator from August 2007 to August 2010
Deputy Head of School since August 2010
Email: b.tyedmers@dswash.org
Monika Rodrigues, Principal of the Elementary School
Mrs. Rodrigues is the principal of the Elementary School since 2011/12 and has been the Deputy Principal of the Elementary School from 2007 until 2011.
From 2003 until 2007 she was responsible for the coordination between the
Elementary School and the Orientation Level.
Since 1997 she is a full-time teacher at the Elementary School of the German
School Washington, D.C.
She is a graduate from the Pedagogical College in Vienna, Austria, with
specialization in Elementary Schools Education and an advanced degree in
Pedagogy.
E-mail: m.rodrigues@dswash.org
Philipp Wagner, Deputy Principal of the Elementary School
Philipp Wagner was born in Oldenburg. After graduating from High School, alternative service and working as an independent luthier, he attended the University of Bielefeld from 1989-1993 and graduated with a degree in elementary school education for the subjects Music, Mathematics and German.
After completing practical teachers’ training and subsequently teaching at the Kusselbergschule in Detmold from 1994 to 1997, he became a teacher at the Horstmar-Lünen Elementary School. From 1999 to 2011 Philipp Wagner served as vice principal of the Bad Meinberg Elementary School (NRW). Mr. Wagner is the vice principal of the Elementary School of the German School Washington D.C. since the school year 2011-2012.
E-mail: p.wagner@dswash.org
Dörte Hardage, Coordinator of the School Entry Level
Dörte Hardage has been teaching at the German School since the school year 2007/08. She is the coordinator of the School Entry Level, the representative of the SEL within the cooperation between Preschool, SEL and 1./2. Grades and she is a SEL classroom teacher.
After studying English and Social Sciences at the University of Bonn to teach grades 11,12, and 13 in the German school system, Ms.Hardage worked as a Program Director for German and American Civic Education Foundations until 1998. Ms. Hardage moved to Washington D.C. in 1990. After additional studies in Early Childhood Education, Ms. Hardage has been primarily teaching SEL- age children. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband and her three children.
Mojdeh Khojasteh, Principal of the Preschool
Since 2008 Ms. Khojasteh is the principal of the preschool at the German School Washington, D.C. She has graduated in psychology and education and is currently pursuing her Ph.D in business. Ms. Khojasteh opened a preschool in Germany and has worked in several private and public schools all over Europe and in the US. She is a volunteer for a variety of child- and youth organizations. You can reach Ms. Khojasteh at 301.767.3838 or by email at:
Cornelia Martin, Deputy Principal of the Preschool
Cornelia Martin has been a preschool teacher at the German School Washington D.C. since 2008.
She is in charge of the cooperation between the Preschool/School Entry Level and the Elementary School. Additionally, Mrs. Martin is the Preschool’s coordinator for German language instruction.
Frau Martin has been the Deputy Principal of the Preschool since 2010.
From 2008 to 2011, she was the head teacher of a group of three to four-year-old children and will switch to the 2 year-olds group with the 2011/12 school year.
email: c.martin@dswash.org
Kerstin Hopkins, Principal of the German Language School Washington, D.C.
Frau Hopkins has been the principal of the German Language School (DSSW) since 1995.
500 students are learning the German language on Saturdays and Wednesdays. DSSW is the testing center for the examination for the German language diploma issued by the Ministry of Education (KMK). The language school offers classes for all ages and levels.
Frau Hopkins can be contacted by phone: 301.767.3824 or via Email: glc@dswash.org
René Jörg, coordinator of the Upper Classes
René Jörg is employed at the German School Washington DC since 2010. He studied Mathematics, Physical Education and Geography at the Westfälische Wilhelms University in Münster, where he also studied the Use of Modern Media in Education. After his internship at the Helmholtz Gymnasium in Dortmund ,he started working in Hamburg in the year 2006. During his work at the Gymnasium Bornbrook in Hamburg, he was responsible as a supervisor for all P.E. interns as well as for taking care of the school’s website. Since 2011, Mr. Jörg is the coordinator for teachers training and since 2012 he also is the coordinator for the higher classes at the German School Washington DC.
Email: r.joerg@dswash.org
Antje Linnenbrink, Coordinator of the Orientation Level and Middle School
Email: a.linnenbrink@dswash.org
Klara A. Fabina, M.Ed. Director of Guidance
Klara Fabina has been working at the German School Washington, D.C. since the year 2000. She had graduated from the German School Washington, D.C. and received her Bachelor and Master of Education in School Counseling from the University of Maryland, College Park. The main goal of the counseling program is, to create an environment, which will foster and support the students’ psychological and physical needs. Frau Fabina is at the school Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 3pm. Appointments can be arranged by phone (301-767-3805) or via e-mail: counselor@dswash.org.
Please follow this link to find more information about our counseling program.