Meet the Team

Mirlinda is Albanian and studied International Law, obtaining her BA and MA degrees from LSE London, UK. Before founding IMSA in 2007 and WAT in 2010, Linda held different positions in international organizations and worked as a Government advisor. She has completed relevant IB trainings and the School Management Course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Gladiola is Albanian and studied Hospitality Management in Austria and Business Administration in Tirana. She also holds a Master's degree in Teaching and Learning and has completed many IB workshops, as well as Child Safety Workshops. Gladiola joined WAT in 2011 and is a senior member of our team.

Alexander Harris joined the World Academy of Tirana in 2025 as Director of Academics. Originally from the United Kingdom, he holds a BA in Philosophy & Theology from the University of London, an MA in Linguistics, and an MA in Educational Leadership with Distinction from University College London.

With over fifteen years of leadership experience in international schools, Alexander has held roles including Head of IB, Deputy Head (Academic), Head of Secondary, and Director of Academics across Europe, Asia, and Africa. He is a published author and researcher, currently focusing on the role of AI in education and the development of new theoretical frameworks.

Alexander is a frequent presenter at international conferences, including Cambridge University, GESS Dubai, and the IB Global Conference. His papers and keynotes emphasize school improvement and how educational institutions can embrace innovation while prioritizing student wellbeing.

He is married to Shirin, a fellow educator, author, dramatist, and actor. They have one young daughter together.

Shikha is from India and joined WAT in 2016. She has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in English (Hons) and Bachelor's in Education from a renowned university in India. Shikha is an IBEN member and works with the IB as a Workshop Leader and a School Visit Team Member, thus providing learning opportunities for teachers in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In addition to teaching in Primary, she has also had the opportunity to teach Theory of Knowledge (TOK) to our DP students for two years. Shikha's IB journey began in 2011 and she has taught and led the PYP team in different international IB schools in India, Gabon, Austria and Albania. Originally from New Delhi, India, she prides herself on her cultural roots. Shikha is very passionate about educating young minds and her education philosophy stems from George Evans quote - “Every child can learn not just the same day and not the same way”. It is her endeavour for her team at WAT to holistically nurture every child to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.

Nicolas is from France and brings over 15 years of experience in international education. He has taught and led academic programs across Central America, Europe, and Asia, with expertise spanning the PYP, MYP, DP, and Higher Education levels. Nicolas holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Lille.

He previously served as the DP Coordinator at the World Academy of Tirana from 2013 to 2017, and he is excited to return with his wife and son. Nicolas is deeply committed to inquiry-based learning, multilingualism, and fostering student agency.

Beyond his classroom and leadership roles, Nicolas has been a dedicated advocate for child protection and student wellbeing. He also served as an elected representative for the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), an organization that supports international schools in Southeast Asia through professional development, collaboration, and best practice sharing.

Armelle is from the South of France and joined WAT in 2010. She studied Languages, Translation & International Relations at the Ecole Supérieure de Traduction & Relations Internationales (ESTT) of the Catholic University of Lyon. Following her university studies and vocational training, she worked for several years in higher education (teaching & administration) and in business in Spain, the USA and the UK before moving to Albania in 2009. Armelle is multilingual, speaking French, English, Spanish, Albanian, Tunisian Arabic and Italian.  She has taught at WAT throughout all IB programmes, from PYP, to MYP and DP. Currently, Armelle is the DP French Language B teacher, Head of the Language Acquisition Department and University and Career Counsellor, as well as the DP Coordinator.

Armelle is very passionate about teaching and inspiring kids to be proactive and do their best in order to be well equipped when jumping into a rapidly changing world. It is always a true pleasure when she sees her students grow into responsible, successful and global-minded young adults.

Merijada is from Albania and joined WAT in 2013. She graduated university as a History and Geography Teacher and has been working in education for more than 20 years. Merijada is a senior member of our school and alongside teaching Humanities, she is our MYP coordinator at WAT and teaches Individuals and Societies and Albanian History too. She also been the Service as Action Coordinator for 2 years and CAS Coordinator here at WAT. Merijada has completed many IB workshops and well as child safety and other subject related workshops.

John is from the United States of America and has been at WAT since 2017. His undergraduate degree from Iowa State University is a triple major in Political Science, History, and International Studies, while his graduate degree is in International History from the London School of Economics and Political Science. John has over 23 years of experience in training and education. His primary role at WAT is serving as the Dean of Students and Faculty but he also teaches DP History with an emphasis on European history in the 20th century. In addition, he is also an Extended Essay supervisor and previously a Theory of Knowledge teacher.

Marinela is from Albania. She has joined WAT in 2011. With a Bachelor Degree in English Language and a Masters Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Tirana, she had the opportunity to fulfil one of her earliest dreams and passions, the one of becoming a teacher. While working at World Academy of Tirana for more than 14 years and learning from multiple IB workshops expanded the dimension of her teaching practices and philosophy to the level of an internationally minded educator who strives to embody to its best all IB learner profile attributes that we seek to cultivate in our young learners.

One of Marinela's favourite quotes is: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” (Aristotle)

In her spare time, Marinela enjoys reading, travelling and spending quality time with her family.

Diana is from Kyiv, Ukraine and graduated with a Master's degree in Languages and Literature from the National Pedagogical Dragomanov University, joining WAT in 2021. Diana has previously taught in Ukraine and China, and has worked at an Early Years Center teaching language, maths and logical thinking skills to children. In addition to numerous IB trainings, she is also CELTA certified. Diana is a lifelong learner and very passionate about everything she does.

Amy is a qualified and registered Early Years Educator. Hailing from South Africa, she has almost 8 years of experience teaching young learners in Hong Kong. It's Amy's true passion to unlock each child's potential and help them fall in love with learning. Her academic credentials are extensive from both South African and British institutions, including a BCom in Hospitality Management, Post Graduate Diplomas in Education Management and Foundation Phase Education, a Master of Arts in Education, and she is currently studying towards a BA in Psychology and Counselling. This wealth of knowledge allows Amy to create dynamic, tailored lessons to support every child in achieving their dreams. Beyond the classroom, she enjoys building strong connections with students and families.

Brendan is from Australia and has been working in education for several decades, including teaching for 10 years, starting in Australia and then in Costa Rica where he was the Maths and Personalised Learning leader for Primary and developed the Art Curriculum. He is excited to teach in the PYP at WAT, where the curriculum and approach are a great match for his personal goals as an educator. Brendan is passionate about helping students to become their best self and ignite their natural love of learning and thinking.

Erin is from Philadelphia, USA where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's degree in Special Education from Temple University. She is an enthusiastic educator with a passion for inspiring children to become curious, lifelong learners. Her experiences span early years and primary settings, in both Spain and China, where she has embraced diverse cultures and learning styles. Erin has worked with the Common Core curriculum, the UK national curriculum, and has also helped schools develop their own curriculum. Her goal is to equip every child with the confidence and skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Marichelle is an experienced IB PYP international educator, who taught across grade levels from Early Years to Middle School. She has partnered with established IB, American, embassy and UN-attached schools and families in Brazil, China, Japan, Laos and Singapore before joining the team here at WAT. She is a strong proponent of academic reform, child & human development, inquiry and project-based learning. Marichelle is also a practicing international business and project development consultant in the global commodities, energy, maritime and oil & gas industries. Ethnically from the Philippines with mixed Chinese, Filipino and Spanish ancestries, educated in the UK and calls Japan home. Her interests extend to the arts, aquatic sports and expedition travels.

Paige is from Cape Town, South Africa and holds a BA in Alternative Education as well as a Montessori specialization. She has taught Foundation Phase for 5 years in South Africa and tutored English for a year in New Zealand. Paige is excited to be part of the WAT family, teaching grade 3 in the PYP.

Evelina is from Albania and joined WAT in 2011. She has a Bachelor's degree in English language and a Master's degree in teaching English. Evelina has been with WAT since its opening and has had different roles during her time here, including being an Albanian teacher, Head of ESL and Librarian. Throughout the years she has gained valuable teaching experiences and has participated in many IB trainings and trainings in child development and safety, including Introduction to PYP, Making the PYP happen, Concept-based learning, Engaging in Collaborative Communities, and PYP evidencing learning.