Meet the 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.

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.

Danjela is from Albania and she joined WAT in 2012. She is a certified IB dance teacher and has a Bachelor's degree in Choreography, as well as a Master's degree in Choreography and Education. During her years as a dancer, she trained in many different styles including: ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, acrobatics and contemporary. Danjela is one of the senior teachers at WAT and inspires her students to always feel confident and motivated. She is a firm believer that in order to thrive, it is important for her students to feel confident, motivated and inspired at all times and that they be in an environment they feel comfortable in.

Imran is from Scotland in the United Kingdom. He has been working in education for over 10 years, having worked in private schools and universities around the world, both in the classroom and online, before joining WAT in 2022. Imran has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Languages and Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh. He also minored in history, literature, and philosophy. Shortly after graduation, Imran gained his teaching qualification from the University of Cambridge. As one of our kindergarten teachers, his goal is to create a warm and supportive environment where our students can grow and gain the confidence and skills needed for future years. 

Maria is from the Philippines. She has taught in the IB Primary Years Programme for a decade and joined WAT in 2016. She has a Master's in Advanced Teaching and is proficient in the PYP curriculum. Maria has received many trainings in child development and safety, and is a valuable and long-term team member who has grown professionally with the school. As an educator, Maria is passionate about inquiry and student agency. She always looks forward to supporting our learners, developing their skills and encouraging them to become risk-takers, creative thinkers, and compassionate individuals. Outside of the classroom, she loves travelling and exploring the outdoors.

Jennifer Yaver is originally from California in the United States but has been living and teaching in Albania for over a decade. This is her fifth year at WAT. She looks forward to supporting our WAT scholars as they learn and grow.

Igli is from Albania. He has a Bachelor's degree in Composition and Music Theory from the Fine Arts Academy of Tirana. Igli has been teaching since 2008 and joined WAT in 2012 as the PYP Music teacher. He holds several IB PYP Certificates and is a senior member of our team. Together with the art colleagues, they organise lots of wonderful musicals with our Primary students.

Donika is from Albania. She graduated from the University of Shkodra with a degree in Albanian Language and Literature. She joined the WAT team as an Albanian teacher in 2023. Donika has extensive experience in teaching Albanian and English as a second language. She is highly skilled and has completed many training courses in child development, teaching and learning languages.