Our Team

Introduction

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The American School of Benguerir (ASB) is a sister school of the American School of Marrakesh (ASM) and the American School of Tangier (AST) both run by ASTC.  Both AST and ASM are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and are fully recognized by the US Department of State and the Moroccan Government under the Bilateral Agreement signed in 2013. As its sister schools, ASB will seek accreditation by MSA and will apply for recognition under the Bilateral Agreement. ASB will also apply for accreditation by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer the IB programs from the Primary Years to the Diploma.

Several Trustees and staff members of the AST and ASM schools, as well as members of UM6P contributed to the development of the ASB project.

Leadership & Administration

Jean Brugniau, Founding Head of School

Jean Brugniau holds a Master’s Degree in Education (Curriculum, Measurement, Evaluation and Information Technology) from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics and Sociolinguistics from York University. He is certified as a School Principal and Supervisory Officer for the Ontario Ministry of Education (Canada). During his career, he held the positions of teacher and administrator in several educational institutions in France and in Canada, and he held the position of Headmaster at TFS International in Toronto for 13 years. For the last 10 years, Jean was Head of the American School of Marrakesh. Under his leadership, ASM grew significantly stronger and received its first ever accreditation by the Middle States Association (MSA). Prior to his retirement, he set ASM on the right track towards authorization as an IB Diploma Programme school. Jean is honored to lead the ASB Team and looks forward to the opening of such a special school in a very unique community!

Elisabeth Vanness, Assitstant Head of School

Emily Allen, Director of Student Guidance & College Counseling

Jake Lester, Vice Principal

I am Jake Lester, your Vice Principal and Coordinator of Technology and Innovation. Originally from Dallas, TX, USA, I am committed to ensuring every student receives a world-class, supportive, and future-ready K-12 education. My 14 years in international schools, combined with advanced training from the Harvard Business School in School Management and Leadership, guides our efforts to foster a consistent, positive, and excellent learning environment. My primary focus is dual: I champion Innovation by ensuring technology enhances learning across all grade levels, and I oversee strong learning support systems that deliver personalized attention. We use clear, ongoing assessment information as a roadmap to guide instruction, ensuring all students progress seamlessly through our rigorous curriculum. I am dedicated to partnership and continuous improvement, and I look forward to connecting with you to support your child’s educational journey at ASB.