Carsten Casper
Over the past two years, I have spent my time modernizing the Verein’s internal processes, in particular financial administration, membership administration, and document management. I would like to bring this work to a conclusion and then hand it over to motivated parents, ideally those with children in elementary school.
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
The board – not the Verein’s! – priorities should be: 1) creating an open Verein community that excites dozens of volunteers outside the board; 2) fine-tuning operations so information flow and handling of finances play no role in the community experience; 3) creating an environment where all projects and events are handed from generation to generation.
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
Upgrading the audio equipment in the aula, an outdoor class room.
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
Project management
Haley Scribner
As a parent with one JFKS graduate and a daughter currently in 8th grade, our family has truly found a home here since moving to Berlin three years ago. I jumped into school life right away, first serving on the PCB board for a year before moving over to the Verein board for the last two. This past October, I was elected into the Vice Chair role to help keep things moving forward after our previous VC moved on.
I’m excited to run for another term because I feel like we’re right in the middle of some great momentum! We have several projects and events in the works that I’m really passionate about, and I’d love the chance to see them through to the finish line and make sure everything is in great shape for the next set of board members. I’m so looking forward to seeing our campus buzz with even more energy next school year, and I’d be honored to keep helping the Verein make that happen.
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
1. Creating solid event and internal process documentation.
2. Fleshing out our policies and best practices to ensure the Verein runs smoothly and transparently.
3. Collaborating with other JFKS community groups to ensure maximum efforts on campus.
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
The large aula audio system and the teacher supply/curriculum needs.
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
Project management and communication. I’ve also served on numerous nonprofit boards over the years, but likely, my most relevant experience is that I’ve been on the board for the last two years and am already well versed in the current projects and ongoing needs.
Jamie Turner
Hello! I am a JFKs mother of 2 for the past 11 years. Professionally, I dedicated my career to Human Resources and have extensive experience in helping companies ensure procedures are fair and neutral, practices are legally healthy, diverse perspectives are honored, and the community culture is built on common values.
I am motivated to bring these practices to the community we live in, and the environment our children trust. In addition, I am keen to help get things done, keep the JFKs spirit and enable new projects to get off the ground.
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
Fundraising for campus updates and academic supplements while community building.
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
1. Student support programs in partnership with the counselors (e.g. social media/digital safety, test anxiety, awareness and prevention programs around drugs & alcohol usage).
2. Teacher support (academic and classroom enhancements, simplifying/automating time-consuming tasks)
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
– Culture building, labor law, project management, budgeting, forecasting, public relations and communications, governing, reporting and financing.
– Current JFKs Verein Board member who stepped in during turbulent times.
– Existing established, trusted relationships with the current Admin teams.
– participate in event and locker committees, have been a parent rep in the past, and have helped with various projects over the years.
– I sit on two other Boards supporting Tech start-ups.
Nella Klopotek von Glowczewski
We joined the JFKS community back in Summer 25. My son is going to 1st grade. I am working in an IT company supporting publishers with an ERP system. I am running the customer account & business development department and have a background in marketing, sales. The reason why I would like to join the board is because I started coming to the monthly meetings and I am impressed with the JFKS community overall. I think the Verein is doing great work and I genuinely want to support it.
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
1) How can the Verein help teachers and students to learn a responsible handling of AI (where can it support, how do you have to deal with data privacy, how can it be used without being harmful, how to use prompts, what social and environmental impact does AI have)
2) Bringing water fountains to the elementary building
3) The normal annual Verein program – it seems enough on the list to be honest
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
Even though I have been coming to the verein meetings for a while now, I am not sure what would have the biggest impact. There were some communication topics addressed that could improve and seem to be an ongoing issue but also various initiatives to be funded also. I would work with the experience of the Verein members and see with the school directors where their priorities lie.
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
General management experience, budgeting, financial planning, IT landscape and tech, worked in marketing for years, graphic design, little bit of everything
Carissa Tazo’o
My name is Carissa Tazo’o and I have been a Verein Board Member since October 2025. I have two children at JFKS (2nd grade and EC) and I’m an active member of our school community. I am most passionate about cultivating a community at our school, ensuring that our teachers, administration and support staff feel supported and finding ways to implement new projects/initiatives to improve our campus and our children’s experience at school. It is very important to me to have diverse voices making decisions on behalf of our Verein and also supporting the various projects and organisations at JFKS. I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the Verein Board the last few months and hope to have the opportunity to continue for the next two years.
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
1. Connecting with our JFKS community. As a Board, we need to be intentional about getting more parents involved in our various projects, initiatives and events on campus.
2. Continuing our forward progress of documentation (onboarding for new board members, process for events, financially, etc…).
3. Updating and maintaining the Verein website. It should be a resource for parents and teachers to see what we’re doing, what we’re all about and how they can be a part of the Verein.
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
1. Supporting our teachers in ensuring that they have the resources they need in order to be successful (supplies/materials, appropriate curriculum, etc…).
2. Our yearly events (Fun Run, Fun Day, Flea Market, etc…) are so successful. It would be great to get more volunteers onboard to support these efforts and allow for our Student led organizations to have better platforms for fundraising and exposure/visibility to our school community.
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
I have over 20 years of Management experience and love connecting with people and building community. I am an active member of the Bear-a-Cudas Swim Club Board and have helped organize various events on campus, including Fun Day, Einschulung, Teacher Appreciation, etc…
Carlotta de Vivanco
I joined the Verein Board in October 2025 to help bridge the period leading up to this year’s AGM. As both a parent of a first grader and a proud JFKS graduate (not too) many moons ago, the school holds a very special place in my life.
Over the past months, I have gained valuable insight into how the Verein operates and what responsible board service entails. I stepped forward because I am passionate about the school, its dedicated staff, and the broader JFKS community. That commitment has only grown stronger. Having now developed a clearer understanding of the work involved, I would be very pleased to continue serving on the Board. I believe there are meaningful opportunities to further strengthen community engagement and connection within JFKS, and I would be excited to contribute to that effort.
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
1. Strengthening Community
There is significant potential to further build community — particularly among new families and parents in the younger grades. Importantly, this does not necessarily require large budgets. Creating enabling environments where parents can connect, contribute in small ways, and gradually become more involved can have a meaningful impact. The coffee mornings have been a great start, as was the survey of volunteering interests. Building on these initiatives in a structured but low-barrier way could significantly strengthen engagement and build our JFKS community.
2. Increasing Transparency and Awareness of the Verein’s Role
The Verein is a unique and valuable resource for the school, yet there is often limited understanding of how it operates and how it can support the school community. Especially in a context of shrinking public resources, it will be increasingly important to communicate clearly how the Verein works, how decisions are made, and where it can most effectively contribute. Proactively engaging staff, administration, and parents in conversations about medium- and long-term priorities would strengthen both trust and impact.
3. Developing a Clear Medium-Term Strategy
I believe the Board would benefit from articulating a more defined strategic outlook — identifying a small number of larger, meaningful projects that tackle challenges at JFKS that cannot be solved easily but could significantly enhance opportunities for students. To do this well, the Board could systematically seek input from administration, faculty, students, and parents, and focus on areas where there is strong alignment. A clear medium-term roadmap would help ensure continuity, thoughtful resource allocation, and greater strategic impact.
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
1. Improving Access to Teaching Materials and Classroom Supplies
Ensuring that teachers and students have timely and equitable access to essential materials can have an immediate and tangible impact on learning at JFKS. There is an opportunity to streamline how classroom supply needs are identified, communicated, and supported — including creating clearer structures for parent contributions where appropriate.
2. Strengthening Curriculum Communication and Learning Resources
Given the limited availability of traditional textbooks in certain areas, there is a real opportunity to bring greater structure and clarity to how curriculum content is communicated and supported. Developing clearer overviews, or supplemental materials could better support students, faculty, and parents alike.
This would be particularly important in a bilingual environment like ours, where alignment and clarity are essential to helping students navigate learning in two languages. Strengthening this area could enhance academic continuity, reduce uncertainty for families, and reinforce the school’s bilingual mission.
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
Related to the school and the Verein: I have had the last few months of experience on how the board operates. Previously, I also helped organize Fun Day, which gave me additional insights on how the school works and who does what. I am also in my second year on the Parent Council Board.
Other than that I am a Canva enthusiast, well versed in the tedious task of minute taking and spend my day job coordinating and crafting messages to different audiences.
Jack Busta
Wir gehören seit sechs Jahren zur JFKS-Familie und haben zwei Söhne, die die High School besuchen. Ich freue mich über die Möglichkeit, die Schulgemeinschaft nach Kräften zu unterstützen und etwas Bleibendes zu schaffen. Ich war zwei Jahre im Schulvorstand und zwei Jahre im Schulleitungsausschuss tätig. Nun möchte ich verschiedene Aktivitäten fördern, die das Gemeinschaftsgefühl stärken.
We have been a JFKS family for six years and have two sons attending high school. I appreciate the opportunity to support the community any way that I can and leave a lasting legacy. I served on the PCB for two years and the ED for two years. Now I would like to support various activities to nurture the sense of community.
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
1. Transparenz und Partizipation verbessern
2. Projekte priorisieren, die Menschen auf den Campus bringen
3. Den kulturellen Austausch ausweiten.
1. Improve transparency and participation
2. Prioritize projects that bring people on campus
3. Broaden cultural exchange.
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
Flohmarkt- und Musikprogramme // Flea market and music programs
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
Mein Hintergrund liegt in der Projekt- und Geschäftsentwicklung, aber ich engagiere mich gerne dort, wo Hilfe benötigt wird, und arbeite gerne im Hintergrund, um Probleme zu lösen. Ich bin ein kreativer Problemlöser. Zuvor war ich Vorstandsmitglied eines privaten Unternehmens und Kuratoriumsmitglied einer kleinen Universität. Der Schlüssel zu guter Unternehmensführung waren klare Prozesse, sorgfältige Dokumentation und ein offenes Ohr für die Anliegen anderer.
My background is in project and business development, but I simply like to get involved where help is needed and happy to keep a low profile and resolve issues. I tend to be a creative problem solver. Previously I have served as a board member of a private company and a trustee of a small university. The key to governance has been clear processes, good records and open ears.
Robert Lenk
Hi, during the last years and decades I consequently spent my free time volunteering in various contexts and organisations. It’s a choice: You want to shape things around you? See things becoming reality? Go out, join people, make it happen. In my latest role as president of the verein, I was privileged to serve for two years at our kids school together with amazing parents in the team. Thank you for that trust and together impact.
In a time where the public service and support decreases – it’s up to us parents to support our school, staff and kids as best as we can!
What do you believe should be the Board’s top three priorities over the next 12 months to support the school community?
Continuous professional focus on internal processes.
Continuation of ongoing processes and commitments
More communications on multiple channels (on Campus Media / Online Media)
Within the Board, I wish to see even more enabling habits and generosity for incoming requests, early ideas and initiatives.
If you could pick one or two projects that you feel would have the biggest positive impact on our community and the school, what would they be?
Two things to that, first is impact on the community:
An intense positive impact on our community do have the traditional community events – so let them shine! Year by year. Fun Day, Flea Market, Fun Run – forever. But we should add a bi-annual big Volunteer appreciation event, beyond all clubs and associations. Worship the volunteers.
Impact for our kids: Next level education impacts. Giving the school the necessary resources to try out new subjects, which are not yet covered by senate funding. We have already one serious attempt for Science Tech Engineering Mathematic (STEM) in the pipeline – but it didn’t pass our Board vote yet. Lets try again with the new Board!
Do you have any specific characteristics, skills or experience that would be valuable for the Verein board?
Board Experience, Project Management Skills, Conflict Management Skills, Writing, Hands on habit