Leadership Team

With a distinguished career spanning four decades in education, Matt Mills brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Superintendent of Stamford American International School.

A native of New Zealand, Matt earned a Bachelor of Education from Massey University and a Master of Science in Education from Walden University in the USA. His journey in education began in 1984 at a middle school in New Zealand, where he quickly made an impact by directing a successful school musical involving 300 students in his very first year of teaching.

Growing up on the Pacific atoll of Western Samoa, where both of his parents were school heads, Matt developed a deep appreciation for education and cultural diversity. This background laid the foundation for his international career, which includes significant leadership roles in schools across Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich, and Bangkok.

In addition to his administrative roles, Matt has dedicated time to working with underprivileged children in Papua New Guinea and serving as a Gifted and Talented Coordinator in Hong Kong. There, he worked with 300 students aged 2-17 and received specialized training with Linda Silverman in Colorado.

Matt is known for his commitment to fostering inclusive and dynamic educational environments. His leadership is characterized by a blend of academic rigor, creative arts, and personalized student support, reflecting his own diverse interests in music, walking, rugby, basketball, and reading. A talented singer, Matt also has a rich background in school musicals and opera singing.

Married to Rachel, a fellow New Zealander, for nearly 30 years, Matt is a proud parent to two sons, Jake (25) and Toby (23), both recent graduates from universities in Melbourne. The family’s commitment to education and community is a testament to Matt’s lifelong dedication to shaping the future of students around the world.

Tanya serves as Deputy Superintendent at Stamford American International School, where she is committed to creating the conditions for students and educators to thrive. Coming from a family spanning several generations of educators, she has a deep appreciation for the role education plays in shaping individuals and communities. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that holistic, inclusive education combines academic challenge with the development of social and emotional skills, empowering every student to flourish within and beyond school.

Having spent 14 years as a teacher and instructional leader in Australia, Tanya is now in her 11th year of working internationally. She has held leadership roles at schools in Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, and now Singapore. She provides strategic and academic oversight, supporting school leaders in delivering high-quality learning experiences and ensuring that systems and practices align with the school’s educational commitments. Her empathetic, facilitative approach empowers people, values individual perspectives, and fosters strong relationships and a shared sense of purpose.

A WASC accreditation chair with advanced training in Cognitive Coaching, Adaptive Schools, and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Tanya holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of Teaching, a Master of Educational Leadership, and a leadership certification from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, long-distance running, music, and exploring the natural beauty of Singapore and the surrounding region. She is also keen to further develop her beginner Mandarin skills.

Ms Malone is in her third decade of teaching and leading in international schools around the world. With previous roles including Curriculum and Teacher Development and Director of Professional Learning, she now supports the High School at Stamford. She brings along experience leading IB, US, and UK school programs with degrees in Educational Leadership and Music Education from Lehigh University and Florida State University and a Certificate of International; School Leadership. She is joined by her three children in Singapore who are enjoying the range of opportunities the school and the city provide.

Kustave has been at Stamford American since 2017, and has been in Education for over 20 years, previously working in the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Australia. Kustave received his professional qualifications from the University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology.

He is a huge advocate for outdoor education and engaging students in learning outside the classroom. Kustave focuses on the holistic development of students to build character, resilience, and global citizenship. His approach is deeply aligned with the school’s Culture of Care, and he works to support our diverse student body.

Outside of school Kustave enjoys spending time with his family, spending time in the outdoors, and practiving martial arts. He loves travelling and experiencing other cultures.

Clare has been part of the Stamford community for the last six years, after being an educator in Australia for 30 years. Her career includes deputy principal, curriculum director, and various leadership and classroom teacher roles across many Australian private elementary schools. Clare earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Deakin University in Australia. She is also an international trainer for Kagan Cooperative Learning out of the US. Clare is married to Peter, who joins her in Singapore and together they have adult children who are currently living in Queensland, Australia.

Clare loves the beach and loves to spend many hours there, having lived on the beautiful Australian coast her whole life. Her family home remains on the gorgeous Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Contrary to popular belief, Clare maintains that she is 5 foot 4 inches tall but avoids all forms of measurement to justify this belief.

Michael has been with Stamford for nine years. He worked in the elementary division as Deputy Principal for two years and has worked in the capacity of Principal of Early Years at the Early Learning Village for the remainder of his time with Stamford American to date. His wife, Heather, works as a school librarian, and they have two children, Lachie and Sophie, who are in Middle and High School.

Michael holds a Master of Education in Education Management from Northern Territory University, Darwin, Australia. He also has a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Pre-service) and a Bachelor of Business – Accountancy from Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point respectively. Michael is also qualified in Australia as a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and is currently registered with the Queensland College of Teachers, Australia. 

Before joining Stamford, Michael worked in educational leadership in Australia for 10 years. The last role he held in Australia was Head of Middle School at Brisbane School of Distance Education. Prior to this, he held various appointments in a wide variety of educational institutions ranging from small country schools to large metropolitan schools. Heather and Michael both taught at one of the most remote schools in Australia, Doomadgee State School, nine hours’ drive to the nearest town. They have fond memories of exploring the outback from Doomadgee in their old Landcruiser.

Ave Womack is a globally-minded educator with over 15 years of experience in international schools and the U.S. As the current Principal of PCS, he brings a strong commitment to high-quality instruction, collaboration, and teamwork, with a particular emphasis on cultural diversity. Ave’s leadership is rooted in the belief that every student can learn, and he is dedicated to helping students uncover and develop their unique abilities.

Previously, Ave served as the High School Deputy Principal at Stamford American for three years and held key leadership positions in schools in Shanghai, China, and Los Angeles. His deep appreciation for cultural diversity and sensitivity drives his approach to education, ensuring that all students feel valued and understood.

Ave holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Pepperdine University, a global MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from The College of New Jersey, where he also earned his principal certification. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Missouri to further enhance his expertise.

Ave enjoys learning about different cultures and is conversant in Mandarin. Outside of his professional life, he is a proud father of four, an avid traveler, a fitness enthusiast, a movie lover, and a language learner. Ave’s commitment to education and personal growth reflects his lifelong dedication to learning and leading with a global perspective.

Joey has spent over a decade keeping children safe from harm, with her work taking different forms throughout the various seasons of her career. From child protection and criminal investigations to online safety and digital regulation, her multidisciplinary perspective enables her to approach safeguarding through multiple lenses, spanning both the physical and online worlds.

She is committed to strengthening a culture of safeguarding where every child feels safe, heard, and supported, and where every member of the school community feels empowered to play a role in safeguarding children. Joey believes that effective safeguarding is grounded in continual learning, intentional reflection, and personal wellbeing – values that shape her professional practice and everyday life.

As a parent herself, she is deeply committed to creating safe and nurturing environments where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.