Leadership Team

Wayne Johnson is originally from Yorkshire in the U.K. and had a successful career in the media before moving into education. He started his international teaching career in Thailand and has held leadership positions in international schools in Africa, South-east Asia and now Belgium.

He is a firm believer in holistic education and educating the whole child. Good international schools expose their children not only to quality academics but also to drama, sport, community work, leadership, technology and values based learning. He is also a passionate advocate of inquiry based learning which is embodied in the international curricula offered at International School of Belgium (IEYC, IPC, Cambridge and IB).

He is delighted to be the Head of School and his two children, Jasmine and Luke are also happy ‘third culture’ kids enjoying their time studying and making friends at ISBe.

He looks forward to meeting with both prospective and existing parents and other members of the local and international community and welcoming them all to this great school.

For the past 15 years, Tala Issa has immersed herself in the realm of education, driven by an unwavering passion for lifelong learning and a genuine commitment to educational excellence. Her academic journey, encompassing degrees from the University of Bath, SUNY Buffalo, and King’s College London, alongside a leadership accreditation from Harvard University, showcases her dedication to personal and professional growth. Through her career, Tala has cultivated a wealth of experience in IB Programme management and various esteemed international educational bodies, which profoundly shapes her pedagogical approach, focusing on student-centered learning and a global mindset. Before her tenure at ISBe, she significantly contributed to students’ exceptional educational journeys as both a teacher and coordinator at two eminent International schools in the Middle East.

Actively engaged in the IB Education Network and global educational communities, Tala serves as a workshop leader, curriculum reviewer, and school evaluator. By mentoring educators and empowering students with proven educational techniques, she underscores the importance of impactful educational outcomes and fosters a culture of continuous learning within the wider community.

Tala’s multifaceted journey has been profoundly rewarding, solidifying her commitment to advancing education and nurturing young minds. She fervently believes in education’s potential to create a lasting impact on the broader community. Beyond her professional endeavors, Tala is a devoted mother of two, finding joy in participating in a diverse range of outdoor activities.

Sharon trained as a teacher in the UK. After several years of successful classroom practice she undertook further studies and qualified as a Head Teacher in 2006. She led a primary school in Colchester in the UK for three years. As her own children were grown up and travelling the world, Sharon and her husband decided they would like to travel as well and so Sharon then worked as a Primary Principal at the International School of Milan. Here she built strong relationships with the community and supported the development of a new campus. Following her three years there, she then took a post in El Salvador, where she led the school to through a highly successful CIS review and to achieve  their  first IPC accreditation, the largest school to do so and the first school in Central and South America.

Sharon has explored different cultures and learned several languages in her travels around the world and enjoys speaking German, French, Italian and Spanish. She is fond of horse riding, singing and dancing as well as making regular trips to the gym.

The past year she has touched base with the UK again and is now delighted to be working at the International School of Belgium as the Head of Primary.

I have been in the position of Business Manager at the International School of Belgium since January 2012. As part of the senior management team and in the non-teaching sector, my role is to manage the finance, HR and logistical aspects of the school in the most effective and efficient way possible. This enables the Head of school to focus on leading teaching and learning in our school.

My interest in this position was developed at a young age when I started working with my father in our family business. I learned a lot from him about management, patience, flexibility and human relations.

With a decade of experience in the business management role, I am continuously evolving and learning new things to improve myself and the school.

I believe in a healthy work-life balance and our family loves living in Belgium. My  two children are currently happily studying at ISBe and I am enjoying watching their development.