School Leaders

Dave McMaster

Founding Director

Dave McMaster, Founding Director of American School in Bahrain, brings to the Esol Education team over 35 years of K-12 education experience, largely in leadership positions in Canada, Hong Kong, and Bahrain.

Joining the organization in September 2018, Dave oversaw the construction of the school and led the founding team during its pre-opening years. He was proud to open the doors at ASB in September 2020. Under his leadership the school has grown eight fold in its first five years of operation.

Dave McMaster Bio

Dave McMaster Bio

Dave McMaster, Founding Director of American School in Bahrain, brings to the Esol Education team over 30 years of K-12 education experience, largely in leadership positions in Canada, Hong Kong and Bahrain. Joining the organization in Bahrain in September 2018, Dave led the founding team in the formation of American School of Bahrain which opened in September 2020. The school opened with just over 100 students in the middle of COVID and by September 2023 will have grown seven fold to approximately 700 students.

Previously, Dave led the Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) as Principal and Head of School between 2002 and 2014 spearheading the authorization process of the International Baccalaureate PYP, MYP and DP. Within six years of obtaining DP status, CDNIS students achieved results in the top 10% of IB schools worldwide and CDNIS was named the top international school in Hong Kong for seven consecutive years. Dave has also led multiple school capital and building projects, the most recent being with the Fairchild Group of Canada as their Head of Education to design, co-found and establish two schools in Hong Kong.

Dave’s authenticity as a leader in education is a recognised force in motivating students, parents, staff and management to continually advance the status quo, ensuring the very best in education provision and learning. With a lifelong passion for education, Dave believes strongly that building a school culture based on mutual respect, happiness and setting high, but realistic expectations will ensure a successful and fruitful education for students. Dave has always stressed the importance of what he calls the ‘smile index’ as a barometer in determining the success of a school. Dave has extensive experience at recruiting, hiring, and retaining top international educators and feels this was the key to success in founding ASB.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dave has been a Teacher, Vice Principal, Principal and Head of School at various public and private schools, ranging in size from 120 to 2,000 students in Canada, Hong Kong and Bahrain. He has led world class schools delivering IB, AP and Canadian Curriculum (BC and Ontario), as well as early childhood centres utilizing Canadian, American and British curricula with a Reggio Emilia inspired approach to learning. American School of Bahrain delivers the US Common Core curriculum with the option of the IB Diploma for grade 11 and 12 students.

Dave has also served as Governor and Treasurer of the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS). He was a contributing writer and member of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Munk School of Global Affairs Task Force on Asian Competencies and is currently a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bahrain. In 2018 Dave was selected as one of Queen’s Universities top 50 influential Alumni in 50 years of the faculty of Education. This award recognized the leadership and accomplishments of Queen’s University Faculty of Education Alumni across the globe.

Dave received his Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, Bachelor of Arts in Geography and his Bachelor of Education at Queens university in Kingston, Ontario and his Master of Arts in Education Leadership at San Diego State University.

DR. Juan Saavedra

Middle & High School Principal

Dr. Juan Saavedra is our Middle & High School Principal - PGCE, DVM. He is an accomplished international school administrator with 33 years of educational experience, 23 years in a leadership position and 20 years as high school principal. He is a former IB Biology teacher and IB Coordinator and he has worked in Colombia, UK, Kuwait, China and the Ivory Coast. Juan is also a CIS/WASC/MSA accreditation team member and he has served on team accreditation visits in South East Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He has vast experience in strategic planning, school growth and improvement, a proven track of staff recruitment and up-to-date curricular knowledge.

Dermot McGlade

Middle & High School Vice Principal

Dermot McGlade was born and raised in Ireland and is an experienced teacher, athlete, and father. Driven by progress, he takes pride in providing the best education possible. He has taught across a wide range of grades, from ages 5 to 12, in various subject areas. He first experienced the pleasure of international teaching in Qatar and is now in Bahrain, where he works at ASB alongside his wife; their daughter also attends this fabulous school. With a Master’s in Education from the University of Ulster, he seeks to guide students through their transformative learning processes and encourage them to become leaders in their own learning. He has a passion for mathematics and physics, is an avid reader, and enjoys a variety of sports, board games, and puzzles.

Katrina Bloom

Elementary Principal

Katrina Bloom, joins as the Elementary Principal at the American School of Bahrain (ASB) with over 15 years of experience in international education, including schools in her home country Canada, Spain, China, the U.A.E, and now Bahrain. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of New Brunswick, a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and a Bachelor's degree in Languages. Katrina is passionate about education. She champions putting people first and creating student-centered learning experiences that nurture each child's unique potential. As an elementary principal, she is deeply committed to fostering engaging and vibrant learning environments that empower every student, nurture holistic development, and instill a lifelong love for learning. Outside of school, she loves exploring new cultures and cuisines. She looks forward to bringing her passion for education and her commitment to fostering meaningful connections to ASB.

Casey Bucheler

Early Childhood Principal

Throughout Casey’s career as a facilitator of both adult learning and young children’s learning, she has placed the highest importance on putting each student first at the very heart of all that happens while fostering teacher collaboration and empowering teachers as facilitators of student learning. Casey Bucheler offers more than 30 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field. She has been a Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, Teacher Trainer, Principal, and Head of School, working in New Zealand, Turkey, Thailand, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Korea, Vietnam, and China.

Casey has extensive experience with the IB PYP and Reggio Emilia approaches. She has trained in New Zealand and Australia and has successfully led multiple teams of teachers through the process of inquiry and IB authorization. A passionate school leader with a deep affinity for early childhood education, Casey is also a member of IBEN and serves as a PYP Evaluation Leader and School Visit Team Member for the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

DR. Nour Abuateyh

Vice Principal of Arabic Language and Culture

Dr. Nour Abuateyh possesses a solid educational background with over seventeen years of experience in teaching and leadership roles within the educational sector. She earned her Master of Education in Management, Leadership, and Policy from The British University in Dubai, followed by a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policies from Eton University. As an experienced educator, Dr. Nour is skilled in the International Baccalaureate (IB), and she serves as an Arabic Assessments Designer and Consultant. Additionally, she is recognized as an IB workshop and program leader, contributing to the development of innovative teaching practices. Dr. Abuateyh previously held the positions of Head of Language Acquisition and as a Senior Educational Supervisor in Dubai. Her dedication to education and leadership has made a significant impact on the institutions and students she has worked with.

RADIAH Ali

IBDP and Accreditations Coordinator

Radia Ali brings over 18 years of distinguished experience in International Baccalaureate education, combining strategic leadership roles as Head of Department, Vice Principal, and Director of Quality Assurance with a passion for teaching IBDP Economics and Business Management. Beyond the classroom, she is a recognized expert in quality assurance, having successfully guided schools through rigorous accreditation processes with BQA, MSA, and WASC, as well as IB programme authorizations, strengthening both institutional performance and reputation. In her teaching, Radia creates vibrant learning environments where curiosity is sparked, ideas are explored confidently, and students are empowered to take ownership of their learning. By blending mentorship with collaborative strategies, she equips young people to become self-directed, globally minded individuals. Her work extends beyond academic results, focusing on cultivating curiosity, resilience, and the essential skills for thriving as thoughtful, responsible citizens in an interconnected world.

MICHAEL BALO

Athletic & Activities Director

Michael Balo has been an international educator for 28 years. He worked in Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam and have been involved in sports and activities his entire career. Micheal is passionate about giving students as many opportunities as possible and he firmly believes that ECAs are the second half of education.

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