Board of Trustees

Father to Charlotte in 6th grade and Conrad in 2nd, my wife Judy is originally from Virginia, and we’ve been (back) in Brooklyn for over 10 years. I was born and raised in Duesseldorf, but was lucky to have the opportunity to live, work and study in many different places since. I received a BBA from Lancaster University in the UK, and an International MBA from the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid, Spain. I currently work as advisor/consultant for Financial Institutions in matters of Regulatory Compliance, especially regarding the prevention and detection of Financial Crime. Most of my career I was working for a large international bank in different senior leadership roles. 

Motivation
I believe in the mission of GSB and cherish the community that defines it.I believe the more everybody can contribute to our joint objectives of growing this amazing school the better it will become. I’ve been a class-parent and parent association representative; supporting the school feels natural to me as I see everyday what my kids are getting out of it. My motivation as a trustee is simply put “to give back” and to help the school mature on its journey to a world-class institution. 

Expertise
After 20 years of experience in large financial institutions and working with many smaller ones I have picked up a few transferable skills that can be of service to the school, for instance how to manage change, deal with uncertainty, communicate transparently, or build teams. I have led teams small and large, have been in charge of business management & operations and have extensive experience in process optimization and project management. 

I am an American husband and father holding his own in a German household. My wife, Ranjana, grew up in Germany eventually moving to NYC where we met 15 years ago. We are now the perennially entertained, occasionally harried parents to our four children:  Finn (2nd grade), Archie (Kindergarten), Max (a 3 y.o. at Wurzelkinder) and Emma (about to be 2 and joining Wurzelkinder in September). I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to NYC in 1993 after graduating from Yale with a degree in Environmental Geology. Initially thinking I'd spend two or three years in the Big Apple, I have now been here for 30 years with the last five of it in Park Slope. I have recently retired after more than 25 years in private equity where I focused on investments in consumer companies including retail, restaurants and education. I love running and am on a quest, perhaps quixotic, to run every street in Brooklyn.

Motivation
I want GSB to succeed. I want my children, and all the children of GSB, to reap the lifelong rewards that come from a first-rate, bi-lingual education and from the exposure to GSB's diverse mix of backgrounds, experiences, languages and national identities. My wife convinced me to forego the Upper West Side of Manhattan for what I perceived to be a start-up German school in an outer borough. She was unquestionably right. We have been wowed by GSB, its mission, and the close-knit community of families swirling in its orbit. As a trustee, I will serve as a fiduciary to the school, helping to ensure that GSB is guided by sound policies and practices and has the resources to further its mission. I will help to build upon the solid foundation set by the founders, the GSB team and all the committed parents who have come before us. GSB's first decade has been nothing short of amazing, and I want to play my small part in making the next one even better, durably anchoring GSB in its position as the best bi-lingual education in any of the five boroughs.  And in the process maybe I can learn a bit of German myself . . .

Expertise
I have over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.  I have much experience with the analysis of income statements, balance sheets and cash flows, the preparation of budgets and financial projections, capital structures, and debt financings.  I have reviewed and negotiated a range of legal documents, including those for debt and equity capital raises, third-party advisors and various contracts.  I have led and motivated numerous teams, and I have been a collaborative team member for others.  I have experience identifying and cultivating talent.  And I have served on multiple company boards across a range of consumer-facing companies helping to develop top priorities and keeping focused on them.  

My most important role is that of being Nicky’s dad, who is currently attending GSB in 4th grade. Beyond that, I am a design and content executive with experience in software and hardware product development, user interface and interaction design, and content strategy and production, currently leading Android & Pixel interface and interaction design at Google.

During my previous 9-year tenure at Apple, I architected the creative strategy and execution of video and motion for Apple’s media products and services, managed the design and implementation of software and hardware features across Apple’s entire ecosystem for which I have received over 100 international design patents, and built and led creative teams to support the development of 360˚ marketing content for global marketing communications campaigns.

Prior to Apple, I worked in Los Angeles as a producer and director in film and television, alongside Lawrence Kasdan, Tom Hanks, and many others. Aside from New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, I’ve lived in München, London, and Boston, where I received a summa cum laude degree in visual and media arts from Emerson College.

Hailing originally from Bavaria, I enjoy Autobahn, Lederhosen, Skiing, Kraftwerk, Bauhaus, and Wurst.

Motivation
Having attended and graduated from the Munich International School, I am a firm believer of a bilingual, multi-cultural, and globally oriented education, such as the one being offered at GSB. I’ve also been incredibly impressed by my son’s personal and academic growth during the relatively short time he has been at GSB, and I would be honored to be able to contribute to the future growth and success of the school, its faculty, administrators, and most importantly, its students.

Expertise
25+ years of Product Design, Content Strategy & Production, and Marketing Communications experience, half of which has been at two of the world’s most admired brands.

A sort of globetrotter between the two sides of the Atlantic and beyond, mother of two (almost) adult children, one is 20 and one is 16, I have been living in the US, Germany and Sweden for the past 25 + years. I was born and raised in Kassel, started my studies in Regensburg and finished my academic training in Phoenix, Arizona (M.A. at ASU) and Maryland/D.C. (PhD at the University of Maryland in College Park). 

My current position and title is Director of Visitor Engagement at the Neue Galerie here in New York, a museum for Austrian and German art of the turn of the last century, where I am primarily responsible for our public programs around our exhibitions as well as educational initiatives.

Being an educator has been a core component of my professional life and until 2010, I held appointments as Assistant Professor at NYU, where I was also the youngest and first female Director of Deutsches Haus at NYU Under my tenure, we offered the first German language courses for kids in New York City.

In 2012, I left Academia  to pursue a career in mobility consulting and for the next 15 years worked on the intersection between products/technologies in social and cultural processes. Our clients were mostly OEMs, city governments, urban planners and more. However, I never stopped teaching and still hold a faculty position at the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain. 

Motivation

As an educator at heart, an entrepreneur by experience, and an intercultural connector by passion, I believe that GSB's strong mission and vision as well as current leadership offer a strong foundation to a generation that is faced with multi-faceted challenges. We are at a turning point that is scary on the one hand but at the same time opens up countless possibilities on the other and I consider it an exciting privilege to support our next generations to propel us into a promising and more sensible future. 

Expertise

Over 25 years of experience in education, industry, non-profit organizations, and government institutions - plus being a mother of two -  I believe that not only my well rounded education and professional experience, but also my cultivated, extensive network can bring solid value to the growth of the German School Brooklyn.

A seasoned branding expert with over 20 years of experience, I thrive on translating complex ideas into clear visual and strategic narratives. Originally from Zurich, Switzerland, I have called New York City home for the past 25 years, enriching my life with both international and local perspectives.

Motivation
As a mother of two (Serafina, 6th grade, and Nico, Kindergarten), I have developed a deep understanding of the NYC private school landscape when navigating options for my children. Impressed by the "small but mighty" GSB, I am thrilled to collaborate with the school community in realizing its mission and vision. I believe that a focus on "Why" leads to a clear understanding of "What" and "How" ultimately shaping a strong and consistent future path for any organization.

Expertise
I have a proven track record of success in branding. Throughout my career, I have helped numerous startups define their core purpose and supported established national and international companies in adapting to ever-evolving markets (e.g. Fidelity Investments, Method Products, Living Proof, Chobani). Prior to establishing my own studio, Collective by Design, I held leadership positions at renowned design firms like Wolff Olins, The Apartment, and Point One Percent.  I have also shared my expertise as an instructor at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). My award-winning work has garnered recognition from esteemed publications and institutions across the industry.

I am the mother of Lola, a 9th grader who has been at GSB since 1st grade. I am currently the Chief of Staff of a trauma-informed behavioral health organization with an annual budget of $19 million and over 110 employees. I also serve on the board of the National Working Positive Coalition and chair the Development Committee. In addition, I was the Board Secretary of the GSB Parent Association in 2020 and Vice President in 2021. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and later studied in England. In 2001, I moved to the US with my husband, Reiner, from the Odenwald in Hessen, and have lived in Brooklyn since 2003. I received an MEd from the University of Manchester and an MPA from Baruch College, City University of New York. I love cooking, gardening, traveling, crocheting, and running.

Motivation
As a product and a firm believer in bilingual education, I was sold on the vision of GSB to build a bilingual IB program from day one. However, another factor that has supported us to stay at GSB for eight years is the connections and relationships within the GSB community. Our 8th-grade class just had the most amazing experience traveling to Jordan during Spring Break (thanks to Zyad, Susan, and Omar). While the parents have had different opinions on various things throughout the years, we love each other as friends and played and had fun discovering the Arab culture and history together. It was beautiful . I would love to see the spirit of inclusion and diversity continue shaping the delivery of a high-quality education experience in GSB so that more families with a multi-cultural background can benefit from it. I am grateful to be a part of the GSB community and want to contribute what I can to ensure the school's success in reaching its next milestone.

Expertise
I am a certified Project Management Professional. I have 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, contract management, policy advocacy and community organizing, board management, and strategic planning and implementation. I love building communities and have facilitated groups ranging from a block association to city/state-wide coalitions to develop priorities and action plans to achieve their strategic goals. 

I am the father of Minna Platz, who is currently in fourth grade and has been with GSB since Kindergarten. I was born on Long Island, and grew up in small villages / towns in Germany, near Cologne and Frankfurt am Main. I studied in Frankfurt, Leicester and NY and have been living in New York since 2002, since 2008 in Brooklyn. My wife Jennifer, Minna and I have been living in BedStuy for the last six years.

 Motivation
I strongly believe in a diverse and bilingual education. GSB’s approach and strong results have been nothing short of amazing since starting our journey with the school. Although I did not grow up bilingually,  I learned a bit of English in my first few years on Long Island. This has shaped my conviction in the power and value of a bilingual education. I believe our kids will profit greatly  from GSB’s bilingual curriculum combining both a  US and German approach to education. I believe it will help  the kids be inclusive, teach them to be adaptive and open minded while providing a wide range of problem-solving skills they wouldn’t otherwise have.

We’ve followed GSB from the first day, attended the first meeting at DSK, and are thrilled that the community, the school and the education have turned out better than we could have ever imagined . I hope to be able to contribute to keeping the school on its track to success and establish GSB as  a top-notch educational institution in Brooklyn for years to come. .

Expertise
I’m a lawyer in private practice, admitted in Germany and the US, and have been practicing at my own firm, Platz & Co., for the last 14 years. I work in IP and transactional law, handling everything from trademarks to contract negotiations, often representing the small guys. Before starting my own firm, I worked for an IP boutique in NY, handling litigation and IP prosecution matters.

I, along with Benny, are the parents of a lively, lovable and talented 5th grader, Danica, who has been in GSB since kindergarten. We are deeply rooted within the GSB community and believe fully in the school’s mission and all that we are intending to do to keep improving. Both Benny and I are born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago but have lived in the New York area for about 25 years.

 Motivation
As an educator, I believe that having access to multiple perspectives and cultures enhances children’s world view and decision making abilities while increasing their potential for empathy. I also think it is cool that my child-born to an English-speaking family-can also speak German. This makes for very interesting conversations at family gatherings. It has been and continues to be our hope that Danica becomes a polyglot and is able to truly become a well-rounded citizen of the world. We have found that Danica’s love for learning has continued to grow and we want to see that continue through her lifetime. The GSB family has been become our GSB family and we want to see it continue to thrive and grow deeper roots.

Expertise
I am an educator at heart-always teaching and learning. I have taught high school mathematics right here in NYC Public schools for many years (every level of high school mathematics from algebra to AP calculus). I have taught secondary mathematics in Trinidad. I have also been an assistant principal and principal here in Brooklyn. I am currently the Executive Director of Accelerated Opportunities in NYC Public Schools - driving access to Advanced Placement, specialized high school test preparation, and gifted and talented education. My work is grounded in principles connected to culturally relevant/responsive practices and equity drives everything that I do. I am hoping that my problem solving skills and background in education will prove helpful to the progress of GSB.

I am the father of Clayton and Ilse, who attend GSB in the 7th and 4th grades, respectively. My wife Melanie Smith and I have been active in the GSB community since 2015 when Clayton entered kindergarten. When I’m not auditioning for Brooklyn Dad of the Year, you can find me working at my day job as a Portfolio Manager investing in financial equities at Millennium Partners. I was raised in America’s capital of beer and bratwurst, the great state of Wisconsin. I studied at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where I earned a BS in Mathematics and French, living overseas in Aix-en-Provence as part of my degree. I have called New York home since 1998, though our family’s wanderlust keeps us busy seeking adventures near and far. Most recently in 2019 we took a year hiatus from big city life and moved to Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer in Austria where our kids attended a local school, and I finally had the opportunity to learn ein bisschen Deutsche at the local Volkshochschule. 

Motivation
From an early age I have had a passion for language and culture that has inspired me to explore the world and the diversity of ideas and knowledge that it holds. As parents, my wife Melanie and I have wanted to provide our kids with a multicultural and diverse worldview. This desire informs where we live and the communities that we help build. We see GSB as more than just a school, but a community that we have worked to help build since joining eight years ago. We have seen GSB make substantial progress establishing itself and I want to do whatever I can to help further that progress. 

Expertise
I have more than 20 years of financial services experience, working as a financial analyst and portfolio manager. I am very much at home reviewing financial statements, analyzing budgets and modeling financial projections. It is with this expertise that I hope to help steward GSB on stable financial footing. 

I’m the mother of Zoe and Leon who are currently attending grades 1 and 4 at GSB.

I am originally from a small town near Heidelberg, Germany. I studied Molecular Biology at the University of Heidelberg and then spent some time doing research at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego and at the University of California Riverside in CA.  I moved to NYC in 2005 to do my PhD in the field of Molecular Neurobiology at Columbia University. In 2011 I switched from the lab bench to philanthropic research funding and since then have been working at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative which funds biomedical research with the goal to further the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders and related genetic diseases.

Motivation
Ever since my kids joined GSB I’ve been passionate about its mission. This year, driven by the desire to help more, I joined the PA board. I see tremendous potential in GSB and want to support it in its continued growth. Due to my professional background and my love for the natural sciences, I feel particularly strong about providing a strong STEM education to GSBs students. The natural sciences as school subjects are an excellent way to teach kids an inquisitive, fact driven way of problem solving. I believe that being curious about our natural world and acquiring the tools and skills to investigate it can be beneficial for many types of careers and life more generally.

Expertise
My extensive background in biomedical research provides a unique perspective on the importance of a strong educational foundation. As a scientist, I am skilled in problem-solving, collaboration, and adapting to new challenges constantly. I am confident that my skills and knowledge will be valuable assets to the board of trustees as we continue to strive to build an excellent German international school in Brooklyn.