Arnelle Grundhoefer began her career as an attorney, working as a Staff Attorney for the Circuit Court in Broward County, Florida. After a brief stint teaching ESOL in the Dade County Public School system, Arnelle's love of teaching led her to overseas education.
Arnelle has held teaching and leadership roles in national and international schools in the United States, Thailand, Morocco, Mexico, Ecuador, and Singapore. These include IB Coordinator, IB Psychology, Theory of Knowledge, ESOL, Government, Law, and her most recent position as Deputy Head of Secondary. Arnelle has taught at both the secondary and university level and is also an accreditation evaluator with the Council of International Schools.
Her educational background consists of a B.S. in Sociology from Barry University, a J.D. degree, and an LL.M in Intercultural Human Rights from St. Thomas University School of Law. She also holds an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Fort Hays State University.
On a personal note, Arnelle has two wonderful children who attended overseas schools and successfully transitioned to U.S. universities.
Arnelle is excited to join the organization as a Senior Associate, working with current and future educators to achieve their career goals wherever that may lead them.
Roger Platt, Administrative Assistant
Roger Platt, a Classics graduate from Oxford University, has been a teacher for twenty-three years, many of which were spent in international schools in the Middle East, South East Asia and Europe. He now lives in Norfolk with his wife, teenage daughter and Bedlington terrier.
Roger's primary role is to assist candidates with all questions pertaining to the application and pre-screening process monitoring the status of a candidate's file. Candidate's who currently live and working outside of the US, should contact Roger with any questions about the application process, the status of their file or any other assistance they may need related to becoming a member with Search Associates.
Email: rogerplatt@searchassociates.com
Keri Dent, Administrative Assistant
Keri Dent has been working with Search Associates since 2008 as an Assistant offering support and guidance to candidates wishing to apply for membership with Search Associates or general questions about our organization. She currently works part-time managing candidate applications and assisting candidates with building their profiles.
Prior to her time with Search Associates, Keri had exetensive experience in office management roles working for various companies in her hometown of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Most recently, she spent several years working in the public school system as an Educator Co-op, in grades 1-6, for children with special needs. She has two daughters, one who is majoring in Education in college, and the second ready to graduate high school in two years.
Her current role is that of Assistant responding to candidates who have questions pertaining to the application and pre-screening process and monitoring the status of a candidate's file.
Email: kdent@searchassociates.com
Office: 1-570-204-7020
Gavin Hawk, Executive Office Manager
Gavin Hawk is the third generation of the Magagna family to join the family business. He is the nephew of Jessica Magagna, CEO and the grandson of Founding Director John Magagna and began his involvement with Search Associates back in 2010.
Gavin graduated, cum laude, from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies specializing in Organizational Communication. Gavin has been exposed to the family business for many years assisting in all aspects of the organization including marketing, IT, project management, strategic planning and candidate management. He also assists in the management of the Cambridge fair alongside fair organizer, Jessica Magagna to include supporting all member candidates and schools in attendance.
His current role is that of Executive Office Manager of the US territory consisting of New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and District of Columbia. Although he doesn't manage candidates directly, he is responsible for the inner operational workings of the office to ensure our candidates have a positive experience.
Email: ghawk@searchassociates.com
Alexandria Brown, Administrative Assistant
Alexandria Brown is a dedicated third-generation member of the Magagna family, bringing her unique perspective and passion to Search Associates. As the niece of CEO Jessica Magagna and the granddaughter of the company's founder, John Magagna, Alexandria's connection to the company is both deep and personal.
Raised in a family devoted to education and the company's mission, Alexandria gained early exposure to the inner workings of Search Associates. Her global outlook was further enriched by spending a year as a student at a Search Associates-affiliated school in Beirut, Lebanon, where her grandmother taught. This experience provided her with a unique understanding and appreciation for the international school community, deepening her appreciation of the company’s global impact and operations.
Alexandria holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland Global Campus, where she graduated magna cum laude. Her academic achievements, combined with her hands-on experience, bring exceptional value to the company. In her role, Alexandria assists new candidates from New England, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia as they navigate the membership application process. Her expertise and personalized support ensure a seamless and efficient experience for every candidate.
Beyond her professional commitments, Alexandria is a devoted military spouse of 16 years and a mother of two daughters. Her personal and professional experiences uniquely equip her to uphold and advance the company’s mission, fostering its continued growth and success.
Email: abrown@searchassociates.com
