Director
Tashkent International School (Uzbekistan)

Dear Search Associates Colleagues, 

On behalf of the Tashkent International School (TIS) Search Committee, we are pleased to announce that Mr. Thomas van der Wielen has been appointed as the new Director beginning in August 2026.   

Mr. van der Wielen is currently serving in his third year as the Director at the International School of Suva, Fiji.  In his past leadership roles, Mr. van der Wielen served as the Director and Primary Principal at the International School of Dhaka, Bangladesh from 2017 to 2023 during which time he led the school’s Self Study and the CIS, NEASC accreditation and IB authorization processes. Prior to this, Mr. van der Wielen held the position of Director at NSS Nairobi, Kenya from 2013 to 2017, and the Head of School (Bilingual section) New Cairo British International School, Egypt from 2009 to 2013. 

Mr. van der Wielen holds a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management, Bath University, UK. A B.Ed. in Teacher Primary Education from Hemelrijken, University of Applied Sciences, NL, a B.Ed.  in Physical Education, Hanzehogeschool, NL and a Postgraduate course in Special Educational Needs, Fontys University, NL.  

The TIS Search Committee selected Mr. van der Wielen from a highly experienced and qualified group of candidates based on his considerable past leadership experience in International Education.  Ms. Meredith Crane, Chair of the TIS Search Committee, shared the following about Mr. van der Wielen’s candidacy and appointment:  

 

The Board of Directors is delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas van der Wielen as the next Director of Tashkent International School. This milestone marks an exciting transition for our school. Search Associates conducted extensive focus groups and gathered feedback from parents, faculty, staff, and students and these voices were instrumental in shaping our search criteria and ultimate decision. The themes that emerged from these conversations—the need for authentic IB pedagogical leadership, strong communication and transparency, experience fostering inquiry-based learning environments, and the ability to balance academic rigor with student wellbeing—became our guiding principles throughout the hiring process. 

 

We are grateful for the time our community invested in sharing their perspectives. This input ensured we found a leader who truly aligns with our community's values. This transition year the TIS Board will support Mr. van der Wielen in becoming acquainted with our community. We are especially grateful for Bill Kralovec's professionalism and dedication during this transition period. His commitment to ensuring a smooth handover and continued excellence for our students demonstrates the character and leadership that has defined his time at TIS.  

 

Mr. van der Wielen is eager to join TIS and looks forward to serving as the next Director. In response to his appointment, Mr. van der Wielen shared the following: The commitment at TIS to student learning and to Challenge, Explore and Connect made me feel right at home when I had the privilege to visit in October. Making TIS our home excites my family, and we are looking forward to joining the warm Tashkent community. 

 

Search Associates extends thanks to the Ms. Meredith Crane and TIS Search Committee members for their effective partnership and continued support during the search process for the Director. Moreover, Search Associates thanks all the candidates who applied for the Director position at TIS, and also everyone who played a part in the successful search process. 

We wish Mr. van der Wielen all the best with his new position at TIS and his transition to Tashkent, Uzbekistan with his wife and three daughters. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Ms. Barbara Powers, Senior Search Consultant 

Dr. Eric Sands, Senior Search Consultant