Our Leadership Team

Julie Lemley

Interim Director

Julie Lemley serves as the Interim Director of the International School of Kenya, bringing more than two decades of international educational leadership, a deep passion for learning, and a strong commitment to building inclusive, caring school communities.

Julie is a collaborative educator with expertise in innovative learning, STEAM, design thinking, and social-emotional learning. She holds an undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech and a Master’s degree in Education Leadership (Pre-K-12) from Georgia Southern University. Her leadership emphasizes fostering a strong sense of belonging and building effective systems that allow students and teachers to thrive together.

Over her career, Julie has worked as a teacher and leader in the United States, Peru, Japan, and China. She believes learning should be challenging and joyful rooted in hands-on, authentic experiences both inside and outside the classroom, including service learning, real-world application, and community engagement. At ISK, she values the opportunity to celebrate learning in the rich context of Kenya and East Africa, where the natural environment, culture, and community connections provide extraordinary opportunities for global and local understanding.

As Interim Director, Julie is committed to strengthening the ISK community through social and emotional learning, building belonging, and supporting academic excellence. She is especially focused on ensuring that all ISK students develop the school’s Big 5 learning attributes—Self-Manager, Communicator, Collaborator, Thinker, and Changemaker—as they prepare to thrive in a complex and interconnected world. Julie also leads with a strategic lens, guiding ISK’s work within its strategic focus areas to ensure that ISK continues to grow, innovate, and align its practices with its mission and vision.

Julie joined ISK in July 2023, alongside her husband John, who serves as the MS/HS Librarian, and their two children. She is honored to serve the ISK community as Interim Director and looks forward to continuing to learn from, lead with, and grow alongside our students, staff, and families.

Fay Leong

Director of Teaching and Learning

Fay joins ISK from Hong Kong International School, where she served as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment for the last five years.

Before becoming a schoolwide leader over a decade ago, Fay taught subject areas ranging from 6th grade Study Skills to various English and History courses across grades 6–12, in Melbourne, Seoul, Istanbul, and Shanghai. She holds a Master’s in Special Education and a Master’s in International School Leadership.

Fay is inspired by learning spaces that spark curiosity and enhance collaboration and empathy, encouraging learners to explore diverse, complex questions about our world. She believes that nurturing identity, creativity, and initiative is a vital part of building both strong collaborative relationships and self-efficacy for adults and children alike. Fay is fascinated by the development of cities and the ways in which places might serve as living “textbooks.”

Fay is joined at ISK by her husband, Jeff Malone, who is an English teacher. They have a home on the Sunshine Coast in Australia but are looking forward to settling here in Nairobi and exploring the beautiful country of Kenya.

Ryan Hopkins-Wilcox

Elementary School Principal

Ryan is a lifelong learner and progressive educational leader. She embraces new opportunities for learning, reflection and growth. To nurture a love of learning Ryan focuses on building the skills of self direction through learner-driven pedagogy. She also believes in the power of passion and purpose for inspiring motivation and ambition as lifelong learners. 

Ryan started her career as a graphic designer and brings the practices of creativity, design thinking and technology to her work still today. She completed her Masters in Education (international curriculum and instruction) at George Mason University and has spent the last 20 years working as a teacher, learning leader and administrator across the globe with positions in Taiwan, Cambodia, Washington DC, Uganda and Kenya.

Ryan believes learning should be joyful, meaningful, and engaging.  Our role as educators is to curate resources, design experiences and co-construct environments that empower learners to discover who they are. She believes in promoting a culture where students learn how they learn best through experimentation and discovery. 

Ryan joined ISK in 2019 with her husband who teaches in the Middle School. Together they love exploring the beauty of Kenya and our world. 

Dr. Alexa Schmid

Middle School Principal

Alexa Schmid is a student-centered, progressive educator. She believes in the power of a growth mindset, collaborative partnerships, open and transparent dialogue between all stakeholders, and the importance of being a lifelong learner. Alexa has been a leader through several change processes in schools, believes in the importance of educating the whole child, and puts a strong emphasis on nurturing relationships and community building. She is passionate about amplifying student voice, and providing students with opportunities to grow as leaders who can make a difference.

Alexa joined ISK in July 2017. She has previously worked as an educator in Egypt and India, and started her international career as a Peace Corps Volunteer with the fisheries program in Zambia. She has an undergraduate degree from Duke University, a Master of Education degree from Plymouth State University (PSU - New Hampshire), and her Doctor of Education in Learning, Leadership and Community (topic: cultural competence in international school leaders). Prior to being a principal, Alexa taught middle school math.

Alexa lives in Kenya with her husband, Stewart, who is a High School English teacher and coach, and her twin daughters, Sophia and Isabella.

Ruth Jones

Interim High School Principal

Ruth Jones is an international educator with two decades of experience. She has a strong background in social and emotional learning and a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, caring school communities. She has dedicated her career to creating safe, supportive environments where students, teachers, and families feel a genuine sense of belonging and can thrive.

Ruth has spent the past 15 years at ISK, serving in a variety of roles, including IB French and Spanish teacher, learning support teacher, grade-level leader, and, most recently, Assistant Principal. Prior to joining ISK, she taught in schools in the UK and India. She holds an undergraduate degree in  French and Spanish, a Master's degree in Education, a Master's degree in Inclusive Education, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Wilkes University.

Passionate about the whole-child experience, Ruth believes that education must balance academic excellence with personal growth. She champions restorative practices, advisory programs, and Universal Design for Learning to ensure all students are supported and challenged. She believes that leading with integrity, empathy, and optimism is central, and is committed to nurturing joyful, challenging learning both inside and outside the classroom.