Our Team

At Platanus Schule Berlin, we are proud to have created a place where people from all over the world meet. Our employees come from 11 different countries and speak 15 different languages in total. Since the challenges at a bilingual school are greater than normal and our colleagues are above-average competent and committed due to the diverse prerequisites and requirements, this is accompanied by a certain fluctuation. These people love change and challenges. In the modern world of work, it is timely and necessary to develop further through professional reorientation and relocation. The induction and integration of new colleagues into our team is a very important part of our work, which we increasingly appreciate. For us, newcomers mean professional input and new ideas. We admire and respect the different CVs, educational qualifications and competencies. For us, school as a place of lifelong learning means learning from and with one another as a team. We respect and admire the different and invaluable life experiences, educational qualifications and skills that each member contributes to our school. Being such a place also means that we learn from and work with one another as a team.

We are aware and have been working for years since our school’s existence that a common understanding of education, genuine cooperation and good collaboration in a multi-professional team is a continuous process of negotiation and further development, both in the general principles and in the details of practical implementation. We are proud of the new paths we have taken, the experiences we have had and the results we have achieved as a result, and we exchange ideas with other schools about this.

At the moment, 23 Erzieher*innen care for 109 Kindergarten children. Our 540 school children and young adults are in the best hands of 66 educators, including a school psychologist, a school social worker, an integration educator, a learning therapist and a SENCO coordinator. Platanus owes its success to their commitment and pedagogical talent.

Founder

Fotograf: Falk Weiß

Kristin Wendorf

Managing Director

Kristin Wendorf is one of the directors of Platanus Bildungs gGmbH, and is primarily responsible for the kindergarten. After completing her Abitur at the 3. Gymnasium Berlin-Treptow in 1992, she undertook studies in Education at the Humboldt University. In connection with her studies, she spent many months in Central America in order to learn Spanish. Due to her work as an individual caseworker with the Jugendamt Pankow during her studies as well as the decision from the state of Berlin to privatise social work and family help with private agencies, a decision was made in 1999, together with her school friend Sabine Schoenermark, to found the the family assistance agency ‘lara.berlin’. In 2003, the first lara.kita was opened on Hermann-Hesse Straße and was followed in 2009 with the opening of the first bilingual lara.kita on Schulstraße in Berlin, Pankow. Here, along with Sylke Mouroum-Ebeler and her language school, she developed a concept for early years bilingual education. In 2009, she and her partners founded the Platanus Bildungs gGmbH. Kristin Wendorf lives with her partner in Prenzlauer Berg.

Dr. Karen Krüger

Managing Director

Karen Krüger is one of the directors of Platanus Bildungs gGmbH, and is primarily responsible for the Primary and Secondary School. Following her Abitur, which she completed in 1992 at the 3. Gymnasium Berlin-Treptow, Karen Krüger spent many months in Indonesia in order to gain experience overseas as well as to learn the language. Following this, she studied Psychology at the Humboldt University with a focus on occupational, industrial and organisational psychology. She spent a semester abroad in New York at City College and also used her summer to undertake an internship in Human Resources at the New York University. After her studies, Frau Krüger moved to Stuttgart and worked there for almost 10 years in research and development for Daimler AG along with short stages in marketing and design. During this time she also completed her doctorate with a theme of engineering psychology. She moved back to Berlin in 2009 in order to found the Platanus Bildungs gGmbH with her friends Kristin Wendorf and Sabine Schoenermark. She lives with her husband and child in Pankow.

Sabine Schoenermark

Finances and Real Estate

Sabine Schoenermark is the commercial manager and is responsible for the area of finance. She completed her Abitur in 1992 at the 3. Gymnasium Berlin-Treptow. From early on, she placed a high value on personal and financial independence. During her studies in Education at the Humboldt University Berlin, which she completed in 1999, Sabine Schoenermark was working as a social worker for the Jugendamt Pankow. Before and during her studies, she also lived in London on multiple occasions. In 1999 she founded the family assistance agency ‘lara.berlin’ with her school friend Kristin Wendorf. Due to the constant growth of the company, to which now many kindergartens belong, she shifted the focus of her area of responsibility to management and financial planning. In 2009 she founded the Platanus Bildungs gGmbH along with her partners. Sabine Schoenermark lives with her husband and three daughters in Pankow.

Fotograf: Falk Weiß

Sylke Mouroum-Ebeler

Education, German, DaZ (German as Second Language), English, EAL (English as an Additional Language), WAT (Economy/Work/Technology)

Sylke Mouroum–Ebeler has pedagogical and conceptual responsibility for the organisation. After completing her Abitur at the „Geschwister Scholl“ school in Bernau, she began her teacher training in 1979 in German and English at the Humboldt University. She started working in 1983 at the Grete-Walter-Schule in Berlin-Weißensee. Her ideas for an open minded approach to English teaching were unfortunately not fully realised there and in May 1990, she founded her own language school, ‘Sprachcenter Mouroum’. Her son and daughter were born in 1990 and 1992 respectively. Inspired by her children, the idea arose to develop a concept for early years English learning. Among her customers were Kristin Wendorf and Sabine Schoenermark and it was from this business relationship that the idea came to found a bilingual kindergarten and school. Frau Mouroum-Ebeler lives with her husband and dog in Wandlitz. Her children are now grown up and speak multiple languages.

Kindergarten

Susanne Hofer

Head of Kindergarten
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Annett Hildenbrand

Deputy Head of Kindergarten, Bezugserzieherin Preschool Group Astronauts
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Kwame Agyei

Bezugserzieher Kindergarten Group Globetrotters

Maria Bergander

Bezugserzieherin Kindergarten Group Globetrotters

Corinna Domnick

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Racoons

Arne Düsterhöft

Bezugserzieher Pre-Kindergarten Group Ravens

Hanna Hildenbrand

Bezugserzieherin Preschool Group Astronauts

Falk Weiß

Shwetha Kodihalli Ramakrishna

Bezugserzieherin Kindergarten Group Globetrotters

Bonita Löwe

Bezugserzieherin Kindergarten Group Painters

Jona Castaneda Maywald

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Ravens

Catrin Orgel

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Racoons, Sport Coordinator

Priyanka Raghuvir Gaonkar

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Racoons

Laura Rankin

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Ravens

Irene Scorcelletti

Bezugserzieherin Kindergarten Group Painters

Samira Schroeder

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Ravens

Liza Theron

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Ravens

Sandra Thiele

Bezugserzieherin Pre-Kindergarten Group Racoons

Akua Timm

Bezugserzieherin Preschool Group Astronauts

Jennifer Vater

Bezugserzieherin Kindergarten Group Painters

Primary and Secondary School

Our school leadership team – Together we are strong!

The change in values in today’s society and the advancing modernization of the working world require a rethinking towards agile leadership concepts. According to our systemic understanding of leadership, we have redesigned the leadership structure of our school. Through shared responsibility, flat hierarchies, versatile competences and experience as well as mutual support, we work together with the students and colleagues closely, efficiently and trustingly.

In the following section, we will introduce ourselves with our clearly defined areas of responsibility.

Falk Weiss

Brianna Sejnoha

Head of School – Primary Level 1 to 3, Subject Teacher Art
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Simon Gaunt

Head of School – Primary Level 4-6, Subject Teacher English, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies
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Joana Kappes

Head of School – Secondary Level I (7-10), Subject Teacher Natural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Head of STEM Department 5-13
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Robin Zeh

Head of School – Secondary Level II (11-13), History, Ethics, Philosophy, Political Ed., Geography, Head of Social Sciences 5-13
more

Falk Weiss

Jonas Lühmann

Head of School Co-Curricular Enrichment Program – Years 1 to 13
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Annika Klemke

Head of School Co-Curricular Enrichment Program – Years 1 to 13

Our pedagogical team – Cooperation on an equal footing!

The joint and equal cooperation of educators and teachers is particularly important to us. In the primary school from grade 1 to 6, class leadership teams consisting of class teacher and class educator share the responsibility for the pupils. In addition, there are many different tasks, topics, projects and events in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities throughout the day and in all classes, which are organised and carried out together and on par with each other.

In the following you will get to know our pedagogical team.

Weiß Falk

Dr. Stephanie Bachorz

Classroom Teacher 10b, German, English

Falk Weiß

Joel Barrett

Subject Teacher Physical Education, Head of Sport Department 1-13

Falk Weiss

Femke Becker

Subject Teacher Natural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry

Weiß Falk

Rebecca Bernhardt

Class Teacher 3a, German, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies

Can Caylakoglu

Class Erzieher 5b

Falk Weiss

Sherlyn Chew

Subject Teacher Natural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry

Falk Weiß

Romy Clauß

Classroom Teacher 6a, German, DaZ (German as a Second Language)

Falk Weiss

Kyle Daley

Class Teacher 6b, English, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies, Social Sciences, History, Economics

Falk Weiss

Marta Delgado

Class Teacher 9a, Spanish, Englisch

Falk Weiß

Alice De Mont

Subject Teacher Art, Head of Art Department 1-13

Christoph Diekhaus

Classroom Teacher 5b, German, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies, Natural Sciences

Falk Weiß

Jonathan Down

Subject Teacher Mathematics

Falk Weiß

Lindsey Evans

Classroom Teacher 1a, English, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies

Falk Weiss

Emma Folan

Klassenlehrerin 10a, Englisch, EAL (Englisch als Zweitsprache)

Falk Weiss

Katy Förster Olson

Elective Course Ceramics

Falk Weiss

Liane Försterling

Class Erzieherin 2a

Melanie Geier

Erzieherin

Falk Weiss

Myriam Gercke

Subject Teacher German, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies

Falk Weiß

Marla Hansen

Subject Teacher Music, Head of Music Department 1-13

Falk Weiss

Maximilian Hayner

Class Erzieher 2b

Dieter Jacob

Subject Teacher Physics, Mathematics

Christopher Kaminski

Class Teacher 7a, Physical Education

Falk Weiß

Zarah Kedenburg

Teacher in Training German, English

Falk Weiss

Osas Kessington

Class Erzieher 5a

Falk Weiss, Weiß Falk

Inken Kölle-Bork

Child and Youth Psychotherapist (VT), Counselling & Diagnostics, Child Protection Specialist

Falk Weiß

Pierre Lacasé

Class Erzieher 3a, Coordinator Substitution and Timetable

Louise Lenssen

Subject Teacher, German, Social Sciences, Political Education, Ethics, Head of German Department 7-13

Falk Weiss, Weiß Falk

Megan Leong

Subject Teacher Natural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Head of Math Department 5-13, SENCO

Falk Weiss

Tu Queen Ly

Class Teacher 11, French, History, Political Ed., Geography

Falk Weiss

Scott McBane

Class Teacher 9b, English, EAL (English as an Additional Language)

Falk Weiss, Weiß Falk

Rachel McCaulley

Class Teacher 8a, Art

Falk Weiss, Weiß Falk

Manuel Meyer

Class Teacher 4b, German, Physical Education, Swimming, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies

Falk Weiß

Bryanne Minnella

Subject Teacher Music

Fotograf: Falk Weiß

Sylke Mouroum-Ebeler

Subject Teacher German, DaZ (German as a Second Language), English, EAL (English as an Additional Language), WAT (Economy/Work/Technology), Cofounder of Platanus Schule Berlin

Alicia Navarro

Subject Teacher Spanish

Falk Weiss

Katherine Newport-Forbes

Subject Teacher Computer Sciences, Natural Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Falk Weiß

Alistair Nicholson

Class Erzieher 6a

Dr. Rueben Okine

Erzieher

Falk Weiss, Weiß Falk

Theresa Parr

Classroom Teacher 2a, German, English, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies, Head of English Department 1-6

Anne Pelzer

Class Erzieherin 4b, Inclusion Specialist

Falk Weiß

Matthew Perlmutter

Subject Teacher Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Biologie, Chemistry, Physics

Falk Weiss

Sarah Qavi

Classroom Teacher 4a, English, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies, Physical Education, Head of Science and Social Studies Department 1-4

Falk Weiß

Ray Rabe

Integrative learning therapist, Support for Dyscalculia and Dyslexia

Falk Weiß

Jana Richter

School Social Worker

Falk Weiß

Neema Sahebi

Class Teacher 7b, Social Sciences, History, Political Education, Ethics, English

Andrea Schätzchen

Class Teacher 5a, German, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies, Social Sciences

Falk Weiss

Amy Schäfer

Subject Teacher English, Art

Falk Weiß

Quirin Schnack

Subject Teacher German, DaZ (German as a Second Language)

Dr. Jeremy Stahl

Subject Teacher Social Sciences, History, Geography

Falk Weiß

Thomas Thieben

Subject Teacher Social Science, Ethics, History, Philosophy

Timo Twachtmann

Subject Teacher Sport, Swimming and Assistent Teacher History, Social Sciences

Falk Weiß

Linn Udich

Class Teacher 2b, German, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies, Head of German Department 1-6

Laura Underdown

Subject Teacher German, English, EAL (English as an Additional Language)

Falk Weiß

Alexander Ulyet

Class Teacher 8b, English, EAL (English as an Additional Language), Head of English Department 7-13

Falk Weiß

Neslihan Üzdiyen

Erzieherin

Chester Veazie

Class Erzieher 6b

Weiß Falk

Nathalie Weidner

Class Erzieherin 4a, Holiday Program Coordinator

Falk Weiss

Ulrike Wernst

Class Teacher 3b, German, DaZ (German as a Second Language)

Stefanie Wieschalla

Classroom Teacher 1b, German, English, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies

Administration

We create the framework!

For all administrative and organizational processes and questions, we are available to our students, colleagues, parents, business partners and interested parties.

Anja Thieme

Assistant to the Managing Directors, Administration, Finances, Human Resources and IT

Ulrike Herzog

School Secretary

Luisa Junicke

Administration (Finances & Human Resources)

Nadin Prüske-Strutz

Admission Primary & Secondary School, Public Relations

Falk Weiß

Miriam Schwalenberg

School Secretary, Admission Primary & Secondary School, Coordinator Substitution and Timetable

Facility Management

Nothing works without us!

We prepare meals, go shopping, keep things clean and tidy, repair, build, work, garden, have everything in view and always have a friendly word on our lips.

Weiß Falk

Olaf Becker

Platanus School Caretaker

Falk Weiss

Elliot Corr

Platanus School Caretaker

Annett Gebert

Housekeeping in Platanus Kindergarten Berlin

Falk Weiß

Marc Gericke

Platanus School and Kindergarten Caretaker

Antje Krause

Housekeeping in Platanus Schule Berlin