Donnah Ciempka is a dynamic leader who has worked in education for over 20 years. Her teaching career began in 1997 in Australia, and since then she has worked and held leadership roles in a wide range of schools both internationally and nationally.
Donnah has driven exceptional teaching and learning practices that are at the forefront of education today with an intentional focus on curriculum design and instruction. She is highly qualified with a Bachelor of Education, with Honours in Early Childhood Pedagogy, an Advanced Certificate in School Leadership and Positive Education.
Lisa Thorpe is a passionate and strategic educational leader with over 20 years of experience in education. She began her teaching career in Australia before moving overseas, where she has held leadership roles across Early Years, Primary, and Secondary education. Her deepest passion lies in Primary education and building strong, inclusive learning communities.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Education (PreK–Grade 12) and a Professional Qualification in Headship from University College London (UCL). She is also an experienced accreditation and inspection visitor for NEASC, CIS, and Tribal. Alongside her leadership roles, Lisa delivers Middle and Senior Leadership training through UCL and serves as an assessor for the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).
Her leadership experience spans across large educational groups, where she has led curriculum design, assessment development, and pedagogical practice. Lisa has also travelled globally to study positive education and wellbeing, shaping her work in supporting schools to prioritise the wellbeing of both students and staff. She is a frequent presenter at educational conferences and has shared her insights through podcasts and publications. In recognition of her contributions, Lisa was honoured with the Education 2.0 Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership.
Lisa has extensive experience working with the International Baccalaureate framework. She is deeply committed to the IB philosophy, valuing its holistic approach to learning and its emphasis on developing internationally minded, reflective, and caring learners.
Her work has included leading teams in embedding inquiry-based learning, fostering transdisciplinary connections, and strengthening assessment practices aligned with IB standards.
At the heart of Lisa’s leadership is her belief in leading through relationships, empathy, and a clear educational vision. She is committed to building communities where every student feels valued, supported, and challenged to achieve their best. Her focus is on academic excellence alongside student well-being, ensuring that schools nurture the whole child, intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Using a Head and Heart based leadership approach, Lisa believes in supporting students and staff in a holistic manner.
Lisa is excited to continue her journey at Ascot International School, where she will work to further strengthen the IB continuum and ensure students are inspired, challenged, and supported throughout their learning journey. She is dedicated to building a culture of collaboration, innovation, and respect, where teachers, students, and families work together as partners in education.
As a keen traveller who has explored over 80 countries in the past 17 years, Lisa values cultural diversity and global citizenship, principles that strongly align with the IB and with Ascot’s community. She is thrilled to be part of the vibrant and welcoming Ascot community and looks forward to leading with care, vision, and purpose.
Gary Craggs has worked internationally in education for over 25 years, holding leadership and teaching roles in the UK, Spain, USA, Ghana, the UAE, and Qatar. His career has included positions as Assistant Principal, IB Diploma Programme Coordinator, and district-level leadership roles with the Qatar Foundation, where he oversaw policy development, professional training, and assessment systems across multiple schools. Gary’s experience spans teaching students from Year 6 through to the IB Diploma, and he has consistently combined classroom teaching with school leadership to remain closely connected to student learning and well-being
An experienced International Baccalaureate educator, Gary has led Diploma Programme coordination, taught Theory of Knowledge, and contributed to global IB development, including piloting the Global Politics course. He is authorised as a workshop leader and has delivered professional training at IB conferences worldwide. At Lincoln Community School in Ghana and Qatar Academy Sidra, Gary guided teams that raised student achievement above global averages while strengthening systems of care, assessment, and teacher collaboration
Gary’s educational philosophy centres on three principles: putting students first, treating people with professional respect, and building systems that support both. He believes education should be academically rigorous while also fostering respect, balance, and fulfilment. For him, true student success comes from a culture where young people feel valued, supported, and challenged to reach their potential
Gary’s educational philosophy centres on three principles: putting students first, treating people with professional respect, and building systems that support both. He believes education should be academically rigorous while also fostering respect, balance, and fulfilment. For him, true student success comes from a culture where young people feel valued, supported, and challenged to reach their potential
At Ascot International School, Gary leads the Secondary School with a commitment to student-centred learning, inclusivity, and innovation. His priorities include strengthening the curriculum and academic attainment, and enhancing the already-great structures of pastoral support and student leadership. With a strong belief in collaborative improvement, Gary is dedicated to ensuring every student at Ascot has the opportunity to achieve academically, grow personally, and leave school ready to thrive in a rapidly changing world
David is a highly motivated and talented member of the leadership team. He has experience working in both the world of education, and in commercial endeavours. He has a background in Computer Science, software development and network engineering. David completed a degree in Network Design and Management at the University of Portsmouth, UK, where while studying, he also worked as a tutor helping other students to develop their programming skills. After completing his Bachelor’s degree he went on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Nottingham, UK.
David has worked at Ascot International School for the past nine years and has taught in both the IB Diploma and IGCSE programmes. He provides leadership for the continued development of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment throughout the school. He is responsible for IT governance and policy, resource allocation and Information technology protocols. He works with both the academic and admin staff to improve their computer literacy and IT skills. He is currently guiding a large group of teaching staff towards becoming certified Google Educators.
In addition to his experience in the field of education David has also worked for a number of software development companies and has experience developing a range of products including medical tourism systems and flight simulator software.
