Hello and welcome to Raffles American School Jakarta!

“If AI can write, calculate, and code better than we can; what exactly are we preparing our kids for?” It’s a question I think about constantly, and it’s a large part of why I’m here.I’m honored to join RAS Jakarta as the founding Principal and Head of School. I bring over 16 years of experience in teaching and school leadership across international schools in Thailand, China, and Mongolia before arriving here in Indonesia; a journey that’s given me a broad perspective I bring to every decision we make for our students and staff.

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions a family can make. So, why RAS Jakarta? Two things set us apart: being a new school, and our American curriculum.Being new gives us freedom. We’re not bound by “how things have always been done,” so we can stay current and progress alongside AI while intentionally developing the human skills it can’t replace, building a genuinely progressive, innovative school from the ground up.

Our curriculum is rigorous, yet flexible. It’s built on Common Core standards: a clear, consistent set of learning goals in English and math that most U.S. schools follow, so progress is measurable at every grade. Students choose electives and work with an advisor who tracks their progress individually, and teachers have the autonomy to adjust their approach by subject and by student. In high school, students take Advanced Placement (AP) courses: college-level classes like Biology, Calculus, or English Literature, each capped with an exam universities worldwide recognize for placement and credit.

That same thinking shapes our whole approach: a truly personalized education that meets each student where they are while cultivating the human skills (creativity, adaptability, critical thinking) that will matter most for their future. We’re also enrolling families one at a time, intentionally, so we can protect small class sizes, know every student personally, and make sure we’re genuinely the right fit. That support starts as early as grade 6, with a dedicated college counselor on staff; the kind of guidance many families otherwise pay significant money for outside of school.

I believe the strongest school communities are built from multiple perspectives working together. Leadership, parents, students, teachers, and the wider community all have a role to play. I also believe students learn best through hands-on, practical experience, which is core to how we teach here. Our goal is to prepare students for the university of their choice, help them thrive once they’re there, and carry that same curiosity and adaptability into whatever comes next.

My own family is part of this journey with me. My wife teaches elementary school, and my son is a student here at RAS Jakarta, which makes me especially excited to welcome other families into a community we’re building together from the ground up.

I’d love to meet you. Feel free to book a time to visit campus and have a chat. Welcome to Raffles American School Jakarta!