Welcome to the High School – American School of Kuwait – Seek Innovation – Practice Compassion – Learn for Life (original) (raw)

Academic Overview

At ASK, we are committed to deepening student understanding of course content and skills. We provide varied instructional opportunities within the classroom to engage students and makelearning accessible. Our faculty plan together on a regular basis via common planning teams and in departments. We are committed to using Best Practices in our instruction, and we offer a range of assessments to allow students to demonstrate understanding in multiple ways. We are committed to academic rigor by providing learning environments that ensure students are able to transfer knowledge among subjects, to analyze, evaluate and synthesize information, to use critical thought to solve real-world problems, and to see the relevance and application of content to areas outside the classroom. Our students are engaged in activities that inspire curiosity, with assessment used as a tool for reflection and taking ownership of their own learning.

The American School of Kuwait High School is proud of its diverse academic and Advanced Placement curriculum. We offer a range of core and elective options for students in all areas of study including English, Science, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Performing and Visual Arts, World Languages, Physical Education, Information Technology, and Religion. Arabic is a required course for Native Arabic speakers and Religion is a required course for all Muslim students. In grade 9, all non-native Arabic speakers must take Arabic as a Foreign Language.

The High School Staff consists of certified and talented teachers from the United States, Canada, England, Kuwait, France and Mexico and is supported by two counselors, technology support staff, secretaries, an assistant principal, and the principal.

We are committed to our school mission statement and reinforce that students should seek innovation, practice compassion, and learn for life.

The High School Staff consists of certified and talented teachers from the United States, Canada, England, Kuwait, France and Mexico and is supported by two counselors, technology support staff, secretaries, an assistant principal, and the principal.

We are committed to our school mission statement and reinforce that students should practice compassion, make a difference and learn for life.

Meet the Administration

Caleb Earnest, Principal

Michael Caleb Earnest is a career international educator. His journey began as a basketball coach in rural Mississippi, United States. While coaching basketball, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Education from Delta State University. He pursued his first international teaching position in Afghanistan at the International School of Kabul. During those three years, he taught secondary Social Studies classes, and he was the Transportation, Facilities, and Security Manager. He continued his international journey with four years at the International School of Uganda as the Dean of Students and Transportation and Security Director. He continued to serve the international community at the American International School Dhaka as a Humanities teacher, Grade Level Team Leader, Middle School Curriculum Coordinator, and Secondary School Assistant Principal. While in Dhaka, he completed a Master of Education with an emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. He joined the American School of Kuwait with his wife, Purity, and son, Joshua, in August of 2023 as the Middle School Principal, and now he serves as the High School Principal. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in P-12 Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Most people call him “Coach Earnest,” and he has continued to coach basketball throughout his international career at every level: elementary, secondary, college, professional, and national teams. Coaching is a central component to his approach to who he is. He feels that his day to day conversations with students, teachers, and parents come from a coaching lens, and he is passionate about systems thinking that helps connect students from where they are to where they want to be.

Alejandro Ward, Assistant Principal

Alejandro started his career in Washington, DC as an educational aid and has been working in the education field ever since, until he moved overseas to advance his career in educational leadership and met his now wife. They recently welcomed their first daughter together this August! He has taught and led across elementary, middle, and high schools in Thailand, Kuwait, and most recently, Cairo Egypt.
“As an assistant principal, every day is a new adventure that consists of serving students, parents, and teachers so they feel supported and heard.”
Alejandro says he loves building relationships and teaching: “I love the lightbulb moment in students’ eyes when they get a concept that is new or that they have been working to try to understand.’
He is guided by a love for students and community, “I believe that we are meant to support one another. That’s truly what being a leader is. My family is my source of inspiration, and my wife is a constant force of positive energy that propels me forward.”
His favorite quote is “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
His advice to students is, “Life is not about the end result, but the journey that it takes to get there”.

George Szatko, Assistant Principal

George hails from Southern California, primarily the San Diego region of the American state. Both of his parents are Marines, as he spent his entire childhood living on or near American bases in California and North Carolina. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A lifelong Husker fan, GO BIG RED, it offered him an opportunity to grow up away from his parents and branch out living in the Midwest. He graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism and mass communications; after graduation and a brief stint working for ESPN Radio San Diego, he found a calling to serve his nation; George spent nearly five years as a United States Marine, leading men and women in Japan, South Korea, Qatar, the UAE, Afghanistan, and the U.S. After finishing his service, he went back to school to earn a degree in finance and business administration. After graduation, George moved to Kuwait to begin his educational journey as a middle and high school math teacher at ASK. Finding a passion for coaching and teaching, George continued his personal journey as an educator, garnering his teaching credentials in multiple disciplines as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership. George is the head coach of the boy’s swim team, as well as the boy’s and girl’s track and field teams at ASK; he looks forward to continuing to build relationships through athletics, as he helps young men and women achieve their potential through hard work, perseverance, and accountability.

Noor Mortage, College and Guidance Counselor

Every student is different. With different interests, academic needs, talents, and personalities, it is impossible to prescribe one “best” school that all students should apply to. Noor’s goal is to provide students with guidance throughout their journey to college, helping them make informed choices when it comes to selecting universities that are the best fit for them. Noor values open communication and invites both students and parents to reach out to her with any questions they may have.

Noor Mortage has been at the American School of Kuwait since 2017. Noor holds an Honors Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Genetics from the University of Toronto and a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of Missouri.

Katherine Hedman, High School Counselor

Originally from the US, Katherine (Kate) began her education career as a New York City Teaching Fellow. Since then, she has been a middle and high school teacher in independent and international schools in the US, Singapore, Germany, and Brazil – including Rutgers Preparatory School, Stamford American International School, Munich International School, Berlin Brandenburg International School, and Avenues: The World School – before ultimately transitioning to high school counseling here at ASK. In those schools, she was responsible both for classroom lessons and for student advising and support as well as collegial team leadership. At ASK, she is excited to help students discover and work toward their goals for high school and beyond.

Kate is passionate about student success and about working collaboratively to help each student achieve their best possible outcome. Outside of work, she loves to travel, to continue to challenge herself to learn and grow, and to pursue creative projects. She believes in supporting students in ways that help them capitalize on their strengths and grow through challenges.

She holds a BA in English from Rutgers University, an MSEd in English Education from Lehman College, a Post-Graduate Certificate in International School Counseling from Lehigh University, and an MEd in International School Counseling from Lehigh University. She is a current candidate for US state certification in school counseling. She is excited to be a part of the high school counseling team at ASK.