Leadership
Dr. Alexandar Pethan
Superintendent
Dr. Pethan’s educational career took root more than 25 years ago when he volunteered to teach elementary school students to read. From that experience grew his appreciation for the craft and artistry of teaching. He taught Spanish and coached sports in the United States before continuing the profession in the Philippines. There, benefiting from examples and mentorship of fellow teachers, coaches, and skilled administrators, he increasingly took on school leadership responsibilities. He then put these skills to use by serving as an administrator for dynamic school communities in Saudi Arabia, Beijing, and Kuwait. He feels fortunate to now serve as the Raffles American School Superintendent where he hopes to build on the solid foundation of those who have come before him.
Demonstrating his commitment to lifelong learning, he earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lehigh University, and a doctoral degree in leadership and learning in organizations from Vanderbilt University.
James Elliott
Elementary School Principal
Mr. James Elliott is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he joined RAS in 2020 as a teacher and admissions representative. Mr. Elliott holds a BA in Rhetoric and Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as well as Professional Teaching Licenses for Elementary Education and ESOL. His career in education began back in 2014 as a Pre-K teacher at a private school in Wisconsin, where he discovered his passion for teaching and mentorship. Since then, he has taught students at every level, from early childhood to university. Since joining RAS, Mr. Elliott has taught ELL, 4th grade, 5th grade, and a multitude of CCAs while also assisting the admissions department in enrolling hundreds of new students. James believes that authenticity is the key to properly pairing families with a school to ensure that it suits their child’s educational needs, and he utilizes his experience as an RAS teacher to educate prospective families about the opportunities that Raffles American School can offer them.
Darla Her
Elementary School Assistant Principal
Mrs. Darla Her is from Missouri, USA, and she joined RAS in 2022 as the Elementary School English Language Learner (ELL) teacher and Learning Support Specialist (LS) before becoming the Elementary School Assistant Principal. Darla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education, a Master’s in Special Education from Nyack College, and an Education Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership from Southeast Missouri State University. Her career began in 2016 as a special education teacher at a charter school in New York City, where she worked closely with parents, teachers, and students to ensure all students had access to a quality and rigorous education. She has also taught special education and assisted in leadership roles in public schools in Missouri. Since joining RAS, Darla has assisted in various projects for the school, including yearbook, founding the sewing club, and organizing standardized testing across the school. Darla believes that all students can learn and achieve their potential if the right supports are in place, and she is a passionate advocate for students to be lifelong learners in both academic and nonacademic skills.
David Hornby
Middle School Principal
Mr. David Hornby began his education career in Vancouver, Canada, as a Social Studies and PE teacher. His first experience abroad to Japan was a 2-year plan; it’s now his 26th year of teaching and leading international schools. His international experiences expand to China, Indonesia, and now Malaysia. David studied for a master’s degree in educational management and has held roles as Pastoral Coordinator, Vice-Principal, Secondary Principal, and Head of School. He is keen to support RAS students and families in reaching their unique goals and further developing RAS’s academic and extracurricular programs both on and off-campus.
David met his South Korean wife while teaching in Japan. They have two sons who graduated from the IB diploma program and are studying at the University of Toronto, Canada.
Sok Wee Kho
High School Principal
Sok Wee Kho, a Singaporean native and alumnus of the National University of Singapore, brings a wealth of instructional experience to his Secondary High School Principal role. With extensive experience across the Cambridge, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Advanced Placement (AP) curricula, Mr. Kho is dedicated to ensuring that our school delivers high-quality education that meets the latest standards and embraces research-based approaches.
Mr. Kho holds a Master’s of Education in Teaching Multilingual Learners, which is particularly beneficial in our international school community. His expertise in this area ensures that all students, regardless of their linguistic backgrounds, receive the support they need to excel.
Passionate about empowering students to thrive in the 21st century, Mr. Kho is committed to fostering continuous growth in essential skills. He believes in cultivating an environment where students feel supported to make confident decisions, embrace challenges, and become lifelong learners.
Herman Kruger
Boarding Director
Mr. Herman Kruger is the Boarding Director at Raffles American School, joining the team in 2024. He oversees the daily operations of the boarding program, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for all boarding students.
Mr. Herman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics from Northwest University, South Africa, as well as a PGDE. He completed specialized training in adolescent development and residential life management and is a certified Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) member.
Before joining Raffles American School, Mr. Herman served as the Director of Boarding and Head of Residential Life at various international schools in Africa and Asia, where he implemented successful student wellness programs and improved boarding facilities. His career also includes roles as a school counselor and residential advisor, which provided him with a well-rounded perspective on student needs and support systems.
As the Boarding Director at Raffles American School, Mr. Herman oversees all aspects of the boarding program, including student supervision, activity planning, and boarding staff management. He has introduced several new initiatives to enhance the boarding experience, such as weekend enrichment activities and global awareness programs.
Mr. Herman believes in creating a home-away-from-home environment where students feel supported and valued. He is committed to fostering a community emphasizing respect, responsibility, and personal growth. His approach focuses on open communication, holistic development, and building strong relationships with students and their families.
Outside his professional responsibilities, Mr. Herman enjoys sports (rugby), the outdoors, and cooking.
Andy Manion
Athletic Director
Mr. Andy Manion, an Australian educator, joined Raffles American School after spending three years at the Australian International School in Vietnam. With a Bachelor of Education and over 38 years of teaching experience in Physical Education, Andy has held significant roles as Head of PE Departments in both Tasmania and Queensland, as well as Director of Sport at a P-12 school on the Gold Coast. Recognized for his excellence, he received the Australian ‘National Excellence in Teaching Award’ in 1997 and was awarded Life Membership of ‘School Sport South Coast’ in 2015. Andy’s passions include cricket, golf, SCUBA diving, motorcycle touring, surfing, cycling, camping, and gym activities. He firmly believes that enjoyable active participation is key to personal, social, and physical development, and he is excited to share his experience and enthusiasm with others.
J. Casey Hammond
College Counselor
Mr. J. Casey Hammond joined Raffles American School in August 2022 as College Counselor. He brings a wealth of experience to this position. He previously worked at the university level in the United States and Singapore, where he developed and taught undergraduate courses for first-year students and helped them transition into tertiary education. A speaker of Mandarin Chinese and Bahasa Indonesia, he is a longtime resident of this region. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame, a master’s degree from MIT, and a Ph.D. from Penn.
Dewi Pritchard
School Counselor
With a diverse professional history, Dewi has honed her skills and passion for working with students over the years. Her career journey includes valuable experience in the law enforcement training center, followed by working in the education aid programs under the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia; and Childcare Centres in Sydney Australia. As a school counsellor, Dewi firmly believes in the inherent potential and uniqueness of every student. She is dedicated to guiding and supporting students on their journey towards acquiring the essential skills needed to reach their full potential.
Ian Nenke
Business Development Director
Meet Mr. Ian Nenke, hailing from Perth, Western Australia. He became part of RAS in 2018, engaging actively in various capacities including Admissions, Communications, and our International Camps program. Ian recently completed a Master of Business Administration from Monash University in Melbourne. With over two decades of experience in management, communications, and business development within the education and agri-business sectors, Ian brings a wealth of expertise to our community.
In addition to his current responsibilities, he closely works with Raffles Parents for Education (RPFE) to help plan and orchestrate diverse events such as International Day celebrations, Beach Clean-ups, Carnivals, and more. Beyond his professional commitments, Ian dedicates time on his weekends to enriching experiences like rock climbing and planetarium visits for our Boarding students.
As a devoted father of four, Ian fervently believes in inquiry-based learning and the cultivation of clear, concise communication skills, alongside nurturing character traits such as compassion, honesty, and integrity in education.
Yinkon Her
Communications Director
Mr. Yinkon Her is from Denver, Colorado. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies with a concentration in Community Development from Nyack College in New York, where he also met his wife Darla. He began his career in Information Technology in the American Higher Education system, before eventually moving to the Primary and Secondary Education sector in 2018. Before Raffles, Yinkon and his wife worked at Jackson R2 School District in Jackson, Missouri, where she taught Elementary Special Education, and he continued his work in Information Technology. In addition to his work, Yinkon has held various community development roles such as mentoring youth and coaching a variety of sports.
