Bandung Alliance International School

Pete Simano

Been with BAIS since 2003

Hi. I’m Pete Simano, the current Director of BAIS. I first came to Indonesia in 2002 to study at IMLAC and joined the BAIS community during the 2003-2004 school year. During my five year tenure at BAIS (I returned to Alaska from 05-08) I have been able to teach secondary Math, AP World History, MOSAIC (leadership), Indonesian Govt. and History, and Project Adventure. I have also been blessed to be the Elementary Principal (04-05), and work in the roles of High School Principal, Guidance Counselor, and Director. This is my third year in role as Director and I continue to learn a lot about leading BAIS here in Kota Baru and in Indonesia. In Alaska we were mainly focused on NCLB (No Child Left Behind), dropout prevention, and discipline. In the International realm the focus shifts to juggling two International accreditations, setting high educational standards, hiring and developing a quality staff, and enhancing communication with our families from 11 countries who have such an array of perspectives and opinions. I continue to grow into this role and appreciate the help I have on the ground from my families in PACE, my management team, and my director’s (parental) advisory council (DAC). My favorite part of being here at BAIS is the P3 to 12th grade “family” of students, the ability to teach from a Christian perspective, and the opportunity of being in a small enough school where I can build relationships with students, families and staff.

A little about my educational history: I grew up in rural New Hampshire and got my BA degree (1986) from the University of New Hampshire in Psychology and Spanish (having also studied my junior year in Madrid, Spain). I received my M.Ed. degrees from Plymouth State University in Guidance and Counseling (1992) as well as in Administration and Supervision (2000). For my professional work experience I worked in “Youth Development” in the US Peace Corps in Guatemala from 1986-1989; taught at the Pike School in NH from 1989-1992; then moved to Alaska where for 10 years I worked as a Guidance Counselor (6 years as an itinerant K-12 Counselor in “bush” Alaska and then 4 years in Fairbanks as a high school Guidance Counselor). I have been working in school administration since 2004 in BAIS which includes three years as an Asst. Principal at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, AK.

It is great to be here serving with you and a joy to work and live in Indonesia!