Julia passionately advocates for bilingual education. After graduating from LMU in Munich (M.A. in Theater + Pedagogy), it was her passion for acting that brought her to NYC. In 2014 she started teaching at the German School Brooklyn (GSB), where she transitioned from class teacher to administrator. In 2018 she helped to establish the German School Manhattan (GSM) and took on the role of director 2 years later. Being a school leader has given Julia the opportunity to mentor teachers and bring a creative approach to curriculum blending. Julia lives in Brooklyn with her daughter Lumi.

Martina was born and raised in Rosenheim, Bavaria (Germany). She moved to NYC in 2020 after living in London and Edinburgh, where she worked as a Matron at Fettes College. Martina loves supporting students and knows that a positive environment is helping them to flourish. In addition to a Degree in Business, she obtained a BA in Childhood and Youth studies. Martina is excited to bring her ethos and experience to GSM. Being part of a multicultural and multilingual family, she appreciates all the gains and of course some challenges as well. Martina now resides with her husband, two kids (11 and 14)  and two cats in lower Manhattan and is happy to be joining the GSM community.

Kathrin is the founder of the first two German bilingual schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan. In her role as partner, former principal, and executive director, she was responsible for real estate development, school and business implementation, fundraising, finances, operations, as well as strategic planning. Prior to her career in education, Kathrin worked for the German Mission to the UN and the German Consulate General in New York. Kathrin was born and raised in Munich, Germany and has lived in the US since 2006.

Dr. Engel, CO-Founder of GSM, resides in Germany and frequently travels to the U.S. He began his career in the field of education in 1992 when he took over the private Kombrecht-Engel-Schule, which was founded by a member of the Engel Family in 1945. He established the DR. ENGEL EDUCATION GROUP, headquartered in Ulm and open colleges, vocational schools, middle and high schools as well as daycare centers with the brand names miniGenius, POLIGENIUS and ProGenius. GSM is his first international project. Dr. Engel is a graduate from Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Virginia Tech, U.S.A., and holds a PhD from the University of Basel, Switzerland. He serves as a board member of the German Private School Association (VDP).