Governance

You Are Here: ISB // About // Governance

Board of Trustees

The Board oversees the financial management and long-range planning, as well as setting school policy. The Board comprises both parents and community members, dedicated to the positive development of ISB. Members serve a term of three years, no more than two consecutive terms.

Board Mission Statement

  • Be an ambassador for ISB
  • Lead and support the initiatives of ISB
  • Govern and ensure the sustainability of ISB
  • Develop the ISB Board of Trustees and ISB Board committees to meet ISB expansion

Board Members

Isabelle Jouanneau-Fertig

President, Board of Trustees

Ms. Jouanneau-Fertig joined ISB’s Board of Trustees in 2009. As President, she manages ISB’s Board activities, development and spearheads fundraising events. A native of the Loire Valley in France, she has lived in the United States since 1977. She is a full time faculty member of the French Department at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she has been teaching language and culture courses since 1987. Previously, she taught at Yale University, Bryn Mawr College in France and the University of Texas in Austin. She was active in Parents Associations at her sons’ schools as well as in other volunteer work throughout NYC. Ms. Jouanneau-Fertig holds a B.A. and a M.A in English and American Studies from the University of Paris VII.

Tamara Malkin-Stuart

Vice President, Board of Trustees

As a member of ISB’s Board since 2008, Ms. Malkin-Stuart helps forge outreach and gain the support of key hispanophone organizations and community members in NYC. Ms. Malkin-Stuart experienced a bilingual immersion education as a child at the British Institute School in Madrid and received a BA in Art History and Painting, and a minor in Italian Literature from Barnard College in New York City. She is also a graduate of the New York Studio School. She has studied and lived in Italy and Spain and is fluent in French, Italian, and Spanish. She is a passionate student of Argentine tango and a 500hr certified yoga instructor.

Nancy Woodruff

Secretary, Board of Trustees

Ms. Woodruff has more than twenty years of experience in education, having taught at Columbia University, SUNY – Purchase, Richmond American International University in London and New York University. She holds a BA in English from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Writing from Columbia University, and is the author of two novels, Someone Else’ s Child and My Wife’s Affair.  A citizen of both the US and UK, she lived with her family for eight years in London, where her two older children attended IB and international schools. Ms. Woodruff joined the ISB board in 2011. 

Jerome Barth

Member, Board of Trustees

Mr. Barth is a graduate of the Institut D’Etudes Politiques de Strasbourg, and holds an MBA in Management and Marketing from the Stern School of Management at NYU. He is a longtime employee of the Bryant Park Corporation and specializes in public private partnerships, urban revitalization and events programming. In collaboration with other partners, he also released the “Parentsmart” iPhone app. Mr. Barth joined the board in 2012.

Susan Breton

Member, Board of Trustees

Ms. Breton is a practicing clinical child psychologist and an assistant professor at SUNY’S Fashion Institute of Technology. She received her PhD from Clark University and has held clinical, teaching, and research positions at Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and Yale University Child Study Center. Ms. Breton joined the board in 2012.

Mónica Burgos

Member, Board of Trustees

Ms. Burgos, originally from Bogotá, Colombia, studied Theater Production at Fordham University. Monica also graduated from the French Culinary Institute with a Grand Diplôme in Classic Pastry Arts. As a professional chef she has worked with well-known pastry artists and cake decorators, in addition to running her own specialty cake business in Brooklyn. Monica also works as a English/Spanish translator for various Public Relations and Special Events projects. Ms. Burgos joined the board in 2012.

Michael Silano

Member, Board of Trustees

Mr. Silano is Senior Director at Autonomy, an HP Company (formerly Interwoven) and has established himself as a technology management leader in global business firms. His focus is on business development, solutions development, team structure, and project oversight. Mike has a BS in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Silano joined the board in 2012.

Rebecca Skinner

Head of School and Co-founder, Member, Board of Trustees

Ms. Skinner manages daily operations at the school including admissions, fundraising and strategic development. She received a B.A. in French and International Studies from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and an M.A. degree in French Cultural Studies from Institute of French Studies at New York University (NYU). Ms. Skinner is also a graduate of the Coro Leadership New York Program (XVIII) and a 2010 recipient of a Blackboard Award for Principal of the Year. Prior to starting ISB in late 2003, Ms. Skinner spent several years working in the non-profit education field, including Partnership for After School Education (PASE), The Louis Calder Foundation, and The Markle Foundation.

Teresa Santamaria

Advisor to the Board

Teresa Santamaria joined ISB’s founding board in 2004 and has been a key figure in ISB’s development and growth ever since 2003. She served on ISB’s Board of Trustees from 2004-2011. Ms. Santamaria has held leadership positions in technology and program management for over twenty years, managing consulting teams and software implementation projects with world-class clients. She currently is managing technology infrastructure for Equities at Wells Fargo Securities. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Pennsylvania State University and an M.A. in Educational Organization and Administration from New York University’s School of Education.