SENIA Netherlands Board

COLLEEN DOYLE

Co-chair & Publications

Lower School Learning Support Teacher

International School of Amsterdam

Colleen serves as a learning support teacher at the International School of Amsterdam. After earning a degree in journalism and subsequent post graduate work in communication disorders, she found her passion in special education. She has been teaching and coordinating all aspects of student support for 20 years in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

She has special interests in language development, neuroscience, self-advocacy, SEL and diversity.

Colleen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Processes and a Master of Science in Education, specializing in learning disabilities.

She can be contacted via:  colleendoyle@isa.org

This is a picture of Beckett Haight, co-chair of SENIA Netherlands. He has his hand under his chin....like a boss!

BECKETT HAIGHT

Co-chair & Website

Head of Upper School Learning Support

International School of Amsterdam

The field of Special Needs education came to Beckett early as he received an IEP in 6th grade (ADHD and ODD). In high school he volunteered for two years in a class for students with developmental delays, which led to becoming a Teacher Assistant for the four years after high school, and he has been a Special Educator the past 17 years since. 

Beckett began teaching Special Day Classes and supporting Autism Inclusion in public schools in California for 6 years, and has spent the past 12 years providing Learning Support around the globe from EAL classes in the elementary setting to whole-school Learning Support/EAL Coordinator.

Areas of interest are: behavior management, post-secondary transition, co-teaching, and differentiation.

You can find his thoughts about Special Education on YouTube: HERE

MYRTHE VAN VLIET

Secretary & Local Rep

Project Leader for Student Support Center

Amsterdam International Community School

Myrthe is originally from the Netherlands, but spent her childhood attending international schools in Europe. She qualified as a teacher and worked as a mainstream classroom teacher in London before specialising in Special Educational Needs. She gained her NASENCO qualification and worked as a SENCO at a primary school in London before moving back to Amsterdam. She is currently the project leader for the Student Support Centre at the Amsterdam International Community School in collaboration with KOLOM. She has a MA in International Education and is currently completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs. 

You can network with her on LinkedIN: HERE

Picture of Claire Bajurney for SENIA Netherlands board of directors

CLAIRE BAJURNY

Directory of External Expertise

Secondary Learning Support Coordinator

International School of the Hague

Claire grew up in Toronto, Canada where she achieved her BA, B.Ed and SEN qualification, and then went on to complete her M.Ed and Educational Therapy certification in California, USA. Claire has taught in international IB schools around the globe for 17 years, and has focused her career on supporting students with Special Education Needs (SEN) for 13 years, five as a SENCO (SEN coordinator). Claire actively participates in initiatives related to IDEA (inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility), social-emotional well-being, English language learning, and assessment.

Claire’s passion for working with young people with SEN began while working in summer camps, and she continues to encourage students to pursue interests and celebrate achievements made outside the walls of the classroom. Claire is also a certified yoga and mindfulness instructor, and mentor-advocate for young people with Type 1 Diabetes.

KATIE SIMMONS

Social Media

International School Utrecht

Katie is currently serving the students and staff at The International School Utrecht as an Inclusion Specialist. Katie began her teaching career as a classroom teacher in public schools in Baltimore, MD. Her love for travel and adventure led her to Europe, where she has been working as a learning support teacher for the past 9 years.

She has a special interest in Dyslexia and has been trained in Orton-Gillingham through the Institute for Multisensory Learning. She is also interested in high-quality Tier 1 (classroom) teaching in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as differentiation and multilingualism.

 Katie has a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Special Education, specializing in mild to moderate learning disabilities.

You can contact her via: katie.simmons@isutrecht.nl or @ksimmons44 on Instagram where she occasionally shares information about Dyslexia and Structured literacy.