Meet Our Team
John Denine, Executive Director
John has a Master’s degree in Secondary English Education from Georgia State University and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the United States Naval Academy. He has excelled in transformational leadership, strategic planning, and operations management in his 21-year career as a public school International Baccalaureate educator and 24-year active and reserve career as a U.S. Navy Officer. John has extensive travel and intercultural experience. In his personal life, he enjoys reading philosophy, watching soccer, and planning his next international trip.
Odette Diaz Schuler, Deputy Executive Director
Odette has a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from The George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Emory University. Prior to joining CASIE, she worked in museums around the country for over 15 years. She loves reading, traveling, cooking, crafting, following the Bravoverse, and relaxing at home with her husband, their two teenagers, and their dog and four cats.
Jill Sims, Director of Education
Jill has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Clark Atlanta University and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from The Ohio State University. Her past work experience includes serving as a teacher, assistant principal, 12 years as a principal with the last 7 at an IB World School, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning for Marietta City Schools, and Executive Director of Academic Programs including all four IB Programmes. She enjoys reading, traveling especially to the beach, spending time with her husband and now-grown son and daughter, friends, and walks with her dog.
Fende Eseme, Senior Finance Manager
Problem-solving rather than math led Fende to a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. As a finance manager, Fende oversees finance, budgeting, cash flow, accounting, and HR for CASIE. Her responsibility is to maximize insight from data. She is passionate about serving others, including volunteering her financial services to several organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, and BAFCUDA USA. Her hobbies include exercising, cooking, and writing.
Sarah Wells, Senior Registration Manager
Sarah graduated from the University of North Georgia with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing fetch with her kitties.
Suzanne Macpherson, Events Manager
Suzanne is a dual United States and Canadian citizen with a Bachelor of Arts in History and English from Mount Allison University. Suzanne spent many years living and working in Europe as a technical project manager. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, three teenagers and 2 dogs. In her personal time, Suzanne loves to volunteer and to be outside camping and hiking, cooking, and hanging out with her family.
Yvonne McVann, Operations Manager
A veteran educator with 21 years teaching experience, Yvonne believes that creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking can transform classrooms. She has an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College and an MS in Secondary English Education from Georgia State University. As a dual Irish American citizen Yvonne recognizes the value of international mindedness. She enjoys talking about books, attending concerts, going on adventures with her family, and bantering with her dog and cat.
Drew Schuler, Finance Assistant
Drew was born in Africa, spent his childhood in Europe and the Middle East, and currently lives in the United States. He has a history degree from Princeton University and has taught English as a second language in Cairo, Egypt. He has been working part-time at CASIE for more than five years, responsible primarily for accounts receivable and helping schools/districts navigate the payment process. He enjoys reading, cooking, and hanging out with his family.
Meagan Swingle, Marketing Assistant
Meagan is a marketing strategist with 20 years of experience crafting PR and digital media programs for global organizations and Fortune 500 companies. She began her career with the Atlanta Braves, where she helped lead the team’s PR department for over a decade. She is a proud Clemson University graduate, with a B.A. in Communications. She lives with her family and their dog and loves writing, traveling, skiing, studying Spanish, painting, practicing yoga and mindfulness, advocating for causes near to her heart, and most of all, traveling with family – be it to a Georgia state park, just for the day, or to a mountain or ocean far away.