Head Of School

Tim is currently the Head of the Secondary School and High School Principal at East-West, positions he has held for four years and which he will maintain for this upcoming school year as well.

Over the last decade, Tim developed from scratch with the students, the school’s Model UN program, organized field trips for his classes throughout Southeast Asia, and created the school’s House Games competition. On the administration side, he is responsible for the creation of the timetable in the secondary school, the writing of the school’s yearly WASC report, the maintenance of the school’s Teacher Ease database, and overseeing student discipline.

Quote from Tim:

Tim is originally from New York, USA, but has lived in Cambodia and has been at East-West for 10 years. He is an experienced and qualified educator and has taught a variety of subjects mainly in the High School. Tim has a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas and a Masters of International Relations from the City College of New York. He earned a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University, and his Postgraduate Certificate in Education is from Leeds Beckett University. His Bachelor’s degree in history is from St. Joseph’s University.

 “I am a servant leader. If a school is organized as a hierarchy, I consider myself in my role on the very bottom, working to support teachers to do their jobs, to support our students achieve academic success, and to move the school forward towards its vision. Secondary teachers have known over the last four years that my door is literally always open, and my hope is that all staff members will feel comfortable coming to me for any type of issue. I want to foster a culture of responsible freedom and focus, which nurtures us as professionals, learners, and human beings. We do not make haphazard decisions out of personal benefit or self-interests. Everything we do, we do for our kids.”

We look forward to the year ahead. “Leaders are present to serve and will be available to help and support teachers and students”. Together we will “ensure East-West’s ongoing progress of living the school’s vision and goals.”

Vice-Head of School

I am originally from Northern California, USA, but have lived in Cambodia and have been at East-West for 10 years. This is my second stint at East-West and I am thrilled to be back on the team as the Vice-Head of School, Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher. I have a Masters in Sports Fitness and Management from the University of San Francisco and have a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Leeds Beckett University. I also received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Speech Communications from San Francisco State University.

For the past 14 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as an Athletic Director, and for 16 years, I’ve worked as a Physical Education Teacher. Throughout this journey, my greatest passion has been using sports and physical education classes as a platform to teach life lessons that go far beyond the game or classroom itself.

While I love athletics, my true purpose has always been to help students grow into respectful, hardworking, mentally tough individuals who know how to support one another, celebrate others’ success, and thrive as part of a team. I believe deeply that some of life’s most important lessons—like how to be likeable, how to handle adversity, how to work with others, and how to lead with humility—are best taught through sports. These are the values I’ve worked hard to instill in every student and athlete I’ve coached and taught.

As an Athletic Director, I’ve built programs that emphasize character over competition. I’ve mentored coaches, supported student-athletes, and created a culture rooted in integrity, teamwork, and personal growth. In my PE classroom, I’ve taken the same approach—fostering a fun, inclusive environment where effort, respect, and resilience are celebrated every day.

I truly love what I do, and bring energy, passion, experience, and a student-centered philosophy. It is an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to inspire and guide young people through sports and physical education classes at East-West. A responsibility I take very seriously.

Head of School

Originally from Minnesota, USA, Mrs. Copple is an experienced and qualified educator with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on international education. She has lived and worked in Cambodia in the education sector for over 30 years. She was one of the founders of ISPP, worked as a teacher and the school’s curriculum director for many years. She has worked at Northbridge International School in curriculum and teaching. At both schools, Ali worked on their first WASC applications and successful accreditations. Ali has been on many WASC visiting teams reviewing international schools in Southeast Asia.

Ali, together with Mrs Sandra Chipps, started East-West International School in 2006. Ali trained teachers and worked on the curriculum and resources at East-West. She has been an East-West Board member for 5 years and continues as a member of the board.

Ali has also been involved in Cambodian National Education for more than a decade offering training to Cambodian teachers in Phnom Penh and the provinces. She is an education consultant who has worked with numerous NGOs with educational programs, as well as supporting the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports in curriculum development, leadership development and training.

Ali’s own children grew up in Phnom Penh and graduated from Northbridge before returning to the USA for university. While they had graduated from high school long before East-West began, they both returned to Cambodia and enjoyed the opportunity to teach at East-West.

Quote from Ali:

“East-West has been part of my life for nearly twenty years, and I am delighted to continue to support the school. The vision and goals guiding East-West make this school a very special place to learn, work and teach in. My role this year is to continue to encourage the growth and development of the school – students, teachers and all staff, and to ensure East-West’s ongoing progress of living the school’s vision and goals.”