Ben Weinberg, Head of School
Leadership
Established in 1961 as a not-for-profit organization, ASM is the first American school in Spain. Our long history of success is underpinned by decades of continuity of governance and leadership. Our governance structure, a tradition of a strong relationship between the Board of Trustees and the school’s Leadership, and a willingness regularly to actively listen to our community, ensures continuous progress towards a shared vision and resilience in the face of challenges.
Senior Leadership Team
Jesus Iravedra, Director of Administrative Services
Isabel Mackay, Director of External & Community Relations
Dani Reynaud, Lower School Director
Mike Nugent, Middle School Director
Félim Bolster, Upper School Director
Gustavo Dias, EC-12 Athletics and Activities Director
Jason Davis, K-12 Curriculum Coordinator
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SLT Isabel Mackay
Board of Trustees 2026-2027
A diverse, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees governs the American School of Madrid. Almost all Trustees are parents of current ASM students. Board meetings are held once a month, with at least two additional half-day sessions on Saturdays. Trustees serve renewable three-year terms.
The Board focuses on four areas critical to the success of ASM:
- Selecting, supporting, and evaluating the school’s Head of School.
- Strategic policy-making that sets the direction of the school and guides the Head of School and ASM Staff in their day-to-day running of the school.
- Overseeing the financial health of ASM.
- Developing and conserving ASM’s resources.
We are actively seeking new board members who bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds – including American, Spanish, and International parents – and share a passion for education and a commitment to our community’s values. We also value members with a strong background in education, AI, and information technologies to help guide our school's growth and its ongoing pursuit of excellence. The Board typically has one or two openings each year. If you are interested in contributing to ASM’s future and would like to learn more, please get in touch with Board Chairman Michael J. Willisch - michael.willisch@davispolk.com - or Board Vice-Chairman Luis Seijo - lmseijo@hotmail.com. Please provide us with your CV and a brief statement regarding how and why you wish to contribute to ASM through Board service.
Chairman
Michael J. Willisch
Vice-Chairman
Dr. Luis Seijo
Treasurer
José María Fernández
Head of School
Ben Weinberg
Secretary
Faraday de la Camara
Chad Stevens
Debora Burke
Keely Kilburg
Luis E. García de Brigard
Misun Yun
Olivia Balbuena
Head of School Search
ASM’s Board of Trustees announced on August 28, 2025, that it was beginning a global search for a new Head of School. On December 18, 2025, the Board announced that James Nelligan would replace Ben Weinberg in July 2027. James is the current Head of School at the Shanghai American School. There is a link to his bio in 'Head of School finalists visiting ASM' below.
Head of School finalists visiting ASM - November 2025
Board Positioning Statement - August 2025
Letter From the Board - August 2025
Board FAQs - August 2025
Letter From Ben Weinberg, Head of School - August 2025