The American Overseas Schools Historical Society is managed by a volunteer board of directors. Our current board is as follows:
Linda L. Connelly
President (Executive Committee)
Linda was raised in Granite City, Illinois, a town just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. After high school, she attended Eastern Illinois University. In 1977, she backpacked through Europe and met several DoDDS teachers. Upon returning home, she immediately applied to DoDDS. At that time, Linda was an active member of the Granite City Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW). An avid speaker, Linda won the organization’s “Speak Off” and went on to win the Illinois BPW “Speak Off” competition. Shortly before departing for Germany and being hired by DoDDS, Linda won the National BPW Speak Off in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Linda worked with DoDDS from 1978–2010. During her three decades of work with DoDDS, she worked in Germany, Bahrain, mainland Japan, Okinawa, and Guam. Linda earned a master’s degree from the University of South Florida, taught English and Social Studies, and served as a Library/Information Specialist, Assistant Principal, and Principal. In the early 1990s, Linda was actively involved with PTA, serving locally on PTA boards, and as European PTSA (ECAPTS) President. She also served on the National PTA Board of Directors.
In 2004, Linda was recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as DoDEA Principal of the Year. In 2017, Linda was asked to help with updating the AOSHS Membership records.
Linda met and married Michael Connelly while working in Germany. They are now retired in Honolulu, Hawaii. One of their annual travel highlights is attending the DoDDS Reunion, where they reconnect with friends…and make new ones!
Martha H. Brown
Vice President (Executive Committee)
Martha Brown’s DoDEA career spanned 32 years and found her in positions in DoDDS-Europe, DDESS, and DoDEA Pacific. In 1980, she began her DoDEA career teaching at Ramstein Junior High School, followed by positions at Berchtesgaden Elementary School and Kaiserslautern American High School.
Ms. Brown served as an Assistant Principal at both Kaiserslautern Elementary School and Kaiserslautern American High School before being promoted to Principal of Augsburg High School. Her other principalships include Kaiserslautern American High School, Heidelburg High School and Lejeune High School. She was honored to be selected the DoDEA Secondary Principal of the Year in 1997.
At the above-school level, Ms. Brown served in the DoDDS-Europe Area Office as a Supervisory Education Specialist for four years, was the Community Superintendent of Fort Campbell Schools for four years, and the Okinawa District Superintendent for four years. Before leaving the Pacific Area for DoDEA Headquarters, she was asked to serve as the Acting Director of DoDEA Pacific for a year.
Ms. Brown earned a BA in English from Limestone College, an MEd in English from North Georgia University, and an EdS in educational leadership from Converse College.
She retired to her native South Carolina where she and her husband enjoy the low country lifestyle and are active in several community service organizations. Their son and daughter-in-law are both proud graduates of DoDEA.
Jamey Hansen
Secretary (Executive Committee)
Jamey graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in NAS Sigonella, Sicily in 1992. He and his wife Julie, who also graduated from Sigonella, went to Iowa State University. With a degree in elementary education, Jamey’s career focused on technology and innovation in K12 and higher education. He is a graduate of University of Minnesota’s Management of Technology (MOT) masters program, with its emphasis in strategic technological leadership and studies in forecasting, innovation management, new product development and analysis of cultural, socioeconomic, and political structures as they relate to international business. Currently he is the Chief Strategic Innovation Officer for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota where he leads a team of research consultants, instructional designers, digital media specialists, business analysts, technologists, and strategic planners. Jamey has integrated a study of participatory leadership and facilitation to lead change initiatives in complex higher education cultures.
Jamey comes from a family of educators. His father is former DoDEA teacher and administrator and AOSHS Board member Joel Hansen. His mother managed the DoDEA budget. His sister Andy, after time in the Air Force, is a head teacher in Waterloo, Iowa. His other sister Abby is a philosophy professor at Wartburg College. His veterinarian wife is an instructor and director of a veterinary technician program at Northwood Technical College. Both his grandmothers were elementary teachers and perhaps his kids (Ella, 19, and Ben, 16) will continue the trend.
Jamey facilitated the AOSHS Board’s September strategic retreat in 2021 and was invited to join the board in January 2023. He took on the role of Secretary in June 2023.
Ron Harrison
Treasurer (Executive Committee)
Ron was raised in Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University in 1968. He joined the Air Force and his first assignment was in Berlin, Germany. He and his wife, Glenna, were stationed there for 3 years before returning to the states in 1972. Glenna taught for 2½ years in the Berlin American High School and Ron was assistant basketball coach for the 1971-72 season.
After returning to the states, Ron worked in Missouri and Illinois before returning to Wichita, Kansas. After retiring in 2011 Ron was called to work at the AOSHS office as an Archivist and has improved both the physical appearance of the building and accomplished the daunting task of organizing the storage of many AOSHS archive boxes. Glenna also volunteered her time to assist in the inventorying of the boxes.
Ron and Glenna now reside in Manhattan, Kansas, and Ron serves as Treasurer for the organization. He also works remotely to input box inventories into AOSHS office records.
Rebecca Dunn
Historian / Memories
Rebecca, a native of Maryland, had over thirty-three years with DoDDS. She began her career in Spangdahlem, Germany, and retired while working at the Mediterranean District Superintendent’s Office in Vicenza, Italy. She taught at eight different locations and served in three district offices. Although her first love is teaching mathematics, Rebecca also taught middle school science, social studies, and even conducted a seminar class on cardboard carpentry.
During her career, Ms. Dunn was a school administrator in all configurations from K–8 to high schools and a district level liaison for mathematics and school improvement. Some might say she couldn’t keep a job, but Rebecca would say she was always looking for a new challenge!
Upon retiring, she taught GED classes at a prison near her home in Salisbury, Maryland. Rebecca is honored to serve as AOSHS’s Historian, looks forward to new challenges, and is happy to be working with DoDEA colleagues again.
Allen Haymon
Special Projects
A native Kentuckian, Allen’s undergraduate degree was earned from Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky, and his master’s from Spaulding University, Louisville, Kentucky. In 1972 Allen left his teaching position in Louisville and joined DoDDS as a teacher at Zweibruecken Elementary School # 1, Zweibruecken, Germany. In 1975, he was assigned to the position of Teacher Assistant Principal of the school. Allen later served as Principal of a small school in Zweibruecken (1978-1981), Assistant Principal of Kaiserslautern Elementary #1 (1981-1983), and in 1983, coming full circle, returned to Zweibruecken Elementary #1 (later renamed Kreuzberg Elementary) as Principal. He assumed the position of coordinator for the staff development program, The Study of Teaching, DoDDS-North Germany Regional Office in 1990.
Allen was selected as the Leadership Development Coordinator in the Professional Development and Education Equity Division, DoDEA, in 1995. He later held the position of Education Equity Training Specialist and Chief, Professional Development. Allen retired from DoDEA in 2005. Three years later he returned to DoDEA as a reemployed annuitant for the purpose of redesigning leadership development for the school system.
Allen and his wife Connie reside in Spotsylvania County, Virgina (Fredericksburg). She is retired from her position in the Logistics Division, DoDEA. Their daughters are DoDDS graduates: Nicole (Zweibruecken HS) and Jaclynn (Kaiserslautern HS).
Chris Kyrios
BRAT Representative
Chris is an educator BRAT, born in Heidelberg and then attending Karlsruhe K–12. After graduation from the University of Rochester (NY), Chris served in the Navy as a Supply Officer. His MBA from the College of William and Mary led to a business career in Virginia, New York, and now in Denver, CO.
While Chris may not have become an educator, his family stays closely tied to educational roots. His father, Al Kyrios, dedicated 40 years of DoDDS service in Berlin, Rochefort, Bremerhaven, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, and Wiesbaden. Chris’s sister, Lisa, taught at Nurnberg, and Chris’s oldest son, Alex, is a librarian (his other son became a lawyer).
For 30+ years, Chris has been active with the Karlsruhe High School Alumni Association, Overseas BRATs, and more recently, with AOSHS. Chris has also been involved in Brats Without Borders, as well as with producers of the movie Brats, Our Journey Home. Chris enjoys bringing his “businessman’s point of view” to the board!
Frank Roehl
Social Media Liaison
Frank E. Roehl received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education & Coaching from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1970) and his Masters in Human Services Delivery in Education Administration from Boston University (1983). Frank retired from DoDEA in July 2018 after 48 years of Federal Service. He served as the Superintendent of Schools for the DoDEA Europe West District, Superintendent of the Isles District and Heidelberg District, Assistant Superintendent of the Bavaria District, Assistant Superintendent and Acting Superintendent of the Heidelberg District, DoDDS Middle Level Coordinator, and a principal, assistant principal, classroom teacher, and coach at elementary through high school levels with assignments in Germany and Turkey. Frank served as the Germany Vice President and DoDDS Worldwide President of the Federal Managers Association, Chapter 135, for four years.
Mr. Roehl is a “military brat,” attending 13 different schools in grades K–12 and experiencing his father’s two unaccompanied tours while his father served in Korea and Vietnam. He served as a US Army commissioned field artillery officer on active duty and in the reserve forces in Germany prior to and during his teaching career. He was a member of the United States Reserve Europe Marksmanship Team representing the US in competitions throughout Europe.
Frank and his wife, Margy, a retired DoDEA teacher and Information Specialist for 46 years, live in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Together, they raised two children who attended DoDEA schools K–12, and both graduated from Heidelberg High School. Brian is working as a government civilian employee at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Aileen, recently with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in New York City, is in Stuttgart, Germany with her Navy helicopter pilot husband.
Frank’s hobbies are traveling, “tinkering” with his 1995 BMW M3 and 1966 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III and enjoying his free time!
Kathy Einhorn
Board Member
Kathy Einhorn grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, after moving there in 1963 with her family. She earned a BS in Special Education and Psychology with a minor in English from the University of Utah and started her teaching career as a teacher for 7th–9th graders with Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders at Valley Junior High in West Valley, Utah.
Kathy moved to Bamberg, West Germany, in 1986 with her military husband, Jeff, and two children, Jeff Jr., and Jenny, where she became a Special Education and English teacher at Bamberg American Middle/High School. She also coached girls’ basketball and cheerleaders, helped develop the Honors English Program, and created the S.T.A.R.S. student recognition program.
The Einhorn’s left Germany in 1990 for Ft. Benning, Georgia, where Kathy taught elementary Special Education at Wilson Elementary, was assistant Special Education Director, and Curriculum Director before accepting a position as an Instructional Systems Specialist in 2002 at the new DDESS Service Center in Peachtree City, Georgia. Kathy and Jeff moved to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2007, where Kathy served as Principal for W.T. Sampson Unit School while Jeff oversaw the Columbia College campus. Kathy retired from GTMO after 24 years of service in DoDEA in 2010 and became Principal at Trailside Elementary in Park City, Utah, for four years, followed by serving as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for four years in Park City. She retired in 2018 and has been working for Learning Sciences/Instructional Empowerment in a variety of projects. She currently works in a project on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona at Red Mesa and Kayenta Unified School Districts.
Kathy earned an MS in Learning Disabilities, and Ed Specialist in Administration and Supervision, and an Ed. D in Instructional Leadership over her career. Kathy and Jeff enjoyed being close to their children and grandchildren for 8 years prior to Jeff’s sudden passing in 2018. Kathy still enjoys time with family, pickleball, kayaking, hiking, and travel, and is looking forward to contributing to AOSHS in her new board role.
Buddy Leavitt
Board Member
John Henry “Buddy” Leavitt, Jr. has been “Buddy” since he was called that as a baby by his two older sisters. He was born on Fort Lee, Virginia. His father was a Supply Clerk at Fort Lee and retired from the Army after 26 years. Fort Lee was his last station, so Buddy’s family settled in Hopewell, Virginia. His mom was a teacher in the local Hopewell schools for 27 years. Her first teaching assignment was with the Health Education and Welfare Department, now called DoDEA, from 1949-1953.
Buddy grew up in a family of four children, with a younger sister, Mary Jo, who passed away in 2011 with heart disease, and two older sisters, Roxanne and Brenda. Buddy recently retired from DoDDS/DoDEA. His last teaching assignment was 5th grade at Sigonella Air Base on the island of Sicily in Italy. He currently resides in the Appalachian Mountains in a town called Burnsville in North Carolina. His son Conrad lives down in the city limits. He lives in a log home with his four dogs, two being Sigonella rescues.
He entered DoDDS/DoDEA in 1988, with his first teaching assignment being at Lily Hill Middle School teaching Special Education to 5th-8th graders on Clark Air Base in the Republic of the Philippines. He entered the program from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, after teaching for three years in Petal, Mississippi, and receiving his undergraduate and master’s degrees in special education from Southern Miss. After graduating from Southern Miss in 1982 with a BS in Special Education, he taught for three years in Houston, Texas, before returning to Southern Miss to begin his master’s degree.
Buddy truly enjoyed his 33 years with the Department of Defense Schools and was afforded the opportunity to teach at a total of ten locations. He met many lifelong friends from each location and loved each culture he experienced. He still stays in touch with his landlords and Dutch friends from the Netherlands.
Since retiring in 2021, he has stayed busy subbing long-term positions for teachers on medical leave and maternity leave. He has also worked for NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) and volunteered for friends at a local furniture store. He continues to travel, visiting family and friends in the states, as well as taking a yearly cruise to those faraway places he has not seen before. His goal is to attend the yearly DoDDS reunions to stay in touch with his friends and colleagues from his years overseas. He sees his son and his son’s fiancé frequently.
Buddy looks forward to working with the American Overseas Schools Historical Society Board. A goal of his as he begins his role, is to find ways to increase membership with current DoDEA employees as well as increase membership of those that are now retired.
Mary VanDeventer
Board Member
Check back later for Mary’s bio.
Amy Zender
Board Member
Check back later for Amy’s bio.