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The Swedish School For Children Board of Directors
Our school is led by a board elected among the parents of the school:
Kristina Smith, President
I grew up in a Swedish equivalent to West Virginia. Way out there. But – with good dental care.
I have not traveled the world like many other parents of this school. The US and Virginia is my only place outside Sweden I have lived. I moved here in 2002 and work as an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton. I provide Contingency Planning and Exercises for the Government. I also teach Continuity Planning for FEMA. My working background from Sweden is similar, working for different emergency management agencies and the Ministry of Defense.
My two boys, Oscar and Marcus, both enjoy the Swedish School, even if getting up on Saturday morning is not their favorite part. The school has really been crucial for me to keep the Swedish alive at home in between our bi-annual trips to Sweden, and the school library is a gold mine!
I hope all families will feel welcome at our school, and that we all feel we have the same goal – to make the kids feel at home and part of the Swdish heritage.
If you, parent or student, have any question or comment – never hesitate to talk to me or anyone else from the board! We are at school most Saturdays and we are really here for you.
Erik Hällström, Vice President
I grew up in Nynäshamn in the Stockholm archipelago. After having lived in Sweden, Russia and France I came to the US and Washington DC about 10 years ago. There I met my American wife Faith. I have worked as a Diplomat, management consultant, and developer of technology businesses in among other areas telecommunications, media and energy.
I speak Swedish with our daughter Zoe. She is on her third year at The Swedish School for Children. The school plays an important role in our bi-langual family. It helps keeping our Swedish current and also provides a social network with other Swedes.
Tor Burman, Secretary
I am the father of Cornelia Burman, who is 9 years, and currently attends The Swedish School For Children. I moved to Washington D.C. in October 2008, and my family joined me in January 2009. I have a fixed-term appointment with my work and will work in the US for another three years, possibly four.
We stayed in The Hague in the Netherlands for six years before we moved to the United States. Cornelia was in the Swedish school there as well. We speak Swedish at home, but it is important for Cornelia to also receive a proper education, something only The Swedish School For Children can offer.
Laura Chadwick, Treasurer
I grew up in Tennessee and Maryland. After university in the U.S., I studied at Stockholm University for one year. I lived in Stockholm for another year in 2002 when I worked as a translator at Statistics Sweden. I am trained as an economist and now works at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
My daughter Ellen started with Lekgruppen in 2007 and is now in her third year at the Swedish School. She is happy that her Swedish sounds a lot more Swedish than me with an American accent.
Petra Socolovsky, Parent Representative
My name is Petra Socolovsky and I was born in Töreboda, Sweden. I have two kids at the Swedish School, Mendel in fourth grade and Nils in first.
We moved to Adams Morgan, Washington DC a year and a half ago, from Spain where our boys were born. I met my American husband Jerome in Amsterdam, where we both lived for nine years.
I always speak Swedish to my children and my husband Jerome understands Swedish.
Monica Koppelman, At Large
