Rynette De Villiers

Rynette De Villiers has spent a lot of her career working in places where things are always changing. As School Principal of Amsterdam International Community School she is in charge of a community with more than 2,000 students from many different countries. These students often come to the school feeling excited and unsure about starting over in a country. Rynette De Villiers believes that students learn best when they feel like they belong at Amsterdam International Community School.

Welcoming Students Who Are Always Starting Again

For kids at international schools like Amsterdam International Community School, the first day of school does not feel like a brand new start. It can be really tough to leave friends, get used to new customs and go to classes where everything sounds different.

This is what guides the way Rynette De Villiers leads Amsterdam International Community School. She thinks that students have a lot of difficulties when they start at a school like Amsterdam International Community School. It is not about getting used to a new school, it is about creating a place where students can trust people, ask questions and make friends with teachers and other students. Rynette De Villiers thinks that feeling like you belong is something that everyone at Amsterdam International Community School should work on every day.

Rynette De Villiers knows that small things can make a difference. When a student sees a face it can make them feel better. When a teacher notices that someone is struggling it can make a difference. When families feel like their concerns are being heard it can make them feel more at ease. All these things together help a child feel safe and happy at Amsterdam International Community School.

Growing Without Losing What Matters

Being in charge of an international school like Amsterdam International Community School means dealing with a lot of different expectations. Families want their kids to do well in school. Students need support and staff want things to be clear and consistent.

Rynette De Villiers has been careful to keep the things that families love about Amsterdam International Community School. As Amsterdam International Community School has grown, Rynette De Villiers has made sure to keep the connections between people visible. She has made sure that the systems in place support people rather than making them feel like just a number. The decisions made about the school affect how students feel about their lives at Amsterdam International Community School.. Rynette De Villiers knows that the students at Amsterdam International Community School will only grow and thrive if the culture of the school stays the same.

Keeping Wellbeing Close to Learning

Kids do not always separate their feelings from their schoolwork. Students who are moving to a country may be feeling sad, unsure or pressured.. When a student is adjusting to a new place they still have to do their schoolwork.

Rynette De Villiers has helped create a plan that takes these things into account. She thinks that the wellbeing of students at Amsterdam International Community School is just as important as their education. It is not something that only happens when there is a problem. All the time. Rynette De Villiers believes that students at Amsterdam International Community School need to feel safe and supported so they can ask for help when they need it.

Preparing Students for a Connected World

International schools like Amsterdam International Community School are often thought of as places that prepare students for success around the world.. It is not just about getting good grades or getting into a good university. Students at Amsterdam International Community School need to be able to understand and work with people from backgrounds.

This is what Rynette De Villiers is working towards. She wants to prepare students at Amsterdam International Community School for life in a world where everyone is connected. Being recognized as one of the Top 10 School Principals in Europe in 2026 shows how important her work at Amsterdam International Community School is. In schools like Amsterdam International Community School good leadership is often about making choices that help kids feel safe and supported.