how we teach

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Our encouraging teachers create an excellent relationship with your child, energizing them to pursue all their interests and goals. With a global vision, our teachers also help your child take initiative, using their skills and knowledge to make a positive impact.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Our teachers are immensely talented. They will give the right balance of specialized support and challenge to your child, ensuring their happiness while maintaining excellent communication. Your child will benefit from this close connection with their teachers, who will always tailor learning to your child’s progress. 

95% of MET parents affirm their child has a strong relationship with their teachers, 93% also state that their child receives a quality education, and 94% believe their child is ready for the next level of learning.
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  • SENIOR LEADERSHIP

THE METROPOLITAN SCHOOL OF PANAMA STAFF

Our passionate team has the right combination of local and international experience to guide your child every step of the way as a global citizen. Many have taught in different countries, so they’re always offering real-world experience to our students — guiding a generation of global citizens.
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Lawrence Hill
Head of School
Lawrence is a dynamic international school leader with over 15 years of experience across five countries. Known for driving academic excellence and fostering inclusive communities, he has held key roles including Head of Secondary and College Counsellor. Lawrence holds a BA in Geography and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, and is a graduate of Nord Anglia’s Aspiring Principal Program.
Lawrence Hill, Head of School

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Indira Acosta
Academic Director
Indira is from Panama and is one of our school's founding teachers. She joined the team in 2011, bringing over 16 years’ teaching experience to the MET. She has also been the lead organizer of the Panamanian Cultural Week and our annual Folkloric Galas since 2011.
Indira Acosta, Academic Director

From Panama, Indira and is one of our school's founding teachers and joined the team in 2011, bringing over 16 years’ teaching experience to the MET. Indira has been the lead organizer of the Panamanian Cultural Week and our annual Folkloric Galas since 2011. These MET traditional events celebrate Panama's rich history, culture, and folklore.

Indira’s qualifications include:

  • Ph.D., Education Sciences, Human Development and Social Education, UDELAS, Panama City, Panama
  • M.B.A., Business Administration, Quality Leadership University, Panama City, Panama
  • M.A., Higher Education, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Panama
  • M.A., Psychpedagogy with an emphasis on Learning Difficulties, UDELAS, Panama City, Panama
  • Postgraduate Degree, Higher Education, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Panama
  • B.A., Early Childhood Education, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Panama
  • Technical degree, Early Childhood Stimulation and Family Counselling, UDELAS, Panama City, Panama
  • Technical degree, Spanish and Literature, Instituto Superior Especializado, Panama City, Panama
  • Certification, Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, Instituto Cervantes and Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
  • English as a Second Language, Quality Leadership University, Panama City, Panama 
     
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Nydia Manzanares
Elementary School Principal
Originally from Honduras, Nydia has also lived in the US and Costa Rica. With over 25 years’ teaching experience, she is one of the MET's founding teachers and has worked in different grade levels at international schools like the American School of Tegucigalpa and Discovery School of Tegucigalpa.
Nydia Manzanares, Elementary School Principal

Nydia’s qualifications include:

  • M.A., Family Counselling, Colegio Villanueva, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • Master's in Educational Leadership, Framingham State University, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
  • B.S., Early Childhood Education, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, USA
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Brian Brackrog
Secondary School Principal
Brian is an international school leader with over 20 years of experience across the US, UK, and Europe. He has worked with all four IB programs and held roles such as Director of Learning and IBDP Coordinator. He is fluent in English and speaks conversational Spanish.
Brian Brackrog, Secondary Principal

Brian is a passionate and dedicated school leader with over two decades of international experience, committed to fostering inclusive, impactful learning environments. He has worked in a variety of school contexts across California, Rome, London, Berlin, and Vilnius, bringing a global perspective to whole-school initiatives. Brian has extensive experience with the US, UK, and IB curricula and believes that for learning to be truly impactful, it must be meaningful to students.

Throughout his career, he has championed student-centered, inquiry-driven approaches to teaching and learning, prioritizing skills-based education to empower students to take ownership of their learning by becoming active participants in the process.

Brian holds a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from San Diego State University. He also holds a California State Clear Teaching Credential.


OUR TEACHERS’ QUALITY

At every opportunity, the Metropolitan School of Panama’s teachers enhance themselves with professional development and lead a culture of continual self-improvement. 

Using Nord Anglia University, they use best-in-class trainings and resources from global experts to stay at the cutting-edge of their profession. This includes teaching strategies from our collaborations with MIT, Juilliard, and UNICEF. 

To boost their credentials, several of our teachers have also pursued a distinctive online master’s degree that we offer in partnership with Framingham State University in the US, accessible to educators in Panama and abroad.
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TEACHING AND LEARNING STANDARDS

Our teachers are passionate about maintaining the highest-level standards of the IB curriculum, using first-rate teaching practices from their trainings with the IBO and Nord Anglia University.

Complementing our teaching staff, the MET’s literacy and technology specialists and counselling teams also work together to uphold the high standards that fully support our students’ advancement.
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BOOSTED BY TECH

TEACHING WITH TECH

Across our wireless campus, all MET students use their digital devices to seamlessly connect with interactive learning tools that further their research, technical skills, and creativity. From Early Childhood, all MET teachers guide our learners to embrace the newest technology, incorporating it throughout activities and learning environments. 

Our class instruction and tech hubs invite students across all levels to learn using the most modern tools. Teachers encourage students to use technology strategically and mindfully, reinforcing their responsibility through our Digital Citizenship Program.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU!

Our Admissions team would love to hear from you. Schedule a tour of our campus or a virtual discovery meeting to learn more about the MET difference and what we can offer your child.

Inquire Today
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