About Us
BHS is a welcoming and dynamic new-age school for the post-Covid world that focuses on student-centered learning instead of the traditional teaching methods of the past.
BHS lives by the promise and mission to help teenagers excel academically, socially and psychologically. Accordingly, flexibility, open communal learning and mental health are priorities of the school. Delivering on this promise and mission are reasons Why BHS is the fastest growing school in Europe (greater than 100% annually). Indeed, in only its 2nd year, BHS was already considered the best international school in Spain.
BHS is the perfect international and American school in the heart of Barcelona city, instead of outside the city like the other international and American schools. BHS is centrally located in Barcelona, in the bohemian neighborhood of Gracia, with perfect access to all modes of public transportation.
While BHS uses the American school education system, it serves as the international school in Barcelona for the global community and has the only English immersion student social integration program in Barcelona for non-native English speakers. Indeed, in the 2023-2024 school year, BHS will serve as the AP Exam testing center for all of Europe. BHS is the most international school in Barcelona, as no nationality is larger than 20% of the student body.
BHS is a fun, engaging, caring and diverse environment (across multiple grade levels and nationalities) where students come together as one big family and learn through flexible, modern and dynamic teaching methods.
BHS has an innovative digital lesson monitoring platform for learning flexibility and independence, and maintains a "10 out of 10" hiring standard standard referred to as the "BHS Spark".
BHS started with only 5 students in its first year (2020-2021) and then grew to over 30 students in its 2nd year (2021-2022). In its 3rd school year (2022-2023), BHS has over 100 students as it continues to add new and amazing teachers. In the upcoming school year (2023-2024), BHS will expand enrollment to 250 students to keep up with its growth by creating an innovative university-like campus throughout the Gracia neighborhood.
Leadership
Amanda Slefo
Director & Partner
(pictured on the right)
Amanda Slefo is Assyrian American from Chicago. Prior to joining BHS, Amanda was a distinguished high school teacher at Evanston Township High School (ETHS) in Chicago where she received multiple outstanding teacher awards. ETHS is ranked in the 95th percentile of all high schools in the United States.
Amanda's role as Director of BHS has involved overseeing educational learning, academic performance, and university placement and she later became a Partner of BHS.
Amanda holds a Bachelor's Degree in History and Secondary Education. She also has an English Language Learners certification and served as Education Director of the Assyrian Cultural Foundation.
Moreover, Amanda has extensive experience with university placement and specializes in creating dynamic learning experiences for students..
Akida Mashaka
Founder
(pictured on the left)
BHS is the brainchild of Akida Mashaka, an American entrepreneur from Los Angeles, California.
Akida created BHS after living in Barcelona with his family and experiencing major flaws with schools in Barcelona. He recognized the antiquated teaching methods used in American, IB, British, international, and especially the Catalan schools. Accordingly, Akida decided to renew the entire school learning pedagogy, not only in Spain but throughout the world.
Akida’s model emphasizes smaller class size focusing on individualized and communal learning in a family-like environment. Through the use of innovative digital educational tools, independent learning, social interaction, and emotional intelligence, the school was created to foster skills necessary to be successful in today's post-Covid world.
Akida is a graduate of Harvard Law School and attended university in the USA on a tennis scholarship. Akida graduated #1 in Psychology in his university class. Therefore, student mental health is a very important component of BHS.
Ciarán O’Mahony
Director of Math & Science
Ciarán joined BHS in January 2022. Ciarán developed the school’s Mathematics and Science Department based on nine years of directing tutorial mathematics and physics classes for both high school and university students in Ireland.
Ciarán holds a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Applied Mathematics. He previously worked as a Senior Consultant with an Irish pillar bank. During this experience, he received awards for his exemplary programming and computer models that significantly improved efficiency within the bank.
Ciarán spearheads the school's AP Mathematics and Science courses and serves as Vice Principal.