Board of Directors

Dr. Jennifer Stillman joins The Hague School Board with a long history of working in education, and as the proud parent of two Hague School students. She currently works as the Director of Research for the Learner Variability Project at Digital Promise, where she conducts studies on the effectiveness of education technology products that seek to address student learner variability. Prior to joining Digital Promise, she served as the Director of Assessment and Evaluation at New Classrooms Innovation Partners, delving into better understanding the most effective aspects of Teach to One, a personalized math learning model. Previously, she worked as a researcher for the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Innovation, studying early blended learning models and whole school redesign efforts. Jennifer’s commitment to school innovation also includes many years of service on the board of the International Charter School in Brooklyn. As the author of Gentrification and Schools, Jennifer is an advocate for making progress where it can be made, even if entire systems cannot easily be changed. Prior to earning her doctorate in Politics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, Jennifer taught government and politics to high school students in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Fairfax County (Virginia), and served as a research, press, and legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Harry Reid.

Doug Smith has lived and worked in Hampton Roads the majority of his life. He currently serves as the President & CEO of the Hampton Roads Alliance, a regional economic development organization supported by 13 localities and 70 companies that assists international and domestic companies with investment projects, expansions and relocations. Prior to joining the Alliance he served as the Norfolk City Manager. His other public sector experiences include serving as Deputy City Manager in the City of Virginia Beach and as Deputy City Manager, Chief Plans and Policy Officer, and Economic Development Director in the City of Portsmouth. He was elected to Portsmouth City Council where he served four years and gained regional experience as commissioner for the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. In the private sector, Doug served as President & CEO of Kaufman & Canoles Consulting, where he counseled national and local developers, municipalities, higher education institutions and corporations. Doug began his career as a banker at First Union Bank (now part of Wells Fargo) where he worked for 12 years and in his last role there, he managed 31 offices across Hampton Roads. Doug is a graduate of Norfolk Academy and the University of Virginia.

Alvaro Lopez is the Head of School at Harkness Institute, The Hague School’s sister school in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Alvaro has a deep understanding of how history, economics and geopolitics intertwine, and he is committed to the betterment of education in Mexico. At Harkness Vallarta, here he developed his passion for teaching, he was an instructor in business and comparative politics. He is an avid reader of Roman history and Latin American literature, and is also an advanced open water diver. Before joining Harkness, Alvaro was a successful entrepreneur having founded a food and beverage business in Vallarta. He has over 12 years of entrepreneurship experience. He also worked at Merrill Lynch´s private equity fund in New York as a senior associate. Alvaro is the recipient of the Rowe Award for outstanding accomplishment in Latin American Studies and the William Manger Latin American Studies Award for most outstanding thesis from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, and the winner of the Lang Fund Business Plan competition from Columbia Business School.

Andrew Stillman joins The Hague School Board as a two-time Hague School parent, and as a veteran science educator, school leader, and technologist. Andrew worked for a decade as a physics, math, and engineering teacher in several of New York City’s innovative small high schools, and then as co-founder and Assistant Principal of the Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering, a selective 7-12 grade public school startup developed in partnership with Columbia University. Following this stint in teaching and school leadership, Andrew pivoted to school technology, working as Director of Systems Development at New Visions for Public Schools, where he created a suite of free, virally-popular Google Workspace integrated apps for teachers and school administrators. In 2018 Andrew and family moved to Norfolk to lead the creation of the software division for a local company that was acquired by CDW-G in 2020. Andrew now works as Chief Technology Officer for the non-profit Braver Angels, a grassroots movement dedicated to depolarizing US politics, bringing Reds, Blues, and Others together in conversation to build renewed civic trust. Andrew is an avid sailor and serves as Vice President of the Norfolk Youth Sailing Association, which provides access to boats and coaching for The Hague Tritons Sailing Team as well as Maury and Granby High Schools. Andrew is the founding Trustee of The Hague School Foundation, a 501(c)3 formed in 2023 to make scholarships available to students with financial need. Andrew holds a B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, in Philosophy and Physics from the University of Oregon, a Masters in Secondary Science Education from The City College of New York, and a NY State School Building Leader Certificate from Baruch College.

As a lifelong educator in Norfolk, Mr. Spencer has served as the principal of Maury High School, the Interim Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools, and the Headmaster at The Williams School. Intrigued by The Hague School’s pedagogy and potential impact on the community, he came out of retirement to be one of the school’s founders in 2019. For the past five years, he has lived in Morocco where he served as a Head of School for two British International Schools and as a consultant for a management group that owns 22 Moroccan Schools and represents many of the leaders of the country, including the King of Morocco. Offering a wealth of knowledge and experience, he has returned to serve as Head of School at The Hague School where his exemplary commitment to academic excellence, student engagement, and service to the community remains part of the school’s foundation.