Meet the team

Dear prospective families,

What is the purpose of your child’s learning journey in the early years? Consider their current lived reality: Do they need to be stuck inside four walls for seven or more hours a day, every day?

We founded Hypha because we reject outdated learning paradigms. We start by giving childhood back to our learners by immersing them in nature and providing the best education based on the latest cognitive science. Our aim is for them to grow to be critical thinkers who ask relevant and compelling questions with empathy. What is the purpose of doing this? Does this align with my values and my needs? What impact does this or my actions have in the world? And we aim for our learners to become creative problem solvers so that one day they can address their compelling questions with confidence.

We hope you join us on this journey. We are looking forward to meeting you and creating a beautiful community together.

With a smile,

Kerry and Jennifer

Management

Kerry Trigg

With 23 years as an educator developing her career in international education settings as a teacher, coordinator and education director, Kerry leads Hypha as the Head of Education and Wellbeing.

Kerry began her learning journey with a Bachelor of Arts and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Her passion for outdoor education led her to train as a Forest school leader and outdoor learning specialist. Her experience in traditional and holistic learning environments led her to become an education consultant.

Founder of Guincho Green Adventures she brings a wealth of holistic education experience.

Kerry is a mother of two daughters who drive her quest to develop an education that nurtures their interests and gives them the life skills for an ever-changing world.

An enthusiastic nature lover and surfer you will find Kerry at the beach, hiking in the forest or along the coastline of Sintra

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Jennifer Nava

As Co-founder and General Manager of the Hypha, Jennifer brings 10+ years of experience as an engineer working in highly complex mega projects all over the world. Having led cross-functional teams integrating multiple viewpoints to solve intricate problems, she sees a future where a robust academic foundation, innovation, and 21st century competencies are essential.

Spending more time in Nature and living more in line with her values is what brought Jennifer and her family to Portugal. As a child, she spent long days climbing trees and wandering the countryside with her brother, connecting her with the Nature that surrounds us. She believes that all children should have the opportunity to bask in the wonders of the natural world on a regular basis and is passionate about making quality, nature-based holistic education available to children.

Jennifer is a mother of two and strongly believes in the power of blending a holistic approach with evidence-based educational practices, in a natural environment.

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Marta Branquinho

With more than 25 years of professional experience, Marta graduated in Economics from Lisbon School of Business & Economics and later completed an Advanced Executive Management Program and a Postgraduate in Marketing Management and in Human Resources.

She was the Head of Administration of an International School in Oeiras for close to 3 years and it is this experience, combined with a lifetime working in the Education and Training sector, that brings her to Hypha as Operations Advisor. Prior to that, she held leadership positions in HR, Marketing and Branding for various companies.

She’s a people person and following this she has deepened her studies in Happiness and Wellbeing and holds the International Certificate of Chief Happiness Officer in Denmark and the Science of WellBeing Certificate in Yale University. As a woman of causes she’s also a Teacher in Positive Leadership in Executive Programs and also a guest teacher in the CHO for the Instituto de Feliciência, in Brazil.

Marta is a mother of three and a stepmother of two, she loves nature and strongly believes in an education system that respects the individuality of each child, that involves the community and total respect for the planet. For her it is absolutely clear that the traditional education system does not respond to the needs we have now and will have in the future.

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Educators

Hypha International School ensures a world-class education by hiring excellent and experienced educators, providing them with high-quality training, and by having high expectations from all of our students. Our innovative approach ensures structure, continuity, and personalized learning tailored to each child.

Kerry Trigg

Year 1 / K Educator