New Middle School Principal Appointed for 2026

by Matt Bailey

Mr. Patrick Severijns, from the Netherlands, was announced earlier this week as the next Middle School Principal, a role that starts in July. Mr. Severijns emphasized his desire to be an active part of daily campus life.

"If you see me learning names in the hallways, cheering at games, attending performances and exhibitions, or asking students what they’re working on, that’s me doing what I love most: being present and part of school life," Mr. Severijns said in an email.

"Being Dutch, I have a serious love for cycling, so don’t be surprised if you spot me pedalling through Kaohsiung with my best buddy, Floki, riding along on my back like a tiny co-pilot."

"My job is to help make school a place where you feel safe to try, brave enough to fail-forward, and supported enough to excel," he said. "Learning works best when you feel you belong," he said about his philosophy about the importance of the middle school years.

Mr. Severijns will be joined by his wife, Janne, a communications strategist, and their dog, Floki. Outside of his professional duties, he enjoys sports and discovering local food.

He encouraged students to approach him once he arrives on campus: "My door will always be open, so come say hi, share an idea, ask a question, or just tell me what middle school is really like from your perspective."

"My wife, Janne, and I share two big passions: discovering great food and exploring new places, and yes, our favourite “not-really-a-colour” to wear is definitely black."

Mr. Severijns is moving to KAS from the International School Groningen in the Netherlands, where he is the current Middle Years Principal and Deputy Head of School. He had previously worked at the American School in London, Zurich International School, and United World College Maastricht.

"Patrick has a lot of expereince with middle school and I'm excited to work on the transition with him," said current Princiapl, Chelsea Armstrong. "He loves middle school and that's what we want." 8th grade student, Dylan Wen, was part of a panel that met Mr. Severijns when he was on campus last month and said his "vision seems good. He was pretty nice to students."