About
Who We Are
At RS Education, we provide highly personalised guidance for High School students of all backgrounds and cultures. RS-Ed combines a professional approach with one built on strong personal relationships in complete confidentiality with the student and their family. We pride ourselves on being approachable, friendly, culturally aware and very conscious of the stresses placed on young shoulders at this critical time in their educational path.
Our Beliefs
Every student is unique
Every student has the ability to succeed
Every student can develop a growth mindset
Every student can live a productive and ethical life
Samia Omar
Of Anglo-Sudanese parentage, Samia completed her education in the British system, studying Politics and Geography at Queen Mary College, London, followed by an MSc Econ from The London School of Economics in Political Sociology.
Moving back to Sudan, she ran a small infant school for several years before founding Khartoum International Community School in 2004. Deeply involved in all aspects of the school’s design, construction, operations and in introducing IB programmes and CIS accreditation.
As well as devoting herself to making KICS a true community, her greatest joy came from reading in the Primary libraries, and she has built up an extensive collection of children’s literature to pass on her own love of reading to future generations. Following the graduation of her youngest child, she started a new direction with College Counselling at KICS in 2017.
Samia completed the College Board Summer Institute for International Counsellors in 2017, PTC’s ‘University-bound during Uncertain Times’ in 2020 and CTC’s ‘University Counselling in the International School’ in 2021. She has furthermore attended several UCAS workshops and an Oxford University Guidance Counselling conference.
A mother of children who studied both A levels and the IB Diploma and attended universities in both the USA and UK, she draws extensively on her experiences on both sides of the College Counsellor’s desk to inform her practice and to help form empathetic and good humoured relationships with both students and parents. She derives great personal satisfaction and happiness from advising and guiding young people towards goals that fit best with their passions and with their abilities and skills.
In June 2024 she completed CTC training in Lisbon- ‘Intensive Skills for Counsellors’ and in June 2025 attended UCAS International Conference in Edinburgh.
Reem Heakal
Born in the USA of Egyptian immigrant parents, Reem moved back to Egypt as a teenager, and continued high school in the British system. After completing her GCSEs, she received a BA in Political Science and Economics at the American University in Cairo (AUC) followed by a MA in International Relations.
She worked in banking and information management in Egypt before moving to Sudan in 2002. There, she began working at Khartoum International Community School (KICS), and became the College Counsellor in 2009. Continuing in that role, she was also IB CAS Coordinator, taught IB Business Management and was an IB DP Coordinator. More recently Reem became Head of Whole School Counselling after becoming certified by the CTC. Reem is also highly experienced in the IB Diploma Programme and founder and longtime director of the KICS Model UN programme, KICSMUN.
Reem attended the CIS Forum on International Admission and Guidance in Berlin Nov 2009, the College Board Summer Institute for International Counsellors in 2017, and in October 2020 attended the PTC, 8-hour certified course, ‘University-Bound During Uncertain Times’. In summer of 2021, Reem completed the Counsellors Training Centre’s (CTC’s) International School Counsellor qualification.
A mother of two, both her children studied an IB education. Multicultural, she draws extensively on her experiences both professionally and personally to inform her practice and guidance with families. Reem guides students to reach their best-fit potential by fostering positive, good-natured relationships, built on an empathetic approach, wide-ranging knowledge and understanding acquired over fourteen years of college counselling. She loves sharing in each unique journey with students and families, while remaining mindful of their individual needs and goals.
Reem welcomes the opportunity to support students and families during this transitional time of their life. With a smile, some good natured humour and extensive knowledge, we will get you to where you need to be.
In 2023, Reem received the ‘Yale Educator of the Year’ award. In June 2024 she completed CTC training in Lisbon- ‘Intensive Skills for Counsellors’ and in June 2025 attended UCAS International Conference in Edinburgh.
Pat Clifford- Administrative Assistant
Of mixed Dutch and Indonesian heritage Pat has lived in several countries around the world. She started her working life at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and travelled to work in Greece, Pakistan and Sudan with the Netherlands Embassy.
Pat joined the Khartoum International Community School as a founding staff member in 2005.
For over 17 years she ran the day to day administration of the Secondary school. In that time she became very familiar with both the pastoral and academic aspects of the school’s provision, running her part of the school with great efficiency, accuracy and dedication and forming close bonds with both students and families. She is also the mother of two KICS graduates who went on to study at university in the Netherlands and the UK.
We are delighted that Pat is part of our team at RS-Ed and look forward to her insight and experience in all matters pertaining to secondary school education and the needs of the students in our care.
My two sons have given me firsthand experience as to how important proper guidance and mentoring is when making university choices. I am very excited to be part of this College Counselling Team and to be working with Samia and Reem.
Our Partners
Leena Taha-Positive Psychology
Leena Magdi is a positive psychology practitioner and the author of the newly released memoir Mourning Air: a memoir of sudden loss. Her work blends science-backed strategies with real-world insight to help people build meaningful lives and lasting motivation. She’s been featured in Khaleej Times and Raemona Magazine. Whether through writing or positive psychology sessions her aim is to make well-being practical, personal, and powerful.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from San Jose State University, and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, Leena specializes in tailoring interventions to optimize her client’s needs.
Additionally, Leena has designed well-being spaces in a Philadelphia public school, curated well-being workshops at an Innovation Lab in Sudan for young adults, and provided one-on-one counseling sessions to high school students, all based on the evidence-based strategies of positive psychology.
Leena enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, writing, and Pilates.
Heike Grand-Montagne Coaching
We are not our genes! We have the power and the opportunity to be who we want to be. Heike helps clients to re- align with their true self, find out which of their thoughts support them and which hold them back. Then she partners up with her clients to explore new perspectives and deal with fears and doubts. In that way clients evolve into the person they choose to be. And if we are who we want to be, we live the life we want to live. Full of joy, purpose, and love.
