A Conversation with Eric Hansen: Building Brewster Madrid’s Middle School at La Moraleja
Brewster Madrid is proud to announce the opening of its new La Moraleja campus, which officially welcomed students in September 2025. Part of this exciting new chapter is Eric Hansen, our Head of Middle School. With over 24 years of experience in American independent schools, from Minneapolis to Jordan to California, Eric brings a wealth of insight and a clear vision for what makes our international middle school in La Moraleja truly special.
We had a chat with him to get the inside scoop on what’s coming to La Moraleja.
Q: What makes a middle school truly great?
"A great middle school must seek to challenge with fun," Mr. Hansen explains. "Kids should feel safe to grow with confidence into their best emerging selves. At Brewster, we blend high academic expectations with warmth, playfulness, and a sense of belonging."
This approach reflects The Brewster Model and our core values, which balances creativity, curiosity, persistence, and caring, while maintaining strong academic standards. Mr. Hansen emphasizes that the goal isn’t just grades, but the priority is helping students develop the skills, confidence, and resilience they need for high school, college preparatory pathways, and beyond.
Q: What will students experience at La Moraleja Middle School?
"We focus on hands-on, project-based learning where students can apply academic skills in meaningful ways," Mr. Hansen says. "Our teachers collaborate in teams and guide students through advisory sessions, ensuring every child is known and supported."
Brewster students will also take part in Learning Expeditions, using Madrid and Spain as a classroom. From local cultural trips to immersive humanities projects, middle schoolers will be engaging with the city while developing critical thinking and collaboration skills. Since the launch of our Chamberí campus in 2023, our students, from lower to upper school, have embarked on over 130 learning expeditions!
Q: How does La Moraleja fit into the bigger Brewster Madrid story?
"Across both campuses, every student is valued, challenged, and encouraged to grow academically, socially, and personally."
Like all Brewster campuses, La Moraleja is guided by the same mission, vision, and values that define the Brewster experience—where every learner is known, supported, and inspired to thrive.
Watch the Full Q&A Below:
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Brewster Madrid has grown so much since opening in Chamberí in 2023 that in September 2025 we opened a brand-new space dedicated to grades 11 and 12, giving students the perfect environment to focus on university preparation. La Moraleja brings something new: leafy grounds, spacious classrooms, and a suburban feel just minutes from the city. It’s modern, welcoming, and perfect for families seeking private schools in Madrid with a strong American curriculum and international perspective.
With La Moraleja opening in the North of Madrid, Brewster Madrid continues its vision of redefining what an international education can be. Guided by Eric Hansen’s leadership in the Middle School, and The Brewster Model, the new campus will stand as a place where students learn to think boldly, act kindly, and step into their future with confidence - a place where persistence meets possibility, and where we continue our mission of preparing diverse thinkers for lives of purpose.
