James Van Dierendonck worked as a DoDDS teacher and principal for over 34 years.

He served his country from 1955-58 in the United States Army.   He taught school for three years in Millcreek, Indiana and then started his career with DoDDs in 1965 where he taught elementary school and industrial arts in Okinawa, Karlsruhe, and Ethiopia.  Then in 1969 he came to AFCENT International School (now AFNORTH) where he taught in both elementary and high schools.  He was promoted to assistant principal, and then in 1980 became principal of the newly created Geilenkirchen Elementary School. He opened the school originally at an old monastery in Geilenkirchen while awaiting renovation of the buildings that are presently used.  Mr. Van Dierendonck served as principal of Geilenkirchen Elementary School for 18 years and retired from DoDDS in October, 1998.

Referred to as the James Van Dierendonck Elementary School, in his honor, Geilenkirchen Elementary is the school he built from scratch and the place from which he devoted 18 years of his life to the thousands of children who have passed through these doors.