XLIS New Faculties for 2022-2023 School Year

“The ultimate end of education is not a perfection in the accomplishments of the school, but fitness for life; not the acquirement of habits of blind obedience, and of prescribed diligence, but a preparation for independent action.”———  Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

 

Teachers play an important role in children’s critical period of growth. Xi’an Liangjiatan International School (XLIS) expects teachers to not only have in-depth professional knowledge, but to also have a deep understanding of the school’s mission & vision and a strong sense of identity. Therefore, teachers at XLIS are professionally competent with a broad global vision, which allows them to fully utilize the resources both inside and outside of school and continuously provide differentiated learning opportunities for students.

 

The ongoing pandemic has created unprecedented challenges in recruitment, and Xi’an Liangjiatan International School continues to adhere to the strict recruitment management system. Through quality recruitment channels, early recruitment plans, comprehensive background checks, and the established child protection rules, the school strives to find the most suitable teachers for children.

 

Up to now, XLIS has a professional and international team consisting of 60 expatriate IB education experts from 21 countries and regions around the world, as well as 59 Chinese teachers and staff with overseas education background or working experience in domestic and international education. The teaching staff are very experienced Chinese and international teachers who are able to teach the international curriculum in multiple languages in a global context. All teachers have teaching qualifications, meet the academic requirements, and participate in professional IB training with an average of ten years of teaching experience, of which 68 teachers have master’s degrees and above, seven with a doctoral degree or currently enrolled in a doctoral program.

 

Let’s welcome ten new teachers who will join the XLIS family in the upcoming academic year of 2022-2023.

 

Daniel Cichoracki (ECE Homeroom Teacher)

Daniel Cichoracki is from the USA. He holds his Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Primary Education from Eastern Michigan University, and holds the US registered teaching license. He is a well skilled and experienced international educator with nine years of early years teaching experience.

 

Jennyfer Milena Galvez (ECE Homeroom Teacher)

Jennyfer Milena Galvez is from Colombia. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from the University of Tolima in Colombia and holds the PGCE with the University of Derby. She has seven years of primary teaching experience in China and has taught in Russia, Turkey and Spain.

 

Ryan L Clark (Primary Homeroom Teacher)

Ryan L Clark has Dual National Citizenship (Canadian/Irish) with a Chinese Green Card. He has 15 years’ experience within the education industry. He holds a Master’s Degree of Applied Linguistics from the University of Portsmouth in the UK and has the PGCE with the University of Derby.

 

Sandy Harrison (Primary Homeroom Teacher)

Sandy Harrison comes from Scotland. He has a Master’s Degree of English Literature from the University of Edinburgh and holds the PGCE with the University of Derby. He has 12 years of teaching experience in China. He is trusted by parents for his conscientious teaching attitude.

 

Pejay Pauly (Primary Homeroom Teacher)

Pejay Pauly comes from the Philippines. He holds a Master’s Degree of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education and a Bachelor of Secondary Education in English from Southern Luzon State University. He has been working in the education field for 14 years including four years’ IB experience. He worked in the Philippines, Kazakhstan and China. He has supervisory skills and is a hardworking and energetic individual with excellent communication.

 

David Roe (Primary EAL Teacher)

David Roe is from the UK. He holds his Master of Arts Degree in Education, Teaching and Learning from the University of Sheffield and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the Sheffield Hallam University. He has been working in the education field in China since 2013.

 

Christopher Adrian Rothwell (DP Physics and Mathematics Teacher)

Christopher is from UK. He holds a Master’s Degree in IT and a Bachelor’s Degree in Maths & Physics from the University College London. He has 16 years of teaching experience including 2 years’ IB experience in international schools and has taught in the UK, India, Nepal and Ecuador. He enjoys the challenge of teaching and tries to use his enthusiasm and experience to make a difference in the classroom and to his students.

 

Sihyun Nathan Kim (MYP/DP Music Teacher)

Sihyun Nathan Kim is a Korean-American teacher who holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of North Texas and a Texas Educator Certificate. He is proficient in piano, saxophone, clarinet, oboe and other orchestral instruments. He has worked as a music teacher and band director for eight years in prestigious schools in the USA. He is a professional and dedicated teacher. His cross-cultural upbringing allows him to better understand the learning needs of his students.

 

Michael Koran (MYP English Language Acquisition and EAL Teacher)

Michael Koran is from the USA. He has a wealth of experience in education within a multicultural and multiethnic setting. He holds a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from University of Concordia in the USA and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Robert Morris in the USA. He is a lifelong learner and has been working at international schools in China for eight years.

 

Sunny Si (MYP Science Teacher)

Sunny Si is from China. She holds a Master’s Degree in Inorganic Chemistry from Fudan University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from East China Normal University. She has ten years of science teaching experience and has worked as an MYP science and DP chemistry teacher at Kang Chiao International School East China Campus (KCISEC). She has a deep understanding of international education and the IB Programme in teaching science and is able to develop a differentiated curriculum design for students to effectively improve classroom quality and stimulate students’ interest in learning.

 

In addition, there will be five foreign teachers changing positions in the new academic year, the details are as below:

 

Chad Boudreau – Primary PSPE Teacher

Chad Boudreau is from Canada, he holds a Master’s Degree in International Education from Framingham State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Brock University. He also holds a teaching license from Washington, D.C, USA. He worked in Korea International School, public schools and private academies for nearly nine years and continually refined his teaching methods. He has been a P3 homeroom teacher at XLIS since arriving in Xi’an in 2019. He has also coached our secondary and primary boys’ basketball teams with excellent results.

 

Elham Mardani – Primary EAL Teacher

Elham Mardani comes from Iran. She is an experienced English teacher with nine years teaching experience. She holds her Master’s Degree in IMBA from New-Huadu Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree from Payam Noor University (PNU). She has been the P3 Teaching Assistant for the past year and has an in-depth understanding of the IB curriculum. She will be the Primary EAL Teacher since next academic year.

 

Zachary William Dwyer – MYP Individual & Society Teacher

Zachary is from Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of Toronto in Canada, and a Bachelor of Education Degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Canada. He also has a non-expiring professional certificate of qualification from the British Columbia Teacher Regulation. He started his international teaching career in 2014 working in numerous international schools as a classroom teacher, education coordinator, and much more. Zachary has been the homeroom teacher of P4 and P6 at XLIS and the whole school ACAMIS Athletics Coordinator since 2021. He has successfully organised many major sporting events and tournaments for international schools in Xi’an.

 

Kathleen Challenor – MYP English Language Acquisition Teacher

Kathleen Challenor is from South Africa. She is a certified teacher and holds her Bachelor’s Degree of Education from the University of South Africa. She has nine years teaching experience in South Africa and five years’ of international experience in China. She has been the P6 homeroom teacher after joining XLIS. She will move to teach middle school students next year.

 

Haeyoung Chung – MYP Design Teacher

Haeyoung is from Korea. She holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Visual Design from Hanyang University and a Bachelor Degree in Art and Design from Seoul National University of Science and Technology. She has worked in our school for two years as a PR officer and also worked as a Secondary teaching assistant during the epidemic, helping foreign teachers who were stuck overseas to teach online. She works hard and is highly regarded by her colleagues and leaders. Her Asian background and experience of living and working abroad will help her to make better connections with students.

 

Education is a journey with students in pursuit of truth disregarding all the difficulties. At XLIS, our teachers are dedicated to guiding students to success, with passion and care. We look forward to a new academic year together with our teachers and students, fuelling their passion towards a new journey. XLIS will carry on leading education through innovation and a student-centered, community-driven approach.

 

Click here for more details.

 

Author: HR Department