XLIS New Faculty for 2023-2024 School Year

“Keep reaching.

Keep seeking.

Keep using your abilities to bring out the best in those around you,

and let them bring out the best in you.

Become the next great generation!

You can and you will

—dare I say it—

change the world!”

 

These were the words of scientist Bill Nye at the Rutgers University graduation ceremony. These words expect students to always be enthusiastic, to leap into the bigger picture, and to change the world on their own. Teachers play a leading role in leading students to explore truths on their own, build confidence, and empower themselves. At Xi’an Liangjiatan International School, our experienced and IB-qualified teaching staff provide a solid foundation for our students’ holistic growth.

 

In the post-pandemic era, our school seized the opportunity of the full-scale opening of the national entry-exit policies to ensure high-quality teaching outcomes. One of the ways we achieved this was through the formation of a high-caliber teaching team. From October 2022 to May 2023, our Human Resources Department worked closely with the School Senior Leaders to conduct a global recruitment and selection process that lasted for eight months. Through over a hundred interviews and rigorous background checks, we are pleased to announce that for the 2023-2024 academic year, all teaching positions at Xi’an Liangjiatan International School have been filled with 20 international education specialists. These specialists originate from the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa, India, Mauritius, and the Philippines, representing a diverse and multicultural teaching background. All new teachers have a bachelor’s degree or above and an average of 14 years of international teaching experience, with half holding a master’s degree or above. We believe that our new team members will bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and cultural diversity to our school, further enhancing our commitment to providing top-quality education for our students.

 

We are excited to welcome new educators to our team. We will work together to achieve lifelong learning and community engagement as we at XLIS cultivate students into confident, open-minded global citizens. Now, let’s get to know the new members of our school’s academic team!

 

Primary School

 

Daniel Hall – Primary Homeroom Teacher

Daniel Hall is from the USA. He has a US teaching license and graduated from California State University Stanislaus with a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, respectively. He has 9 years of primary teaching experience and worked in South Korea and Singapore. He consistently displayed great talents in managing his classroom and developing a genuine love of learning in his students.

 

Ross Foley – Primary Homeroom Teacher

Ross Foley is from Ireland. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Patrick’s College in Ireland. He has 13 years of primary teaching experience and has taught in Ireland, UAE, Japan and China. His classroom management skills, coupled with his dynamic and engaging teaching style, show him as an outstanding teacher.

 

Dean Leuty – Primary Homeroom Teacher

Dean Leuty is from the UK. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Leeds and a Bachelor’s degree with honours in economics from the University of Newcastle. He has 8 years of primary school teaching experience and has been working at international schools in China for 5 years. He is an articulate and professional teacher with child-centered, collaborative and challenging teaching style.

 

Cornelio (Long) Requiso Jr – Primary Homeroom Teacher

Cornelio Requiso is from Philippines. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the College of Maasin. He has 11 years of experience as an international educator. He is highly knowledgeable about the early years programme and how to support students with not just educational needs but also social and emotional needs.

 

Dean Bezuidenhout – Primary Homeroom Teacher

Dean Bezuidenhout is from South Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of South Africa. He has 10 years of teaching experience in primary and early years. He is a motivational and creative teacher who is attentive to individual student requirements.

 

Mariajose C. Cuevas S. – Primary Homeroom Teacher

Mariajose Cuevas comes from Portugal. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Carabobo, and is currently enrolled in the master program of Special Education in European University of Madrid. She has seven years of teaching experience in primary school and kindergarten in China, Japan, and Venezuela. She is an accomplished early primary school teacher who uses the International Curriculum.

 

Henry Puttick – Primary EAL Teacher

Henry Puttick is from the UK. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts Digital Media Design from University of the Arts London and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (international) (PGCEi) from Nottingham University. He has 6 years of primary school teaching experience. He is passionate about learning and strives to make a real difference in the classroom.

 

Christopher Walsh – Primary EAL Teacher

Christopher David Walsh is from Canada. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. He has 3 years of early childhood teaching experience in China. He is motivated to create opportunities for students to become the best versions of themselves, build confidence, happiness and to achieve their goals.

 

Setareh Tajbakhsh – Primary Visual Arts Teacher

Setareh Tajbakhsh is from the USA. She holds a Master of Art Degree in Art Education from Boston University and a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from University of Alabama in Huntsville. She also has teaching certifications in art and elementary education. She is a passionate and dedicated teaching professional with 12 years of experience in Visual Arts instruction. She has held many of her own exhibitions since 2009.

 

Secondary School

 

Roman Alokhin – MYP English Language Acquisition Teacher

Roman Alokhin is from the USA. He holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has taught English in US and Vietnamese schools. He is passionate about multicultural education and is an analytical thinker who is not afraid to face challenges.

 

Annie Clouatre – MYP English Language Acquisition Teacher

Annie Clouatre comes from Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English as a Second Language from the University of Sherbrooke. She is well skilled and has worked for 28 years as an English teacher in Canada and China, and still have the energy, the passion and the drive to be a great teacher.

 

Rowan Marr – MYP English Language and Literature Teacher

Rowan Marr is from the UK. He holds a Master of Arts Degree with Honours in English Literature from the University of Aberdeen and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Liverpool John Moores University. He has been working in the education field in China with passionate attitude towards teaching the next generation since 2019.

 

Mark Moran – MYP/DP English Language and Literature Teacher

Mark Moran is from the USA. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in English from the University of Nottingham and a Master of Education Degree in Teaching and Learning from Depaul University. He is an experienced English educator who has taught English for 24 years in the United States, China, Thailand and Cambodia.

 

Chandra Mogilisetti – MYP/DP Science Teacher

Chandra Mogilisetti is from India. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from Osmania University in India. He has 32 years of teaching experience 12 of which were spent at international schools. He is a dedicated, resourceful and goal-driven professional educator who is fully committed to the academic growth and development of every student.

 

Holly Wilson – MYP Math Teacher

Holly Wilson comes from the USA. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching from University of Louisville and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has been teaching in the secondary grades for 18 years, and math for 9 years.

 

Arvin Vicho – MYP/DP Visual Arts Teacher

Arvin Vicho is from Philippines. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. He has 21 years of experience in teaching art and design in the Philippines, Cambodia, Egypt and Singapore. He believes that children should find joy in their learning experiences and build motivation to extend their learning through this happiness.

 

Leena Nothoo – MYP/DP Visual Arts Teacher

Leena Nothoo is from Mauritius. She holds a Master’s degree in Advertising from The London College. She has taught art and design for 24 years in universities and middle schools in Mauritius, India and China. She not only demonstrated consistent passion for her classes but has been a role model for students.

 

Engela Potgieter – MYP Drama Teacher

Engela Potgieter is from South Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Moreland University in the United States and a Bachelor’s degree in Drama from the University of the Free State in South Africa. She has taught drama in South Africa and China for 10 years. She will open a new chapter in the drama program for XLIS.

 

Sunil Kumar Pusluri – MYP Design Teacher

Sunil Pusluri is from India. He holds a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad in India. He is a passionate teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience and has been working at international school for 7 years.

 

Whole School

 

Wally Mann – Whole School SEN Teacher

Wally Mann comes from the USA. He holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Home-Economics from the University of Georgia. He has 26 years of teaching experience in special education and has taught in Sweden, USA, Egypt, Germany and China. He is skilled in engaging and supporting students of all abilities with genuine commitment, mentorship and clear communication.

 

‘Teachers are not only disseminators of knowledge but also role models.’ ——Jerome Bruner (American psychologist, researcher, and educator)

 

 

Click here for more details.

 

Author: HR team