Our People

James Laney, Jr. Head of School

I began my teaching career in the US Peace Corps in Kenya in the early 1980s. Now in my 38th year as an educator, I have served in American and international schools in New York City, Nicosia, Taipei, Warsaw, Addis Ababa, New Delhi, and Maputo. I’ve taught at all grade levels from K to 12, including computer science, technology, math, and my favorite—physics. I have been a principal in elementary, middle, and high school programs, prior to becoming Head of School at the International Community School of Addis Ababa in 2010. Since 2005, I’ve been a principal or director in three distinguished IB schools. I am happy to be a KAS Dragon now! I have four children in Oregon, including two who are in graduate school to become international school teachers. My partner Laura is an experienced and qualified ESL and Learning Support teacher from New Hampshire.

Shan Ahmed Principal, Elementary School

Shan has a BA (Honours) from De-Montfort University and an MBA in International Education from Keele University in the UK. He is a Qualified Teacher in the UK and also has a certificate of International School Leadership from the Principals’ Training Center.

Shan started his career with eight years of elementary classroom teaching in the UK, Colombia and China, in international, American and PYP classrooms. He gained administrative experience in China as an ELL trainer, a Learning Support and PYP Coordinator, followed by eight years as Elementary Principal in two American program schools in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

Shan is thrilled to bring his passion for inquiry-based and experiential learning to continue to grow the KAS Elementary School. Outside of school and family life he has a passion for photography, loves playing sports, reading up on all things electronic and following his football team, Manchester City Football Club!

Chelsea Armstrong Principal, Middle School

Chelsea Armstrong, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is excited to join KAS as the new Middle School Principal. Chelsea is coming to Kaohsiung from Cairo, Egypt, and has also taught and led schools in Vietnam, the Marshall Islands, and Chicago. These experiences have fostered her love for student-led experiential learning, school improvement through accreditation, and restorative justice practices.
Chelsea has a BA in Education from the University of New Mexico, an MA in Educational Leadership from Concordia University, Chicago, and is an Illinois-certified Learning Behavior Specialist.

Outside of school, Chelsea enjoys reading, painting, swimming, and cooking for her family while listening to true crime podcasts.

Kimberly Clark Sifunganyambe Principal, High School

Kimberly Clark, an educational leader and San Francisco native, has been serving as the High School Principal since 2021. She holds an Ed.S. from Mercer University, an Ed.M. from Harvard University, and a B.A. from Spelman College. Her professional experience includes time spent as a Deputy Principal in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a Vice Principal and Instructional Coach in Houston, USA, and an AP World History Teacher and Department Chair in Atlanta, USA.

Ms. Clark hopes to continue impacting the lives of students through her dedication and commitment to the words of Marian Wright Edelman – “education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”

Outside of work, Ms. Clark and her partner Audrey both enjoy traveling the world, experiencing new cultures, relaxing on the beach, and desert dune bashing.

Jennifer Mitchell Director for Teaching & Learning

Jennifer is originally from Wisconsin but has spent most of her career overseas. She has taught in Colombia, Morocco, Singapore, Germany, Sudan, and Croatia. Her teaching experience has been in both American and IB schools, teaching elementary homeroom and PYP and MYP Visual Arts. She has also been a team lead and PYP Coordinator.

Jennifer truly enjoys working with future and current teachers and has taught for Moreland University and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She has a Master’s in Education from Aurora University and is finishing her doctorate in Educational Sustainability through the University of Wisconsin. Jennifer is passionate about education and the power it has to create a more equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world.

When she is not teaching, Jennifer enjoys scuba diving, gardening, reading, exploring, and being outdoors. She lives in Taiwan with her husband, Colin, and two young children, Adelina and Kristof.

Lisa Fang Director of Admissions

Lisa Fang joined KAS in 2015 as an admissions officer and in 2017 became the Director of Admissions. Lisa graduated from Wenzao Ursuline College with a degree in German and an English emphasis. Before joining KAS, Lisa worked at BMW in management with German colleagues. She is married and has one son.

Brian Meehan Director Of Learning Technology

Brian has been a KAS Dragon since 2018. He is a 2007 graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Applied Networking, Security, & Systems Administration. Prior to working in education, Brian was an engineer with Eastman Kodak Company, where he worked in the technology aspects of print workflow, graphic design, and digital imaging. His experience in connecting solutions to people comes from his time as an IT consultant and cybersecurity analyst in Western NY, as well as a career’s worth of focusing on the human side of technology. He came to KAS from his previous role as the Director of Information Technology for an independent school in Rochester, NY. Everyday, he uses his IT mettle to give students the best education experience possible while keeping KAS’s technology running smoothly and effectively. He’s happy to be surrounded by his family at KAS, with one KAS graduate and another in High School, as well as his wife Danielle, who teaches HS Chemistry. When he’s not on campus, Brian continues over 20 years of service as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, now alongside the Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau as an EMT in Niaosong.

Ansel Wang Facilities Director

Ansel Wang joined KAS in 2018. He graduated from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, majoring in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Prior to his current position, he worked for twelve years with Dream Mall shopping mall in Kaohsiung. He loves to interact with the students, staff, and faculty. Ansel is married and has two sons. After work, he enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

Dr. Lawrence Yuan Director of Operations

Lawrence Yuan is a highly accomplished Rear Admiral with over 30 years of experience leading military units in the ROC Navy. He has commanded navy flotillas and has been recognized with numerous prestigious medals for his outstanding service. As a leader, Lawrence directed more than 20 military investment/procurement projects in different phases, maintained annual program budgets, and oversaw large-scale training programs to ensure that each member of his team received the best possible training to carry out their duties successfully.

In addition to his impressive military career, Lawrence holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at San Diego and graduated from the War College at National Defense University with honors. During his three years as the Superintendent of Taiwan’s Naval Academy, he encouraged the midshipmen and cadets to aim high, explore more opportunities, and created a sound educational environment by initiating a program for establishing a state-of-art Ship-handling & Engineer Simulator along with three sophisticated shipbuilding labs.

During his free time, Lawrence enjoys swimming and indulging in a good cup of coffee. Lawrence and his wife Shu-Ping are also the proud parents of KAS alumni from the class of 2014.

Shan Ahmed Principal, Elementary School

Shan has a BA (Honours) from De-Montfort University and an MBA in International Education from Keele University in the UK. He is a Qualified Teacher in the UK and also has a certificate of International School Leadership from the Principals’ Training Center.

Shan started his career with eight years of elementary classroom teaching in the UK, Colombia and China, in international, American and PYP classrooms. He gained administrative experience in China as an ELL trainer, a Learning Support and PYP Coordinator, followed by eight years as Elementary Principal in two American program schools in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

Shan is thrilled to bring his passion for inquiry-based and experiential learning to continue to grow the KAS Elementary School. Outside of school and family life he has a passion for photography, loves playing sports, reading up on all things electronic and following his football team, Manchester City Football Club!

Jorge Arismendi Elementary Makerspace

A Colombian native, Jorge has previously called Malaysia and the USA home, cultivating a lifelong passion for cultural exchange. A curious and creative learner, he finds joy in music and art, while maintaining balance through road cycling and yoga.

Beyond his civil engineering background with a focus on sustainable design, Jorge brings 16 years of experience teaching languages, math, and science to the KAS community. Currently pursuing a Master's in Education specializing in math and science, he is happy to share his experiences and co-learn STEAM alongside his students.

Araceli Arismendi Grade 4 Homeroom

Araceli is a dedicated educator with two decades of experience. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of teaching students ranging from Kindergarten to 4th grade in diverse settings, including Houston, San Antonio, and internationally at The International School of Kuala Lumpur, where she dedicated ten years to nurturing young minds. Araceli’s commitment to education is further underscored by her Master's in Education from the University of Texas.

Beyond the classroom, she is passionate about savoring delicious food, exploring new places, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With two young and energetic boys, Matteo and Sevastian, who keep her on her toes, Araceli’s tries her best to work on her wellbeing as much as she can.

Kelly Barrons ES Learning Support

Kelly spent about half of her career as an elementary classroom teacher and half as a support teacher. She is a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing and a reading specialist. Kelly and her husband Jeff have taught in Canada, Malawi, Lao, Slovakia and most recently in Shanghai, China. Their home is in Victoria, British Columbia. They have 3 adult children, 2 of whom are married.

Kelly’s goal is to do what she can to help level the playing field for students who learn differently. In addition, having spent many years as a classroom teacher, she understands the enormous job of an elementary classroom teacher and does her best to support the teachers she works with. Kelly loves to hike, walk and workout in the gym (and she regularly drags her husband to the gym with her ). Kelly also loves to bake and enjoys sharing her baking with her colleagues.

Sean Butler ES English Language Acquisition

Sean Butler will be joining the KAS family at the start of the 2022 school year and will be the 5th Grade ELL teacher. He received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2008 from the University of Memphis and a Masters of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language from Jones International University in 2011. He has taught in an elementary school setting for the past fourteen years in China, Mexico, and the U.S. He is very excited and ready to help students maximize their learning in English. In his personal time, he loves learning languages, cooking, riding bikes, playing badminton, and reading.

Margo Carnahan Elementary Learning Support

Margo originates from Central Oregon, where she loves the outdoors. With a decade of experience as an elementary teacher at KAS, and prior teaching experiences in Nigeria and Oregon, Margo brings both knowledge and enthusiasm to her role. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science, followed by service in the Peace Corps in Moldova, where her passion for teaching solidified. This led her to pursue a Masters of Art in Teaching, and she continues to enhance her skills by currently pursuing a Reading Specialist and Intervention Graduate program. Outside of work, you'll find Margo actively engaged in the community through hiking, exercise, socializing with friends, beach days, and indulging in puzzling.

Rebecca Caudill Grade 2 Homeroom

Rebecca Caudill, originally from sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, is our Grade 2 Homeroom teacher. In her 32nd year as an educator, Rebecca has filled a variety of teaching and leadership roles at schools in Florida, Vietnam, Ghana, and Thailand. These experiences have fostered her love of inquiry-based, experiential learning, and her joy for building relationships with kids.

Outside of school, you can find Rebecca on a hiking trail, in the kitchen making a vegan meal, or playing in her art journal.

Eileen Chang Grade 4 Teaching Assistant

Eileen joins KAS in 2022 as the teaching assistant for Grade 4. She graduated from University of Queensland, Australia with Master’s degree of Environmental management (major in Conservation Biology). She used to work in Academia Sinica and National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium as a researcher, also as a science educator. She is a national-certified environmental educator. She was honored as the awardee of “EE 30 Under 30 Award” from Northern American Association of Environmental Education, as one of the 30 young leaders around the world with age under 30.

Eileen has many artworks and articles published on newspapers and government publications. During the free time, she loves to play guitar, skateboard, swim and enjoys horseback riding. She and her husband have great passion on animals with keeping over 20 pets (mostly reptiles) in the house.

Emma Chen Grade 5 Teaching Assistant

Emma Chen joined KAS in 2015 as a teaching assistant in Grade 5. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education from Cheng Shiu University. She has a Level C technician certificate for babysitting and worked in a local kindergarten as a teaching assistant prior to coming to KAS. She lives with her family in Kaohsiung.

Judy Chen Grade 5 Teaching Assistant

Judy Chen is a Kaohsiung native and has been a teaching assistant at KAS for seven years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from FU-JEN Catholic University in Taiwan and a teaching credential from Moreland University, USA. She is passionate about Korean Culture and Language. She is a native Taiwanese and Mandarin speaker, fluent in English, and has a knowledge of Korean.
Ms. Chen believes in high expectations and love for all students. She spends time with her two sons, extended family, and friends. She loves gourmet food, camping, skateboarding, Karaoke, and Taichung Brothers’ baseball. She teaches grade 5 Non-native Mandarin and is currently a grade 5 TA.

Melody Chen Kindergarten Homeroom

Melody Chen became part of the KAS community in 2000. She has a BA and an MA in Early Childhood Education from California State University, Los Angeles, United States (2002). Melody is a certified Teacher in the state of California, maintains a “Child Development Site Supervisor Permit” credential from the state of California, and has credentials and teaching experience in Montessori schools in the United States. Ms. Melody has five years experience teaching Prekindergarten and kindergarten in Los Angeles and has been teaching kindergarten at KAS since 2000. She has been trained in and has experience teaching PYP, ELL Vocabulary Practice, Balanced Literacy and Writing Workshop. Melody is impassioned by early childhood education and has been very successful in developing early literacy in kindergarteners. She is committed to providing kindergarten students with a strong base for reading skills and getting children ready for Grade 1. Melody describes KAS as her second home and is proud to be a part of it!

Yu-Min Cheng ES Chinese

Yu-Min joined our KAS team as an ES Chinese teacher in 2015. Prior to that, she taught Chinese to students from diverse backgrounds in Taiwan, the United States, and Poland. She holds a degree in Elementary Education with minors in Special Education and English Education from NPU, as well as an MA in Teaching Chinese as a Second/Foreign Language from NKNU. She is certified in elementary school education and TCSFL by the Education Ministry of Taiwan, and holds a certificate of TCFL from Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU).

With over 15 years of experience teaching Chinese, Yu-Min is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator who incorporates technology and balanced literacy components (BLC) into her teaching. She also utilizes up-to-date and effective language teaching methodologies, including Teaching with Comprehensible Input (TCI), to facilitate language acquisition. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating a safe and engaging learning environment that promotes student motivation and caters to individual student needs.

In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Yu-Min actively engages in continuous professional development. She has completed various training programs and has presented and led workshops at several large-scale international school conferences.

In her free time, Yu-Min enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and watching movies. She currently resides in Kaohsiung with her family.

Zoe Chu ES Health & Physical Education

Zoe will start her new role as a part-time elementary school PE teacher in August 2022. She has been a Pre-Kindergarten teaching assistant for over 6 years at KAS and was a co-teacher for several years before that.

Zoe grew up in Kaohsiung and she graduated from Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages with a major in English. She worked and studied in Australia for two years to help improve her English and meet new friends. She returned in 2013.

During her spare time, she enjoys training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, going to the beach, traveling, and enjoying food and coffee with her friends.

Pinky Chung Kindergarten Teaching Assistant

Pinky Chung joined KAS in 2011 as a teaching assistant in Grade 4 and now currently works as a teaching assistant in kindergarten. Pinky graduated from Chinese Cultural University in Taipei. She also studied for a year in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. Ms. Chung loves children and is very patient with students. Pinky enjoys reading and music very much. She also loves to spend time with her family.

James Gerber ES Health & Physical Education/Assistant Athletic Director

James Gerber is our Elementary Physical Education Teacher for Kindergarten to Fifth Grade. He also coaches Middle School Basketball and High School basketball at KAS. James joined KAS in 2015. Before coming to KAS, he has worked in Honolulu, Hawaii USA as an Elementary PE teacher in the Department of Education of Schools in Hawaii, USA. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chaminade University (2012) and a Sports Coaching/Physical Education certification from the United States Sports Academy (2013). He is a certified lifeguard and CPR/First Aid from the Chinese Taipei Water Life Saving Federation and Certified Athletic Sports Trainer from the International Sports Science Association. Growing up he lived in Hong Kong, China; Seoul, Korea; Taipei, Taiwan; Manila, Philippines; Shanghai, China; and Honolulu, United States. He attended various American International schools in Asia. His hobbies are playing basketball, watching movies, traveling and spending time with family.

Hsin-Yi Hsu ES Music/Head of Department: ES Specials

Hsin Yi Hsu joined KAS in 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Tainan Teacher College, Taiwan, and her Master of Arts degree in Music Education with Kodaly Emphasis from Holy Name College in Oakland, California. She teaches elementary classroom music, elementary string orchestra, middle school music, and high school choir. Ms. Hsu is a certified MYP music teacher. Hsin Yi comes to us from another international school in Kaohsiung where she taught for 11 years. She is married and has two sons.

Naomi Huang Grade 2 Teaching Assistant

Naomi Huang joined KAS in 2015 as a teaching assistant in Grade 4. She earned her BA in Sports Medicine from Kaohsiung Medical University and worked as a trainer before joining KAS. In her role as an athletics trainer, Naomi has chaperoned ACAMIS soccer teams to Beijing. She is a certificated fitness trainer and has basic life support license. Naomi was born and raised in Kaohsiung where she lives with her family.

Jamie Hughes Grade 3 Homeroom

Jamie is joining KAS as an Upper Elementary Teacher. She was born and raised in Nashville, TN. After getting her Bachelors in Psychology, she worked as a social worker and then as a probation officer before finding her true passion: education. After obtaining her Masters in Education, she taught middle school for four years in Tennessee. She then moved to China and has been teaching fifth grade at an international school for the past five years.

Jamie loves to read and travel, though there hasn’t been the ability to travel much in the past two years. Jamie is excited to finally be able to reunite with her husband this summer back home before heading for a new opportunity and adventure in Taiwan!

Dorothy Hung Grade 1 Homeroom

Dorothy joined KAS in 1996 with extensive experience teaching in Grade 1. Working with first graders is very rewarding for her as she enjoys watching her students learn to read and write. Dorothy began her teaching career in Los Angeles as a Grade 3 public school teacher. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics and a Master of Education degree, both from the University of Southern California. Dorothy holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a BCLAD (bilingual, cross-cultural, language, and academic development) emphasis from the state of California. She is certified to teach elementary level students and ELL. Dorothy also has training and experience in PYP, Balanced Literacy, and Writing Workshop. Dorothy dedicates herself to creating a rich, nurturing learning environment, where she strives to develop confidence and enthusiasm for learning among her students. Dorothy is married with two adult sons who are both graduates of KAS. She is honored to be a part of the KAS family.

Chloé Johnson ES Counselor

Chloé Johnson was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been teaching for twelve years between Maine, Kentucky and Taiwan. She has been living in Taiwan with her husband and forever puppy for nine years.

Chloé has nine years of experience teaching ELL students from kindergarten up to tenth grade, and one year of Counseling experience too. She has her degree in Special Education, and is passionate in using what she has learned to provide individualized support to the students she teaches.

When out of the classroom, Chloé enjoys practicing Ashtanga Yoga, hiking, diving, snorkeling, and learning more about local history and culture. She has traveled to a number of countries in Asia in efforts to learn and experience more, including India, Malaysia, and Japan.

Grace Lee Grade 2 Teaching Assistant

Grace Lee joined the KAS Family in 2010. She earned her Bachelor Degree from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in Kaohsiung City. She was a teaching assistant for Grade 5 for three years and now she is working with Grade 2 students. She taught English in Kindergarten for two years in Kaohsiung and Pingtung City. She lives in Pingtung with her husband and an adorable daughter. She also enjoys Crossfit Class.

Dana Li Learning Support Teaching Assistant

Sunny Kim Grade 4 Homeroom

Sunny is an elementary teacher originally from South Korea who grew up in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area. Her educational background includes a Masters in Education in Language and Literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She's had the privilege of teaching Grades 2 and 4 in both Massachusetts and Maryland, where she developed a strong passion for socio-emotional learning and the importance of building meaningful connections with students.

Beyond the classroom, Sunny enjoys dancing, playing tennis/pickleball, crafting beaded jewelry, and exploring new culinary experiences.

Kali Knudson Elementary Literacy and Instructional Coach

Kali was a part of the KAS community for six years as a Grade 4 homeroom teacher before transitioning to the Elementary Literacy and Instructional Coach in 2024.

Originally from Oregon, Kali earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Family Science, with double majors in Human Services and Early Childhood Education from Oregon State University. She then pursued her Master of Arts in Teaching. With 14 years of teaching experience spanning from pre-K to 6th grade, along with holding various Teacher Leader and Head of Department positions, Kali has developed a deep passion for literacy instruction and collaborative teaching practices. She is particularly enthusiastic about fostering a love for reading and writing in her students. Kali has received training in Reading and Writing Workshop and the Science of Reading. Currently enrolled in a Reading Specialist and Interventionist Graduate program, she is also honing her coaching skills as part of a coaching cohort dedicated to enhancing research-based literacy knowledge and coaching philosophies.

Outside of school, Kali enjoys exploring Kaohsiung with her husband, Jitesh, who is a Middle School science teacher at KAS, and their two young children. They love biking around the city, discovering new playgrounds, hiking, and spending time outdoors as a family. Kali's personal interests include reading, traveling, and hiking, especially when shared with her loved ones.

Angela Kuo Grade 5 Homeroom & Grade 5 Head of Department

Angela joined KAS in 2020, and started teaching fifth-grade the following year. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego, where she majored in Visual Arts and minored in Education Studies. She continued to obtain her teaching certificate in multiple subjects as well as a Master’s in Education from the University of California, San Diego. After teaching in the United States, Angela and her family decided to settle in Taiwan. She is looking forward to continuing her learning and teaching at KAS, while enjoying the endless adventures and yummy food that Taiwan has to offer. Some of her favorite things to do include water sports, making arts & crafts, and just spending time with loved ones.

Stephanie Kuo Grade 3 Teaching Assistant/Teaching Assistants Teacher Leader

Stephanie is excited to join the KAS community in 2022. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language, Literature and Linguistics. She is certified by the ministry of Education of Taiwan as a middle school and secondary school teacher of English. Before joining KAS, she was teaching in Taichung for seven years as an ESL teacher. She also has had leadership experience as head of the grade level team.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys traveling, scuba diving, yoga, the beach and exploring new places. She is looking forward to the new adventures ahead!

Thaimma Lariosa PreKindergarten Homeroom

Thaimma, a Filipino-Australian, moved from Australia to Kaohsiung in 2024. She started her teaching career overseas and had the opportunity to work in international and IB schools in Medan and Jakarta, Indonesia, as well as in Suzhou, China. After spending 11 years abroad, Thaimma decided to explore other teaching roles in Australia, focusing on Early Years pedagogy and inclusive education. Over the past decade, she taught in both Early Years and Elementary schools in Queensland and her state, New South Wales.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Thaimma is thrilled to celebrate her journey as an educator with the Dragon team in Kaohsiung. Teaching young children has always been her passion, and she is excited to continue this journey with KAS.

When she's not at work, Thaimma enjoys gardening, going on nature walks, photographing landscapes and birds, trying different cuisines, and most of all, enjoying bubble tea, which is her favorite drink!

Ophelia Li Grade 5 Teaching Assistant

Amber Lin Kindergarten Teaching Assistant

Amber Lin joined KAS in 2016. She graduated from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. She was a Grade 3 teaching assistant for one and a half months and is now a teaching assistant in Kindergarten. Amber has previous experience working as an athletic complex assistant. Amber loves cooking, baking, and spending time with her family.

Charlene Lin ES English Language Acquisition

Charlene loves working with children of all ages. Her excitement for learning is palpable in every classroom that she enters. Students also love learning with her. As an Elementary ELL teacher, Charlene will share her experience and help children of all ages and backgrounds be successful and reach their goals.

Charlene holds a Masters in Special Education from Moreland University and is certified as a K-12 Special Education teacher in the US. She also carries certifications in TESOL and TCAFL, which helps her meet the diverse needs of her students. Previously, Charlene taught Kindergarten and worked in classrooms at I-Shou International School. Most recently she has been an integral part of the literacy support program at KAS. Her dedication to student success is evident in her daily interactions.

When she’s not creating engaging lessons for her students, Charlene is a busy mom of four and treasures the time she spends together with her family. As an avid reader and eager jetsetter, her activities provide a rich tapestry that she weaves into her classroom.

Estelle Lin Grade 3 Teaching Assistant

Estelle Lin, an experienced Mandarin teacher, is passionate about teaching the language and culture to students of all levels. With four years of IBDP Mandarin/Chinese teaching experience, she has helped diverse students achieve fluency in Mandarin and develop a deep appreciation for Chinese culture.

Born and raised in Kaohsiung, Estelle's early fascination with language and culture led her to earn a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Soochaw University. Seeking a diverse experience, she embarked on a gap year in Lyon, immersing herself in a distinctive culture and language environment.

Living and studying abroad inspired Estelle to share Taiwanese culture and language with others. After earning a master's in Language Teaching and a credential teaching license from the National Kaohsiung Normal University, she continued teaching Mandarin to local and international students.

Previously teaching at Wells International School in Bangkok, Thailand, Estelle actively engages in the school community, organizing cultural events and workshops. During her work abroad, Estelle got her second master's in international teaching from Framingham State University, also with IBDP teaching qualifications.

Estelle enjoys joining professional gatherings or workshops, reading fun facts, and exploring new tech news or gadgets that could be applied at work; she also likes photography around the city in her leisure time.

Estelle has also recently joined KAS's big family, where she works as a grade 3 teaching assistant.

Joyce Lin ES Chinese

Joyce Lin is from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and joined the KAS staff as a Chinese Teacher from in 2012. Joyce earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan. and is certified by the Ministry of Education of Taiwan. Joyce received IB training and certification related to Inquiry-based teaching and assessments. Before coming to KAS, she taught as an MYP teacher for ten years and was the head of the Chinese Department at a Bilingual IB school. She has more than 14 years of teaching experience. Joyce loves traveling, reading, watching movies, and being with family. She lives with her family in Kaohsiung and appreciates their continuous support.

Ellen Liu ES Chinese Teaching Assistant

Ellen joined KAS in 2014. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from NPUST (National Pingtung University Science of Technology). During her first two years at KAS, she was the Pre-Kindergarten teaching assistant. Later, she spent several years in G4, a year in the Library, and is now working in ES Chinese. Ellen is married and has a young daughter.

Leah McGinnis Grade 5 Homeroom

Leah McGinnis teaches fifth grade at Kaohsiung American School. She grew up as a multilingual third culture kid in Nigeria and Costa Rica. Leah graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2009 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Spanish and Elementary Education. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach English in Ortega y Gasset school in Madrid, Spain. She then spent three years teaching in Denver, Colorado, followed by two years in Cartagena, Colombia before coming to KAS in 2015. Leah is a strong advocate for continuing education and has extensive post-graduate work in teaching English language. She is currently working on her master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Leah’s family is also multinational with her brother living in the United States and her parents in Portugal. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places, cooking, and being with her family.

Hannah McIntosh Director of Student Support Services

Originally from the southern United States, Hannah completed her BS in Psychology and MA in Counseling before moving to Taiwan.

In her previous role as School Counselor in Taipei, she implemented and coordinated the Learning Support program for exceptional students. She brings with her 10 years of experience working with children, including former positions as Refugee Program Specialist and Tutor for students with intensive academic, social/emotional, and language needs. Throughout her career, she has worked with students with the most intensive behavioral and academic challenges. She is licensed as an Associate Professional Counselor, School Counselor, and Special Education teacher, all in the United States. Her classroom teaching experience includes AP Psychology, Introductory Psychology, and Life Skills. She is passionate about advocacy, inclusivity, and creating spaces that support all students in accessible education.

A fitness enthusiast, she spends her free time doing CrossFit with her Taiwanese husband. Additionally, she enjoys cooking, traveling, cultural experiences, as well as professional and academic pursuits.

Deanna McNeil Grade 5 Homeroom

Deanna is enthusiastic to be joining KAS as a Dragon for the school year 2022–23. Coming directly from Virginia in the US where she earned her B.S. in Health Sciences and her teaching certification, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue her journey in education in Kaohsiung.

Deanna has 17 years of teaching experience in upper elementary grades, promoting STEAM integration as well as environmental awareness.

She is looking forward to traveling the region and experiencing the local culture through its food and art and architecture.

Omar Sanchez Elementary Art

As a Mexican artist, Omar officially began his artistic journey in 2012, during the auspicious Year of the Dragon, when he was honored as one of the finalists in the ARTE 40 competition. This recognition led to one of his paintings being showcased at the reopening of the Mexico City Library. Since then, Omar’s artwork has been featured in various exhibitions across Mexico, Spain, and the UAE, where he also completed an artist residency in Hatta, Dubai, in 2021.

Omar joined KAS in 2024, his 12th year as an educator. He has previously taught in Mexico and UAE. His teaching experience encompasses both Middle and Elementary schools, covering subjects such as Technology, Design, and Art. He has been involved with IB schools since 2013.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Omar finds joy in running and is delighted to be part of the Dragon community, seeking to make meaningful contributions wherever I can.

Vivi Sun Grade 1 Teaching Assistant

Vivi joined the KAS family in 2019 as a teaching assistant in Grade 1. She earned her MA in IMBA from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. She went to Germany as an exchange student when she was studying in graduate school. She worked in cram schools as a teacher for six years, and also worked in an e-commerce company for two years prior to KAS. She loves to travel, exercise, and climb the mountains in her free time with her family and friends. Vivi was married in 2018 and lives with her husband in Kaohsiung.

Angel Taylor Kindergarten Homeroom

Angel Taylor was born and raised in Alabama and later moved to Arizona and California as a teenager. She is the oldest of eight children. She and her husband Jeff, also a teacher, have three children and recently are grandparents to an almost one year old. Angel has taught for over 20 years.

She began her career with infants and nursery school while obtaining her teaching credential. She has taught up to grade 4 and is passionate about literacy and teaching children to read while learning through structured word inquiry. Angel has taught abroad for 11 years in Jordan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and currently in Egypt.

When not in the classroom, Angel enjoys hiking, swimming, cooking, reading, or joining a triathlon relay team with her husband, Jeff. Angel and Jeff are excited to be part of the KAS community.

Jeff Taylor Grade 3 Homeroom

Jeff Taylor is from California and Arizona in the States but enjoys stays in Hawai’i whenever possible to spend time with his and Angel’s (KG) oldest daughter and their almost year old granddaughter. Jeff also has two sons living in Arizona and California just across the Colorado River from each other. He is in the midst of his 25th year of teaching and believes passionately that each and every child is important, special, and deserving of the right to learn. Along with teaching in California and Arizona, Jeff has taught internationally in Jordan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and currently in Egypt.

When out of the classroom Jeff enjoys traveling with Angel, eating delicious food, reading, and maintaining an active lifestyle. Just this past October, Jeff recently completed his first full Ironman triathlon in Barcelona, Spain.

Debbie Tsai Pre-K Teaching Assistant

Jenny Tsai ES Chinese

Jenny Tsai joined KAS in 2016 as a Chinese language teacher. She is from Kaohsiung, one of a family of seven. She earned her Master of Arts degree from Kaohsiung Normal University in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, and her Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Literature, Certification for Teaching Education program of Elementary school. Jenny has her certification in Elementary Education, Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. Before coming to KAS, Jenny taught two years in Taipei FuHsing(復興) private school (Bilingual Department), six years at the NSYSU Chinese language center, and four years at JingXin(靜心) private school as a homeroom teacher. During off-work hours, she likes gardening, reading, and play the guitar.

Katy Tseng ES Chinese

Katy Tseng is from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and joined KAS as a Grade 1 teaching assistant in 2022. She earned both her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Education in Taiwan. Before coming to KAS, she taught as a PYP teacher for 10 years at a bilingual school. Katy loves yoga, traveling, and being with her family. She lives in Kaohsiung with her husband and two children.

Samantha Tuan Grade 2 Homeroom

Prior to joining KAS, Samantha served in a variety of teaching and leadership roles in the Bellevue School District located in Washington State. She is a proud multilingual educator who understands the linguistic development of her students and applies research-based strategies to support language growth through vivid content instructions. As an advocate for student well-being, her primary focus is to foster a safe and welcoming environment where everyone can feel heard and seen.

Samantha was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and moved to the U.S. after graduating from college. After living and working abroad for over 16 years, she decided to relocate back to her home country to be closer to her family. Outside of her professional role, Samantha enjoys traveling to new places, watching movies, observing wildlife, practicing yoga, and meditating.

Alexander Washko Grade 1 Homeroom

Originally from Atlanta, Alexander lived in Korea, Macau, Mexico, and Briazil and worked in international schools for 15 years before returning to the United States to gain some local experience in public schools and plan his next chapter. He joined the KAS community in 2024.

Alex is an elementary teacher with a passion for teaching literacy; he received his Master’s in Elementary Education with a focus on emergent literacy in 2016 and continues his studies to this day. Having spent nearly 11 years in First Grade, Alex is excited to return to his roots and get involved in KAS’s elementary literacy program in a trailblazing way, ensuring student success.

When not in the classroom, Alex is a musician and writer who finds himself happiest walking around a crowded city searching for a good meal and trying out new languages.

Christine Wang Grade 1 Teaching Assistant

Erin Wang MS 1:1 Paraprofessional

Charlotte Wu Grade 4 Teaching Assistant

Denise Wu ES Secretary/Attendance Officer

Denise came to KAS in 2006. She graduated from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, majoring in English, in 2003. In 2015 she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, majoring in Tourism Management. Denise finished her secretary’s training and received her certification from the Chinese Personal Executive Association in 2015. Ms. Wu was a teacher assistant for her first three years at KAS, and then joined the office staff where she remains today.

Joyce Yang Pre-K Teaching Assistant

Maggie Yen ES Chinese

Maggie joined KAS in 2015 as a teaching assistant. She holds her Master of Education from Ashland University, Ohio, and also a teaching credential for teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Prior to coming to KAS, Maggie had worked as an English teacher in local kindergartens for years. She loves to travel and hang out with family and friends. Also, loves music and movies as well.

Ruby Young PreKindergarten Homeroom

Ruby is originally from Melbourne, Florida where she developed a fascination for all things ocean related. When first starting out in international teaching, she stayed relatively close to home in Colombia and Ecuador. Then she made the big move over to Cambodia where she taught for six years before moving to Taiwan.

One of Ruby's main passions within teaching is to guide our youngest learners in prekindergarten and kindergarten as they discover the world and themselves. Helping students describe their awe and wonder of the world is what drives her to repeat Kindergarten over and over again.

Ruby lives in Taiwan with her partner Gretchen and their two aspiring adventure cats, Milo and Teeny. When she is not teaching she likes to practice yoga, snorkel, learn about insects and take long, slow walks with the cats… and Gretchen too.

Chelsea Armstrong Principal, Middle School

Chelsea Armstrong, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is excited to join KAS as the new Middle School Principal. Chelsea is coming to Kaohsiung from Cairo, Egypt, and has also taught and led schools in Vietnam, the Marshall Islands, and Chicago. These experiences have fostered her love for student-led experiential learning, school improvement through accreditation, and restorative justice practices.
Chelsea has a BA in Education from the University of New Mexico, an MA in Educational Leadership from Concordia University, Chicago, and is an Illinois-certified Learning Behavior Specialist.

Outside of school, Chelsea enjoys reading, painting, swimming, and cooking for her family while listening to true crime podcasts.

Jessica Acholonu MYP/DP Language & Literature/Head of Department: MYP Language & Literature

Originally from New Jersey, Jessica is joining the KAS MYP & DP Language & Literature team. She holds a BA in English from Temple University and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Rowan University.

She has taught in The United States, Myanmar, and Guatemala, and is excited to begin this next adventure in Taiwan alongside the KAS community.

Jessica describes herself as a lifelong learner and deeply passionate about literature, critical thinking, and creating space to include diverse voices and experiences. When she’s not teaching; she loves discovering new restaurants, reading, hiking, baking/cooking, and learning to dance salsa.

Emma Ahmed Secondary Instructional Coach

Emma is originally from the UK and has loved teaching and learning in international schools for over sixteen years including Colombia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. She has a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Technology, Education and Learning, as well as certificates in Coaching and Advanced Cognitive Coaching. She is currently working on a second MA, in International Education and Development.

Emma has learnt, grown and modelled as a coach alongside early years to high school students, administrators, teachers and support staff in American and IB programs. She has a passion for supporting students to be empathetic and self-directed.​ In her spare time, she loves creating henna designs, cooking, reading novels and exploring with her husband Shan and children Zaine, Nadeem and Amiya.

Jeff Barrons MYP Science

Jeff has taught in Canada, Malawi, Lao, Slovakia and most recently in Shanghai, China. He has taught a variety of subjects in both high school and middle school but most of his experience is in middle school science. Jeff’s goal is to make science fun for all his students while at the same time challenging their thinking, questioning and creativity skills.

When not in class, Jeff is an amateur photographer and is often found out walking/hiking in the city or surrounding countryside with his wife, Kelly, looking for interesting people, places, and things to take photos of. He is also a voracious reader and is always interested in hearing about new titles and authors. Their 3 adult children did most of their schooling overseas and love to travel. Jeff and Kelly are from British Columbia and have recently moved to Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Rosa Carbajal MYP Mathematics

Rosa, a native of Los Angeles, California, brings over 20 years of teaching experience to the classroom. Having spent 15 of those years abroad, she has enriched the lives of students in England, Latvia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Spain, Singapore, Ecuador, and soon Taiwan. She is thrilled to share her passion and curiosity for math with the Dragon community!

When not in the classroom, you’ll find Rosa exploring the great outdoors through running, hiking, and cycling. She relishes seeking new challenges and experiences.

Monica Cho MYP Language & Literature

Ms. Cho will teach grade 6 and 7 language and literature this year. She was born and raised in Korea and attended an international school from middle to high school. She spent a few years abroad in Canada which exposed her to the world outside of her home country. Ms. Cho obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Secondary Education from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, then worked as an RA and MYP Humanities and ELL teacher in Korea. ?? Ms. Cho loves learning and developing new skills. This year, she has started learning to play the guitar and speak and read Chinese! In her free time, she loves watching Formula 1 and going to watch musicals. She’s looking forward to her new adventure in Taiwan!

YJ Choi MYP Design

Originally from Korea, YoungJin has led an international life since 2001, starting with 10 years in Taiwan and 4 years in Chicago as a student. She will join the KAS community in 2022, teaching design and technology integration in the MYP. YoungJin has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. YoungJin taught elementary school art in Indianapolis USA for one year, and in Macau for three years. She has taught grade 6–12 art in Vietnam for the last three years.

YoungJin loves taking photos, traveling, swimming, painting, playing board games, and trying new things. She will be returning to Taiwan with her husband John Rios who is in the IT field.

Paloma Corella MYP/DP Spanish/Head of Department: World Languages

Originally from Valencia, Spain, Paloma has been living and teaching overseas for the last nine years. During her 12 years as an educator, her experiences have led her across Spain, Nepal, India, Singapore, and UAE, teaching the IB MYP and DP curriculum and serving as an IB DP Examiner. Fostering her love of lifelong learning, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Philology and a master’s degree in Teaching Spanish from the University of Valencia, and another master’s degree in Teaching Spanish from the University of Alcalá. She will be joining KAS with her husband, Miguel, and her 4-year-old daughter, Chloe.

Kyle Cripe MYP Health & Physical Education

Kyle Cripe is a K-12 certified Physical Educator. He spent 5 years teaching in Korea, and the last 2 years teaching in Bulgaria. Kyle was born and raised in West Papua, Indonesia. His parents work at an International school there. Kyle earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education K-12 from Palm Beach Atlantic University. He went to teach in Korea after graduating from University. He has taught Physical Education and health in the elementary, middle, and high school levels. His goal for Physical Education is to provide students a safe environment where they can engage in as many different types of sports and activities as possible in hopes of finding something they enjoy and will engage in for life. He values the development of teamwork, social interaction, and communication skills as these are things that can transfer to all areas of education and life. In his free time Kyle enjoys playing sports, hiking, and traveling.

Gulian Fang MYP and HS Chinese Language Acquisition

Gulian is excited to continue being a member of the KAS community in her new role as MYP and HS Chinese Language Acquisition teacher. She joined the KAS family in 2019 as a 4th grade TA and served as a TA leader in 2022.

Prior to KAS, Gulian had various experiences in teaching Mandarin. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and worked as the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at Western Kentucky University in 2018. Gulian also has experience working as a Mandarin teacher in both the Critical Language Scholarship program and the Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters degree in the field of Teaching Chinese as a Second/Foreign Language at National Kaohsiung Normal University and continuing her professional development through the IB program.

Gulian has a great enthusiasm for education, as demonstrated through her various roles in teaching English and Chinese as a Second Language through the years.

Celine Fournier MYP Art/Head of Department: Arts

Celine Fournier joined the KAS community in 2021 as an IB MYP Art and Design Teacher. She has a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a focus on painting and animation. She completed her MPhil in Arts, Creativity, and Education at the University of Cambridge with Distinction and received a “Best Dissertation Award”. She is also certified in TESOL and trained in both MYP visual arts and design. Passionate about art and education, she worked as an Education Assistant at the Chicago Artists Coalition where she participated in curriculum planning and management for emerging artists. She was the Visual Design Coordinator of the 2019 Kaohsiung International Piano Festival. Celine is also a visual artist who paints fragments of her everyday life and constructs them into irregular-shaped self-portraits. Her works were recently exhibited at the Auction Center Taipei. In her leisure time, Celine enjoys hiking, working on ceramics, as well as visiting art museums and galleries. As a KAS alumna, she is thrilled to be back!

Todd Fu MYP Japanese

Todd is a lively and dynamic teacher who loves exploring different cultures, histories, and cuisines. He enjoys traveling and experiencing new things independently. Currently, he is serving as an MYP Chinese and Japanese teacher, committed to creating an engaging and interactive learning environment. He uses games and situational teaching to set clear learning objectives and provide guidance, ensuring students find their learning experience meaningful and enjoyable.

Todd holds an A.A. degree in Japanese from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages and has obtained the JLPT N1 certification. Additionally, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Applied Chinese from the same institution. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree at National Kaohsiung Normal University, where he is also studying the IB curriculum.

Todd's teaching journey began during his university years, when he tutored students in both Chinese and Japanese. In 2022, he started as a Chinese intern teacher at KAS, and in 2023, he transitioned to teaching Japanese. By 2024, he expanded his role to include teaching Chinese as well. These diverse teaching experiences have equipped him with the ability to effectively inspire and support his students' learning enthusiasm.

Chikako Fukuyo MYP/DP Japanese

Chikako joined KAS in 2003. She graduated from Australian Catholic University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Teaching degree. Chikako then became a certified Japanese Language Teacher by completing training from New Global Language Training Center in Tokyo. She teaches Middle and High School Japanese. Chikako has been trained in the MYP and in both IBDP Japanese B and Ab-Initio. Chikako has a husband and two children, and enjoys cooking and traveling with them.

Diana Garcia MYP Individuals & Societies/Head of Department: MYP Individuals & Societies

Diana is originally from Colombia, holds a B.A in Modern Languages and a Masters in Leadership and Management in Education.

She has experience teaching History and Geography in the IB, IMYC, and Cambridge-based curricula and is also an MYP examiner.

She began teaching in international schools in Colombia, then moved to teach in Gabon, Central Africa, and later moved to Asia to teach in Vietnam. Besides teaching, Diana has also been a Model UN advisor. Diana is passionate about music and cultures, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Harold Hernández MYP/DP Spanish

Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Harold Hernández C will join KAS in 2022, teaching MYP/DP Spanish B. He holds a BA from La Salle University in Teaching English, Spanish, and French, and a MA from the European Atlantic University (Spain) in Applied Linguistics with an emphasis on teaching Spanish as a second language. Furthermore, he has studied drama, which has benefited his teaching career as he can incorporate new language techniques into his classes. Harold is an experienced IB Teacher. Harold has taught in PYP as a Primary Homeroom Teacher and MYP and DP as a Spanish B Teacher. In addition to being an IBO workshop leader (MYP Language Acquisition) and examiner (MYP Personal Project and Spanish Language and Literature), he is also a TEFL-certified teacher.

Running marathons, reading, traveling, and spending time outside with his family are a few of Harold’s favorite things. Harold, his wife Angélica, and their little daughter Guadalupe look forward to having an unforgettable and happy time in Kaohsiung.

Dr. Cheng-Wei Hsieh MYP Music/MYP Service Learning Coordinator

Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the versatile musician Cheng-Wei Hsieh is passionate about teaching and coaching chamber music having previously served as a Teacher Assistant for the string area at the University of Houston Moores School of Music from 2016-19. During the assistantship, he taught violin private lessons, group technique class, and chamber music at undergraduate level. From 2021, Hsieh taught as a string instructor at the Bob Hope School and Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan Middle School. He was in charge of group violin lessons, music theory classes, and music appreciation classes. Besides school teaching, Hsieh maintained a private studio in the Houston metropolitan area, working with students of all ages and levels. Since 2017, Hsieh has been invited to teach and perform as a violin faculty in the Encuentro Anual de Cuerdas, a pedagogical outreach program based in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Hsieh holds his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, and Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan.

Nancy Huang Middle School Secretary

Nancy Huang is the middle school secretary and works at the KAS reception desk. Nancy joined KAS in 2013. Before she transitioned to the main office, she worked as a library assistant, then as prekindergarten and Grade 5 assistant. Nancy graduated from Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages where she majored in English. Nancy enjoys working with students and parents, helping answer their questions, translating, chaperoning trips, or supporting our teachers. In her free time, Nancy enjoys eating out with friends and family.

Pierre Ice MYP Mathematics

Pierre is originally from New Mexico but attended university in Texas. He has a large extended family with six siblings and seven nieces and nephews. Over the past nine years, Pierre has taught various middle school subjects, including math, science, and design, with experience teaching in China and Texas. As a teacher, he strives to maintain a positive classroom climate where students feel comfortable expressing themselves, and he delivers engaging lessons that promote independent thought and problem-solving skills.

In his free time, Pierre enjoys traveling the world, trying new foods, and playing chess, xiangqi, and other board games. He is also learning salsa dance, and has recently tried scuba diving for the first time.

Gloria Kao MYP Chinese

Gloria Kao has taught at KAS since 1990. She currently teaches High School Chinese. Gloria holds a teaching degree from the ‘Department of Chinese Language and Culture for International Students’ at National Taiwan Normal University. Gloria has been trained in DP Literature, MYP Language & Literature, and CAS. Gloria previously served as the DP CAS Coordinator for 4 years. Gloria has a strong passion for community outreach and community service and enjoys sharing this with students in her role as High School Community Service Coordinator. In addition, Gloria leads the KAS Community Service Club, Orphanage Club, Red Cross Club, Zonta clubs, Charity Art Club, Food Bank Donation, and Shou-Shan ES Teaching Club. Outside of school, Gloria enjoys listening to classical music and operas, as well as visiting museums.

Kolas MYP Coordinator/MYP Language & Literature

I am a proud Taiwanese indigenous Amis-American international educator. I grew up in the United States and attended private and public schools in the Northeast. My family are Taiwanese scholars and academics. My range of experiences in the Education sector as a professional multi-certified teacher, seminar instructor, and instructional coach empower me to serve and advise KAS families. In 2011, I was selected to Cohort 8 of the Boston Teacher Residency, a Harvard Kennedy School of Government award-winning clinical teacher preparation program modeled on medical school residency. In addition to being MYP Coordinator at KAS, I am a competitive triathlete in Taiwan, and I believe in the power of storytelling as the primary vehicle for teaching, exploring community and identity. When I’m not in schools, you can find me cycling in Taiwan’s mountains, running along rivers, reading, and spending quality time with my wife and family in Boston, Massachusetts.

Amber Lanning MYP Theatre

Amber is an experienced actress and teacher with a Masters degree in Theatre, who has had the amazing opportunity to live and work around the world. After growing up in Texas, she has moved to New York, Florida, Oman, Qatar, The Netherlands, Germany and now Taiwan. She is excited to join the team at KAS as the MYP Drama Teacher. Amber has previously taught middle school, high school and university level courses, and has provided private lessons to students of all ages. She brings a wealth of experience in theatre performance and education. Her ultimate goal is to create a safe classroom where creativity and confidence take center stage, so her students can shine.

Amber is in Taiwan with her husband, two sons (KAS students) and two dogs. She enjoys making the perfect chocolate chip cookies, movie nights, tacos, Dr. Pepper and traveling.

Irene Lee MYP/DP Chinese

Irene Lee joined KAS as a high school Chinese teacher in 2018. She holds an M.Ed degree from National Kaohsiung Normal University. She has been trained in DP Literature, Language & Literature, and MYP Language & Literature courses. She has a strong passion for all classical and contemporary literature, and also enjoys sharing this with students in her role. Before coming to KAS, she taught as a DP/MYP teacher since 2006. She also has two lovely children; an older girl and a younger boy. She loves to travel, reading, watch movies, and be with her family.

John Lin MYP Chinese

John became part of the KAS community in 2015. He is an MYP/DP Language & Literature trained and experienced teacher. John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at National Changhua University of Education and has his certificate from the Education Ministry of Taiwan. Mr. Lin has eight years of experience as an international school teacher and now he is teaching middle school Chinese. When not in school, John likes to watch different kinds of movies and dramas. That gives him lots of inspiration for teaching.

Elizabeth Marvel MYP Individuals & Societies

Elizabeth (she/her) joined the KAS community in 2022 as a middle school humanities teacher. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Elizabeth spent time in Osaka, Japan, and Oxford, England while growing up. Elizabeth graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Middle Eastern and Asian history. She went on to earn a M.A. in Ottoman History from Ohio State. Elizabeth has taught history, cultural studies, and English as an Additional Language in the United States, Turkey, and China. She has also held roles in independent school and higher education admissions.

A forever student of history, Elizabeth enjoys reading and learning languages. She is looking forward to exploring Taiwan with her partner, Noah Dvorak, who will be a college counselor.

Cindy Matheson Middle School Learning Support

Cindy is a Canadian certified teacher originally from Toronto, Ontario, with a diverse teaching background. Her teaching practice began in Mexico, spending three years internationally before returning to Toronto to deepen her teaching practices in both Elementary and Middle School grades. Middle school education has been where I have spent the majority of my 25-year career. Whether teaching a contained gifted class spanning grades 6 to 8 or serving as a generalist teacher in grades 7 and 8, I thrive in the environment of middle school.

Beyond the classroom, Cindy is an active individual who enjoys spending time in nature and she’s always up for a new adventure.

Avi Megiddo MYP Design/Community Project Coordinator

Avi is joining the KAS community in 2022, teaching design and technology integration in the MYP. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science from U.C. Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Education from Purdue University, where he majored in Curriculum & Instruction with a concentration in Learning Design and Technology. Avi has taught SAT preparation and Secondary Mathematics in the United States, ESL in South Korea, and MYP Design and DP Computer Science in Taiwan. Avi is passionate about inspiring students to develop a growth mindset and reach their full potential. In his free time, Avi enjoys cycling, hiking, cooking, brainteasers, and keeping up with current events.

Clint Munkholm MYP Math

Clint Munkholm
MYP Math
Clint hails originally from Alberta, Canada, but has lived in Taiwan for over 20 years. While he graduated with a B.Sc. in Ecology, his career has included a broad array of experience, including Environmental Education, Ecological Design, Electrical Engineering, and the design of green buildings. He has over 10 years of teaching in both public and private schools, community colleges, and via his own hands-on maker workshop, working with children to develop the skills needed to design and build their own creations. He is passionate about helping students practically apply their learning.
Clint, a “Tainan son-in-law”, has been part of the KAS family for 10 years, with two sons who are KAS alumni, and a daughter in middle school. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, fermenting, rooftop gardening, community composting, and aquaponics.

Vincent Pan MYP Health & Physical Education/Head of Department: Physical & Health Education

Vincent will be joining KAS at the start of the school year as an MYP PE teacher. He came to KAS in 2018 as a Teacher Assistant and Lifeguard. He was also the Head Coach of the Girl’s Junior Varsity and Varsity teams from 2019–2021. He graduated from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in 2014. During college, he was a rollerblade and volleyball athlete. Vincent is a certified lifeguard, lifesaving, and swimming coach. He recently completed his Teacher Preparation Certificate Program in June 2021 at Moreland University.

Vincent loves surfing and all kinds of sports. He is currently teaching HS PE at KAS and is extremely excited to take on his new role as the MYP PE Teacher.

Jitesh Pattni MYP Science

Jitesh teaches MYP Science. He brings with him 11 years of experience as a fisheries biologist on the Oregon coast where he led the research of salmonid population dynamics and harvest rates to ensure a sustainable future for the species. He received his BA in Environmental Studies and Economics from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and is currently working towards completing his Master’s in Education. When Jitesh isn’t on campus, he helps organize the Kaohsiung Ultimate League and can often be found on the ultimate frisbee field. You’ll frequently spot him in his wife Kali’s 4th-grade classroom, playing with his amazing daughter, Ilia, in Aozihdi Park, or crooning to his baby boy, Grey.

Pon Peng MS Teaching Assistant

Pon Peng
Teaching Assistant
Pon Peng joined the KAS family in 2012. She was born and raised in Kaohsiung and loves this city very much. She earned her BA in Applied Foreign Languages from SUE-TE University in Kaohsiung City. Pon worked as a teaching assistant for several years in Grades 3 and 4; she is now working in Grade 2. Pon combined work and travel by working in the United States during the summers she was studying in university. She worked in Colorado for two months in a peach factory; in Ohio for three months at Cedar Point Amusement Park; and at Los Angeles International Airport for one year as a ground service agent for EVA Air. Pon then went to Canada and worked for two years in Vancouver. She really enjoys working with children at KAS and thinks of KAS as her second family.

Amos Ruffer MS English Language Acquisition/Head of Department: English Language Acquisition

Amos Ruffer joined KAS in 2022 as the EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher in MS. He graduated from Ohio State and initially taught 5 years of Elementary PE. After gaining Learning Support certification, he taught for 4 years in the Denver area and was most recently at the American International School of Dhaka for 4 years with his partner, Jean Tsai, and 3-year old daughter Emory.
Amos loves being active, eating spicy foods, and will be ready to explore all parts of Taiwan!

Winnie Shen MS Counselor/Head of Counseling Department

I stepped into the Psychology and counseling field in 2002 and hold a M.ED and an Ed.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling from the Counselor Education, University of Florida. With more than 15 years of clinical experience in working with children, adolescents, and adults at various settings including a school, a hospital, and a college counseling center, I am very enthusiastic about interacting with students as well as helping and supporting them when they are in need. I was a National Certified Counselor in the US from 2011 to 2017 and am currently a certified Counseling Psychologist in Taiwan. I was born and raised in Kaohsiung and grew up in a lovely family that enjoys travel. When I visit or live in other cities or countries, I embrace diversity and cherish every moment that I get to learn from other cultures. I am honored to be a counselor at KAS and excited to work in this great and diverse community in my hometown.

Audrey Sifunganyambe MS Teaching Assistant

Audrey Sifunganyambe, a proud Zambian national, is currently in her second year at KAS. She spent her adult life in Germany, Norway and Dubai where she gained an appreciation of diverse cultures. Ms. Audrey prides herself for being an extremely energetic, enthusiastic and self-motivated individual. She has a background in sales and marketing and holds education qualifications in travel and tourism.

Ms. Audrey is enjoying her time at KAS as a 1:1 Paraprofessional where she is able to contribute to bettering the lives of students. She is also very actively involved in girls’ soccer at the school, where she is currently the Middle and High school soccer coach. Her interests include soccer (which she played professionally in her younger days), cooking, traveling, working with children, music and current affairs.

Wendy Weng MS English Language Acquisition

Wendy joined KAS in July, 2004 as an elementary ELL teacher. She graduated from Fu-Jen Catholic University with a BA in English Literature and earned her MA in Education from the University of Texas. She has certification in English and ELL teaching from Montana State University and has training and experience in MYP. Wendy currently teaches middle and high school ELL. She loves working with ELL students; she is always amazed at how much progress students can make and feels proud of them. When not working, Wendy enjoys spending time with her husband and son.

Kimberly Clark Sifunganyambe Principal, High School

Kimberly Clark, an educational leader and San Francisco native, has been serving as the High School Principal since 2021. She holds an Ed.S. from Mercer University, an Ed.M. from Harvard University, and a B.A. from Spelman College. Her professional experience includes time spent as a Deputy Principal in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a Vice Principal and Instructional Coach in Houston, USA, and an AP World History Teacher and Department Chair in Atlanta, USA.

Ms. Clark hopes to continue impacting the lives of students through her dedication and commitment to the words of Marian Wright Edelman – “education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”

Outside of work, Ms. Clark and her partner Audrey both enjoy traveling the world, experiencing new cultures, relaxing on the beach, and desert dune bashing.

Jessica Acholonu MYP/DP Language & Literature/Head of Department: MYP Language & Literature

Originally from New Jersey, Jessica is joining the KAS MYP & DP Language & Literature team. She holds a BA in English from Temple University and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Rowan University.

She has taught in The United States, Myanmar, and Guatemala, and is excited to begin this next adventure in Taiwan alongside the KAS community.

Jessica describes herself as a lifelong learner and deeply passionate about literature, critical thinking, and creating space to include diverse voices and experiences. When she’s not teaching; she loves discovering new restaurants, reading, hiking, baking/cooking, and learning to dance salsa.

Emma Ahmed Secondary Instructional Coach

Emma is originally from the UK and has loved teaching and learning in international schools for over sixteen years including Colombia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. She has a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Technology, Education and Learning, as well as certificates in Coaching and Advanced Cognitive Coaching. She is currently working on a second MA, in International Education and Development.

Emma has learnt, grown and modelled as a coach alongside early years to high school students, administrators, teachers and support staff in American and IB programs. She has a passion for supporting students to be empathetic and self-directed.​ In her spare time, she loves creating henna designs, cooking, reading novels and exploring with her husband Shan and children Zaine, Nadeem and Amiya.

Godwin Amedume DP Economics

Godwin comes from Ghana. He has over 20 years of experience teaching economics at the high school level including IGCSE and IBDP Economics (HL/SL) for 16 years. He is certificated as a professional teacher from the University of Cape Coast where he obtained a Bachelor of Education (Social Studies), with a focus in Economics. Godwin incorporates concept-based and inquiry-based approaches to teaching and learning into his lessons. He has 14 years of experience as a DP Economics examiner.
Godwin has a lot of interest in CAS, debating economic issues, and playing tennis during his leisure hours. He is happily married with five (older) children and his family lives in Tema, Ghana. He eagerly awaits to join the “Dragon family” when we meet face-to-face.

Jeff Bell Learning Support Paraprofessional

Jeff worked 14 years in Alaska in tourism, managing hotels and tour companies, but started substitute teaching when he moved to Taiwan with his wife and cats during the pandemic. He enjoyed working with kids so much that he earned a teaching certificate and hopes to someday be a homeroom teacher.

Outside of school, Jeff enjoys hiking in the mountains of Taiwan, exploring the country with a camera in hand, watching movies with his Librarian wife, and playing with his beautiful cats.

Matt Bailey MYP Individuals & Societies

Matt boasts over 10 years of teaching internationally in Cairo, Ho Chi Minh City, and Majuro, Marshall Islands.

Originally from London, Matt moved to Chicago (go Bulls/Cubs/Bears!) after college and worked for the Chicago city government and in various political campaigns before finding teaching. He has a B.A. in American History & Politics from the University of East Anglia and an M.A. in Journalism from DePaul University.

Matt has two children who will be joining him and his wife, Chelsea (the new MS principal). When they aren’t taking his time, he enjoys playing and watching sports, listening to history and philosophy podcasts, tourism, and going to the gym.

Ian Baverstock MYP Design/MYP Art

Ian is one of our newest Dragons and the third member of our Design team. He brings with him over 20 years of experience working in IBO world schools. He is originally from London England and grew up in and around the east coast city of Colchester. He is a practicing designer as well as a teacher and holds a Masters in Design from the London School of Design and Marketing.

Ian has taught and led Design & Visual Arts in England, Thailand, Bangladesh, and China. He is passionate about experiential learning teamed with a design thinking approach to problem-solving and supporting growth through feedback, positive recognition, and nurture.

For the most part, Ian focuses on healthy living, nutrition, and general fitness. He is a diver and more recently took up snowboarding and kitesurfing. After a 2-year lockdown in Thailand whilst teaching online in China and living out of a suitcase packed for winter, he is looking forward to moving to Taiwan, joining the team, and getting back in the classroom.

Brian Borgi DP Language and Literature/Head of Department: HS English

Brian Borgi is joining KAS in 2021, teaching DP English Language and Literature. He is a graduate of Binghamton University, where he double-majored in English and History. He later earned his teaching license through the University of Colorado Boulder and his Masters of Education at Lehigh University. Having previously taught in the United States, South Korea, the Philippines, and Peru, Mr. Borgi is excited to begin his new life in Taiwan with his wife and daughter. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Borgi enjoys hiking, cycling, reading, visiting museums, playing board games, and watching Jeopardy!

Dr. David Brackett DP Chemistry

David is a native of California and completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at UC Davis. He has taught chemistry and biochemistry in Oregon at Portland Community College and has been teaching AP and A-Level chemistry for the last 8 years in Beijing. He very much looks forward to becoming a Dragon and joining the team at KAS and expanding into the IB program.

David is a mountain ultra trail runner and his wife, Simina, loves the beach – so they are excited to live in Kaohsiung and enjoy the mountains and the ocean all on the same day.

Dr. Niocie Browne DP Mathematics/Head of Department: DP Mathematics

Miguel Cámara HS English Language Acquisition

Originally from Valencia, Spain. Miguel has been living and teaching overseas for the last 10 years. During his 12 years as a language educator, his experiences have led him and his family across Spain, Nepal, India, Singapore, and UAE, before coming to Taiwan. Skilled in developing and implementing effective instructional strategies and assessments to meet the diverse learning needs of students, he holds two Master’s degrees from the University Jaume I and the University of Valencia. With strong expertise in IB education and philosophy, Miguel is a DP Examiner, Team Leader, EUR Team member, and recently appointed IB Workshop Leader.

Miguel is joining his wife, Paloma Corella, who since last year is a Secondary Spanish teacher at KAS. He loves water sports, outdoor activities, and spending time with his 2 daughters. Miguel is extremely excited to take on his new role and be joining the Dragons family!

Angeling Chang HS Teaching Assistant

Ling joined the KAS faculty in 2018, after teaching locally in Tainan for several years. She earned her BA in Spanish from the University of Missouri. Ling is TESOL certified to teach English, Chinese, and Spanish. She also holds a BA in Curriculum Development and Teaching from the University of Michigan. She has worldwide experience teaching various ages and language proficiency levels. Ling was a globetrotter from a young age, having grown up in Ecuador and the United States. In her spare time, Ling enjoys traveling and experiencing cultures around the world.

Stella Chen Athletics Director

Stella joined KAS in 2015. She has a Bachelor of Social Work from Brigham Young University-HawaiI, United States (2015). Stella is currently in the process of obtaining a master’s degree in physical education. Last year she fulfilled requirements to receive her lifeguard and CPR/ First Aid certificate from the Chinese Taipei Water Life Saving Federation. Her teaching career started right here at KAS, and she currently works in the Physical Education department where she is an MYP-certified Physical Education teacher for Grades 5 – 8. Her hobbies include playing volleyball, traveling, cooking and spending time with family. She also enjoys coaching and teaching the varsity boys volleyball team at KAS.

Kai Wei Chiu Future Leaders Program Coordinator

Kai Wei previously worked as a Chinese language teacher, Student Activities Section Chief, and Student Council Advisor, which gave her the opportunity to work closely with students and provide them with ample support.

As the Future Leader Program Coordinator, Kai Wei combines her pedagogical knowledge with practical management and leadership skills. She is passionate about helping students succeed in exploring various industries and finding their passion for future studies and careers through the vibrant internship program!

Paloma Corella MYP/DP Spanish/Head of Department: World Languages

Originally from Valencia, Spain, Paloma has been living and teaching overseas for the last nine years. During her 12 years as an educator, her experiences have led her across Spain, Nepal, India, Singapore, and UAE, teaching the IB MYP and DP curriculum and serving as an IB DP Examiner. Fostering her love of lifelong learning, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Philology and a master’s degree in Teaching Spanish from the University of Valencia, and another master’s degree in Teaching Spanish from the University of Alcalá. She will be joining KAS with her husband, Miguel, and her 4-year-old daughter, Chloe.

Kyle Cripe MYP Health & Physical Education

Kyle Cripe is a K-12 certified Physical Educator. He spent 5 years teaching in Korea, and the last 2 years teaching in Bulgaria. Kyle was born and raised in West Papua, Indonesia. His parents work at an International school there. Kyle earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education K-12 from Palm Beach Atlantic University. He went to teach in Korea after graduating from University. He has taught Physical Education and health in the elementary, middle, and high school levels. His goal for Physical Education is to provide students a safe environment where they can engage in as many different types of sports and activities as possible in hopes of finding something they enjoy and will engage in for life. He values the development of teamwork, social interaction, and communication skills as these are things that can transfer to all areas of education and life. In his free time Kyle enjoys playing sports, hiking, and traveling.

MacKenzie Daniels MYP Mathematics/Head of Department: MYP Mathematics

MacKenzie Daniels joined KAS in the fall of 2018. She currently teaches MYP math in the high school. She received her Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from the University of Houston and is currently studying her Masters in Mathematics for Teachers at the University of Waterloo. She is a Google Level 2 Certified Educator, has an English as a Second Language supplemental certificate, and has as training in IB MYP and IB DP. MacKenzie also coaches basketball and sponsors the chess and math clubs. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son and traveling around Taiwan.

Noah Dvorak Director of College Counseling Program

Noah Dvorak (he/him/his) is Director of College Counseling Programs. Over the past nine years, Noah has served as a college counselor, as IBDP Coordinator and AP Coordinator, and as a teacher of DP Economics and TOK. His career has taken him to British, American, and IB international schools in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, and Indonesia.

Noah is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the Education University of Hong Kong, where he completed an M.A. in international educational leadership. He holds a Specialized Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California, San Diego, and an IB Certificate in Leadership Practice. He looks forward to discovering the beautiful island of Taiwan, improving his Chinese skills, and eating Taiwanese food.

Gulian Fang MYP and HS Chinese Language Acquisition

Gulian is excited to continue being a member of the KAS community in her new role as MYP and HS Chinese Language Acquisition teacher. She joined the KAS family in 2019 as a 4th grade TA and served as a TA leader in 2022.

Prior to KAS, Gulian had various experiences in teaching Mandarin. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and worked as the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at Western Kentucky University in 2018. Gulian also has experience working as a Mandarin teacher in both the Critical Language Scholarship program and the Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters degree in the field of Teaching Chinese as a Second/Foreign Language at National Kaohsiung Normal University and continuing her professional development through the IB program.

Gulian has a great enthusiasm for education, as demonstrated through her various roles in teaching English and Chinese as a Second Language through the years.

Claudia Fidalgo DP & CAS Coordinator

Originally from Santiago, Chile where she worked at an international school for 14yrs, Ms Claudia Fidalgo will be joining KAS from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where she has been teaching for the last 11 years. She is now a Spanish citizen and considers Barcelona as her home, where her youngest daughter is currently studying.

Ms Fidalgo has experienced the Diploma Programme as a Geography & TOK teacher, examiner, CAS coordinator, as well as a parent since both her daughters completed the program, she has been the Diploma coordinator for the last four years in Malaysia and will be the new Diploma Programme coordinator at KAS this next school year.

Ms Fidalgo has a bachelor’s degree in History and Geography education, a master’s degree from the State University of New York (SUNY), and a certificate of international school leadership from the Principals’ Training Center.

When not at work, Ms Fidalgo enjoys the outdoors, loves hiking, trekking, running, and most recently freediving. She is looking forward to discovering Taiwan’s trails and beaches. She will be traveling alone with her 2 furry-kids, Pepper and Olive.

Conor Gannon MYP/DP Physics/Head of Department: DP Science

My background is (obviously) physics, with a focus on astrophysics and then nuclear physics. I’ve taught physics for 5 years so far, all in IB schools. I also taught English for a year which has definitely helped with aiming my lessons at the correct level for non-native speakers.
Things I’m most looking forward to about moving to Taiwan:

1. Nature (I’m currently in a concrete jungle)
2. Chinese. It seems like a cool language and I’ll enjoy being terrible at it
3. New people. One nice thing about joining a new school is meeting hundreds of new students and co-workers. The connections that you make with people is easily the best part about being a teacher.

Harold Hernández MYP/DP Spanish

Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Harold Hernández C will join KAS in 2022, teaching MYP/DP Spanish B. He holds a BA from La Salle University in Teaching English, Spanish, and French, and a MA from the European Atlantic University (Spain) in Applied Linguistics with an emphasis on teaching Spanish as a second language. Furthermore, he has studied drama, which has benefited his teaching career as he can incorporate new language techniques into his classes. Harold is an experienced IB Teacher. Harold has taught in PYP as a Primary Homeroom Teacher and MYP and DP as a Spanish B Teacher. In addition to being an IBO workshop leader (MYP Language Acquisition) and examiner (MYP Personal Project and Spanish Language and Literature), he is also a TEFL-certified teacher.

Running marathons, reading, traveling, and spending time outside with his family are a few of Harold’s favorite things. Harold, his wife Angélica, and their little daughter Guadalupe look forward to having an unforgettable and happy time in Kaohsiung.

Gloria Kao MYP Chinese

Gloria Kao has taught at KAS since 1990. She currently teaches High School Chinese. Gloria holds a teaching degree from the ‘Department of Chinese Language and Culture for International Students’ at National Taiwan Normal University. Gloria has been trained in DP Literature, MYP Language & Literature, and CAS. Gloria previously served as the DP CAS Coordinator for 4 years. Gloria has a strong passion for community outreach and community service and enjoys sharing this with students in her role as High School Community Service Coordinator. In addition, Gloria leads the KAS Community Service Club, Orphanage Club, Red Cross Club, Zonta clubs, Charity Art Club, Food Bank Donation, and Shou-Shan ES Teaching Club. Outside of school, Gloria enjoys listening to classical music and operas, as well as visiting museums.

Zahra Khalifeh MYP/DP Music

Zahra will be joining the KAS family at the start of the school year as an MYP/DP music teacher. She received her Bachelors of Music from Talladega College and her Masters of Arts (Music Ed.) and Masters of Music from the University of South Florida. She also holds the Licentiate in Piano Performance and the Advanced Chamber Music Certificates of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, in addition to the Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principals’ Training Center.

Zahra is currently teaching in Busan, South Korea, and has taught at schools and music programs in Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United States. She is extremely excited to join KAS and is looking forward to experiencing and learning about Taiwan and all that it has to offer.

Malcolm Lamprecht MYP/DP History

Malcolm Lamprecht joined KAS as a high school 11th and 12th-grade social studies teacher in 2019. He holds two degrees in history and anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2010. He holds an IB diploma program and training in history and business. Before coming to KAS, he was teaching in Tegucigalpa, Honduras for five years as a DP history teacher. He enjoys a variety of games from video games to sports and loves relaxing by watching movies and salsa dancing.

Alex Lee MYP Biology & Physics

Alex is originally from Calgary, Canada and has been teaching for 9 years. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology with a Japanese minor, he jumped ship and went to art school before pivoting again and earning his Bachelor of Education. His teaching journey started in Japan in the JET Programme, after which he worked as a secondary science and biology teacher in New Zealand and, most recently, Singapore.

Strong relationships form the basis of his teaching philosophy, and he loves utilizing practicals and performing demos to help students grasp abstract scientific concepts. A film nerd, he loves watching movies and then reading up about them immediately after on Wikipedia. Alex also loves playing games (both board and video), cycling, and learning new things. He lives in Taiwan with his wife Ivy, who is a speech-language therapist. Conversant in Cantonese and Japanese, Alex is now learning Mandarin so he can start participating in family conversations with his Taiwanese in-laws beyond using random broken vocabulary

Irene Lee MYP/DP Chinese

Irene Lee joined KAS as a high school Chinese teacher in 2018. She holds an M.Ed degree from National Kaohsiung Normal University. She has been trained in DP Literature, Language & Literature, and MYP Language & Literature courses. She has a strong passion for all classical and contemporary literature, and also enjoys sharing this with students in her role. Before coming to KAS, she taught as a DP/MYP teacher since 2006. She also has two lovely children; an older girl and a younger boy. She loves to travel, reading, watch movies, and be with her family.

Catherine Lin Laboratory Technician

Daniel McMahon MYP Language & Literature

Daniel is originally from Ohio in the US. He discovered his passion for teaching as a volunteer in Guatemala, where he taught EAL in local high schools. He went on to instruct at a university in Colombia, serve as a founding teacher at an immersion school for immigrants and refugees in the US, and teach at an international school in Vietnam.

Daniel holds a BA in English Language and Literature from The Ohio State University, a MA in Teaching from Marian University, Cambridge CELTA, and an Educator’s License from the state of Indiana. Outside of school, Daniel’s interests include yoga, boxing, diving, travel, and -of course- literature.

Danielle Meehan MYP Chemistry & Forensic Science/Head of Department: MYP Science

You can find Ms. Meehan in the Chemistry classroom on KAS’s 4th floor this year, teaching MYP Chemistry in 10th grade and HS Forensics. She’s excited to see all of her students again and is looking forward to a great year. The experience she brings to KAS comes from a foundation built over the past 20 years as a chemist and biologist in clinical and industrial laboratories, such as Eastman Kodak Company and the University of Rochester Medical Center. During her tenure with URMC, she was the lead technician at the hospital’s HLA lab, which is an essential component of the human organ transplant program. Ms. Meehan earned both her BS in Chemistry and in Biology at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. She has two children and two cats. She enjoys cross-stitch, talking about cinema, sci/fi-fantasy novels, and podcasts. She has been known to drive into work with the Director of Learning Technology, to whom she is married.

Clint Munkholm MYP Math

Clint Munkholm
MYP Math
Clint hails originally from Alberta, Canada, but has lived in Taiwan for over 20 years. While he graduated with a B.Sc. in Ecology, his career has included a broad array of experience, including Environmental Education, Ecological Design, Electrical Engineering, and the design of green buildings. He has over 10 years of teaching in both public and private schools, community colleges, and via his own hands-on maker workshop, working with children to develop the skills needed to design and build their own creations. He is passionate about helping students practically apply their learning.
Clint, a “Tainan son-in-law”, has been part of the KAS family for 10 years, with two sons who are KAS alumni, and a daughter in middle school. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, fermenting, rooftop gardening, community composting, and aquaponics.

Dwayne Okpaise Co-Director of College Counseling

Prior to joining KAS, Dwayne spent 9 years in college admissions, including time at Pitzer College, ArtCenter College of Design (ACCD) and St. John’s College. He has been involved with international admissions recruitment for 5 years, working primarily with students from East Asia. Dwayne graduated from Reed College in Portland, Oregon with a degree in art history. Outside of work, he enjoys printmaking and exploring foods from around the world. Dwayne lives in Taiwan with his husband, Brice.

Kaitlyn Osborne HS Learning Support Coordinator

Kaitlyn was born and raised in Dallas, Texas where she learned to love and appreciate good food. She earned her undergraduate degree in special education with an endorsement in severe disabilities and a master’s degree with an emphasis in Multi-Tiered System of Support and behavior analysis at Brigham Young University.

Kaitlyn continued to live in Utah for several years and worked as an educator in various settings, including as a secondary special education teacher and an adjunct professor. Kaitlyn also taught in Thailand but most recently lived and worked in Seattle as a high school special education teacher. She is passionate about collaborating with others to better meet the needs of all students.

Kaitlyn loves to be involved in the greater school community by attending events and advising clubs (especially K-pop club and student council). She spends the majority of her time watching and reviewing K-dramas, playing competitive volleyball, eating out, baking, playing video games, and listening to audiobooks with her software engineer husband, Sam.

Justin Pilon MYP & DP Computer Science/Head of Department: STEAM Team

Justin Pilon joined KAS in 2010. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and a Master’s of Education from George Mason University. Mr. Pilon is MYP experienced and qualified. He teaches Elementary Technology, High School Digital Media, and High School Computer Science. He has been responsible for the production of the school yearbook since 2013 and the school media report since 2015. He has a strong interest in programming and was employed as a software engineer prior to becoming a teacher. Justin is an Apple certified teacher as well as a member of the Tech Ambassadors program at KAS. He is fluent in English and French, and can also speak conversational Mandarin.

Doug Pishkur DP Core/DP Literature

Doug joined KAS in 2020, and is currently teaching DP English Literature and Core classes, as well as supervising the Extended Essay. He received his BA in English from the University of Notre Dame, and his Masters of Arts in Teaching from Washington University in Saint Louis, and holds his certification from Indiana, where he taught for twenty years. He has also taught in Latvia (on a Fulbright teaching exchange), El Salvador, Indonesia, and Ecuador before arriving here in Taiwan. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, traveling, playing the piano, theater, movies, and learning about other cultures.

Mark Quirsfeld DP Business Management/Head of Department: HS Social Studies

Mark is joining KAS from Dubai. He will be teaching IB Business Management. His 15 years overseas have taken him to Aruba, Korea, Togo, Vietnam, and the Dominican Republic. He is a third culture kid before that was a thing, growing up in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Mark will come to Kaohsiung with his wife, Sondra. He enjoys hiking, travel, and scuba diving. Mark holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Idaho and a masters in educational leadership from The Citadel. He is excited to be joining the KAS community.

Mike Rossiter MYP Language & Literature

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Mike has been teaching abroad for almost 20 years. Mike has taught in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and China, covering all age ranges from K-12.

Outside of work, he enjoys photography, backpacking, and reading. Mike is also an avid learner, having attended universities in China, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States.

Hanna Shin DP Biology

Hanna is joining KAS as a high school and DP Biology teacher. She was born in South Korea and most of her schooling for grades 1–12 was in Britain. She graduated with a bachelor’s in Life Science and Marketing Management in Korea, then went to Texas to complete her teacher certification course. Ms Shin worked at a public school near Dallas before teaching at an international school in Korea.

She is excited to move to Taiwan with her husband and her soon-to-be-born baby, and be a part of the KAS community.

Gabe Sortino DP Mathematics

Gabe Sortino, joining the KAS high school mathematics department, has been teaching mathematics for over ten years. Gabe is originally from the beautiful state of Vermont in the USA. He will be joining KAS from Xiamen, China where he has worked as an MYP and DP mathematics teacher for the past three years. Gabe will be accompanied by his wife, Liz, and daughter, Julia (who will be attending Pre-K at KAS). Gabe earned his Bachelor’s degree from Providence College in Rhode Island, USA, and earned a Master’s degree in Teaching Mathematics from the University of Vermont in 2018.

Gabe is an outdoorsy person who can be found on the beaches, hiking trails, basketball courts, and golf courses of Taiwan. He is excited that his family will continue to learn Mandarin and is eager to join the KAS community.

Natalie Souchon MYP/DP Art

Natalie returned to Kaohsiung in 2019 after several years of teaching in Taiwan, China, South Africa and Japan. She hails from South Africa and is a certified Middle and High School Art teacher with a passion for IB Visual Arts education. She also has a strong background in ESL teaching to school students of all ages. Natalie has been with KAS since 2019, first in the Elementary and Middle Art Department, and since the start of the 2021-2022 academic year in the DP and MYP Art Department. Natalie holds a BA (Honours) in Fine Arts from the University of South Africa, a PGCE from the University of Witwatersrand, and an MA in History from the Open University, UK with a research focus on Japanese art. Natalie is a member of the Botanical Art Association of South Africa. She also has a keen interest in the study and preservation of Thangka painting through her association with Tsering Art School in Kathmandu, Nepal. She enjoys painting and gardening in her free time.

Emma Su Director of Partnerships & Internships

As a Taiwanese who resided in California for almost two decades, Emma was extremely happy to return to her hometown to be part of the KAS community in 2024 as the Director of Partnerships & Internships. Emma has 17 years of experience working as a law office manager and a paralegal. She's passionate about making connections in the community and beyond, and dedicating her knowledge and skills to help students achieve their goals.

Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time with her daughter, gym, outdoor activities, reading, and music.

Jackie Su Co-Director of College Counseling

Jackie Su has worked in higher education for ten years in Maine, Connecticut, and Singapore in a variety of roles, with the last seven years in college admissions. With experience in both international and American higher education and admissions, she is passionate about college access and advising students as they plan their next steps. Jackie obtained her Master’s in Higher Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine.

Jackie was born and raised in New York and has family here in Taiwan, where her parents emigrated from. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, exploring the outdoors, and traveling.

Jean Tsai HS Counselor & Child Protection Lead

Jean (she/her) is joining the KAS team as one of the HS Counselors and the Child Protection Lead. She was a TCK born in Taiwan and attended international schools in Indonesia and Malaysia. After obtaining a Masters’s in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago, she worked as a licensed therapist, supervisor, and manager in various mental health settings in Chicago and Colorado prior to shifting to education. Jean then worked as a School-Based Therapist in a high school in Colorado prior to being a Secondary Counselor at American International School Dhaka in Bangladesh. She enjoys hearing students’ stories and seeking to understand students in order to best support them. She also believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of child safeguarding.

Jean is looking forward to returning to Taiwan with her spouse Amos and their little one, Emory.

Kristi Bell Librarian

Kristi Bell our KAS Head Librarian. She received her Bachelors of Business Administration from Oklahoma Christian University in 2000 and her Masters of Library Science from University of Oklahoma in 2004. She is certified by the Oklahoma State Department of Education as a Media Specialist for PK–12. After receiving her Masters, Kristi worked as the Reference and Instructional Librarian at Southwestern State University. More recently, Kristi worked as the Elementary Librarian at Ruamrudee International School for five years in Bangkok, Thailand, supporting parents, faculty, and students in their literacy needs. Kristi is joined at KAS by her husband, who works as a photographer, and their two cats.

Stella Chen Athletics Director

Stella joined KAS in 2015. She has a Bachelor of Social Work from Brigham Young University-HawaiI, United States (2015). Stella is currently in the process of obtaining a master’s degree in physical education. Last year she fulfilled requirements to receive her lifeguard and CPR/ First Aid certificate from the Chinese Taipei Water Life Saving Federation. Her teaching career started right here at KAS, and she currently works in the Physical Education department where she is an MYP-certified Physical Education teacher for Grades 5 – 8. Her hobbies include playing volleyball, traveling, cooking and spending time with family. She also enjoys coaching and teaching the varsity boys volleyball team at KAS.

Angela Hsu Aquatics Director

This year, Ms. Hsu has accepted the role of Aquatics Director after years of experience in the department. Angela Hsu joined KAS in 2016 as an Aquatic assistant/lifeguard. She earned her BA from Kaohsiung Medical University in Sports Medicine and her MA from National Kaohsiung Normal University in Physical Education. She continued to obtain her teaching certificate in the States of Hawaii. Angela is a certified lifeguard and Lifesaving Coach, fitness coach, volleyball referee, and coach, and has her EMT license. Angela has experienced be an athletic trainer for local, national, and international events, including the National Games in Taiwan and ACAMIS in Hong Kong and China. She also leads the girls’ varsity volleyball team and took them to the championship during 2018-2020 for 3 years. She and her sister live together in Kaohsiung; they enjoy traveling, cooking, swimming, and watching movies.

Vanessa Hsu Lifeguard

Jasmine Lee Lifeguard

Hannah McIntosh Director of Student Support Services

Originally from the southern United States, Hannah completed her BS in Psychology and MA in Counseling before moving to Taiwan.

In her previous role as School Counselor in Taipei, she implemented and coordinated the Learning Support program for exceptional students. She brings with her 10 years of experience working with children, including former positions as Refugee Program Specialist and Tutor for students with intensive academic, social/emotional, and language needs. Throughout her career, she has worked with students with the most intensive behavioral and academic challenges. She is licensed as an Associate Professional Counselor, School Counselor, and Special Education teacher, all in the United States. Her classroom teaching experience includes AP Psychology, Introductory Psychology, and Life Skills. She is passionate about advocacy, inclusivity, and creating spaces that support all students in accessible education.

A fitness enthusiast, she spends her free time doing CrossFit with her Taiwanese husband. Additionally, she enjoys cooking, traveling, cultural experiences, as well as professional and academic pursuits.

Erica Jheng Library Assistant

Erica Jheng joined KAS in 2012 as a teaching assistant. She earned her Associate of Arts degree from Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages in Kaohsiung. She has been assisting in upper elementary classes at KAS since 2012, and after a long stint in Grade 5, will be starting the 2022 school year in the Library.

Ms. Jheng is originally from Chiayi and she loves reading, music, and movies so much that she can’t live without them. She also loves to explore the beauty of nature with her family and friends. Erica has a husband, A-Jia, and two sons, Banks and Nick.

Daisy Chang Executive Administrative Assistant

Daisy joined KAS in 1999. From 1994 to 1999, Daisy was the secretary of AmCham Kaohsiung which at the time was affiliated with KAS, hence the opportunity to move to our school. Prior to that, she worked five years for the Jupiter International Company, a subsidiary enterprise of Japan Airlines, after she had graduated from university. Daisy majored in English at the Providence University in Taichung and then graduated from TamKang University in Taipei. She finished her training and got her secretary certification from the Chinese Personal Executive Association in 2015. Daisy was a teacher assistant in Grade 1 at KAS in 1999 and became the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent in 2000. She has been in charge of office operations, acted as cashier and purchaser, and has worn many hats as needed over the years. She is married and has one daughter.

Rebecca Chao Accountant

Rebecca Chao helps to keep KAS’s business affairs in order as an Accountant. She joined our team in 2022.

Rachel Chen HS Secretary/Registrar

Rachel Chen has been at KAS since 2004. She has her BA in Management Science from Gonzaga University, Spokane, in the United State. Rachel is the school registrar and database (PowerSchool) administrator. She has trained at the PowerSchool University in San Diego and at summer institutes in New York and Washington, D.C. . She is happily married with two children and enjoys reading, movies, yoga and farming at her leisure time.

Ellen Chiang Receptionist

Ellen Chiang has been a KAS Receptionist since 2005, working closely with the Administrative Assistant. Ellen graduated from Shih Chien University, majoring in Fashion Design & Merchandising. She also finished her training and got her secretary certification in 2015 from the Chinese Personal Executive Association. Before coming to KAS, she was an administrative assistant and teacher assistant in an after-hours language school for over 10 years. Ellen enjoys greeting our many visitors at the front desk. When not working, Ellen enjoys designing and creating clothing and accessories.

Kai Wei Chiu Future Leaders Program Coordinator

Kai Wei previously worked as a Chinese language teacher, Student Activities Section Chief, and Student Council Advisor, which gave her the opportunity to work closely with students and provide them with ample support.

As the Future Leader Program Coordinator, Kai Wei combines her pedagogical knowledge with practical management and leadership skills. She is passionate about helping students succeed in exploring various industries and finding their passion for future studies and careers through the vibrant internship program!

Robert Chuang Senior Technology Specialist

Robert Chuang worked at KAS from 2006 to 2007, then returned to us in 2011. He graduated from National Sun Yat-Sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where he earned his BS in Information Management in 2002, and his MS in Information Management in 2011. He is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). He is the Senior Technology Specialist in the office of Learning Technology at KAS where he supports all IT and learning technology needs. Robert also provides audio and video technical support for the school. Before joining KAS, Robert gained IT and management experience working for over 17 years at various semiconductors, telecom, networking, and system integration companies. He has one teenage daughter. He enjoys traveling, movies, music, learning, and being with his family.

Wini Henson Human Resources Manager

Born and raised in Taipei, Wini has spent time living and working in Taiwan, China and the US. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Indiana University at Bloomington. She has worked in corporate operations and also spent time teaching English in Taiwan.

After COVID travel restrictions were finally lifted, Wini embarked on an extended backpacking journey around the world. After spending the most incredible 18 months traveling to far flung corners of the world, Wini returned to Kaohsiung ready for a new adventure.

In her free time, Wini loves to play Ultimate Frisbee, hike, travel and cook.

Jeannie Huang Accountant

Jeannie Huang joined KAS in 2010 as an Accountant. She earned a Bachelor’s’ degree in Accounting from National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences. Before joining KAS, Jeannie worked for 12 years at the Tax and Consulting Department in KPMG, one of the top CPA firms in Taiwan. In 2008, Ms. Huang earned her license as a Bookkeeper. When she isn’t working, Jeannie enjoys spending time with her family and cooking.

Nancy Huang Middle School Secretary

Nancy Huang is the middle school secretary and works at the KAS reception desk. Nancy joined KAS in 2013. Before she transitioned to the main office, she worked as a library assistant, then as prekindergarten and Grade 5 assistant. Nancy graduated from Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages where she majored in English. Nancy enjoys working with students and parents, helping answer their questions, translating, chaperoning trips, or supporting our teachers. In her free time, Nancy enjoys eating out with friends and family.

Vivien Huang Athletics/IB MYP/DP Assistant

Vivien Huang has been a KAS office staff member since 2010 and wears many hats. She graduated from WenZao Language College in 2001 with a majoring in German. She worked as Grade 5 teacher assistant for half a year, then became the administrative assistant to the IB Coordinator and the Athletic Director. She finished her training and got her secretarial certification from the Chinese Personal Executive Association in 2015. Vivien loves knitting, and cooking and enjoys time with her family and friends.

Jeff Ko Facilities Officer

Jeff Ko joined the KAS family in 2010. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Department of Occupational Safety. Now he is in charge of the facilities, equipment, and maintenance of the KAS Sports Complex. Jeff enjoys working at KAS very much. It’s very clear to him that, in addition to providing students a comfortable and safe learning environment, it’s also important to make sure all the school equipment functions well to ensure an optimal setting for the children. Outside of work hours, Jeff enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Li Lee Photographer/AV Support

Li comes to KAS from a diverse background including military service, construction, and marketing at one of Taiwan's best known cafe chains, Donutes. Though children tend to be much more active than cakes and croissants, Li enjoys the opportunity to capture the joy of childhood through the lens of his camera and promote the school.

Tracy Lee Purchasing Agent

Tracy Lee joined KAS as a library assistant in 2012 and later moved to the business office as a purchasing agent. Tracy earned her MA in Education: Option in Computer Education and Technology Leadership from California State University, Los Angeles, United States. Before coming to KAS, Tracy was a senior secretary at an immigration consulting company for nine years. She enjoys traveling with family and friends.

Shu-Ping Liu Nurse

Shu-Ping, the school nurse, joined KAS in 2005. She graduated from Fooyin Junior College with a degree in nursing. She is a registered nurse in Taiwan and California. Prior to her current position, she had eleven years of experience working in different hospital departments including the ICU and NICU in Taipei and at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. She loves to interact with the students, staff, and faculty and is always available to anyone who needs assistance. After work, she enjoys cooking, music, and relaxing in her cozy home.

Emma Su Director of Partnerships & Internships

As a Taiwanese who resided in California for almost two decades, Emma was extremely happy to return to her hometown to be part of the KAS community in 2024 as the Director of Partnerships & Internships. Emma has 17 years of experience working as a law office manager and a paralegal. She's passionate about making connections in the community and beyond, and dedicating her knowledge and skills to help students achieve their goals.

Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time with her daughter, gym, outdoor activities, reading, and music.

Nana Su Cashier

Nana Su came to KAS in 2013. She graduated from Shih Chien University with her degree in accounting. For two years prior to joining KAS, Nana was a Cashier at Qing-Feng Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.. and had over five years of experience working at the Telecom Technology Center. She is married and has one daughter.

Christine Sung Receptionist

Christine is one of the first smiles you see when you enter KAS. She cheerfully answers the phones and helps visitors at our reception desk. Christine joined KAS in 2022.

Cubbie Wang Therapy Dog

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Lena Wang Systems Analyst

Lena Wang joined the ranks of KAS in 2013. Lena earned her BA in Information Management in 2009 from National Sun Yat-Sen University in Kaohsiung. She holds certifications as a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server, Implementation, and Maintenance. She is also a Google Certified Trainer and Google Certified Administrator. Lena worked as a research and development engineer helping to design and develop Rich Internet Applications (RIA) for Business Intelligence (BI) systems at Foxconn in Shenzhen. At KAS, Lena is the Systems Analyst in the office of Learning Technology. She instructs and supports teachers and students in the use of various learning tools on campus, and designs the system processes for office operational procedures and business workflows. Lena enjoys traveling, running, and hiking, and has completed several half-marathons. She has also climbed several Asian summits above 3000 meters.

Denise Wu ES Secretary/Attendance Officer

Denise came to KAS in 2006. She graduated from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, majoring in English, in 2003. In 2015 she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, majoring in Tourism Management. Denise finished her secretary’s training and received her certification from the Chinese Personal Executive Association in 2015. Ms. Wu was a teacher assistant for her first three years at KAS, and then joined the office staff where she remains today.