High School

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brian Borgi DP Language and Literature

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.

Peter Brodhead MYP Language & Literature

Peter came to the KAS faculty in 2019, teaching 9th grade English and Humanities. He earned his BA in English from James Madison University in Virginia and a Masters in Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco. He joins the KAS community with his family, Sara Brodhead (MS Science) and two children, previously teaching six years in Seoul and four years in Alexandria, Virginia. When not teaching, Peter enjoys basketball, crossword puzzles, and his hilarious kids.

Dr. Niocie Browne 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.

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.

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.

Paloma Corella MYP/DP Spanish

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

Noah Dvorak Director of College Counseling

Noah Dvorak (he/him/his) is Director of College Counseling. 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 Chinese Language Acquisition

Gulian is excited to continue being a member of the KAS community in her new role as MYP Chinese Language Acquisition teacher and MS teaching assistant. 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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Jasmine Lee Lifeguard

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

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.

Kaitlyn Osborne HS Learning Support Coordinator

Justin Pilon MYP Design/DP Computer Science

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

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.

Carly Santos HS/College Counseling

Carly Santos has been working as a school counselor since 2011. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, she completed a Bachelor of Arts – Youth Studies degree which she then complemented with a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education at Victoria University. This has enabled her to work as a counselor and educator while living in Australia and abroad. Carly’s career on the international circuit has taken her to China, Indonesia, Korea, and now Taiwan. She will be joining KAS as one of the HS counselors. Carly views her role as a counselor to support, advocate, and empower young people. She has a holistic approach, viewing education and student wellbeing as of equal importance. She believes that both these areas are closely interconnected and can have an effect on young people’s capacities to contribute and advance in their learning, their relationships, and with feeling connected to the wider community. Carly comes to Taiwan with her partner Steve and their daughter Lottie. In her spare time she likes traveling, cooking, reading and spending time with her family.

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.

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.

Tina Wu MYP Math/Service Learning Coordinator

Tina is excited to become an official math teacher this school year after substitute and teaching certification clinical experiences. Tina joined the KAS community in 2001… as a student in Kindergarten! She graduated with the IB Bilingual Diploma in 2014. She earned her BA in both Mathematics and Music from Trinity College in Connecticut, USA, then went on to work as a tutor and site manager at Sylvan Learning Centers in California. For the past three years, Tina enjoyed getting to know the current KAS community through building the service learning, AIM, and Future Leaders Programs, coaching MS sports, and performing with students. While she enjoys having alone time to read, practice drums, and let her mind wander, Tina is excited to collaborate with members of this wonderful community to continue supporting the next generation of Dragons!