Elementary School

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.

Kristi Bell Librarian

Kristi Bell received her Bachelors of Business Administration from Oklahoma Christian University and her Masters of Library Science from University of Oklahoma. 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 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.

Sean Butler ES English Language Acquisition

Sean Butler received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Memphis and a Masters of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language from Jones International University. He has taught in an elementary school setting for years in China, Mexico, and the U.S. He is very passionate about helping 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 a Grade 2 Homeroom teacher. In her many years 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 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 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. 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 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.

Melody Chen Kindergarten Homeroom

Melody Chen has a BA and an MA in Early Childhood Education from California State University, Los Angeles, United States. 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 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!

Stella Chen Athletics Director

Stella has a Bachelor of Social Work from Brigham Young University-HawaiI, United States. Stella is currently in the process of obtaining a master’s degree in physical education. She received her lifeguard and CPR/ First Aid certificate from the Chinese Taipei Water Life Saving Federation. 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.

Yu-Min Cheng ES Chinese

Yu-Min joined our KAS team as an ES Chinese teacher 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 many years 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 has been a Pre-Kindergarten teaching assistant 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 to help improve her English and meet new friends before moving back to Taiwan.
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 as a teaching assistant in Grade 4 and now 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. 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 and a Sports Coaching/Physical Education certification from the United States Sports Academy. 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 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.

Angela Hsu Aquatics Director

Angela Hsu joined KAS as an Aquatic assistant/lifeguard and is now the Aquatics Director after years of experience in the department. 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 experience as 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 has taken them to the championship several times. She and her sister live together in Kaohsiung; they enjoy traveling, cooking, swimming, and watching movies.

Jamie Hughes Grade 3 Homeroom

Jamie 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 in Tennessee. She then moved to China, where she taught fifth grade at an international school.

Jamie loves to read and travel.

Dorothy Hung Grade 1 Homeroom

Dorothy joined KAS with extensive experience teaching in elementary school. 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 lives in Taiwan with her husband and forever puppy. Chloé has experience teaching ELL students from kindergarten up to tenth grade, as well as counseling experience. 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 earned her Bachelor Degree from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in Kaohsiung City. She began at KAS as a teaching assistant for Grade 5, and now she is working with Grade 2 students. She also taught English in Kindergartens for two years in Kaohsiung and Pingtung City. She lives in Pingtung with her husband and an adorable daughter. She 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

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 many 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 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 loves 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 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 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.

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 graduated from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. She started at KAS as a Grade 3 teaching assistant, before becoming 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 shares her experience and helps children 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. 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 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.

Joyce Lin ES Chinese

Joyce Lin is from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and joined the KAS staff as a Chinese Teacher. 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. 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 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from NPUST (National Pingtung University Science of Technology). In her years at KAS she has been a Pre-Kindergarten teaching assistant, a teaching assistant in G4, worked in the library, and now works 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 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 taught in Denver, Colorado, followed by Cartagena, Colombia before coming to KAS. 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 has many years 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 moved to Taiwan from Virginia in the US where she earned her B.S. in Health Sciences and her teaching certification. Deanna has many years of teaching experience in upper elementary grades, promoting STEAM integration as well as environmental awareness.

She enjoys traveling and experiencing the local culture through food, 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 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, and also worked in an e-commerce company for prior to KAS. She loves to travel, exercise, and climb the mountains in her free time with her family and friends. Vivi is married and lives with her husband in Kaohsiung.

Angel Taylor Kindergarten Homeroom

Angel Taylor was born and raised in Alabama and 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 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 in Jordan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and Egypt. When not in the classroom, Angel enjoys hiking, swimming, cooking, reading, or joining a triathlon relay team with her husband, Jeff.

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 granddaughter. Jeff also has two sons living in Arizona and California just across the Colorado River from each other. He 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. Jeff has also completed a full Ironman triathlon in Barcelona, Spain.

Debbie Tsai Pre-K Teaching Assistant

Jenny Tsai ES Chinese

Jenny Tsai 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 in Taipei FuHsing(復興) private school (Bilingual Department), at the NSYSU Chinese language center, and 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. 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 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 16 years, she decided to relocate back to her 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.

Christine Wang Grade 1 Teaching Assistant

Erin Wang MS 1:1 Paraprofessional

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.

Charlotte Wu Grade 4 Teaching Assistant

Denise Wu ES Secretary/Attendance Officer

Denise graduated from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, majoring in English. Later 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. Ms. Wu began at KAS as a teacher assistant, before joining the office staff.

Joyce Yang Pre-K Teaching Assistant

Maggie Yen ES Chinese

Maggie 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 worked as an English teacher in local kindergartens for years. She loves to travel and hang out with family and friends. She also loves music and movies.

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.