ELL & Student Support Services

Home Learning ELL & Student Support Services

Furthering Access and Inclusion

KAS has a diverse student body with various learning profiles. Teachers and professional staff create learning opportunities and experiences for all students to have access to and be successful with the curriculum. Our Student Support Team includes teachers, specialists, and administrators who support access and inclusion through a collaborative, team-based approach and differentiation, ensuring that we meet students where they are.

Social & Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) and wellness are vital to student growth and development. Our dedicated team of four full-time counselors plays an integral role in the development of our students. Our counselors serve as role models for the school in forming trusting relationships by supporting students, teachers, and parents in a variety of situations that may involve social and emotional growth, behavior management, and personal relationships. SEL is integrated into our classrooms through lessons, curriculum building, wellness programs, and 1:1 and small group counseling.

English Language Learner (ELL) Support

The ELL program is designed to provide a learning environment that is safe, supportive, and structured, and enables students to gain the necessary language skills to transition successfully into the main subject classes at KAS. The focus is developing the 4 domains of language learning: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Depending on the above factors, students are placed into an appropriate class with the least restrictive environment.

KAS ELL HANDBOOK

Learning Support

Our team of learning support teachers and assistants provide academic supports that vary based on student needs. Learning supports include push in support in the classroom, small group or 1:1 pull out instruction, 1:1 teaching assistants, and modified curriculum.

Contracted Services

Our Student Support Team extends beyond KAS faculty and staff. To ensure students have the support and access they need, we contract as needed with specialists including an Educational Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Psychiatrist, Speech Therapist, and Occupational Therapist.

Meet our Counselors

Chloé Johnson ES Counselor

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.

Winnie Shen MS Counselor/Head of Counseling Department

Winnie Shen MS Counselor/Head of Counseling Department

Winnie Shen holds a M.ED and an Ed.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling from the Counselor Education, University of Florida. With many years of clinical experience in working with children, adolescents, and adults at various settings including a school, a hospital, and a college counseling center, she is very enthusiastic about interacting with students as well as helping and supporting them when they are in need. Winnie was a National Certified Counselor in the US, and is a certified Counseling Psychologist in Taiwan. She was born and raised in Kaohsiung and grew up in a lovely family that enjoys travel. When she visits or lives in other cities or countries, she embraces diversity and cherishes every moment that she gets to learn from other cultures. She is honored to be a counselor at KAS and loves to work in this great and diverse community in her hometown.

Kristina Gutierrez HS Counselor

Kristina Gutierrez HS Counselor

Krissy grew up in Northern California and considers Colorado as her other home. Always interested in psychology and counseling, Krissy took a 10-year break after her bachelors degree (San Diego State University) to prioritize travel and life experiences. She joined the Peace Corps in Togo, and lived in Australia, Italy, and Alaska.
This is Krissy’s seventh year in the counseling field. While primarily working with high school students in Colorado and Vietnam, she has also worked with sexual assault survivors, college students, and adults entering the counseling profession. Krissy is passionate about empowering others.
Outside of work, Krissy loves to be in nature and is excited to explore Taiwan with her husband, Chris.

Jean Tsai HS Counselor & Child Protection Lead

Jean Tsai HS Counselor & Child Protection Lead

Jean (she/her) 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 enjoys living in Taiwan with her spouse Amos and their little one, Emory.

Meet our Student Support Services Faculty & Staff

Hannah McIntosh Director of Student Support Services

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.

Kelly Barrons ES Learning Support

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.

Jeff Bell Learning Support Paraprofessional

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.

Sean Butler ES English Language Acquisition

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 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.

Dana Li Learning Support Teaching Assistant

Dana Li Learning Support Teaching Assistant

Charlene Lin ES English Language Acquisition

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.

Cindy Matheson Middle School Learning Support

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.

Kaitlyn Osborne HS Learning Support Coordinator

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.

Pon Peng MS Teaching Assistant

Pon Peng MS Teaching Assistant

Pon Peng 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 elementary school before her role as a MS teaching assistant. Pon combined work and travel by working in the United States during the summers she was studying in university. She worked in Colorado in a peach factory; in Ohio for at Cedar Point Amusement Park; and at Los Angeles International Airport as a ground service agent for EVA Air. Pon then went to Canada and worked 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 MS English Language Acquisition/Head of Department: English Language Acquisition

Amos Ruffer joined KAS 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 daughter Emory. Amos loves being active, eating spicy foods, and exploring Taiwan.

Audrey Sifunganyambe MS Teaching Assistant

Audrey Sifunganyambe MS Teaching Assistant

Audrey Sifunganyambe, a proud Zambian national, spent her adult life in Germany, Norway and Dubai where she gained an appreciation of diverse cultures. She prides herself in 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 enjoys 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, as 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.

Erin Wang MS 1:1 Paraprofessional

Erin Wang MS 1:1 Paraprofessional

Wendy Weng MS English Language Acquisition

Wendy Weng MS English Language Acquisition

Wendy joined KAS 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.

Miguel Cámara HS English Language Acquisition

Miguel Cámara HS English Language Acquisition

Originally from Valencia, Spain. Miguel has been living and teaching overseas for many years. His language educator 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 works at KAS alongside his wife, Paloma Corella, a Secondary Spanish teacher. He loves water sports, outdoor activities, and spending time with his 2 daughters.

Continue your Dragon Story

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Nurturing our youngest Dragons

MIDDLE SCHOOL

A journey to knowledge and identity

HIGH SCHOOL

Producing a confident, independent young adult