Dr. Paul Ducharme Head of School

Dr. Paul Ducharme will join KAS as the new Head of School. Originally from a family of educators, Paul developed a deep appreciation for teaching and learning early in life. He brings over twenty years of experience in international education, having served in IB World Schools as a teacher, Principal, Deputy Head, and Head of School.

Paul is deeply committed to holistic education, aligning closely with KAS’s values of excellence, belonging, and well-being. He believes in fostering strong faculty, robust academic programs, and meaningful extracurricular opportunities to support students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. His professional interests include strengthening collaboration through Adaptive Schools practices, enhancing IB program alignment, and promoting student-centered learning environments where all students feel known, valued, and supported.

Joining the KAS community with Paul is his wife, Sarah. Together, they have lived and worked internationally while raising their two daughters, Grace and Eva, who are now pursuing their own careers in the United States. In his personal time, Paul enjoys connecting with students and educators, visiting classrooms, and continuing his journey as a lifelong learner. He looks forward to becoming part of the KAS community and exploring all that Kaohsiung & Taiwan have to offer.

Dr. Jenny 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.

Dr. David Butler High School Principal

David Butler will join KAS this year as the new High School Principal for the 2026-27 school year. Originally from Canada, David received both his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Education degrees from Queen's University and graduated with a Master of Philosophy degree in European History from the University of Cambridge in the UK. He earned a second master's degree and his EdD, both in Educational Leadership, from Western University

David began his career as a high school social studies teacher in Canada before spending thirteen years as a teacher, department head, and Assistant Principal at American School of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia and over ten years as Vice Principal and Principal at Canadian International School of Hong Kong. David’s professional interests include authentic methods of assessing student learning, promoting student agency, and developing leadership amongst the teaching faculty. He is drawn to KAS by the school’s belief in a holistic education that emphasizes academic achievement, personal growth and character and is excited to support its strong IB programs.

Also joining as KAS Dragons will be David’s wife, Kimberly, who will teach in the Middle School, as well as their youngest two children and two housecats. David’s hobbies include cooking (and dining), playing Dungeons and Dragons, and reading history and fiction. He can’t wait to discover all that Kaohsiung and Taiwan have to offer!

Patrick Severijns Middle School Principal

Patrick Severijns will join the KAS Dragons as the new Middle School Principal for the 2026–27 school year. Born and raised in the Netherlands, Patrick has dedicated his career to working in international middle schools across the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. He earned a Bachelor of Education in K–12 Physical Education and later completed a Master of Education in Advanced Studies and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Management. Throughout his journey, he has worked at institutions such as United World College Maastricht, Zurich International School, and the American School in London. Most recently, he served as Head of the Middle Years Programme and Deputy Head of School at the International School Groningen.

After years of leading and learning together alongside diverse international school communities, Patrick is excited to begin his next chapter in Kaohsiung. As the incoming Middle School Principal, he sees the middle school years as a unique and energising bridge, where the curiosity and unbridled enthusiasm of the lower school meet the growing thirst for knowledge of high school. He looks forward to working closely with students, families, faculty and staff to build a warm, inclusive culture where everyone feels supported and challenged to thrive.

In his free time, Patrick enjoys various sports (CrossFit, snowboarding, squash, and more), taking long walks with his dog, Floki, sampling local cuisine, and exploring different countries and cultures with his wife, Janne. He eagerly anticipates learning what it means to be a Dragon and to explore the city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan and the region to its fullest.

Sandra Lopez Elementary School Principal

Sandra Lopez will join KAS with over 25 years of experience in international and bilingual education. She is currently the Primary Principal and PYP Coordinator at Springboard International Bilingual School in Beijing, where she oversees learning for more than 300 students from Early Childhood through Grade 5. Sandra has also served as a Curriculum and Academic Programs Coordinator, a Special Needs, EAL, and Early Literacy teacher, an Adjunct Professor, and an elementary classroom teacher. She has worked in the United States and Colombia, and has been based in China since 2019.

She holds a BA in Educational Psychology from Hunter College in New York City, a postgraduate diploma in Mental Health, Children and Adolescents from Universidad CES in Medellín, Colombia, and is currently completing her Master’s in Educational Leadership.

Joining Sandra in Kaohsiung will be her husband, Gustavo, who works as an Art Tech supporting makerspace and creative arts programs. They have three older children living in Florida. She is excited to join the KAS community and support the continued growth of the elementary school.