Our People - Kaohsiung American School (2024)

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.

Sara Brodhead Director of Teaching & Learning

Sara joined the KAS faculty as an MS science teacher in 2019. As a child, Sara was constantly searching for answers to her own questions about nature, which she never grew out of. Coupled with her love of learning, the choice to teach secondary students about the world around and inside them was simple. After she graduated high school in San Diego, California, she headed for the East Coast to earn her Bachelors of Science in biology at Bucknell University. While teaching at her first job out of college she met her incredibly handsome husband (Peter Brodhead – HS humanities) and together they continued to move east – to Asia! In the last six years while living in Seoul, South Korea, Sara had two beautiful children and earned a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia. She admits she has just one flaw – when she tells chemistry jokes, she doesn’t get a reaction.

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.

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.

Dr. Molly Fitzgerald Principal, Elementary School

Molly is joining KAS from the United States. She holds education degrees from three universities there and will become a member of the school leadership team as our Elementary Principal.Molly has enjoyed a successful and lengthy career as an elementary principal in the USA and most recently in southern mainland China. During her free time, Molly thrives on spending time with her three adult children and also traveling. She is honored to become a member of the Dragon family at KAS.

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.

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 children in Middle and 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.

Marie Yeung Human Resources Manager

Marie Yeung is KAS's Student & Staff Career Guidance and HR Manager! Marie supports our Future Leaders Program and Student Interns with career guidance and interview & job readiness skills, beyond her HR Manager role.Marie has more than 15 years of experience in Human Resources and recruiting, including two years with Malvern College in HK and Japan. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.

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. He has substituted in our classrooms for two years and is honored to join the KAS team and ready to start a wonderful journey with us.

Kyle Blaikie Grade 4 Homeroom

Kyle is rejoining the KAS community after doing his teaching placement at KAS in 2018–19. He has lived in Kaohsiung for 8 years and is excited to join the elementary school. He holds an MBA from Cape Breton University in community economic development and an MEd from The College of New Jersey. Teaching is his second career after departing from banking.Kyle has worked and trained in the IB PYP over the past two years and is excited to continue to inspire and encourage students at KAS. He is joined by his husband, who works outside of education. In our spare time, we enjoy traveling around Taiwan and surrounding countries, cooking, and walking the dogs and the bird.

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.

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.

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.

Carina Corey Pre-K Homeroom

Carina is originally from the Philippines and now lives in Michigan in the USA. She joins KAS in the Fall of 2022 teaching Early Years. Carina is trained and experienced in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and a long-time practitioner of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education.Carina has a rich background of experience in American and international education teaching Early Years, Primary School and Visual Arts. Carina and her family have lived overseas for over 30 years. She taught in American and international schools in Taiwan, China, Philippines, Bulgaria and Cambodia. Carina’s husband Bill, a retired school administrator, will be joining her in Taiwan along with their cat. Their daughter Elizabeth was born in Taiwan. She now lives and works in the USA. Carina and Bill are very excited to be back in Taiwan and are looking forward to their new adventures in Kaohsiung!

James Gerber ES Health & Physical Education

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.

Iyeshia Haynes ES Art

Representing the state of M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i, Ms. Haynes joins the KAS fold in Elementary Art! She’s a 2014 graduate of the Mississippi University for Women with a Bachelor’s of Art in Biology, and also holds a Masters of Art in Art Education from the Memphis College of Art. She has experience teaching in-person and virtually to large and small class sizes in her school district in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Iyeshia enjoys working with young children and is looking forward to new adventures with KAS as she sets her sights on Taiwan.

Steven Hill STEM/ES Tech Integrationist

Steven is very excited to be joining KAS as the new Elementary Makerspace teacher and setting up this program in the brand new, purpose-built learning area. It has been hugely popular at his current school, as the children love the opportunities it gives them to explore and develop skills, discover new technology, and collaborate on real-world issue projects. He is very keen to bring over what he has seen succeed to KAS as the ES grows its program.Steven comes from England, where he studied Archaeology before deciding to travel and teach TEFL in Taiwan, London, and Spain. After completing further studies he has since taught different Elementary curriculums in Thailand, China, Bali, and Korea.After a gap of 23 years, Steven is returning to Taiwan with his daughter and partner and is very keen to see what changes have happened and share the excitement and challenges of a new country with his family.

Hsin-Yi Hsu ES Music

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.

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.

Kali Knudson Grade 4 Homeroom

Kali Knudson joined KAS year as a 4th grade teacher. She is originally from Oregon, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Family Science, double majoring in Human Services and Early Childhood Education from Oregon State University. She then earned her Masters of Art in Teaching from Eastern Oregon University. This is Kali’s tenth year teaching and eighth year teaching internationally. She taught Pre-K and sixth grade in Oregon, 5th grade in Yangon, Myanmar, and most recently, 4th grade in Bogota, Colombia. Kali has extensive training in Reading and Writing Workshop. She lives in Kaohsiung with her husband, Jitesh. They enjoy traveling and spending summers and holidays with their families.

Angela Kuo Grade 5 Homeroom

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.

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.

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 Special Education

Hannah is excited to continue as part of the KAS community in a new role for the 2022-2023 school year as a Special Education/Learning Support Teacher. 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. 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 partner. 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.

Kristin Partridge Grade 1 Homeroom

This is Kristin Partridge’s first year at KAS and will be teaching in Grade 1. She is originally from Wisconsin, USA where she earned her BS in Elementary Education. She also holds a Master of Art in Management. Prior to teaching at KAS, Kristin taught in Indonesia, China and most recently at the United Nations International School of Hanoi, Vietnam. She also taught in the USA before teaching internationally. Kristin is passionate about teaching and creating lifelong learners with her students.Kristin joins KAS with her partner RG. They are looking forward to exploring Kaohsiung and Taiwan.

Hillary Storey Pre-K Homeroom

Hillary Storey is originally from Portland, Oregon, and will be joining KAS as an Early Years Teacher. She brings with her 15 years of experience working with young children in the classroom. She utilizes play-based learning, emergent and project approaches and is also familiar with the IB program. Hillary has spent one year teaching in China, six in Tokyo, and two years in Egypt prior to coming to Taiwan. She began her teaching career in the Houston, Texas area working as a Spanish Bilingual Pre-K and K educator for 10 years prior to entering international education. Before becoming an educator, she worked in social services helping young children. She holds an Associate’s degree in Social Work, a BS in Sociology, and an MEd in Teacher Leadership.Hillary enjoys doing many things such as spending time with her nieces and nephews, traveling, relaxing at the beach/coast, and watching the theater and opera. Her happy place is the opera house and she loves to sing. She is currently studying classical voice and hopes to be a part of the fine arts community at KAS and in the city of Kaohsiung.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stephanie Kuo Grade 3 Teaching Assistant

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!

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.

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

After several years as a KAS parent and Kindergarten teacher in Kaohsiung, Charlene joined the teaching staff at KAS in 2020 as a teaching assistant in the Literacy & Inclusion Support office. She brings a wealth of experience teaching children in primary grades, including both native English and non-native English speakers. Ms. Lin holds a BA from Shih Chien University in Recreation Management, a MA from Moreland University in Special Education, and is certified in TESOL and TCAFL. She has four kids and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and reading.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Celine Fournier MYP Art

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 enthusiastic young man who likes Japanese culture, history, and food. He also loves to travel and explore Japan alone. He graduated from the Japanese Department of Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages at 20 and later obtained the JLPT N1 certificate. Outside of school, he is also keen on teaching Chinese to Japanese.Todd will join KAS in the new semester as a MYP Japanese teacher. He completed the KAS internship this year and is studying for a master’s degree at National Kaohsiung Normal University, continuing to improve his teaching major and IB courses. Todd enjoys being creative and using new technology to teach students, and he can’t wait to join the BIG KAS family.

Chikako f*ckuyo 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

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.

Cheng-Wei Hsieh MYP Music

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.

Colleen Johnson MYP Math

Graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University with Masters in Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction. Colleen has more than twenty years teaching experience in Middle School Math and Science. A native of Tennessee, she has lived on three continents and traveled extensively, which is her passion! She has one daughter who lives in Taiwan with her husband.

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.

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.

Avi Megiddo MYP Design

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 MunkholmMYP MathClint 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

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 PengTeaching AssistantPon 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 Amusem*nt 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.

Laura Rollison MS Learning Support Coordinator

Ms. Laura Rollison taught Middle School Humanities at KAS 2021-22. In the fall of 2022, she became our learning support coordinator for MS/HS. Laura is a graduate of NYU and Dartmouth College, and has been teaching English, EAL, and Humanities in international schools since 2012. Most recently, Laura taught at ICS Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, and at the American Embassy School in New Delhi.Living and working in Taiwan has brought her a new cultural awareness of East Asia, giving her a feeling of respect and gratitude for the opportunity to be here at KAS.

Amos Ruffer MS 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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

MacKenzie Daniels MYP Math

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

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.

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.

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.

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 MunkholmMYP MathClint 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Bark bark, bark bark 2023 bark bark bark. Woof woof. Bark. Woof woof bark bark KAS.

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.