Welcome Message :
Welcome, and nice to meet you everyone. I dream that through our active interaction, students will be able to understand themselves, others, and the world. I will do my best to give great education, love and support to our wonderful students. I am great. You are great. WE ARE GREAT!
Education & Experience :
'연세춘추' 편집국장, '뿌리깊은 나무' 기자, '중앙일보' 기자, 정치부 차장, 1998년부터 5년 동안 청와대 대통령 연설 담당 비서관(1급), 2001년 8월부터 '고도원의 아침편지' 시작, 현 '고도원의 아침편지' 주인장, (재) 아침편지 문화재단 이사, 명상센터 '깊은 산 속 옹달샘' 운영, '못생긴 나무가 산을 지킨다', '꿈너머꿈', '사랑합니다 감사합니다' 외 저서 약 30권
Name :
Mr. James Green
Academic Director
Welcome Message :
Hello everyone! I am excited to be serving as the academic director for BDS and programs manager for the Minerva Baccalaureate program. As the first school in Asia to take on this exciting program I am proud to oversee the unique adaptation we will use to integrate this wonderful curriculum into the already fantastic BDS programs.
Education & Experience :
Master of Education, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, TESOL/TEFL Certification, Washington DC Teaching & Administrative License (in progress), 9 years teaching experience across 4 countries, 5 years medical experience and 4 years entrepreneurial experience
Name :
Mr. Marlon Loaiza
Subjects :
Minerva Baccalaureate
Welcome Message :
Hello my name is Mr D. I am really excited to teach English Literature and Composition as well as World Cultures this year for the BDS MBacc program. I know we’re going to have a lot of fun, and most importantly grow and help create a better world together!
Education & Experience :
Master’s in International Business (in progress) with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from New Jersey City University, USA. 12 years of teaching experience in 3 different countries with students from around the world. Licensed instructor and certified IB (International Baccalaureate) teacher as well as AP (Advanced Placement) and Cambridge (A Level and IGCSE) plus 10 years of successful entrepreneurial experience.
Name :
Dr. Joanne Vakil
Subjects :
Minerva Baccalaureate
Welcome Message :
Greetings! It is an honor to be teaching MB Geometry and Biology this year. I look forward to working with you as we immerse ourselves in these disciplines and understand how interconnected and relevant Math and Science are to our lives, as captured in the words of Ada Lovelace, “Mathematical science shows what is. It is the language of unseen relations between things. But to use and apply that language, we must be able to fully appreciate, to feel, to seize the unseen, the unconscious.”
Education & Experience :
PhD in STEM Education, Master’s degrees in Mathematics for Educators and Learning Technologies, and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature with 17 years of classroom teaching experience.
Name :
Mr. Sean Striefsky
Subjects :
Upper School Social Studies
Welcome Message :
"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana
This most famous quote is recited in nearly every social studies course around the world, year after year, and with (mostly) good reason. However, social studies are not merely learned to avoid catastrophe but rather to pass on our shared experience as a species and to recount both the negative and positive things that have occured. It's important that we learn history and learn from history but furthermore that we don't let past mistakes hinder advancement in the future. So let's work hard to learn about our history in order to help us create a brighter future!
Education & Experience :
Bachelor of Science in Psychology with 3 years of teaching experience and 10 years of professional experience in multiple fields including IT, logistics & trade.
Name :
Ms. Yolanta Siu
Subjects :
Upper School Language Arts
Welcome Message :
Hello, I am Ms. Siu, and I will be the language arts teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. Through mastering the English language, we will learn how to not only express ourselves creatively but to also communicate effectively. I look forward to building up our reading, writing, and speaking skills together so that we can grow to be good members of our communities.
Education & Experience :
Bachelor of Arts from Berkley, TEFL Certificate (2014) with 7 years of education experience, 2 years of professional experience as a landscape designer, and 5 years of experience as a photojournalist.
Name :
Mr. Spencer Song
Subjects :
Elementary Homeroom
Welcome Message :
Hello everyone! I am excited to be serving as the elementary homeroom teacher again for the BDS elementary program! Science is all around us and I am excited to help my students discover the exciting nature of the world around them!
Education & Experience :
Master’s Degree in Education with a Washington DC teaching license (in progress), Bachelor of Science in Psychology with 3 years of teaching experience and 4 years of experience as a paraeducator across 3 countries.
Name :
Ms. Rebecca Mione
Subjects :
Elementary Homeroom
Welcome Message :
Hello everyone! I am proud to be taking on the role of elementary homeroom teacher. We will work through language arts and social studies to build both sound body and mind. I hope you are looking forward to this like I am!
Education & Experience :
Masters of Linguistics (in progress), Bachelor's degree in Performing Arts (2016), TEFL Certification (2017), 5 years teaching experience in all age groups.
Name :
Ms. Sue Lee
Subjects :
Creative Arts
Welcome Message :
Hello everyone, I will look forward to working with everyone again this year to explore and perform a variety of music pieces. We will continue developing individual performances as well as string, piano and percussion ensembles. Let’s try our best to perform to our full potential!
Education & Experience :
Master of Music at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) & a Hawaii Teaching License with a Bachelor of Music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (London), Licentiate of Trinity College London (LTCL) for instrumental teaching, ABRSM grade 8 piano and distinctions in violin and viola.
Name :
Ms. Jae Yeon Kim
Subjects :
Yoga
Welcome Message :
명상, 요가, 무예를 통해 건강한 몸과 마음을 만들어가며 행복한 삶을 살아가는 힘을 길러주고 싶습니다. 소중한 여러분들의 꿈을 응원합니다.
