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Nathan has over 30 years of educational experience, including experience as an Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, Web Master, and professional tennis instructor.
A North Carolina native and world traveler, Nathan holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Education and a Master's degree in School Leadership. He brings his passions for service learning, global citizenry, and problem-based learning to DAIS.
Ms. Essack holds a Master's degree in Science and a PGCE in Education. Her professional experience includes being a Secondary School Principal, a Curriculum Coordinator, a Department Head, a Middle School/High School Science and Biology teacher and a School Guidance Counsellor.
As a school leader, Lubaina values authenticity, transparency, academic rigor, and the spirit of harmonious collaboration. Her primary educational focus is on inquiry and skills-based teaching that promotes critical and creative thinking, information literacy, communication, collaboration, and innovation.
Mr. Jones holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Communications Studies, and a Postgraduate Degree in Primary Education from the University of Toronto. He is a global citizen who was born in the U.K., raised in Canada, and has enjoyed his journey into international education at schools in Seoul, Beijing, Changsha and now Dalian as an Elementary Curriculum Coordinator, Grade Level Leader, Homeroom Teacher, Librarian, and Technology Integrator.
Mr. Jones is passionate about promoting 21st century skills, while encouraging students to develop a growth mindset, which will help them achieve their personal best in every aspect of their life. He is looking forward to creating an environment that fosters creativity and innovation, incorporating Inquiry Based Learning and Project Based Learning.
Mrs. Capozzoli obtained her Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston. She also has a Master's degree of Elementary Education and a post graduate degree in Educational Psychology.
She has been in education for 20 years and working internationally for over 10 years. Mrs. Capozzoli has served in several roles including curriculum, leadership, and teaching a variety of grade levels.
Ms. Lydia Donahue has more than 13 years of international teaching experience.
She holds a Master's degree in Education from Arizona State University. She also has a Teacher Certification and a National Board of Teacher Certification. Her previous positions include Instructional Coach and Special Education Teacher.
Ms. Smith graduated from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal with a degree in Business. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of South Africa.
Lauren has more than four years of experience working in China. Her previous positions include a Kindergarten ESL homeroom teacher and Bilingual School Elementary teacher. She is passionately involved with sports and enjoys spending time outdoors.
Mr. Medeiros is an Upper Elementary Math and Science teacher originally from the US. He holds BA in Communications, a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, MA in Teaching (K-6), a Teacher Certification and a K-6 General Educator License among other certificates.
With 15 years of teaching experience (Math, Science, STEM, ESOL, and homeroom), Mr. Medeiros is also a multi linguist: he speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, and Mandarin.
Mr. Martin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, and a Master’s degree in Education Management.
Working in education since 1991, Mr. Martin taught in the UK and US as an artist and teacher visitor. He also traveled to Pakistan under a UNESCO scholarship to show his artwork and to teach drawing. In Peru, he taught Creativity, Art History and Drawing of the Human Figure in local universities and art schools. Recently, Mr. Martin has been giving talks and lectures to local art teachers in different cities of China, regarding Creativity, Art History, and Sustainability in Art Education.
Ms. Lemay has a Master’s degree in Music Performance from University of Montreal.
As a professional musician, Ms. Lemay toured in Europe and performed with several orchestras and ensembles in North America. She has 10 years of teaching experience in Canada, Haiti and recently in China. She developed acute arts management skills while working for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in their Education team. Her latest and proudest accomplishment has been designing and implementing a music program for the Canadian International School of Guangzhou.
Ms. Tafoya has more than 12 years of teaching experience.
Ms. Tafoya has a Bachelor's degree of Applied Science in Elementary Education and Master of Arts in Elementary Education with a Math, Science, and Educational Technology (MSET) Concentration. Her prior roles include a Classroom Teacher, Lead Engineering Teacher, Reading Interventionist, Robotics Coach, Grade Level Design Lead, and Head of Educational IT.
Ms. Morillo has developed expertise in curriculum design and implementation with over three decades of experience in academia. As an international educator she has acquired cultural awareness, as well as teaching and learning expertise while working in South Korea, Ecuador, Morocco, USA, and China.
Ms. Morillo earned her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the Montclair State University of New Jersey and Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Universidad Central Del Ecuador. Her previous positions include a university professor, Curriculum Coordinator, IB Coordinator, IB Extended Essay Coordinator, Head of Department, ELL Specialist, and Spanish and English Language Arts Educator.
Mr. Reed graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Art degree in Integrated Language and his secondary teaching certification. He received his Master’s degree in International Education from King’s College London.
In 2011, Jordan moved to Dalian to teach English in a different environment. Jordan is a lifelong learner who brings his enthusiasm for learning into the classroom every day. His love of writing and literature propels him to help students find a voice that is their own.
Bobby Flanagan serves as the DAIS Social Studies Department head and is an extremely proud graduate of the first public university in the United States, The University of North Carolina, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and currently working on a Master's degree in Educational Leadership.
His teaching experience started 20 years ago, and since then he has been working alongside grades 8-12. An expert in Geography and History, he has worked with both AP and IB curricula. Mr. Flanagan has been involved in all areas of school life, having been a Student Government advisory, grade level leader, Prom Coordinator, and varsity basketball, track, and soccer coach.
Mr. Iwanyshyn is a proud graduate of MacEwan University (Bachelor of Science), and the University of Alberta (Bachelor of Education), both in Edmonton, Canada. His educational expertise lies in the physical sciences, with specializations in Physics, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Psychology.
Besides an extensive teaching experience, Brandon ran multiple summer fitness camp programs for students and organized, created and lead a weekly student newscast.
Mike Ng is from Denver, Colorado. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an Independent School Teaching Certificate from British Columbia, Canada, with qualifications to teach Mathematics and Physics subjects. He also recently received IB Certificate in DP curriculum from DePaul University, Chicago, USA.
Mr. Ng has worked internationally for over ten years in Mexico, America and China, including 5 years of teaching experience in Dalian.
Ms. Guan joined DAIS in August 2011 after she earned her Master of Education degree from Hong Kong University in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. She holds both National Teacher Certificate and a Certificate for Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.
During working time in DAIS, Ms. Guan attended many workshops as she loves to try new teaching methods. She also enjoys to take students out for study trips and make students learn in authentic community.
Ms. Gulnora has 18 years of experience working as an international teacher. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Philology from Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages and a Postgraduate Certificate of Special Study in Teaching and Learning from Westminster International University in Tashkent.
Her previous positions include ESL teacher, ESL Head of Department, MYP and DP English teacher, grade level coordinator and summer camp director.