WASNJ｜An Introduction to the Upper School Teachers

?During the recently celebrated Teacher's Day, we filmed a short video introducing some of the new teachers who have joined the Wycombe Abbey Nanjing community this academic year. During the shoot, we encountered several lively secondary school students who eagerly recommended their own "treasure" teachers. The students' admiration and affection for their teachers were evident, and today, with the same excitement, pride, and gratitude, we invite you to meet more of the "guiding lights" of our Wycombe Abbey community.

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Currently, the secondary school at Wycombe Abbey Nanjing has a total of 72 teachers, with a balanced ratio of international and Chinese teachers (approximately 1:1). The average teaching experience is over 10 years, with around 55% holding master's degrees or higher, and nearly 7% holding doctorates. Over 70% of the teachers have overseas study experience or cross-cultural teaching backgrounds.

Some of them are graduates of globally renowned universities, some have decades of teaching experience, and others bring rich industry expertise and outstanding frontline work experience. Not only can they explain complex secondary school concepts in a clear and accessible manner, but they also bring their broad life experiences and global perspectives into the classroom. With their wealth of teaching experience, they provide personalised education, effectively inspiring and guiding students during this crucial period of shaping their values and worldview, helping them reach even greater heights.

Dr. Su graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the Mathematics Department of Shandong University, later pursued a direct Ph.D. program in Mathematics at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. He possesses a total of 14 years of teaching and management experience across multiple universities and secondary schools in the UK and China. Dr. Su has a profound understanding and grasp of the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western secondary education. Also, has extensive experience in college guidance and pastoral care.

Peter Malan holds a Bachelor of Psychology from University of South Africa, and a Master of Educational Management from University of Dundee, UK, with 18 years of experience in education. He has worked as the head of design, STEAM and computer departments in many well-known international schools in China, and has rich teaching experience in mathematics, psychology, environmental science and other disciplines. Peter has also been Head of outdoor Education and has extensive experience with the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.

Mrs. Zhu holds a Master's degree in Financial Economics from the UK, UK PGCE and NQT teaching qualifications. She has 7 years of teaching experience in primary and secondary schools in the UK, with highly praised classroom management skills and expertise in differentiated instruction.

Ms. Yumul holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education, a Master's degree in Education Studies, and a PhD in Educational Management. She possesses 27 years of experience teaching mathematics at international schools in the Philippines and China, covering both middle and high school levels. Before joining WASNJ, she taught at renowned international schools in Guangzhou and Xi'an.

Mr. Gruber holdsa Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Goldsmiths University of London, a Master’s degree in Business Finance from Brunel University, and a PGCE teaching qualification from King’s College London. With 22 years of experience as a Mathematics teacher, Head of Mathematics Department, and Assistant Principal at various secondary schools in the UK, he moved to Asia in 2019. He has taught GCSE and A-level courses at renowned international schools in Thailand and China.

Holding a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, Netherlands, Andy has an extensive professional background. With 13 years of experience as an electrical engineer at renowned Dutch energy company Eneco and as a construction engineer at Ballast Nedam, he brings a wealth of industry knowledge. Later, Andy transitioned to teaching roles in mathematics, computer science, science, and English at universities and international schools in Thailand and China, accumulating a decade of teaching experience.

Mr. Miles holds?a Bachelor’s degree in Theoretical Physics from Queen Mary University of London, with 11 years of teaching and management experience at international schools in the UK, China, and other regions. He has been responsible for teaching Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics, as well as curriculum design and teacher training. He excels at creating outstanding learning experiences through interdisciplinary and project-based approaches, enhancing students' academic performance and critical thinking skills.

Mr. Newson holds?a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Yorkville University, Canada, with 14 years of experience teaching both secondary school and university courses. He has served as a lecturer in Digital Signal Processing, Integrated Circuits, and laboratory courses at Nanjing University of Science and Technology. Additionally, he has taught Mathematics (Calculus), Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Engineering at a prestigious international school in Nanjing, and has led clubs in robotics design, drone design, Arduino programming, and remote-controlled aircraft. Before joining WASNJ, Benjamin worked as a high school teacher and IT technician at a renowned private school in Canada, where he also mentored students participating in the VEX Robotics World Championship.

After obtaining a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Mr. Yin worked as an architectural designer and concept artist for a design company in Los Angeles, specializing in theme park architecture. Additionally, he has been involved in the prototyping of art installations and light projection design. Possessing a teaching license from the United States and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the UK, he has served as an art and design teacher in international schools in Hefei and Casablanca.?In addition to teaching, Mr. Yin is also actively involved in guiding students with stage design. He is the lead stage designer for WASNJ's 2024 annual production of?Tinkerbell.

Mr. Tan holds?dual Bachelor’s degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and the University of Edinburgh, UK. After graduation, he worked as a research and teaching assistant in Edinburgh, teaching engineering physics and mathematics, and conducting research in microsystems and nanotechnology. Upon returning to China in 2009 with his wife, he has served as a science and mathematics teacher and Head of Science Department at several prestigious international and bilingual schools in China. He has in-depth and systematic experience in teaching GCSE, A-level, and AP curricula. He also has extensive experience and unique insights in university applications and interview coaching for STEM students.

Ms. Mohimani holdsa Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Islamic Azad University. She has taught Biology, Chemistry, and English at various international schools in Iran and Hungary, with extensive experience in A-level teaching.

Ms. Zhuang holds?a Master's degree in Light Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor's degree in Pulp and Paper Machinery from Nanjing Forestry University. She has 10 years of teaching experience as a chemistry teacher in several well-known international and bilingual schools in Nanjing, as well as many years of experience working in the chemical industry.?

Mr. Jin holds a?Master of Analytical Chemistry from Nanjing Tech University, served as the project leader and core participant in several scientific research projects, and successfully published papers in SCI journals. She is also the recipient of the Shijun Scholarship, with significant achievements in the application and research direction of new energy materials.

With an MBA from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies from the University of Westminster, Ms. Leng has held various roles including a reporter in the Education and Culture Department at the English edition of?Global Times, an International Education Project Manager at the Olympic Games Organizing Committee, and an Education Product Marketing Manager at John Wiley & Sons, USA. She later transitioned to the international education sector, where she has taught IGCSE and A-level Economics as well as IELTS. She brings extensive experience in interdisciplinary teaching and international curriculum development.

Mr. Lau holds a Master's degree in Finance from the University of Cambridge, a Master's degree in Finance from the University of Hong Kong, and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. He previously worked in an IT role at Procter & Gamble (P&G), followed by positions in investment strategy and financial modeling at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong and British Land in London. Before joining WASNJ, he served as an economics teacher at the International High School Division of Nanjing Foreign Language School.

With over 30 years of experience teaching Business and Economics at both university and secondary school levels, Mr. Grace has taught BTEC and GCSE/A-level courses at universities and renowned preparatory schools in the UK, as well as at international schools in Bangkok and Romania. Before joining WASNJ, he was an Economics teacher at the sister school, WAS Changzhou. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the UK, with a minor in Marketing and Social Psychology.

Mr. Iwanek holds?a Master’s degree in Political Science from Marie Curie-Sk?odowska University in Poland and a Master’s degree in Sociology from CIVITAS School in Warsaw. Previously served as a Research Fellow for the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he researched and drafted materials on foreign and human rights policy issues. He has also worked as the Office Director and Education Project Manager at the Humanity in Action (HIA) Foundation in Poland, overseeing international scholarship programs related to youth education, social movements, and human rights. Additionally, he has served as a Secretary at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and as a Communications Officer for the European Council on Foreign Relations in Warsaw, amassing over 10 years of experience in global public affairs. Since 2019, she has been involved in international education, holding a UK QTS teaching qualification, and has taught English, Sociology, and Global Perspectives at international schools in Thailand, covering IGCSE and A-level courses.

Mr. Willing holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham, UK, with a Bachelor's degree in History. He also holds a teaching qualification certificate from Canada, with 10 years of experience in teaching English, History, and Politics at renowned international schools in China. He enjoys soccer, rugby, cooking,?and history in leisure time. Currently he is also the Housemaster of Scott in WASNJ.

Mr. Liu holds?a Master's degree in the History of Sino-Foreign Cultural Exchanges from Lanzhou University, and has conducted research on Middle Eastern history as a visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Qatar campus. With 7 years of teaching experience in Chinese history and AP International History courses, he specialises in providing personalised assistance and guidance tailored to students' needs.

Ms. Gu holds?a Master's degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College, where she worked as a research assistant. After graduation, she served as a high school psychology teacher at a prestigious international school in Beijing, where 50% of her students achieved the highest scores on the AP Psychology exam. She also guided students to excel in the John Locke Essay Competition (psychology topic). She is dedicated to helping each child build confidence, discover themselves, and ultimately create meaningful connections with the world through psychology.

Mrs. Aulakh holds?a Bachelor's degree in Humanities (20th Century Art/Environmental and Political Studies) from Brunel University London, with 24 years of teaching experience in English, humanities, drama, debate, and related subjects. Previously served as Head of English at Fulham Preparatory School, a top private school in the UK, as well as Head of English and Media at a well-known international school in Beijing, and a senior English teacher at multiple primary and secondary schools in the UK. Specialises in using P4C (Philosophy for Children), a teaching method based on collaborative inquiry and philosophical dialogue, to help students develop critical thinking skills. Since 2003, has been an A-level examiner for various UK examination boards.

Mr. Robidoux holds a?Master's degree in Oriental Medicine from the United States, and a Ph.D. in Acupuncture and Tui Na from Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has 16 years of teaching experience, and previously served as an a English teacher at Southeast University and worked in editing and project management at People's Health Publishing House. Before joining WASNJ, she taught English at an international school in Nanjing.

With 15 years of experience teaching English at the secondary and university levels, Mr. Corrigan has served as an English lecturer at Jiangsu Second Normal University and Xiaozhuang College. He has also taught MYP, DP, and IGCSE English courses at several well-known international schools in Nanjing. He holds a Bachelor's degree in English and a PGCE teaching certificate from the University of Sunderland in the UK.

Mr. Zacharias holds a Bachelor's degree in Media, Communication, and Cultural Arts, with additional studies in Library and Information Science. He possesses 6 years of work experience in international schools in China and Qatar and previously held positions as a librarian, computer science and graphic design teacher, and English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. He has extensive experience and a strong passion for library management and curriculum design.

Ms. Julie Li by herself is a demonstration of global citizen and global learner. She owns a bachelor’s degree in Computer Studies from Beijing University of Technology China, a master’s degree in Fundamental Computer Science from University Paris VII France, and a PGCE from University of Exeter UK. Julie has worked as a professional language educator in Nepal for nearly 5 years following her 10 years’ teaching career in UK. She is very conversant with British curriculum as well as IB curriculum. Ms. Julie Li’s profound experience in establishing international exchange programs for schools will certainly benefit the learning community here at WASNJ.

Ms. Sha has a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language Literature from Minzu University of China and a master’s degree in TCFL from University of Massachusetts USA. She used to teach in Vassar College US, where she helped building her consolidated understanding of cross-cultural teaching. Sandy values student-centered teaching methodology and believes that young people can be greatly inspired through reading literature.?

Mr. Xu holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Nanjing Normal University, a Master's degree in World Literature and Comparative Literature from Shanghai Normal University. He is recognised as a young outstanding language arts teacher in Jiangsu Province, and engaged in Chinese language teaching for nearly 20 years. As a visiting scholar, he was dispatched to Salamanca University, one of Europe's four classical universities, to serve as a guest lecturer in East Asian studies.?Mr. Xu has published two volumes in the Dictionary of Foreign Literature Appreciation, two volumes in the Jiangnan Culture Series, and two textbooks for Chinese language and writing, and was authored four research papers on Chinese language teaching and cultural folklore studies. He has extensive experience in "Comprehensive Chinese" education, and received numerous awards for public lessons, teaching plans, papers, and mentoring students in writing, public speaking, calligraphy, etc., at school, city, provincial, and national levels, totaling nearly a hundred times.

Ms. Zeng holds?a Master's degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from Nanjing University and a Bachelor's degree in Korean and Japanese from Dalian University of Foreign Languages. She was also selected for a government-sponsored Korean language study program at Kyung Hee University in South Korea. Since 2004, she has served as a middle and high school Chinese teacher at several renowned international schools in Nanjing. As a Cambridge A-level Chinese examiner, she has participated in numerous A-level grading sessions and is well-versed in the scoring system and criteria. Additionally, she has experience in teaching Chinese under various international curricula, including IB and AP.

With over 20 years of experience in music education, Mr. Kerr has served as Head of Music in various secondary schools and international schools in the United States, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Macau, China. He has extensive experience in guiding students in instrumental performance, concerts, and theatrical productions. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Huddersfield, UK, and a PGCE teaching certificate from Suffolk University, UK.

Dr. Rossitza is originally from Bulgaria, and is a very experienced and internationally recognised specialist music teacher and solo pianist. She studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music gaining her BA in Piano and Chamber Music, and then went on to complete her studies at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she completed her MA in Piano, and finally gaining her Doctorate in Piano Performance. During her extensive career she has been awarded First Prize in the distinguished U.F.A.M Piano Competition in Paris, First Prize in the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concerto competition, and was a finalist in the Carmel Music Society Piano Competition.

Ms. Yan holds?a Master's degree in Music Education from Trinity College of Music and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Xi'an Conservatory of Music. She has taught music at The King's School, Canterbury, one of the UK's top private schools, where she instructed GCSE and A-level music courses, guided music portfolios, taught one-on-one piano lessons, and led orchestra rehearsals. She has also taught at John Scurr Primary School in the UK and at arts institutions in Beijing. She is skilled in piano, dual-manual electronic organ, keyboard, and vocals, holding Grade 10 certificates in all these areas. She has performed at renowned UK landmarks such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, St. George's Church, and the Chapel of the Old Royal Naval College. Additionally, she has participated in various international music festivals and served as a keyboardist for two pop-rock bands.

Ms. Wang holds a Bachelor's degree in Music from Sichuan Conservatory of Music and a Master's degree in Performance from the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, Switzerland. She has collaborated with numerous international music ensembles, such as the Lugano Chamber Orchestra, the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, and the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. She strives for the perfect combination of a "rational mind" and a "passionate heart" in her performances, believing that music has the power to touch the soul.

Ms. Zhuge holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from East China Normal University and a Master's degree in Cello Performance from Cardiff University, UK. She has performed with several internationally renowned orchestras, such as the Nanjing Philharmonic Orchestra and the Nanjing University Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Li holds a Bachelor's degree in Musicology from Zhejiang Normal University, and a Master's degree in Piano Studies from the University of York, UK. She has 4 years of experience teaching high school music, piano for art exams, music theory, and sight-singing and ear training. Her classes are lively and vibrant, offering rich and diverse content. She places importance on nurturing and cultivating children's aesthetic concepts.

Mr. Heath holds a Bachelor's degree in?Jazz and Popular Music, with 13 years of music teaching experience. Also, he is a guitarist who has formed a band. In addition to jazz guitar performance, he excels in composition, recording, mixing, sound effects, and scoring. He Believes that teachers should be mentors beyond the subject matter. Apart from teaching music appreciation, music technology, and composition extracurricular courses, he also dedicates considerable effort to students' life planning and psychological growth.

Ms. Terry, brought to us from Illinois USA, has been teaching and directing in various performing arts subjects around the world for the last seven years. After graduating with her degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University in 2015, Ms. Terry has followed her dreams by helping students earn a place in high honor choral ensembles and has successfully directed large theatrical productions such as “The Little Prince”, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” After teaching in the USA, China and North Africa, Ms. Terry comes to Nanjing excited to help students pursue their passions in the arts, including one on one voice training, choirs and staged theatrical performances. With vocal repertoire ranging from popular music to jazz, to beautiful timeless pieces with soaring harmonies, Ms. Terry is looking for passionate, energetic students who are willing to take the stage. She is also the Director of WASNJ 2024 annual production Tinkerbell.

Mr. Miao holds?a Master's degree in Drama (with a focus on playwriting) from Nanjing University. He has acted in, written, and initiated multiple stage plays. He also has extensive experience in directing, curriculum planning, and teaching English.

Ms.?Hyeyoung Kim owns a PGCEi?(International) UK, a bachelor’s degree in Korean Painting from National University of Incheon Korea, and a master’s degree in Fine Art (Merit) from Anglia Ruskin University UK. Specialized in Korean painting, children’s book illustration and sculpture, Ms. Kim has an outstanding history regarding her personal achievement in professional art exhibitions and publishing. Mr. Kim believes that visual arts empower students’ creativity thus awaken the sleeping artist inside each of them.?

Ms. Xu?Holds a Master's degree in Art Education from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design from the University for the Creative Arts, UK, with 7 years of teaching experience in foundational art and design courses, fashion design courses, and drawing courses. She has provided long-term one-on-one guidance for over 30 high school students in designing their art portfolios, helping them successfully gain admission to prestigious global art institutions such as the University of the Arts London and Parsons School of Design. She has also worked as an assistant designer for the American fashion brand BABYGHOST and as a senior buyer for Oriental Fuhlaid Department Store. She specializes in garment pattern making, draping, and textile creation.

How do we understand the wind?

The most beautiful place a?seed can travel?

is the wide world?of thought.

We are thankful?to each?teacher?

for sharing,

without reservation,

the pass?they have walked,

the views?they have?seen,

and the places their hearts have explored.

They lift up the students?of WASNJ,

helping them soar to new hirizons.