Being a transient international community, YCIS Pudong welcomes new teachers to our school each academic year. We have strong working relationships with recruitment agencies and as YCIS is well known and respected within the international community, we are well placed to attract the best teachers to our school. We are delighted to introduce this wonderful group of new teachers who will no doubt add greatly to our already strong academic team.
The new teachers have introduced themselves in their own words. Let’s find out more about them:
Rachel Blijlevens, K2 Co-Teacher
“My name is Rachel and I am an ECE teacher from Aotearoa in New Zealand. I have been teaching in Early Childhood Education for twenty years, and believe our children learn and develop best when their culture, community and social connections are valued and respected. My daughter will be in Year 4 in the Primary School”
Juliette Broomhall, K2 Co-Teacher
“This is my first-year teaching with YCIS. Prior to my arrival here I have been teaching ECE in New Zealand, my home. I have had 7 years experience and a part of that has been as a Head Teacher. I am really excited to be a part of the early years team and create foundations for all children to be competent and confident lifelong learners.“
Krystal Yao, K2 Co-Teacher
“I am really happy to join YCIS Pudong. It is my pleasure to contribute my teaching experiences and professionalism in the ECE. I have been a Kindergarten teacher for 10 years; I enjoy working with children and love to be a teacher. I believe that interest is the best teacher, I will try my best to raise the interest of the children in learning. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Suzanne Watt K3 Co-Teacher
“I have now been teaching for 5 years in England across Early Years, KS1 and Lower KS2. My biggest passion is Early Years Education. I am looking forward to helping children be creative, enthusiastic and independent in their learning at YCIS.”
Helen Campbell, K4 Co-Teacher
“Halò. My name is Helen Campbell. My family come from Scotland (Alba), but we live on a tiny island in the south of England called the Isle of Wight. I have been teaching for 18 years, mainly in Early Years Education in the UK. For the past two and a half years I have been working in Tianjin at another International School. Early Years Education is a joy and a privilege to work in. I am looking forward to playing and learning with my class at YCIS.”
Tina Wu, Year 1 Co-Teacher
“I joined YCIS in 2017 as a Chinese supply teacher. I have also been the secretary of a research projects group on Chinese Ming Dynasty literature, and worked on teaching primary Chinese language and literature as well. I not only have insight into students, but the passion for contemporary Chinese culture and art, international communication and teaching methodologies as well. I believe that all students have great potential in finding beauty and a heart for associations, and that my role is to help them develop creativity and to gain confidence.”
Hannah Powell, Year 2 Co-Teacher
“I have recently moved to Shanghai and am just starting my first year teaching at YCIS Pudong. For the past three years I have been teaching a Year 2 class in my home town, Devon, England. Before this I also had experience teaching in various classes from Year 1 to 6. This year I am looking forward to enriching the children’s learning; enabling them to achieve the best of their ability. In addition, I am eagerly anticipating working with the international philosophy of YCIS.”
Francesca Newell, Year 2 Co-Teacher
“I started my teaching career in the UK after graduating from Canterbury Christ Church University in England. Since leaving the UK I have worked abroad in a British international preparatory school in the middle east for three years. I enjoy creating engaging and supportive lessons that challenge students and help them grow into lifelong learners. This is my first time in China and I’m very excited to be joining the YCIS team.”
Elaine Gu, Year 2 Co-Teacher
“I joined YCIS in 2017 and I am excited to work in this team. I grow up in Beijing, China. After graduated from the university, I finished a full year culture exchange program in US where I had classes in English and Culture and Child Education. My teaching career began in September, 2008 and I also had work experiences in training adults in companies and one year work experience in Princeton, US. I always encourage students and strive to make every lesson engaging, fun and relevant. As I came from a big family and I travel a lot to visit them each year, I believe I could work well with different families in different cultures.”
Tom Powell, Year 3 Co-Teacher
“This will be my first year at YCIS Pudong. I have taught in Primary schools within the United Kingdom for several years. I am looking forward to teaching with my co-teaching partner and intertwining our cultures for an enriching learning experience for our students. Furthermore, I am anticipating the great work all staff, parents and children will make together during the year.”
Paul Cartwright, Year 4 Co-Teacher
“Back home in England, I taught for four years in Key Stage 2, working in Years 4, 5 and 6. Before this, I worked as an EFL teacher in South Korea for three years. My main passions in education are sports and exercise. I am looking forward to my first post at an international school, working alongside such a diverse range of pupils, parents and teachers.”
Victoria Parr, Y4 Co-Teacher
“I’m Victoria Parr, from England, UK. This is my first year at YCIS but prior to joining I spent 4 years teaching in Beijing. I’m happy to be in Shanghai and to continue to teach in China. I’ll be a Year 4 teacher and I’m looking forward to being part of the school community and creating some lasting connections with students, teachers and parents alike.”
Sheng Lingling, Year 4 Co-Teacher
“Ijoined YCIS in 2017. I have taught Chinese both locally and abroad. Before I joined YCIS Pudong, I taught Ancient Chinese literature to students in a famous institute in Shanghai. Besides that, I also has overseas teaching experience at the University of Auckland, New Zealand for one year, where I taught Chinese courses at three local primary schools. I appreciate good teaching practices from eastern and western education. I love kids and have a great passion for teaching. I enjoy and am looking forward the new challenges and opportunities in YCIS.”
Jon Banks, Year 5 Co-Teacher (Year Leader)
“I am originally from the North West of England and I taught in the UK, before moving to Shanghai over 10 years ago. The opportunity to work alongside so many amazing students, teachers and families from all around the world and from so many different cultures is one of the many reasons why I love teaching. With a young family, Shanghai is certainly home and we are very excited to be joining the YCIS community.”
Robert Garth, Year 5 Co Teacher
“I am from Preston in the North West of England and have been teaching for 6 years, all in Liverpool, England, most of which have been in Years 5 and 6. I am looking forward to this new challenge of working at YCIS, with its commitment to education and unique opportunities. I am sure that this year will be extremely rewarding and fulfilling for the pupils and myself!”
Emily Feng, Year 5 Co-Teacher
“This is my first teaching year at YCIS Pudong. After graduating, I spent 12 years working at a local Primary School, where I acquired various Chinese language teaching strategies and accumulated rich experiences in teaching Chinese as the First Language. In the last 12 years, I have been honored with lots of achievement and teaching awards. I love students and firmly believe that love is the only key to opening the hearts of students.”
Holly Xue, Year 6 Co-Teacher
“I joined YCIS Pudong in 2018 as a Chinese language and class co-teacher. My teaching career began in 2011, and for the past seven years I have developed my teaching skills greatly and have gained experience in both local and International schools. I strive to treat students as individuals and to encourage each one to achieve their full potential. I am adept in finding the characteristics of students and adopting different methods to accommodate their needs. Not only through knowledge but also using the ability of inquiry and creative thinking is key to my teaching. ”
Karen Franklin, Primary EAL Teacher
“I joined YCIS in 2018 bringing nearly 30 years of experience in bilingual/EAL and dual-language education instruction and leadership. China is my third international assignment; I have also taught in the United Arab Emirates and Costa Rica, as well as in my home country, U.S.A. I am thrilled about my role as Primary EAL teacher and I am pleased to be a part of the YCIS Pudong family.”
Aliki Watson-Jones, Music Teacher (Primary and Secondary)
“I am new to the YCIS community this year, and I am looking forward to teaching both Primary and Secondary students at both Regency Park and Century Park campuses. My home country is Australia; however, I have spent the past 5 years working as Head of Music in a school in London, UK. I am excited to share my passion for music, especially singing, and to collaborate with students, staff, parents and the wider YCIS community.”
Emma Dodds, Primary Art Teacher
“I joined YCIS in 2018. I am from Durham City, England, and taught in the U.K. for 16 years. I am passionate about raising children’s awareness of global and environmental issues. I am also looking forward to inspiring the children to explore and express their creativity through art, and to help them develop skills that they can transfer to other areas of their lives.”
Kirstie McLeod, Primary Physical Education Teacher
“I studied Physical Education in Edinburgh and have been a primary P.E specialist for three years. My hometown is Glasgow, Scotland and YCIS is my first international school. I am looking forward to meeting all my new students and sharing my passion for P.E and lifelong learning.”
Erin Hardie, Primary Resource Teacher
“I am now in my second year in Shanghai and at YCIS having moved here from Australia. I joined YCIS in 2017 as a casual supply teacher. I am very excited to begin a fulltime role this year continuing in a supply capacity and also working with the Learning Resource Team. I am looking forward to getting to know the students and teachers across all year levels at the Pudong Campus.”
Andy Clapperton, Secondary Head of Learning
“Originally from England, I have spent over eleven years teaching languages in China. I have been Head of Department and Head of Year, working especially closely with IB Diploma students in recent times. I have a great love of travel and the outdoors and have been able to bring this into my professional life by leading International Award expeditions. I am excited to be joining the team at YCIS, and very much look forward to developing a new role in the school.”
Brandi Burtts, Secondary Drama Teacher
“I am excited to be joining the YCIS team as the Secondary Drama teacher in Pudong. Having lived in Shanghai for six years I have always wanted to be a part of such a vibrant school community. The best part of my job is being able to inspire my students. I can’t wait to share my passion for drama with the students of YCIS and to learn as much from them as they hopefully will from me.”
Omar Sheikh, Secondary Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher, and Technology Integrator
“I have worked in schools within the Middle East as Teacher and Digital Learning Coordinator since 2013 and now I’m excited to be joining YCIS Pudong. I was born and raised in London and look forward to newer cultural experiences and the opportunity to work within the school’s rich and vibrant international community where I hope to able to offer my skills and services for the development of young minds.”
Zoe Zhu, Secondary Chinese Teacher
“As a Chinese teacher of CFL and CAL, I joined YCIS in 2018. My hometown is Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. My love for Chinese has made me committed to Chinese teaching. I have had three years of Chinese teaching experiences at home and abroad. I am looking forward to spending a creative year at YCIS with the children, parents and staff, bringing happy and inspiring Chinese lessons to the students in Y6 and Y8.”
Sarah Chen, Secondary Chinese Teacher
“I joined the YCIS Pudong in January 2018. I started my job here as a supply teacher and helped out in the office. This gave me a great opportunity to get a better understanding of our students and school’s philosophy and objective. This year, I will teach Chinese in both Primary and Secondary at Century Park Campus. I am passionate and enthusiastic about education. I am looking forward to embracing the opportunities of this new academic year where I can help students achieve a lot and get along well with everyone in the community.