I believe teaching goes beyond a nine to five commitment. I see my role as winning hearts and minds. It’s about getting to know the students and helping them to discover their passions; it’s about showing students as many different experiences as possible and giving them choice and options in life.
I make the classroom environment safe so that children can take risks and make mistakes. Students trust me and are prepared to step outside of their comfort zones, to try new things and to persevere in the face of challenge, to problem-solve and think critically. I believe in developing a sense of sportsmanship and team spirit, valuing each member, building the potential of individual and team, balancing the needs of the individual with those of the team.
I actively seek feedback and input from students, as key stakeholders in their own learning. Assessment is transparent with learning outcomes clearly communicated to students. I use ongoing formative assessment to inform teaching and learning. Peer coaching and student self-assessment plays a key role in guiding next steps. I believe in making student learning visible to the wider community and invite parents into my lessons to see the teaching and learning.
As AD and Head of Physical Education my roles and responsibilities have been many and varied. These have included department leadership, curriculum development, establishment and coordination of extra curricula and interschool sporting activities and events, managing the school’s budget for Physical Education and mentoring other members of the PE department.
Taking time out to gain a Masters degree in International Education and Development, gave me the opportunity to link theory with research, policy and practice and critically engage with the educational challenges of low and middle-income countries. Through a multidisciplinary approach I was able to analyse the complex educational issues of resources constrained and/or rapidly expanding educational systems.
Physical Education Team Facilitator for Pondok Indah Elementary & Pattimura Elementary Schools
Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS)
August 2013 – Present
Team Facilitator/Team Leader for both Pondok Indah & Pattimura Elementary Schools at Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS)
- IASAS (Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools) Site Director for Rugby and Touch (2017)
- Head Coach High School JV Boys Rugby (2013 - 2019)
- Coach Middle School Boys Touch Rugby (2013 - 2019)
- Presented at APPEC 2015 #APPEC15: Student Peer Assessment Through Inquiry Based Learning.
- Making Thinking Visible: Building Understanding through Critical & Creative Thinking (2015)
- CIS / WASC Physical Education committee member (2013 - 2015)
- IRB Coaching Level 1 (2014)
Yokohama International School (YIS)
2012 – June 2013
Middle School Physical Education Teacher
Designed a strategy to audit the schools Service Learning
Athletics Director, Primary & Middle School PE Teacher, After Schools Programme Coordinator
International School Dhaka (ISD)
July 2009 – June 2011
Primary and Secondary Physical Education Teacher (1 year)
Head of Primary School Physical Education (1 year)
Athletics Director and After Schools Programme Coordinator
• In a school culture where commitment to sport was not valued by students, I feel that one of my biggest successes was to raise the profile of sport in the school and local community. Over time I worked with staff and students to create a sense of identity and pride in the sporting arena that transferred to other areas of school life.
• I worked closely with the PYP coordinator to insure consistency in pedagogy, developing deeper conceptual understanding through more meaningful connections to grade level programmes of inquiry.
• Using a backward design model in both the MYP and the PYP I created assessment tools and strategies to help teachers gain a deeper insight into students skills and attitudes that in turn informed planning and teaching.
• In this and previous jobs, as AD and Head Coach, I have taken responsibility for organizing and chaperoning sporting and outdoor education trips to other countries.
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Boys Basketball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Girls Basketball
- Head Coach of the Varsity Girls Basketball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball
- Head Coach of the Varsity Girls Basketball
- Coached the Athletics Team (Track & Field)
- Organised, Accompanied & Coached the Junior Boys Basketball Tournament in Kuala Lumpur
- Organised, Accompanied & Coached the Upper Primary Boys Football Team to Compete in Bangkok
- Organised, Accompanied and Taught on the Grade 7 & 8 Scuba Diving Trip to Borneo
- Accompanied and Coached on the Athletics Team (Track & Field) Trip to Kuala Lumpur
K. International School
July 2007 – June 2009
Head of Physical Education (Early Years - Grade 10)
Athletics Director for the School
• One of my major successes during my time at K. International School was the formation of a whole new sports league in Tokyo. This changed the face of Tokyo inter school sport for smaller schools, which prior to this were unable to access competition games in the league of larger, more established schools.
• During my time at K international, I transformed Physical Education into a legitimate subject that was reflected in the stages of planning, teaching, assessing and reporting.
• I put in place systems to facilitate consistency and cohesiveness within the school’s sports programme that spread to other areas of the school.
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Girls Basketball
- Head Coach of the Varsity Girls Basketball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Boys Football
- Coached the Varsity Boys Football
- Organised, Accompanied and Coached the Junior Varsity Boys Football Tournaments to Osaka
- Accompanied the Upper Seniors Trip to Chang Mai for Habitat for Humanity
Khartoum International Community School (KICS)
July 2005 – June 2007
Head of Physical Education (Early Years - Grade 12)
Athletics Director for the School
• I was the founding Head of PE and Athletic Director at KICS. This brought many challenges but also many rewards.
• I wrote the PE curriculum for the primary and secondary schools and was a major contributor to the school’s PYP and MYP authorization process. I developed from scratch a school identity within the regional sporting community and established a credible reputation for the school.
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Girls Basketball
- Head Coach of the Varsity Girls Basketball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Boys Basketball
- Head Coach of the Varsity Boys Basketball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball
- Head Coach of the Varsity Girls Volleyball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Boys Volleyball
- Head Coach of the Varsity Boys Volleyball
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Girls Football Team
- Head Coach of the Junior Varsity Boys Football Team
- Head Coach of the Athletics Team (Track & Field)
- Organised, Accompanied and Coached the Athletics Team to Compete in Jordan
- Organised, Accompanied and Assistant Coached the Junior Varsity Boys Football Team to UAE
