Faculty

Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Thomas Farrell

Dr. Farrell has over 35 years of administrative experience in American Education, including 15 years as Superintendent of Schools in Aspen, Colorado (1988-2003) and 5 years at Kennebunk, Maine (2003-2008). He has also taught at several colleges and universities in the US. He holds his BA in Political Science from the University of Maine where he played basketball and baseball, his MA in Administration from the University of Southern Maine, and his Doctorate from Nova Southeastern in Miami, Florida. He also attended the Principal's Academy at Harvard. Dr. Farrell is beginning his fourth year as Director at KAS. He lives here with his wife, Debbie. They have three sons, Thomas, Lucas, and Nicholas.

High School Principal
Dawn Rock

Ms. Dawn Rock is in her fifth year at KAS. She came to us with 11 years of experience, including 7 years in international schools. Dawn holds a Bachelor’s of Arts from the University of California, San Diego, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the State of California, a Master’s of Arts in Educational Administration from Michigan State University , IB qualifications, and an Administrator Credential from the State of Michigan. Currently she is working on her Doctorate’s degree from the University of Minnesota.  Dawn is married and has one son who attends KAS.

Elementary and Middle School Principal
Gerard Dery

Gerry Dery, from Western Massachusetts in the USA, is in his second year as Elementary/Middle School Principal. He has been a school principal for 24 years. Mr. Dery is a licensed administrator with his Master's Degree from Lowell in Massachusetts. He has traveled extensively and has an excellent reputation as one of Massachusetts most successful principals. It is obvious the Mr. Dery is an experienced and well educated administrator, and he has fit in nicely with the students and staff at KAS. He clearly is a student centered Principal who promotes open communication.

Teachers & Staff

Sarah Berg

Sarah Berg will be beginning her fifth year as a secondary school teacher at Kaohsiung American School. She earned a bachelor’s degree for English literature and her teaching credentials at the University of Nevada, Reno. Sarah has taught in the United States, Bolivia and Kuwait. She spent the first part of her childhood in Bolivia and Brazil, where her mother was a teacher and father was a principal of American schools. Sarah is married with a young son named Zachary.

Shawn Berg

Mr. Berg is from the United States of America and has worked at Kaohsiung American School for five years as a fourth grade classroom teacher. Before coming to KAS, Mr. Berg taught third grade in Kuwait. He earned his post-bachelor degree in education at Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada. Shawn has a teaching certificate from the State of Nevada. He is married to Sarah, a secondary teacher at KAS.

College Counselor
Parker Beverage

Parker Beverage comes to KAS as our first College Counselor. His credentials are incredible. After 25 years at Colby College in Maine, USA, a top 25 rated Liberal Arts College, Mr. Beverage just retired this past June as Dean of Admissions. He was in admissions at Stanford and Dartmouth before going to Colby. Parker is a graduate of Dartmouth (although he was accepted to attend Harvard) and did all of his advanced degree studies at Stanford. He is one of the most respected Dean of Admissions in the entire US.

Bruce Buck

Bruce Buck comes to us after a successful 34 years of teaching high school math in three Florida High Schools. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida where he earned his Masters and his BA is in mathematics from Bradley University in Illinois. Mr. Buck has coached several sports and has been a successful athletic director.

Jennifer Chen

Ms. Jennifer Chen is a graduate (with High Honors) of Georgetown with a major in International Politics and a minor in Southeast Asia Studies.  While attending Georgetown, Jennifer was a Teaching Assistant in college Chinese classes and worked with MUN and the United Nation’s Children Fund. She attended an IB High School and has lived in Taiwan, the USA, Italy and Thailand.

Julia Chiu-Ling Chen

Ms. Chiu-Ling Chen grew up in Republic of South Africa, majoring in violin and piano at the University of Cape Town, where she earned her BA and a Masters Degree in Music Education and Post Graduated Higher Diploma of Education. She obtained CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adult) from Cambridge University, and is a qualified teacher in teaching PYP, and IBDP. Her music teaching experience includes 6 years at Rondebosch Boy’s School in Cape Town, 6 years in AST (American School in Taichung), Taiwan and in year six at KAS.

Melody Chen

Ms. Chen returns to KAS and her Kindergarten position after a Leave of Absence last year. She has been with KAS since 1999. Melody earned her Master’s degree and BA from California State University in Child development. She also has training and experience in Montessori Schools in the USA.

John Chin

John D. Chin from Manitowoc, Wisconsin is a member of our math department. John graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology where he studied science industrial design. He earned his MA from Framingham State College in Massachusetts and has taught in the US, Mexico and the Netherlands. Mr. Chin is also an IT teacher at KAS.

Christian Choquette

Christian Choquette will be teaching Social Studies and Science at the Middle School. He has nine years of teaching experience. He began his career in New York where he taught for 7 years at Windsor Central High School and he spent the past two years teaching at Pacific American School in Hsinchu. Mr. Choquette advised Student Council, SADD, a Student Newspaper and MUN, he has hosted technology oriented clubs and coached football, basketball, bowling and ping-pong. He is well experienced in integrating technology in classroom lessons. Christian earned his BA at Hawaii Pacific University in Justice Administration with a minor in Political Science and his MSEd in Secondary Social Studies Education from the State University of New York - College at Oswego. He obtained his CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults) from Cambridge University in 2001 and his Permanent Secondary Social Studies Teaching Certification from the State of New York in 2002

Justin Cohen

Justin Cohen is teaching Middle School English and science at KAS this year. Mr. Cohen earned his BA from Western Illinois University and his Master.s in Cross-Cultural education from National University in San Diego, Ca. He is a certified teacher with 9 years of experience. Before coming to Kaohsiung, Mr. Cohen taught English and social studies in Colombia and California. He also taught physical education and coached varsity girl.s volleyball in Honduras where his team won the 2009 Association of American Schools Central American Championship.

Guidance Counselor
Lori Dietrich

Our new Guidance counselor is Lori Dietrich from San Diego, California. She has 12 years as a counselor and teacher. Lori earned her BA from the University of Wisconsin, her MA in Counseling at Chapman College and has three certifications. Ms. Dietrich also has her Level II and CLAD certifications from San Diego University.

Miriam Ebinger

Miriam Ebinger has been our Grade 2 teacher since August, 2008 at KAS. She is a certified teacher under the State of Washington, U.S.A. and has been teaching since 1996. Her degrees include a Master of Education in Reading & ESL; B.A. Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Major, and Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Major. Miriam has  served as a Title 1 Reading Specialist for three years working with a majority of ELL students in the Ferndale, WA school district.

Chikako Fukuyo

Ms. Fukuyo is a graduate of Australian University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Teaching Degree. Chikako taught for 3 years as an English teacher for students of age 3-12 years in Japan. Ms. Fukuyo became a certified Japanese Language Teacher by completing training at New Global Language Training Center in Tokyo. In 2003, she came to work at KAS where she begins her 10^th year. Ms. Fukuyo has IB training in Japanese.

Beth Garner

Beth Garner will be teaching biology at KAS. Ms.Garner graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College with a BA in biology and German and from Appalachian State University with an MA in biology education. She has taught biology for 27 years at Elkin High School in NC. Beth has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Ms. Garner has been excited about starting her new career in international education for a few years. Her many years of success as a biology teacher, along with her IB training, brings to KAS a wealth of teaching experience, energy, and a very strong educational background in biology.

Dr. Marilou Gallos

Dr. Marilou Gallos is in her second year as our chemistry teacher at KAS. She has a BA, MA and PhD. in chemistry and has a wealth of teaching experience. Dr. Gallo has taught at the high school level for many years in the Philippines and spent three years (2006-2009) teaching at Central High School in South Carolina, USA. Dr. Gallos also served as a Dean at the University of San Carlos in the Philippines. Marilou has IB experience and training.

Jennifer Gilbert

Jennifer Gilbert is beginning her third year as the sixth grade reading and social studies teacher at KAS. Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with a dual major in English and Media Studies. After working in trade publishing, Jennifer returned to school to earn her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Fairfield University in Fairfield. CT. Before coming to Taiwan, Jennifer taught sixth grade math and reading in Bridgeport, CT where she received an Outstanding Educator Award in May 2007.

Alvaro Graña

Sr. Graña is from Spain where he graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela and earned a MEd in teaching Spanish by the Universidad Antonio Nebrija, Madrid. Alvero is a certified teacher in Spain and the UK and has taught in Europe, the United States, Kuwait and now in Taiwan, where he started the Spanish program. Mr. Grana was appointed IB Diploma Coordinator in 2009 and has played a vital role in our becoming an IBDP School. Our Spanish class blog is http://parlanchin.edublogs.org

Nicole He

Nicole He is a Chinese teacher in year five at KAS. Nicole received her Bachelor’s of Education Degree from Southern Taiwan University in 2006. Before coming to KAS, Nicole taught fifth grade Chinese and math at the local elementary school in Kaohsiung County. Currently she is working on her Master's Degree in Chinese Literature. Nicole is IB trained.

Sarah Hill

Sarah holds a BS in Environmental Policy and a MA in Elementary Education with ESL endorsement from the University of Michigan. She has an Elementary Certification from the state of Michigan. Prior to arriving at KAS in 2008, Sarah taught fifth grade in the Pacifica School District in northern California. Before entering the indoor classroom, Sarah taught environmental science at outdoor schools in northern California and was the ecology and gardening teacher at Ulloa Elementary School in San Francisco.

Larissa Hsia-Wong

Larissa Hsia-Wong teaches ELL. Larissa was born and raised in California and has taught ELL for two years. After graduating from Georgetown, Ms. Hsia-Wong entered the Peace Corp and taught in West Africa for over two years. Her MA is in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard. Larissa graduated from high school at the very well known Chinese American International School in San Francisco where she learned her Chinese.

Hsin Yi Hsu

Hsin Yi Hsu is our new elementary school music teacher next year. Hsin Yi comes to us from Morrison Academy where she taught for 11 years. Hsin Yi Hsu is a graduate of Tainan Teacher College with her degree in Education with an emphasis in Music, and her Master’s is from Holy Name College in Oakland, California in Music Education with Kodaly Emphasis.

Angel Huang

Angel Hsin-Yi Huang will be our new Chinese teacher. Ms. Huang has seven years experience of teaching Chinese and ELL. She comes to us from Private Chingshin Elementary School in Taipei where she has taught for the past 4 years, and she previously taught in Thailand. Ms. Huang earned her BA at National Hsinchu University of Education and her MA in Chinese at Chinese Culture University in Taipei. Angel is also the Taipei Teacher Martial Arts champion, and she has won numerous awards for outstanding teaching. We are very fortunate to hire such an accomplished teacher from Taiwan.

Dorothy Hung

Dorothy Hung is a first grade teacher at KAS. Ms. Hung graduated from the University of Southern California with an M.A. of Applied Linguistics and an M.S. of Education. She holds a Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a BCLAD (Bilingual, Cross-Cultural, Language and Academic Development) Emphasis from California, which authorizes her to teach elementary and ELL students. Dorothy’s teaching career began as a public school teacher in Los Angeles in 1989. Since joining KAS in 1996, Ms. Hung continues to be one of our most respected staff members.

Martha Johnson

Martha Johnson has a BA in Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University and an MA from Michigan State University. She has her Professional Certificate in Educational Media k-12 from the State of Nebraska. Ms. Johnson’s unique teaching experience in the library has been in Nebraska, Cali, Colombia, Cairo, Egypt, Yokohama, Japan, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Kaohsiung, Taiwan where she is beginning her 4^th year at KAS.

Gloria Kao

Gloria Kao first joined Kaohsiung American School in 1990. She is a secondary school Chinese teacher. Her accreditation comes from the Chinese Teacher Teaching program and the Mandarin Training Center of the National Taiwan Normal University She is the CAS Coordinator for the IB Diploma Program. Gloria is married with two daughters, both very successful KAS alums whom she frequently visits in the United States.

Wanda Kiernan

Wanda Kiernan is from the Philadelphia, Penn. Area. She graduated from Lock Haven University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education. She taught in Virginia in several different grades, ranging from 2nd grade through middle school. She served on the team that began a Math Science Academy in her school which involved writing curriculum. She was selected Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005. She has taught math at Kaohsiung American School for six years.

Dan Kinzer

Dan Kinzer is a graduate of Vanderbilt in 2003 with a BA Degree in Psychology (concentration in Neuroscience). He was a member of the Honor Society and played varsity basketball. He is certified in social sciences and IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK), which he has taught for the past two years. Mr. Kinzer has 5 years of high school teaching experience in the US and Curacao. He is also CPR/First Aid trained in wilderness survival. Dan is in his second year at KAS and teaches social studies at the secondary school.

Erin Kinzer

Erin Kinzer is a graduate of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas. Her major was in Communications-Broadcast Journalism with a minor is Psychology. She has a Master’s of Science in Exercise Science and is certified in 5 disciplines. Erin played varsity soccer at SMU and was recently the Assistant Coach of the USA Woman’s Deaf Olympic Soccer Team. She also played professional soccer in Sweden. Ms. Kinzer has four years of teaching experience in Florida and Curacao.  She currently is the High School PE teacher and Athletic Director.

Linda Kuiken

Ms. Linda Kuiken will be our new IB physics and math teacher. She comes to us with a wealth of experience and currently teaches at the American School of Madrid. Linda earned her MA in Math at Iowa State University and a second MA in Gifted and Talented Education from Augustana College in South Dakota. She has her BA in Math from Northwestern. Ms. Kuiken is a Nationally Certified Teacher in the USA, corrects AP exams in Physics and is a consultant for the College Board. She is also an IB Teacher. Linda has 33 years experience as a Physics and Math Teacher.

Philip Leigh

Philip Leigh comes to us as a recent PhD Graduate in English from the University of Texas. He also has his BA and MA in English from Bowdoin College and the U of Texas. He has IB training as well. He has taught at Northfield Mount Hermon and Worcester Prep in New England, two top private schools in the USA. He also taught English at the University of Texas for the past three years, giving him 10 years of teaching experiences. Mr. Leigh could chose to teach at the college level, but he is very excited about coming to Kaohsiung American. Philip’s parents were both successful teachers and administrators in the state of Maine.

Whitney Little

Whitney is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a major in History and minor in Language Arts. She has 5 years teaching experience in both public and private schools in the DC area. Ms. Little’s many strengths include teaching ELL students in the regular classroom and differentiation. Whitney actually had 35 students in her middle school classes during her very first year as a teacher.  Ms. Little is very flexible and will be able to teach in two or more disciplines.

Melinda Martin

Melinda Martin is in her second year teaching 5th grade at KAS. Melinda is a graduate of Cornell (Ivy League) where she graduated with High honors. Ms. Martin has taught in New Zealand and Korea and completed her student teaching at Kaohsiung American School. Melinda played basketball in high school and college. She is married with a child.

Danielle Naimey

Danielle Naimey is a secondary science teacher at KAS. Ms. Naimey received her Master's Degree in Education from The University of Southern Maine in 2010 and her Bachelor's Degree from The University of Southern Maine with a major in Contract Science of the Earth with concentrations in Environmental Science and Geology in 2006. Danielle was teaching in Las Vegas, Nevada before coming to Taiwan. This is her third year at KAS.

Sayoko Oda

Sayoko Oda is in her second year as our elementary school art and one of our secondary school Japanese teachers. Sayoko taught IB art (MYP) at the Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan. Ms. Oda also taught in Nevada. She graduated with her BA in art and a minor in Chinese from BYU in the USA.

Pearl Ortiga

Pearl Ortiga obtained her Bachelor and Master of Education from TCNJ (The College of New Jersey). She is certified by New Jersey State Department of Education, Middle States Association and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Pearl taught at Grace Christian Academy in Manila for two years. Ms. Ortiga volunteered as lecturer for Taitung Teachers College (Taitung University) for 3 years and professional development presenter for Taitung public school teachers for two years. Pearl has been at KAS for 20 years.

Carol Paglialunga

Carol Paglialunga is a new Spanish Teacher this year at KAS. She is from Spain and has a BA and MA in Spanish. She will teach at the High School.

Peter Rock

Peter Rock teaches technology and IB economics to secondary KAS students. Mr. Rock was born in Canada and completed his BEd from the University of Alberta. Immediately after completing his degree Peter has taught at an international school in Alexandria, Egypt, Canada, Lebanon, and Cameroon. Mr. Rock has been at Kaohsiung American School since 2007.

Jana Kay Smith

Ms. Jana Kay Smith teaches grade 6 math and science. Ms. Smith is from New Braunfels, Texas where she has also taught elementary and middle school for 15 years. Jana has taught in the American School of Dubai and the Bahrain Bayan School. Ms. Smith was awarded “Teacher of the Year” for New Braunfels in 2000. She has presented at conferences throughout the US in math, and has coauthored ten books.

Ken Su

His background is in athletics and is fantastic. You will be pleased to know Chris Castro gives him a very high evaluation. I have known Ken for over a year now, and he is a wonderful role model. Ken is from Tainan but went to College at Pomona in California. He played in the Taiwan Professional Baseball League for a few years, and he then was hired by the New York Yankees as their chief Asian scout, which is his current job. Ken is married to Kerry and has a new born daughter as of December. All three have dual citizenship. Ken also has a sister and brother who are number one violinist and cellist in the Hong Kong Symphony.

Diane Ping Teng

Diane Teng is in her second year as our Grade 3 teacher. Ms. Diane Teng is from Los Angeles, and she has been a PYP teacher and is certified and highly qualified in the US where she has three years teaching experience in southern California. She earned her Master's Degree from Cal Poly in Pomona, Ca. and her BA from Tunghai University in Taichung where she was the president of the senior class. Diane also has played in the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.

Erin Tuttle

Erin Tuttle Hawes is in her second year as one of our High School English Teachers. Ms. Hawes previously taught in Castle Rock, Colorado. Erin has her Master’s Degree from New York University and her BS from Northwestern. She has taught English for 10 years and has earned the Outstanding Teacher Merit Award for four straight years. She is a qualified IB teacher.

IT Coordinator
Myron Tuttle

Myron Tuttle is our IT Coordinator. He comes to us from Colorado where he was a Technical Support Engineer. Myron has his BS Degree in Math from the University of California-Irvine and his MBA from the University of Denver. He is married to Erin Tuttle, a member of our English staff.

James Watz

James graduated with a B.A. in Education (and a double-major in history), with honors, from the University of Michigan (’01) and a B.A. in General Studies from the University of Michigan (’98). He spent one year studying voice performance at Miami University (OH). He has a State of California Professional Clear Teaching Credential in Secondary Social Sciences. He taught middle school geography and history in the San Francisco Bay Area for five years before moving to Taiwan in 2008.

Wendy Weng

Wendy Weng is an ELL Teacher at Kaohsiung American School where she has taught for 6 years. Wendy has been teaching English for more than ten years since graduating from college. Ms. Weng went to college in Taipei in Fu Jen Catholic University with a major in English. After graduating from college, Ms. Weng went to the University of Texas to earn her Master’s Degree in Education. She also worked on her ESL teaching certificate in the linguistic department.

Aimee Zvinakis

Aimee Zvinakis hails from San Francisco and is in her second year as our upper school art teacher. She attended international schools as a student growing up in Southeast Asia and knew she would return as a teacher one day. Aimee has a BA in Fine Art from UC Santa Cruz and an MEd in Art Education from UC Santa Barbara. She spent three years as an environmental educator working in school gardens and has also been an elementary classroom teacher for two years. Aimee first year teaching art was at a middle school in Santa Barbara. Her art students last year won several art competitions and their numerous art works around school were excellent and very much appreciated.

Interns

Zachary Thibodeau

Zachary will be the first Teacher Intern/Teacher in KAS History. He is a recent graduate with Honors from the University of Maine. He completed his practicing teaching at the International School of Genoa in Italy and is IB trained and has IB experience in Genoa.

Teaching Assistants

Neroli Chung

Neroli Chung is the Kindergarten teacher assistant after spending last year with grade 4. She graduated from Chinese Cultur University.

Vivian Huang

Vivian Huang graduated from Wenzao Ursuline College of Language in 2001. She will be administrative assistant to the Athletic Director and IB Coordinator.

Grace Lee

Grace Lee is the Grade 6 teacher assistant for he second year. She graduated from WenZao Ursuline College.

Lily Liu

Lily Liu is the Grade 3 teacher assistant. She graduated from Chang-Gung Medical University an has been with KAS for three years.

Jessica Liu

Jessica Liu is in her second year as the Grade 1 teacher assistant. She graduated from Chia-Nan Pharmaceutics College.

Claudia Merk

Claudia Merk is the Grade 4 & 5 teacher assistant. She graduated from IShou University and has been with KAS for three years.

Joyce Yang

Joyce Yang is in her second year as the Grade 2 teacher assistant. She graduated from I-Shou University.