Noel is an experienced Early Years teacher who studied in Cambridge and has completed his Masters in International Education. With a passion for empowering young learners, Noel has worked in IB schools with students aged 3-7 years old for over 18 years in Shanghai, China. He strongly believes in co-constructing the learning environment to empower student action and voice.

As a father of two children, he understands the importance of creating a supportive and nurturing classroom atmosphere. While studying he also worked in the field of care. His background in working with adolescents and adults with various learning needs, physical disabilities, mental health issues, and supporting this in assisted living has provided him with a unique perspective on education and community support.

In his free time, Noel enjoys walking, reading, cycling, yoga, meditation, and even attempting to learn the ukulele. His diverse interests and experiences outside of the classroom contribute to his creativity and dedication to fostering a positive learning environment for his students. With a commitment to student-centered learning and community support, Noel is a dedicated educator who continuously seeks to inspire and empower young learners.

Margaret was born and raised in Western Australia and then moved to Queensland in 2014. She has a Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Education. Margaret has been teaching for over 25 years in Perth, Western Australia; Sunshine Coast, Queensland; and internationally in Beijing (ISB) and Hong Kong.

A passionate early childhood educator, Margaret enjoys helping students develop their full potential through meaningful connections. She believes providing opportunities that continually challenge and inspire children to become problem solvers, communicators, risk takers, empathetic and life-long learners is an exciting journey. Building family connections is important to Margaret as is embracing new approaches to learning and education.

When not at work, Margaret enjoys going to the beach, Hot Pilates, walking, running on the treadmill and exploring new places. She is excited to be part of the BCIS community.

Jan Boshoff, an enthusiastic early years educator with nearly seven years of experience teaching children aged 4-6 in IB PYP schools. His educational background includes a degree in Information Technology from South Africa, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, complimented by a TEFL certificate from China.

He believes young children are capable of remarkable achievements when supported by a nurturing and inspiring learning community. He focus on fostering a child-centered environment that encourages exploration, inquiry, and collaboration. He aims to build strong relationships with the children in his care through playful and real-life experiences, helping them connect learning with their natural interests and skills.

By emphasizing positive attitudes towards problem-solving, creative thinking, and playfulness, Jan supports children in constructing their own knowledge and understanding of the world. He strives to create a culture of learning and respect, where children feel valued and empowered.

When he is not teaching, Jan enjoys engaging in creative projects and outdoor activities. Whether it’s woodworking, exploring nature, or experimenting with new technologies, these experiences fuel his passion for lifelong learning and inspire the dynamic and engaging environment he aims to create in the classroom.

Gabrielle "Gubbi" Potvin comes from a small town in the state of Maine, USA. This is where her passion for teaching young children first took root. Her journey began in her high school vocational program, Early Childhood Occupations. It continued with a scholarship to the University of Maine at Farmington, where she focused on Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology. 

After graduation, Ms. Gubbi found her calling as a public preschool teacher in the RSU50 school district, all while pursuing her Masters in Early Childhood Education. Seeking a new challenge and adventure, she made the leap to Qatar, where she spent 9 years delighting in the company of 2.5-year-olds.

Now embarking on her 15th year of teaching and her first year at BCIS, Ms. Gubbi is eager to create more cherished memories and inspire young minds. Outside of the classroom she appreciates the arts, enjoys laughter with friends, and revels in the discovery of all things shiny and new in her surroundings. Her enthusiasm for learning and nurturing shines through in all she does. Ms. Gubbi looks forward to finding her place in the school and community to share her strengths and continue to learn. If you need her, just look for the flower in her hair. 

JieYuan believes that teaching is about inspiration, not just information. Knowing the importance of early childhood development, she respects children as individuals with positive attitude, and always learns and improves the way of supporting them to bring out their full potential.

With broad training and teaching experience in multi-culture environments, JieYuan holds an Early Childhood Credential from American Montessori Society and a Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Education Ministry of China. Before joining BCIS, she worked for an international Montessori school and then a China-Finland joint kindergarten in Beijing. She enjoys being part of the lively BCIS community!

JieYuan came to Beijing for her university from Hanzhong, Shaanxi province in 2004. She gained a Bachelor's degree in English from North China Electric Power University, and then a Master's degree in Education from Moreland University. Before becoming a teacher, she had years of project management experience in prestigious multinational companies.

Outside the classroom, she loves reading, listening to different kinds of music, doing simple indoor exercise, and spending time with her son, family and friends.

Sofia brings over twelve years of teaching experience, with a passion for creating a classroom environment that encourages curiosity, exploration, and a love of learning. She holds a master's degree in TESOL and has spent eight years teaching at an international British school in Santiago, Chile, working with students from many different backgrounds. More recently, she spent two years working in the Early Childhood Center at BCIS, supporting young children as they begin their learning journey.

Born to a Scottish mother and having lived in Aberdeen for several years, Sofia enjoys sharing her cultural roots in a way that sparks curiosity and connection. She loves Beijing and China, and has traveled across Asia, discovering new places and stories along the way. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and discovering new ideas that inspire her teaching.

Sofia believes in valuing each child's unique interests and developing a classroom that feels welcoming and nurturing. She aims to foster a sense of wonder and confidence, helping students grow both academically and personally. She’s excited to support her new Grade 2 students as they continue to learn and explore together.

Sam is a passionate early years teacher dedicated to nurturing young minds. Sam holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in International Early Years Education from the University of the West of England.

Sam has been teaching in China for 6 years, starting as a teacher of English as a foreign language and then transitioning to early years education. Inspired by children’s enthusiasm and passion for learning, she strives to continuously expand her own knowledge to better guide her students.

Sam's teaching philosophy centres around the importance of social-emotional skills in early years education. Recognising that these skills form the foundation for lifelong and collaborative learning, she creates a nurturing and inclusive environment where each child's unique abilities and interests are embraced. 

Beyond teaching, Sam explores her creativity through cooking, reading, and travel. Through these experiences, she continues to grow personally and professionally, bringing fresh perspectives and inspiration into the classroom.

With a commitment to fostering a love for learning and empowering young learners, Sam strives to instil curiosity, resilience, and a strong foundation for future academic and personal success.

Rui Du, originally from Beijing, China, graduated from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, with a Master's in Teaching, focusing on early years and primary education. Rui's passion for nurturing young minds led to three years of dedicated work at BCIS.

Prior to joining BCIS, Rui gained valuable experience as an early childhood teacher at a childcare center in Melbourne for three years. Additionally, Rui had the opportunity to broaden her horizons by spending time in Japan for placements, fostering a profound understanding of diverse educational approaches and gaining an international perspective.  

Rui's teaching philosophy aligns with the value of play-based learning, recognizing that children learn best through active and hands-on experiences. Inclusive education is another aspect close to Rui's heart, as she firmly believes in involving all children in the learning process, empowering each child to embrace their unique potential.

With a teaching certificate in primary education from China and being a registered early childhood teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) in Victoria, Australia, Rui brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the classroom. Beyond her professional endeavors, Rui enjoys reading, traveling, and embracing every opportunity for personal growth.

Kinsey is from the United States of America and has lived in Beijing, China for over 10 years. She adores teaching children at an Early Childhood level and has been an ECC teacher for 9 years. She also worked in ECC leadership for 4 years as the Phase Leader for a British School in Beijing and Head of School for an international Kindergarten in Beijing. She is a passionate educator who truly values these foundation years in a child's learning journey and believes in the power of learning through play. 

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2011 and her Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2017. She is currently working on her Masters in Education with a focus on Early Years. She believes that learning is a continuous journey and is always seeking new ways to develop herself.

She is an avid reader and enjoys getting lost in a good book, baking, traveling and spending quality time with her husband (a Beijinger) and her young daughter. 

I'm Rochelle "Chelle" Boshoff, a qualified teacher from South Africa with a true passion for early childhood education. I have over 5 years experience teaching children aged 3 to 6. My academic background includes a Bachelor of Education and an Honors degree in Educational Psychology, providing me with a good understanding of child development.

I firmly believe in the capability of every student. In my classroom, children are not just learners but also contributors, capable of surprising us with their ideas and potential. I aim to foster a problem-solving classroom with a positive and responsive approach to classroom management.

At the heart of my teaching practices is a commitment to addressing the unique needs of each child. I am dedicated to cultivating a learning environment that is both engaging and welcoming, inspiring a lifelong love of learning in my students. My goal is to support each child to reach their full potential.

Building and maintaining positive relationships with parents is a cornerstone of my role. I strongly believe in the importance of open, regular communication to best support each child's development and learning.

Beyond teaching, I lead an adventurous lifestyle with my husband. Whether we're exploring new places, snowboarding down mountainsides, hiking in the great outdoors, or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, we find joy in diverse experiences.

Cathy is from Beijing, China. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Literature and a Master's in Linguistics of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from Beijing Normal University. She has been working at Beijing City International School for 14 years. This is her 10th year working at the Early Childhood Center (ECC) as a PK flow teacher. She is honored to be a part of the BCIS family and is thrilled to guide her students through play-based pedagogy.

Cathy is a qualified IB teacher and IBEN workshop leader, she is also a WASC International Visiting Committee member. In her spare time, she enjoys having fun with her daughter Coco, reading, drawing, swimming, and traveling with family and friends.

Attila joins BCIS from South Africa and has eight years of experience in China, five of those teaching young children. He is passionate about teaching and helping children grow as individuals. His teaching journey in China has ignited a strong devotion to early childhood education. He is passionate about creating a safe environment for children to feel comfortable, which then allows them the freedom to explore their world without fear.

Attila believes that play-based education provides children with everything they need to grow. He believes that play utilizes children’s past experiences and opens them up to learning from other children. These social interactions allow them to build on their knowledge. He wants to become a part of their world and support them by observing their interests and expanding on them.

Attila has a degree in Language and Linguistics from the University of South Africa. This degree is invaluable to his work with young children who are learning English as an Additional Language and provides a unique insight into how children learn English. Attila also has a degree in Early Childhood Education from University of West England.  These two degrees are the perfect combination of knowledge, enabling Attila to provide a strong curriculum for the children in his class.

Attila is married to Miss Sam, one of our Nursery teachers. Together they enjoy diving and travelling.

He looks forward to teaching our BCIS children and being a part of their lives.

Crystal comes from the northern part of China. She graduated from Capital Normal University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She has been working at BCIS since 2008.

She appreciates the opportunities to work with students at both the Elementary School (ES) and ECC. She has always believed that children learn best when the learning environment is designed to meet the developmental needs of each child, one that encourages exploration, creativity, and independence. She thinks an environment that provokes the understanding of new concepts and encourages children to interact in ways that develop language, thinking skills, and a love of nature is key. She loves being in the classroom with children and seeing their happy smiling faces as they explore their learning environments.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, swimming, and spending time with family and friends. She feels very blessed to be part of the BCIS family.

Dan graduated from New York University with a Master of Teaching English as a Second Language and Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.

She has worked with students from Toddler to Grade 12. She has been a part of the ECC team for four years. Learning new things in education, especially in the early years, excites her. She is happy to be able to integrate play-based learning into her teaching and is excited to begin all the exploring, learning, and fun with the children.

In her spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also loves reading and hiking. She feels very blessed to be part of the warm BCIS community!

Wai is from a small town called Nicoya in Costa Rica. He moved to the US, where he graduated from high school and returned to Costa Rica to get his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the University of Costa Rica. Wai also holds a Post Graduate Certificate in International Education from Nottingham University, UK and became TESOL certified. He brings 12 years of experience working with children from newborn to 8 years old in an early childhood environment. 

Wai has been living in Beijing for 12 years, he has worked in early childhood centers for six years as a leading teacher implementing a play-based curriculum and a couple of years as an art teacher in an art academy. He also had the fabulous opportunity to work for one year in a Montessori kindergarten and four years implementing the PYP as a homeroom teacher. Working for many years and implementing various international curriculums has provided Wai with phenomenal experiences, and knowledge, making him fully prepared to lead children to become lifelong and global learners. 

In addition, working for a long time in China has given Wai a fantastic chance to understand more about the culture, traditions, and language, which makes it easier to work with young learners. 

Wai has a gorgeous Beijinger wife and two beautiful daughters. He loves spending time with his family and friends in his free time, going to the park, amusement park, shopping, eating out, playing the drums, playing basketball and soccer, dancing and traveling. 

Wai is delighted to be a member of the BCIS community and looking forward to a wonderful year.

Emma is from Jiangxi province in the South of China. She has been working with early childhood children since 2006, when she graduated from university specializing in education. After graduating, she spent four years in Guangzhou where she worked as a bilingual teacher and academic director. Following this, she then moved to the capital, Beijing, with her husband. She has a great passion for early childhood and believes teaching and learning should be differentiated and personalized according to a child’s interests and learning style.

Emma is honored to be a part of the BCIS family and is very excited to explore new learning experiences with children.

In her spare time, Emma enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Grace Chen graduated from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom, with a Master’s in Marketing. She also attained an Early Childhood Education Teaching Certificate. In 2019, she volunteered in a local Australian kindergarten to deepen her knowledge and understanding of early childhood education.

Since working at the ECC, from 2014, Grace has found that early childhood education is what she is passionate about. She enjoys watching children develop new knowledge and acquire new skills through a play-based learning environment.

Hope is from the north of China. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language and a Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Education Ministry of China. Now she is studying for a Masters certification through Beijing Foreign Studies University. She has been working at Beijing City International School for five years.

She is so fascinated with teaching and happy to be able to integrate play-based learning into her teaching and is excited to begin all the exploring, learning and fun with the children.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also loves reading, drawing and traveling. She enjoys working at the ECC and is very happy to be a member of the BCIS Community.

Chelsea is from Beijing, China. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. Chelsea has dedicated the past 11 years to Beijing City International School, where she has built a rich career in early childhood education. She discovered her passion for teaching younger children while she stepped into the role of Nursery Homeroom Teacher during pandemic.

Embracing the belief that each child is unique, Chelsea is dedicated to fostering a nurturing and stimulating learning environment. She is committed to respecting each child's individual pace, ensuring that learning experiences are tailored to children’s interests and developmental needs. By valuing children's voices and encouraging their agency, she strives to create a space where they can thrive and explore their potential.

In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys reading, cooking, swimming, crafting, and traveling with family and friends.

Janice  comes from the sunny island of Singapore and holds a Master’s degree in Inclusive and Special Education, which she earned from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

She began her career as an assistant teacher, where she had the opportunity to observe and learn from experienced educators both locally and internationally. Inspired by their dedication and expertise, Janice's passion for teaching grew, and she realized she wanted to take a more active role in nurturing and influencing the next generation. With over 15 years of teaching experience, she is dedicated to collaboration, community building, and helping others find a sense of belonging.

Janice has also gained international experience in Australia, Turkey, and China. Immersing herself in the different cultures and lifestyles of these countries has deepened her desire to learn about the places she resides in. Her travels and time living abroad have allowed her to share unique perspectives and stories with others.

In her spare time, Janice enjoys learning new things. She has completed a basic certificate in Media Studies and continuously challenges herself to retain what she learns. Additionally, she loves cooking, baking, cycling, exploring nature, and discovering the history and trying different cuisines of the host countries she lives in and visits.

If you know of any great places to visit that has an interesting story, she would love to hear from you! 

Jo-Ann is a seasoned educator with 19 years of experience working with children. She is currently in her 9th year at BCIS, where she strives to create a nurturing and purposeful learning environment that caters to diverse learning styles.

Through play-based learning and inquiry, Jo-Ann empowers her students to become independent thinkers and engaged participants in their own learning.  She places a strong emphasis on fostering caring and respectful attitudes, encouraging her students to be mindful of their environment and considerate of others. Prior to her transition to early childhood education, Jo-Ann held a certified teaching position in Secondary Education, where she specialized in Physical Science. She has since obtained a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as an Early Years Montessori Diploma from the North American Montessori Center. Additionally, she has extensive training and experience in Early Childhood Education and the IB Early Years Programme.

Most recently, Jo-Ann completed her certification for Early Education Leadership from Harvard University and has been certified as an IB Workshop Leader. She is a strong advocate for personalized learning and child-centered inquiry, utilizing the latest best practices in the field of early childhood education.

Beyond her professional experiences, Jo-Ann is an avid traveler who believes that exploring different cultures promotes the development of empathy, diversity and learning. In her free time, she also enjoys cooking, singing, and reading.

Jo-Ann feels privileged to be a part of the BCIS community and is dedicated to providing her students with a nurturing and enriching educational experience.

Kelly is originally from Manchester in the North West of England. After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood studies, she went on to attain a Post Graduate Qualification of Early Years Teacher Status at Manchester Metropolitan University with a specialism in working with 0-5 year old children. Since gaining her Early Years Teacher Status in 2014, Kelly has been teaching in Switzerland. She is passionate about early years education and initially worked in a bilingual early years nursery. In 2015, she took the opportunity to work in a bilingual IB candidate international school as the Lead Pre-School Teacher.

Outside the classroom, Kelly enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She is looking forward to continuing to work internationally at BCIS and is excited to be part of the BCIS team.

Laura is a firm believer in young children learning through play and this is at the heart of her teaching philosophy. She believes character building and mindfulness to be an important tool in a child’s development. Laura inspires her students to be risk takers and supports them in becoming globally competent and compassionate.

Laura completed a Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Swansea University. Previous to this, Laura lived in South Korea where she taught English as a Second Language, this is where she fell in love with Asia and teaching.

Laura is from the UK and taught in the city of Cardiff for many years. Over those years, she helped set-up a new school and was a large part of the school community, becoming a Governor and ICT Coordinator at the school.

When first meeting her partner at Swansea University, the first thing they discussed was teaching internationally. After gaining lots of experience in Cardiff, they fulfilled this dream in 2019 and moved to Beijing to teach at a bilingual school, working as a Grade One Teacher and Coordinator.

In her spare time, Laura loves to travel, read, run and watch Welsh rugby.

Linda has taught at Beijing international schools since 2011. She got her Bachelor’s in Child Development from Michigan State University with a language arts specialization and an early childhood endorsement. Throughout the years, she has been the lead teacher in Nursery and Grades 1-6 classrooms.

Linda grew up in a bilingual and bicultural household and attended international school in Taiwan. Because of her personal experience as a student in the international school system, she is especially passionate about her work here at BCIS. She really enjoys learning more about multilingualism and language acquisition.

In the summer of 2016, she married her husband Romer, whom she met in Beijing. In her free time, she enjoys bike rides, trying new restaurants, and cooking with friends.

Mary is from the south of China. She graduated with a BA in Pre-school Education, and also holds a teacher certificate in Pre-school Education. She has three years of experience as a homeroom teacher and a Kindergarten Chinese teacher before joining BCIS. She has learned much through these experiences about real teaching and real children beyond what is found in textbooks.

Mary has been working at BCIS since 2010. She is very excited to be working with people from around the world and really appreciates the opportunities to learn from others. In Mary’s class, she likes her students to learn in a natural and joyful way. She also loves to share Chinese culture with her students, and not just through language, but in other interesting and engaging ways as well. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, swimming, reading, singing, and spending time with family and friends.

Hello! My name is Megan Reinders. I started my teaching career as a teacher assistant in 2011 and have been a homeroom teacher since 2016. I am very excited to be teaching at BCIS in 2022. This year will be my 5th year teaching in China, celebrating diversity and encouraging students to succeed in their learning, creating meaningful hands-on experiences through play, promoting a love of learning, and bringing out the best in every student.

I am looking forward to working together in partnership with parents and the community to provide an engaging and supportive classroom environment.

I am a South African early childhood teacher with a Bachelor of Education from the University of South Africa. I have worked closely with children ages 2-6 during my 12 years of experience. I believe that every child is unique in their way. I will do my best to reach a child’s full potential in a play-based learning environment.

I am a person with lots of energy who enjoys sports and loves travel, and I’m pretty adventurous too. I am an enthusiastic educator who is passionate, friendly, and caring.

It is a great opportunity for me to join BCIS this year. As we continue to adapt to change, I know we will make the best of the 2022-2023 school year. It will be a productive school year with many new adventures, challenges, friends, and discoveries.

Rina is a native Beijinger who graduated from the Beijing Language and Culture University with a Bachelor's degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. She also holds a teaching certificate in Kindergarten Education. She has more than ten years of experience working in international education and two years in a local kindergarten as a homeroom teacher during her early teaching days. She is excited to be teaching here at the ECC in an IB World School that fosters inquiry based learning and learning through play.

Rina’s interests include painting, cooking, and traveling.

Sissi Qi is from Hubei Province of China. She started her teaching career in Beijing in 2007 and received a Master’s Degree in Preschool Education from Capital Normal University.

Sissi’s mom is a primary school teacher in her hometown. Inspired, her dream was to become a teacher. Before joining BCIS in 2014, Sissi worked in an Educational Consultant Company that provides services to different kinds of early childhood centers around Beijing. Since joining the BCIS community, Sissi has embraced the BCIS mission and philosophy in her everyday work. In 2017, she volunteered in a local Australian kindergarten to deepen her knowledge and understanding of early childhood education. Working with the children at BCIS, she has enjoyed how much they learn and grow through play based learning and looks forward to continuing this into the future.

During her spare time, she likes to read, sing, exercise, and travel. She feels honored to be part of the BCIS community!

Winnie is an experienced early years educator from Qinghai Province in northwest China. A graduate of Beijing Language University, she has dedicated 16 years to fostering young children's development and learning. Her passion for education and bilingualism drives her to create enriching experiences for her students. 

Winnie has extensive experience in translanguaging, supporting children's learning and development through both English and Chinese, as well as integrating Chinese culture into the curriculum. She loves working with children, expanding their minds, and helping them explore new concepts. Believing that children learn best in a loving and nurturing environment, she prioritizes socio-emotional development in her teaching. A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Winnie believes that teachers learn from their students just as much as students learn from their teachers.