Brendan grew up in the United Kingdom but has been teaching abroad for most of his professional career. He worked for 3 years in the private sector in South Korea before moving to China in 2017. Since then, he has taught elementary education at a number of international schools.
Brendan earned his undergraduate degree in business, ICT, & education at Nottingham Trent University and is currently working towards gaining a master’s degree in advanced teaching at the University of the People.
Away from teaching, Brendan is passionate about football, which he plays every weekend and is an avid supporter of Arsenal Football Club. He loves to travel around China experiencing new foods, cultures, and beautiful scenery. He loves to read and enjoys snowboarding, too.

Born in Manchester, England, Alex studied at Nottingham Trent University where in 2004 he gained a BSc with honors in Design and Technology. Already knowing that teaching was his passion, he went on to receive his PGCE in 2005.

In all he does, Alex’s aim is to create the best learning experience for his students, to explore and develop their transferable skills through Technology in a safe, creative, and encouraging learning environment.

His career in England provided him with a variety of settings, challenges, and influences that have shaped the teacher he is today. Alex started teaching in an inner city estate school and then, four years later, moved to a large, newly built academy as a second in department. This second school provided him with the opportunity to help create a Design and Technology department from scratch, leading it’s first cohort to academic success.

Alex and his wife love the excitement of living in China, and are thrilled to be part of the BCIS community. Alex’s love of building computers and playing computer games will continue in this land of wonder and adventure…. as will his ever growing collection of Transformers, much to his wife’s dismay!

As a professional educator since 1986, Amanda has been fortunate to have had experiences in learning and teaching that allowed ongoing professional and personal growth, while continually refreshing her passion for teaching.

Starting her career in Australia, where she taught for several years, Amanda embarked on an international teaching career that continues to this day. This journey has included working and living in Japan, Turkey, Kuwait, China, Indonesia and Malaysia before her return to China and to joining BCIS.

Amanda holds a Bachelor’s in Education from Australia and a Master’s in Education from the UK..

Amanda’s joy outside school comes from her family, cooking, going to restaurants, laughing with friends, hiking, and playing with her dog.

Amy grew up in Devon, England and completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology at the University of Exeter before completing her Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Primary Education in 2011. Amy then went traveling for a few months before returning to Devon to teach at an international boarding school. Here, she was primarily a classroom teacher to KS1, but also held the role of Primary EAL teacher and also taught lessons to Years 3, 4, 5, and 6. During the summers, she coordinated the English lessons at the school’s Summer Camp to international students wanting to learn more English.

In 2015, Amy moved Kuwait to teach Year 6 in an American school and then Year 3 in an English Curriculum school. In Kuwait, she picked up her two cats who have come to Beijing with her. She attempted to learn Arabic and hopes she will be better at Mandarin.

Now in Beijing, Amy is proud to be a teacher at BCIS and is enjoying the curriculum, culture, and sightseeing opportunities. She enjoys going to the gym, swimming, being outdoors in the sun, watching films, trying out new activities, and spending time with her husband and friends.

Andrew is originally from Scotland, but has been teaching in international schools for over 20 years. He moved to Germany in 1999, spending 14 years in Leipzig, Weimar and Berlin. He has also worked in Busan, Prague, and Shenzhen. He has  taught a wide range of grade levels, as well as drama, sports coaching and organizing residential trips.

Andrew holds a B.A in Elementary Education from the University of Paisley and has attended numerous IB training courses around the world. He has served as Curriculum Coordinator, Literacy Coordinator, Inquiry Mentor and Head of Year in previous schools.

Outside of the classroom, Andrew enjoys hiking, traveling, and learning about new cultures. He especially likes exploring new places in China and has been to more than  three quarters of the provinces already. Andrew feels fortunate to live and work in Beijing and aims to use the chance to improve his Chinese. His wife, Mariann, also works at BCIS as a Computer Science Teacher.

Anna comes from the beautiful countryside of Devon, in the UK. After gaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with Honors), in Creative Art and Creative Studies in English, from Bath Spa University she went on to work full-time as a professional photographer. Anna then caught the teaching bug and decided to re-train; as a mature student she studied her Post Graduate Certificate in Education with Sunderland University.

Anna loves living in Beijing with her husband, Alex Davies, who also works at BCIS and has lived here since 2012. As well as providing supply teaching to BCIS she has also been a private tutor, volunteer artist in residence and has her own photography studio.

Being passionate about creativity and education, Anna adores teaching Art and relishes the chance to help students understand, express and experience the creative process. She is very happy to be a part of the supportive and imaginative BCIS community.

Having a wide range of creative interests keeps Anna busy. Her photographs fill her hard drive, but when she puts the camera down for a moment, she also loves to read, visit art galleries, watch films, and explore amazing new countries with Alex.

April is an American from Washington state. She has visited China in the past and is excited to be living in Beijing. She was inspired to teach abroad by her travels to work with children in Russia and Tanzania. She has previously taught kindergarten and Grades 3, 6, and 7, teaching in both Kuwait and the Philippines. She is thrilled to be working with the Grade 4 team at BCIS. She received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Whitworth University.

April enjoys working with students at every age to develop a passion for learning, specifically literacy. She is an avid reader in her own time of children's and adult books and strives to help each child she teaches grow a love for reading. Her previous position was at Brent International School Manila, where she taught the Kindergarten level for three years before making a jump to Grades 6 and 7 Social Sciences. Though very different, she thoroughly enjoyed both age groups and the experiences she had with them. April is excited to work with Grade 4 students, encouraging students to delve into their learning for themselves to improve their understanding and to practice asking big questions, which she believes will help prepare students for the future.

In her free time, April shares the details of her day with her husband, Garrett, reads, and sometimes makes scrapbooks. She loves to see new places and find fun bookstores, where she almost always buys a new book! She explores new places by train, boat, and automobile. She can't wait to see more of China (and Shanghai Disneyland).

Although Belinda was born and raised in Fiji, she has lived in a number of countries at various stages of her life, including New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. She moved to Beijing in 2008 with her family when her husband took up a diplomatic posting here.

Belinda was educated in Fiji and New Zealand. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management and Geography, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. Both degrees were attained at the University of the South Pacific. She also has a TEFL in China Certificate.

Before moving to China, Belinda worked for the Fiji Development Bank in Research and Marketing, and later, briefly, as an auditor for Ernst & Young. Over the last year, she has been a Supply Teacher for both the Elementary School, as well as the Early Childhood Center.

In her free time, Belinda enjoys being with her family, reading, and keeping fit. She has participated in a number of sporting events over the last few years, including the Beijing Half Marathon, the Angkor Wat Run in Cambodia, the Beijing International Triathlon, and the Beijing Spartan Run.

After being a parent at BCIS for many years, Belinda is excited to embark on this new role and continue being a part of the BCIS community.

Tor hails from the beautiful country of New Zealand (Aotearoa) and was blessed to have music surround her every day. Through music, Tor has enjoyed learning the guitar and piano, writing music, and singing across the country. Tor obtained a Bachelor of Musical Arts in New Zealand in 2015, where she also gained a graduate diploma in teaching and learning.

This is Tor’s 7th year in Beijing and 6th year of teaching, with the exception of having time off to give birth to her two beautiful girls.Tor started off teaching kindergarten and Grade 1 and also had time to experience the delight of teaching pre-K movement and music classes. This will be Tor’s third year teaching PYP and she’s really enjoying teaching an inquiry-based curriculum where she can help nurture children’s natural curiosity.

Having had the opportunity to take various dance and music after school activities, Tor has appreciated seeing the creativity that children have. Tor’s really looking forward to learning more from children and the teaching team as she enters the BCIS family for the first time this academic year.

Chantelle is a British Citizen from the picturesque county of Lincolnshire, on the East Coast of England. After completing her Education and Psychology Degree in 2010 at Durham University, she undertook her teaching qualification in the UK. On completion, she took up her first teaching position in Grade 4 in England. She moved into international teaching in 2013 when she moved to Kiev, Ukraine, teaching Grades 2-4 over her three years there. This will be her fourth year at BCIS, having spent three years teaching Grade 5 she now takes the position of Curriculum Coordinator.

Chantelle likes to read and exercise in her spare time. She enjoys traveling immensely, recently visiting Thailand, Vietnam, and Canada (to name a few places), and immersing herself in the richness of all the cultures she experiences. She is happy to be in Beijing and to be a part of the BCIS community.

Chris is a primary school teacher, who is passionate about promoting a growth mindset in all of the children he teaches, with the ambition to create resilient learners. He believes that having excellent relationships with all students and parents is at the centre of effective teaching and learning.

Chris completed his Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Swansea University, in the United Kingdom. Prior to this, Chris worked as a Teaching Assistant in a local primary school. After receiving his teaching certificate, Chris worked in a school in Cardiff for many years, taking on a variety of roles and responsibilities.

In 2019, Chris fulfilled his ambition to teach and live abroad, working for two years at a bilingual school in Beijing. Chris is very excited to now have the opportunity to work at BCIS and be part of the school community.

In his spare time, Chris loves to keep active, playing a variety of sports and he also enjoys reading and traveling.

Dannielle is from the sunny region of Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She completed her Bachelor of Sport Coaching, endorsed in Leadership and her Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning Secondary, majoring in Physical Education and English from the University of Canterbury. She has taught Physical Education and Health studies in secondary education for 2 years.

Dannielle is passionate about teaching and getting the very best out of her students. She sees her role as a physical education teacher as a way to educate her students about important life skills and to find fun and enjoyment in living an active life. Dannielle takes much interest in swimming, netball and learning new skills such as tennis and badminton. She enjoys meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and is looking forward to travelling more of the world.

Dannielle is honored to be a member of the BCIS team and school community and is delighted to live in such a vibrant and culturally rich country.

Diana is from Beijing. She received her Master’s Degree at Beijing Normal University with a major in Chinese Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. She taught Chinese and Calligraphy for a few years before joining BCIS. During her time at BCIS, Diana has received a lot of professional development training, and is very much enjoying her time with students. She loves supporting the students' learning and personal development. She is happy to be a part of the BCIS community.

In her spare time, Diana loves practicing calligraphy, reading books, and traveling with her family and friends.

Ni hao, Kia Ora and Talofa lava! Miss Tala is so excited to be teaching at BCIS. More importantly, she is thrilled to be teaching Grade 5 students.It is going to be a great fun year full of lots of learning adventures.

Tala was born and raised in the city of sails known as Auckland, New Zealand.She is of Samoan decent which is a small island in the Pacific Ocean very similar to where the Disney character Moana comes from.She is very fortunate to have been raised in a loving family, learning and embracing the NZ culture as well as her parents’ Samoan culture.Both cultures, values and beliefs have moulded and shaped the person that she is today.

In her younger years, Tala enjoyed a lot of the science subjects and had a strong interest in community health, so she pursued further studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science degree from the University of Auckland. Then, from the same university, she completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Primary/ Elementary Teaching.

Tala has been teaching since 2009, and most of her teaching experience has been in Auckland, New Zealand.She has taught a range of different age groups and children with different learning needs and abilities.The last five years, she has taught Grade 2 and Grade 5 in Beijing, China.She has learnt a lot from her talented students, just as they have learned from her.

Tala has a passion for teaching, and she believes that every child comes into the classroom with their own unique talents, and her job is to provide a safe learning environment for them to develop their skills and talents, and for her students to be lifelong learners. She is looking forward to an amazing year with her students, homeroom parents and colleagues~ ‘The Best Is Yet To Come!’

David is originally from Sydney, Australia, but has been living the expat lifestyle since a young age. Having lived in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and now China has given him the privilege of being exposed to what it means to be a global-minded citizen.

David studied Health Sciences in Sydney University and completed a double degree in Sport Science and Teaching with the University of Technology, Sydney. Prior to teaching, he worked in the fitness industry as a personal trainer for six years and was the manager of the university gym, while completing his studies. He also worked with elite rugby teams, analyzing GPS data and designing exercise programs.

Outside of teaching, David enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughters, playing tennis and volleyball, and being a “gym junkie.” He is an embarrassment to Australian sports as he is a hopeless cricketer and rugby player.

David firmly believes in physical education in the primary years programme. It identifies key terms such as perseverance, resilience, and self-belief – all of which are crucial in being empowered and challenge seeking individuals. He has taught PE for a number of years in Sydney and Beijing. He is thrilled to be with BCIS where he can create lessons that allow his students to reach beyond their full potential.

Elizabeth was born and raised in the beautiful city of Christchurch, in New Zealand. She is a passionate educator who has taught from Pre-K to Grade 6 in New Zealand. Elizabeth believes in facilitating exciting and engaging learning opportunities, which empower her students to explore and challenge the world around them. She studied at the University of Canterbury and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching and Learning in 2015.

As a life long learner herself, Elizabeth enjoys reading, music, traveling, and experiencing new cultures. She is very thankful to be a part of the BCIS community.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge- Albert Einstein”.

My name is Sunette Smit and I am a passionate teacher from South Africa. I studied at North-West University and obtained my Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase in 2012. I lived and worked abroad in Zurich Switzerland and Sydney Australia. I have experience teaching different age groups in different countries, and teaching subjects like mathematics, art, history, and science. I enjoy stepping outside my comfort zone and trying new things and am always keen on new adventures, trying different sports, learn about all art forms and different music styles.

With the experience I gained so far, the greatest responsibility as a teacher is making a child fall in love with the learning process. As a teacher, I believe that every child is unique and special. My job is to witness it and give guidance where I can. Working abroad provides the opportunity to meet new people, and being introduced to new cultures provides me the chance to be more patient and understanding, learn as much as I can, and adapt to the best of my abilities. Working with a supportive and prospering community like BCIS is a wonderful opportunity. A school where you can work with young minds, and see them creating a better future, but also giving back to their community.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Francoise graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and French language & literature. In 2010, she received a postgraduate Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. Francoise is currently enrolled in the Master of Education program at the University of New Brunswick. Over the past 12 years, Francoise has taught within the public and private sector in Japan, Canada and China.

A bilingual student herself, Francoise completed all her primary and secondary studies in dual language schools, French and English, and has been passionate about language learning since she was a child. She has spent her entire teaching career focusing on foreign language education having taught both French and English as foreign languages. She holds a specialist qualification in Second Language instruction from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, in Canada.

During her free time, Francoise enjoys attending all kinds of theatre productions, cooking and socializing with her friends. Francoise is a keen explorer of Beijing and China’s history and culture. Francoise has been living and teaching in Beijing since 2017 and is very happy to be joining the BCIS community.

Grace is originally from Singapore and has been teaching since 2005. She moved to Beijing in 2010 and taught in other international schools. Throughout her career, she has taught various grade levels and enjoys how they bring different challenges. Teaching in an international setting across cultures also helps her view the world from different perspectives.

Her educational credentials include a double major in Psychology and Marketing from Monash University, Australia and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary). She is passionate about teaching through inquiry and appreciates how much she learns in return from her protégés.

Grace loves discovering new facets of Beijing and traveling around the world. Being an epicurean and avid reader, she divides her free time between experimenting in the kitchen, having culinary adventures, and reading on her favorite couch with a cup of tea, usually nibbling on something she brings back from her travels.

Grace is pleased to be a part of the BCIS family. She feels privileged to be working with such a lovely community.

Grant is originally from Wausau, Wisconsin USA. He graduated from Wheaton college in 2013 with a bachelor's in music education. After completing his student teaching in Manila, Philippines, he decided to pursue a career in international teaching. His first year and a half out of college was spent in Kabul, Afghanistan teaching at an international school. After leaving Afghanistan, he spent time in Dubai, UAE and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam teaching elementary music. He moved to Beijing to work at BCIS in 2016.

In his free time, Grant enjoys playing and watching sports, writing and performing music, playing board games with friends, and exploring new places. He has thoroughly enjoyed living internationally and taking advantage of the traveling opportunities that it provides.

Grant is delighted to be part of the BCIS community and have the opportunity to work at such a great school.

Greg was born on the coastal city of Cumaná in Venezuela, although his family is originally from Korea. Being the only Asians in the neighborhood, one can imagine all the interesting experiences they had during their time there. Later on, his whole family moved to the suburbs of New Jersey, US, where he and his two brothers grew up and spent their formidable years. In between, his family moved to Peru for a few years, where he attended an international school himself. Upon returning to the US, he graduated from high school and then traveled to Korea to attend Yonsei University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. While a university student, he began teaching English to students ranging from the age of three to 60. It was during this period that he discovered his passion for teaching and spreading knowledge. With over ten years of teaching English experience, as well as a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Sunderland, Greg is excited to be teaching at BCIS.

Greg is an avid music fan that can often be found with headphones on. During his spare time, he even attempts to write his own songs and perform them for willing audiences (mostly his kind family members and friends).

Greg, his wife, and their children are grateful and blessed to be part of the amazing BCIS Community.

Hannah is from the UK and has been working internationally since 2003. After teaching kindergarten in Mexico and volunteering at a literacy program for migrant workers' children, she gained her Bachelor's Degree in International Politics and Modern Languages from Leeds University, UK in 2002. She then worked for the local education authorities in their Widening Participation scheme for community outreach, while also volunteering at a children's charity for immigrants.

Hannah then moved to Paris, France, where she worked and also completed a Post-graduate Degree in Communications and Marketing. In 2006, she traveled to Beijing with her husband and continued to work in Communications first at the British Embassy, where she was awarded an MBE for her contributions, and later at the British Council, the Culture and Education section of the Embassy.

Hannah re-trained into teaching in 2012 and completed her PGCEi with the University of Nottingham in 2014 with a focus on international learning environments and early years education. Since 2011, she has been teaching at BCIS and volunteering at a local children's hospice.

Hannah loves working with children and is passionate about sharing knowledge through experience. In her spare time, she loves traveling with her family, discovering new countries, cultures, languages, and food. A keen communicator, she is fluent in French, Spanish, Chinese, and English. She is delighted to bring all of her experience and enthusiasm to the BCIS community.

Jackie is originally from the west coast of Canada, growing up on Hornby Island, a small island of 800 people, and Vancouver Island. Living on an island, she grew up experiencing the outdoors and doing activities outside. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Education 5-year degree, focusing on elementary teaching.

Jackie has been living and teaching abroad since 2013, starting her International teaching career in a Canadian International School. In 2015, she moved to BIBS UES, where she taught Grade 3.

Her other passions include sports and athletics, where she coaches various teams including: handball, t-ball, softball, basketball, badminton, Gaelic football, and volleyball. Outside of school, she plays on numerous sports teams herself, being part of the Beijing community and living a healthy lifestyle. Her favorites are Gaelic football, soccer, American football, and softball.

In her spare time, Jackie enjoys reading and delving into other worlds through books. Her all-time favorite is Harry Potter and she is a proud Hufflepuff!

Jackie loves living in Beijing and is thrilled to part of the BCIS team. She appreciates the school community and the opportunity to live in the exciting city of Beijing.

Jordana Carrington was born in Barbados and has completed school there until the age of eighteen. She continued her studies in Texas at Baylor University where she received her Bachelor’s in Education, with honors.

She was awarded three teaching certificates from the State of Texas, which includes teaching English language Learners. During her studies at Baylor University, she completed an educational internship in Australia, where she participated in evaluating educational programs in an Elementary School. Before returning to her home in Barbados, she taught three years in Texas.

In Barbados, Jordana spent three years teaching Kindergarten and five years as the Curriculum Coordinator and Grade 2 Homeroom teacher at the Codrington International school of Barbados. There her classroom environment was hands-on and welcomed different learning styles to be comfortable and independent.

Jordana has traveled extensively and enjoys integrating her experiences into her classroom teaching. She is enthusiastic to be immersed in the culture of Beijing.

Roxie Lu graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in the United States with a master's degree in mental health counseling. Roxie has received six years of systematic professional education in psychology. After graduation, she has worked as a school counselor/psychology teacher in Chicago and Beijing.

Roxie comes from Chongqing, the birthplace of Bayu culture in China. She has received both eastern and western professional education, which means she has both international vision and localization. Roxie combines the theory and practice of Chinese and western, with innovation and an open mind, adjusting measures to local conditions to serve Chinese students. She believes that all things in their being are good for something, the problems children encounter in their process of growing up is the due to the deviation from their developmental direction. Through appropriate communication and guideance from the school and family, the child can get back to the right track.

Roxie continues to expand her hobbies in her spare time. Like working out, cooking, shooting and editing videos, among others. She loves life very much and will pass the passion and love on to her students.

Kayla is originally from Canada, growing up in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, in a rural community of 500 people. This small town is nestled between several provincial parks, instilling in Kayla, a deeply rooted love for the outdoors and environmental stewardship.

Kayla completed her Bachelor of Education at the University of Victoria, specializing in Elementary Education. She also attended the University of Toronto to obtain her TEFL certification, specializing in teaching English to Mandarin speakers.

Kayla has been living and teaching in Beijing since 2017. She spent one year teaching grades 1-5 as a Primary Science Specialist, and three years teaching grade one as a homeroom teacher. Her passion lies in the early primary years, and she is greatly looking forward to teaching grade one once again.

Aside from teaching, Kayla’s passions include many outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, trail running, and cycling. She also enjoys cooking, experiencing new cultures through travel, and curling up with a good book at home.

Kayla is delighted to join the BCIS community!

John is originally from Omaha, Nebraska (USA). He received his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and later earned a master’s degree in elementary education and his Nebraska state K-6 teacher licensure through the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

John worked in Cambodia for five years as an English language education volunteer in a rural village as well as teaching kindergarten and preschool in the capital, Phnom Penh. He was teaching Grade 4 in Nebraska this past year and is excited to branch out and continue teaching Grade 4 students while exploring Beijing as he has never visited China before.

In his free time, John likes to travel, read, exercise, and dabble in arts and crafts. He likes to walk, explore new places, and meet new people. He enjoys learning new things and languages and is excited to be immersed in a new culture and environment with the BCIS community!

Lee has been a school psychologist and counsellor for over 25 years. She has coordinated learning support teams, response to intervention, provided individual and small group counseling, and facilitated conflict resolution. She believes all children have gifts and is passionate about students uncovering them despite any educational, social or emotional challenges.

Lee holds a Master’s in Educational Psychology, a license in School Psychology for students aged 0-21, and another in Educational Administration. She began her career in Colorado, in the U.S. as a school psychologist. She and her husband, who is a teacher, moved overseas in 1998. Since then, she has worked in Morocco, South Africa, and Hanoi. She is comfortable and experienced providing support to students of all ages.

Lee and her husband spend their holidays in their home in Sandpoint, Idaho with their two teenage daughters. They have enjoyed living in vibrant countries with unique cultures, foods and history. She enjoys reading, biking, traveling and sightseeing.

Lee is excited to join the BCIS Community where she can continue to work collaboratively with a student-centered team and support students’ academic, social and emotional development.

Letitia is from Beijing. She holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to the Speakers of Other Languages from Beijing Normal University. She also holds Teacher Certificates both in Kindergarten Education and Elementary Education.

Before she joined BCIS, Letitia had worked in other two international schools for 3 years before joining BCIS as a teaching assistant in 2006, where she learned a lot about teaching. Letitia started teaching Chinese Studies at BCIS in March 2012. She shows a keen interest in teaching Chinese, and she really appreciates the opportunity to work in a great school.

As a teacher, Letitia loves children and teaching. She aims to help students tap into their potential because she believes everyone is born with a certain gift, and it’s never too late to learn.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, singing, dancing, calligraphy, and playing the piano.

Lizzie joins us from Melbourne, Australia, although she spent a large part of her youth growing up in Auckland, New Zealand. She studied her Bachelor of Education in Canberra, Australia and later completed a Masters of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This ignited a real passion for teaching and learning languages.

Lizzie has worked as a teacher for over 18 years, teaching in a variety of settings as both a homeroom teacher and specialist English and literacy support teacher. In fact, seven of those years were enjoyably spent at BCIS from 2008 - 2015. Lizzie is now thrilled to be part of the BCIS community for a second time. She is joined by her husband YanLong Tai (BCIS Secondary School teacher) and two children Isaac and Zahra.

In her spare time Lizzie likes keeping active and exploring different places with her family. She is also working hard to become as fluent as her husband in speaking Mandarin!

Marca is originally from North Carolina, USA, but has been living and teaching abroad for the past 18 years. She is a passionate, enthusiastic educator and a lifelong learner. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and holds a Master's of Education from Framingham State University. She has previously taught in China, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. She has served both as an English Language Support teacher, as well as an Elementary Homeroom teacher.

Outside of the classroom, Marca enjoys traveling, photography, and learning about different cultures. Prior to joining BCIS, she took a year off to explore the world with her husband, Ashely, and their two sons. She is excited to be back in China and delighted to be a part of the BCIS community.

Mary is from Toronto, Canada. She obtained her bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, Canada and completed her Professional Teaching Degree from the University of Victoria, Canada. In addition, she completed her Masters in Bilingual Education and ESL from the American College of Education.

After several years of teaching in Canada and China, Mary joined the BCIS family in 2014, and taught Grade 1 and Grade 2 homeroom for seven years using the IBPYP program. Upon completion of her Masters Degree, she began her specialization in English Language Learning. She supports student learning in all academic areas, with a particular focus on helping students gain proficiency in English by creating a fun and interactive learning environment by using research-based instructional strategies. Mary believes that fostering positive relationships with her students and their families is an effective way to support the unique learning needs of each child. 

Mary is a co-founding member of the BCIS student Eco Warriors group, which creates opportunities for students to learn more about ways to care for the Earth and to help them become leaders and inspire others toward a sustainable future. Mary and her husband keep wonderfully busy with their two children who are in middle school and elementary school at BCIS. As a family, they enjoy playing sports, going on adventures all over China and hiking new sections of the Great Wall together.

Michael is from northern China and holds a Bachelor Degree in Chinese Language and Literature. He also holds a Teacher Certificate in Chinese Language.

He began teaching Chinese language and culture in Beijing in 2012. After working as a teacher with students from different ages and backgrounds, he joined BCIS in 2015. What he loves the most about BCIS is the life-long learning ethos and open-minded community.

As a Chinese teacher he loves to explore the secrets and joy of language with his students. He believes the future of the world is in his classroom.

In his free time, Michael likes reading, riding bikes, traveling and spending time with his family.

Mike Frazer received his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Colorado Mesa University and you will often catch him sporting at least one piece of CMU gear. He taught in a low-income school in the US before moving to China in 2016. He loves teaching and creating a positive classroom community that is built on trust, responsibility, and empathy. Teaching in different systems has taught him how to be adaptive and responsive to student needs and he has been able to find inspiration from colleagues that push him to be his best.

Mike is married to a wonderful woman and together they have a handsome and bright son, named Nicolas. He takes his role as a teacher and a father very seriously and is constantly reflecting on how he can be better at both.

Mike also enjoys various activities and has been a coach for a variety of different sports teams. He likes to sit back with friends and watch a game as well as stumble around a court or field, giving it a go for himself.

Nan is from Beijing, China. Since she was young, becoming an educator was always one of her dreams. She also possessed a strong passion for fine arts since she was a child. In 2014, She completed her Bachelor’s degree of Environment Design in Nankai University, Tianjin. She had a short internship experience at Green architecture design and research institute as an assistant. She was devoted to working on some volunteer jobs around art and children during her college days. Later, she went to Tufts University in Massachusetts in the United States to pursue her Master’s degree in Art Education. Before joining BCIS, she taught as an art teacher in a private school and Fine Art Museum in Boston. Throughout this time, she loved spending time with her students and providing them with support. The students also had the opportunity to express their imagination and creativity in her classes.

Nan is grateful and excited to be a member of the BCIS family.

In her spare time, Nan likes traveling to other places to explore the differences between cultures and lifestyles. She also enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time outdoors with her friends and family.

Nick is from Australia and grew up in rural New South Wales before moving to Sydney. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the Australian National University, before going on to complete a Master of Education at the University of New England. Nick has taught as a Homeroom teacher, a Science and Technology teacher and as a school Sports Coordinator across Grades 1 to 5.

Nick is an experienced teacher who wants all children to be successful lifelong learners. He works to create a classroom atmosphere that is stimulating, encouraging, and adaptive to the varied needs of students and he is passionate about providing rich inquiry-based learning programs to ensure the best academic outcomes for students.

Outside the classroom, Nick and his wife Sara enjoy playing and watching a variety of sports including swimming, hiking, tennis, squash, running and AFL. He enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures and looks forward to seeing more of China. Nick feels very fortunate and excited to now be living in Beijing as part of the amazing BCIS team.

Rhianna grew up in the Blue Mountains in Western Sydney, Australia. She completed her Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design at the Australian Catholic University before gaining a Master of Teaching in Primary Education from The University of Sydney in 2014.

Rhianna moved to China at the end of September 2018 to experience a new culture and be part of a founding team at a new bilingual kindergarten. She worked at the school as a pre-kindergarten homeroom teacher. During three weeks of her summer break of 2019, Rhianna travelled to Yunnan and stayed in Pugaola village, Yuanyang teaching English to local children and to experience first-hand the traditional life of the Hani people.

Rhianna is a very active person and in her spare time enjoys traveling, being a volunteer leader in a Beijing fitness community group and participating in sports events, such as the Beijing Spartan race. She also enjoys the journey of taking dancing lessons and most recently visiting Chengdu to take part in a Salsa dance festival.

Rhianna enjoys her life in Beijing and is thrilled to join the BCIS community, bringing her creative skills and positive attitude to the learning environment.

As a former IB student, Angela Renn graduated with an IB diploma from Beijing World Youth Academy.

She completed her Bachelor’s of Art in Communication and Journalism at the University of DePauw in the state of Indiana, USA.

Knowing that teaching will be her life-long passion, Angela then completed her Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential at California Polytechnic State University in California, USA.

With her former experience of an international student and English language learning, Angela is a strong advocate of bilingualism and translanguaging. Her goal is to foster and maintain an open, honest, communicative, and supportive classroom, in which each student feels safe, special, and appropriately challenged.

In her spare time, Angela enjoys playing piano, reading and spending time with her friends and family. She is both happy and grateful to be a part of the BCIS community.

Sandy is originally from Newport Beach, California, USA, but spent most of her childhood overseas in a variety of countries. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern California College. She has spent most of her teaching career in Texas elementary schools serving in a variety of roles including: Grade 2 homeroom, Grade 4 Homeroom and Language Arts Specialist, curriculum writing advisor, mentor teacher, and Grade 4 academic advisor/team lead. During her tenure, Sandy went on to receive her certification in English as a Second Language to better connect with her many international students.

Sandy’s love of China began in 1988 when she got the chance to teach English at a university in Shandong Province. Many years and three children later, she and her husband Gary decided it was finally time for another international experience. They are excited about living and working in Beijing and are ready to explore many parts of China.

Outside of the classroom, Sandy is passionate about reading, traveling, trying different cuisines, and spending time with her family and friends. She is thrilled to be a part of the BCIS community and a member of the Grade 4 team.

Sannie joined BCIS in 2011. She is originally from Shijiazhuang, Hebei. She has taught Chinese and English in Beijing since 2005 and is very excited to be a language teacher at BCIS.

Sannie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese Language Art and in English Teaching. Along with holding various teaching certificates, she is trained in many styles of teaching.

Outside the classroom, Sannie enjoys reading, singing, playing basketball, and spending time with her husband and children.

Sara comes from Griffith, a small country town in Australia. Prior to BCIS, she worked as a Learning and Support/Special Education teacher for five years and had also previously spent time living and working in South Korea for two years.

Sara completed her Bachelor of Arts/Fine Arts and Art Education from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, before finally finding her niche passion for special education and learning support. This in turn led to her gaining her Master of Special Education from the University of Newcastle, and the committed outlook that every student deserves the right and support to obtain a gainful and holistic education.

Aside from teaching Sara is an avid amateur sewist and jewellery maker, with a great love for learning new skills within the arts and crafts. She also enjoys hiking, running, exploring new places and cultures and trying new foods!

Sara is very happy to be a part of the BCIS community along with her husband Nick, and to be living in a thriving city such as Beijing.

Steve is originally from a small town named Whangarei in New Zealand. Therefore, he loves the outdoors and sports, especially his favourite rugby team, the All Blacks. He is also passionate about music and loves playing the bass guitar. Most importantly however, he loves family time and being able to play with his four year old daughter, Shaya.

Steve began teaching in 2006. He moved into international school teaching in 2012 when he moved with his wife to Bangkok, Thailand. Since then, he has taught as a homeroom teacher and an ICT Specialist teacher. He moved to Beijing in 2016 and has taught at BCIS ever since.

Steve completed his Bachelor of Education at Massey University and is currently studying his Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Writing with hopes of writing children's stories one day.

Steve is very happy to be a member of the BCIS team and exploring Beijing.

Weiwei is from Hebei, China. She holds a Master Degree in Teaching Chinese to the Speakers of Other Languages from Ren Min University of China. She also holds a teacher certificate in Elementary Education. Weiwei has been working at BCIS since the school was founded in 2005.

Weiwei enjoys working in an international school because she can interact with people from all around the world. During her time at BCIS, she has taught students from different cultures and nationalities, and she has developed a variety of strategies to meet their learning needs. Weiwei has also received a lot of professional training. She is an enthusiastic communicator and inquirer. Her educational belief is to cultivate people with good moral character and promote the all-round development of students’ quality.

Weiwei has a wide range of interests. She likes traveling with her family, running, hiking, and much more!

Winnie is from Beijing, China and joined BCIS in 2010. She considers herself a life-long learner and an enthusiastic educator.

Winnie obtained her Master’s Degree in Education from Flinders University and she also holds a teacher certificate in Chinese language and literacy. She attended numerous training workshops while working at BCIS and is currently studying her second diploma in Chinese language and literacy which focuses on primary school students’ learning.

Winnie loves teaching and is passionate about enriching student’s lives through their learning of Chinese literacy. She enjoys the chance to help students get the very best by providing a safe, positive and encouraging learning environment. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, swimming, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Winnie is grateful to be a member of the BCIS community and for the opportunity to work at such a great school.

Yen-Chun is from Taiwan. After she completed her Bachelor's degree in piano performance, she moved to the UK and obtained a Master's Degree at the Royal Academy of Music in 2014.

Yen-Chun has a passion for teaching and education. She teaches with her strong performance background together with over six years of experience in music teaching and piano teaching, including working experience in Taiwan Bi Hu Primary School. Her teaching in music includes improvisation, dance, and musical games for students to express their ideas and understanding, allowing students to learn music in a happy way. She moved to Beijing in 2015, and she is very happy to be part of the BCIS community.

Outside of work, Yen-Chun enjoys traveling to new places, reading, skiing, and composing. She is also a solo pianist in the West Harmony Chamber of Beijing and regularly performs concerts with them in Beijing Music Hall and the Poly Theatre.

Yue comes from Northeast China. She graduated with a Chinese language major from Northeast Normal University and obtained her Bachelor’s in English Education from Xi’an Fanyi University. She holds a teacher certificate in Elementary Education

Yue has worked as a teacher for over 16 years and has been working at BCIS since 2007. She is very excited to be working with people from around the world and loves to celebrate cultural diversity in her classroom.

During her time at BCIS, Yue has received a great deal of training and has attended a number of workshops on Chinese language teaching.

Aside from teaching, Yue is passionate about badminton, and enjoys reading, cooking, and playing with her two lovely children and friends.

Mr Sinclair is very excited to begin his journey at BCIS as this is his 8th year in Beijing and he’s always enjoyed meeting BCIS students in the community. He has been an educator for 18 years in New Zealand, the UK and China. Originally, he studied at Canterbury University in Christchurch, and is now about to complete his Masters of Educational Leadership from The University of Waikato.

Although a true “Kiwi” at heart, he was born and raised in Hong Kong many years ago, hence the desire for soy sauce instead of vinegar on his dumplings. Since living in Beijing he married another “Kiwi” and started a family with two beautiful daughters.

He has always loved interacting with students and finding ways to help them progress within themselves to become independent learners. This year he can’t wait to meet each student to find out how they can grow. He still attempts to play football (if his body allows it) but has found as much enjoyment coaching than playing these days. He also enjoys other hobbies such as playing the guitar, running and coaching theatre sports.

Stephen comes from a small town called Antrim in Northern Ireland and this is his eighteenth year of teaching, of which he has spent most of his career in the United Kingdom. However, Stephen always felt he had more to give and wanted to share his knowledge throughout the world. This has led him to working in the Middle East and in particular the countries of Jordan, as well as Kuwait.

Stephen received a Bachelor of Arts in history and sport science in 2002 and went on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in physical education soon after. Stephen also has a master’s in physical education and multidisciplinary studies (Special Educational Needs and Leadership) from Leeds Beckett and the State University of New York (Buffalo) respectively.

His special needs experience has led him to work with students who have severe, profound, moderate and mild learning difficulties over the past ten years. Stephens’s educational philosophy is that every child matters and he is looking forward to helping your child reach their full potential.

Stephen and his wife are looking forward to experiencing the wonderful Chinese culture and feel privileged to be part of the BCIS community. In his spare time, Stephen loves anything fitness orientated, but in particular likes running and obstacle course racing.