apis, 2012, faculty

Euysung Kim, Chairman / Director

Dr. Kim has been a university professor and administrator for 16 years. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University. After receiving his doctoral degree, he taught 4 years at the University of California, San Diego as an Assistant Professor of Economics. He then moved to Korea to teach at Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), Yonsei University and taught there for 12 years. He currently holds a tenured position as an Associate Professor of Economics at GSIS. Given his background not only as an educator but also as a student both here in Korea and abroad, Dr. Kim has maintained an active interest in understanding the role of international education in the era of globalization. APIS’ unique educational philosophy and mission in its K-12 program reflect Dr. Kim’s both personal and professional conviction that the best way to achieve global education is to begin at the very early stages of education. Moreover, Dr. Kim believes that an international school with a global education in mind should not be an educational island but must actively seek to incorporate the advantages of the host country and the regional location.

Ph.D. Columbia University / B.A. Dartmouth College

Scott Paulin, Secondary School Principal

Mr. Paulin’s educational career spans more than 17 years. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English from California State University Chico, and then completed the teacher credentialing program in English with supplementary authorizations in History and Geography. He tutored and taught international students for The American Language and Cultural Institute while attending university. Mr. Paulin taught middle school and high school English, History, Physical Education, and Leadership for eleven years. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership and Administration from Sonoma State University. Over the past six years Mr. Paulin served as the secondary principal at Potter Valley Community Unified School District, expanded his duties to include K-12 principal, and accepted the position of District Superintendent for the 2010 -2011 school-year. Mr. Paulin has also served as a youth pastor and a co-pastor of a small church in Potter Valley and has directed a Young Life Christian outreach program with his wife. In addition to enjoying his work with students and teachers, Mr. Paulin enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons. He also likes to read, travel, listen to music, and hike or explore the outdoors.

M.A. Sonoma State University / B.A. California State University

Stephen Massiah (Steve), Elementary School Principal

Mr. Massiah’s educational career spans over thirty years. With experience in both elementary and secondary schools, his career progressed from positions in grade 4/5 to grade 8, physical education, elementary/middle school guidance counselor, high school math, high school counselor and head of counseling. From there he moved into Assistant Principal and Principal positions with the Toronto Catholic District School Board in Toronto, Canada. Following a successful secondment to the Ontario College of Teachers (the Ontario governing board for educators) and thirteen years as a lecturer and principal in the Faculty of Education at the University of Toronto, Mr. Massiah moved to the position of Dean at Hong Kong International School and next Elementary Principal at Ruamrudee International School in Bangkok. Mr. Massiah joined APIS as the Elementary School Principal in July 2010. He is passionate about how essential elementary education is for our children and how it affects their future success as students. He believes strongly in the importance of having a clear set of beliefs and direction for his school. When not delving into books on educational best practice you can find Mr. Massiah on the tennis courts, cycling, playing golf, enjoying live theatre, music or traveling throughout Asia, which he has come to love.

Master of Education, Brock University, post-graduate studies University of Guelph / B.Ed. Queen’s University / B.A. Carleton University

FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES 2012-2013

Rachel Ahn, Secondary Art

Rachel Ahn graduated with a B.F.A in Textiles at Rhode Island School of Design. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Ms. Ahn was educated in both England and the United States. She has developed artistic and designer taste through her education in understanding fabric, pattern and apparel and has firsthand experience of the Fashion Industry by working in New York City fashion projects. After coming back to Seoul she continued her career in the industry as a Marketing Manager. Ms. Ahn always had a strong interest in Art Education; she has a strong desire to support students finding their own talents and abilities and encourage expressing their genuine creativity. Her first experience in teaching was at Brown University while attending the Summer Theater Apprentice Program. She assisted teaching Brown University Theater pre-college students mainly in improvisational theatrical acting and basic set design. Ms. Ahn is also an active member of her church, serving as a Sunday School teacher and praise team singer.

B.F.A. Rhode Island School of Design

Matthew Johnson, Dean of Students

Mr. Johnson has been an educator for twelve years, at the elementary, middle and high school levels, in the United States, Ecuador, Thailand and Myanmar. He received both his BA in History and Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. More recently he received his Master of Educational Leadership from American College of Education. As an educator he has participated extensively in curriculum development, after school sports programs, coaching varsity soccer, student council coordination, and community service activities. Mr. Johnson has been an active participant in sports from a young age, most notably with soccer. Throughout high school, Mr. Johnson played with the United States National Youth Soccer Team and then went on to play with the University of Notre Dame Men’s Soccer Team. He has coached all levels of soccer, throughout the world, for more than fifteen years. He also enjoys traveling, community service, playing golf, and pottery. While teaching in Thailand, Mr. Johnson was the founder and coordinator of the school-wide community service program that worked primarily with orphanages and hospitals. He was also the director of an organization in Quito, Ecuador that helped to get children off of the streets and into the public school system.

M.Ed. & B.A. University of Notre Dame / M.Ed. American College of Education

Carly Althauser, ELA / Social Studies

Ms. Althauser graduated from Seattle University with a B.A. in History and Spanish in 2001. She then earned an M.A. in Latin American History from the University of Texas at Austin. She taught at the college level for a year and a half and had the chance to teach a class of high school students. She quickly realized her passion to teach younger students. She completed her Master’s in Teaching in 2006 and taught middle school near Seattle, Washington for six years. Ms. Althauser loves traveling and learning about different cultures. She lived in Mexico for five months in college and in 2008 spent five weeks in Malawi creating a database for the University of Livingstonia’s student records. Ms. Althauser also loves to paint and read. She believes it’s important to teach students how to be thoughtful, informed, and active citizens. She loves talking to kids about books.

Master in Teaching, Seattle University / M.A. in History, University of Texas / B.A. Summa Cum Laude, Seattle University

Naomi Anno, Japanese Language

Ms. Anno earned her Bachelor of Arts from Shiga University and a Master of Education from Hiroshima University. She was a lecturer at Iwakuni Nursing College, teaching social psychology. After marrying a Chilean citizen, she moved to Chile and taught at a Japanese school in Santiago. During that time, she became aware of the importance of language as a tool of communication, and started to teach at a Japanese language institute organized by the Chilean Japanese Association. In order to gain her formal qualification as a Japanese teacher, she completed the Japanese Teachers Training course in Tokyo. Ms. Anno is an excellent Koto (Japanese traditional string instrument) player, and she enjoys Japanese cultural activities such as Ikebana (flower arrangement) and Sadou (Japanese tea ceremony). She is also interested in art and has learned and taught Medup (Korean traditional knot). While her native language is Japanese, she also speaks English, Spanish and Korean.

M.A. in Education, Hiroshima University / B.A. Shiga University

Samuel An, School Chaplain

Rev. Samuel An studied Political Science at Yale. As a young college student, he had a lofty dream of promoting peace, justice, and liberty across the world. Midway through college, he realized he could best fulfill his dream by investing in the next generation as a pastor. He entered Princeton Theological Seminary right after graduating from college and spent 8 years as a youth pastor both in the United States and in Korea before joining APIS. As a chaplain at APIS, Pastor Sam is committed to guiding and nurturing students to grow in faith so they can lead a life driven by love and sustained by hope. In his spare time, Pastor Sam loves to write and to play volleyball. At the end of the day, he knows his day was successful when he hears his wife and daughter laugh.

M.Div. Princeton Theological Seminary / B.A. Yale University - Political Science Ordination through Korean Presbyterian Churches Abroad (KPCA)

Goeun Anna Sea, Elementary Art

Mrs. Sea moved to the U.S. when she was a student at Seoul Arts High School. She continued with her love of Art and earned her B.F.A. in Painting with Performing Art Scholarship and M.F.A. in Art Education from Boston University. Mrs. Sea says that completing her Master’s thesis, entitled “Emotional Explorations in Visual Arts: An Aspect of Art Education,” in particular, allowed her to hone essential skills as an educator. The research opportunity gave her a valuable training in creating and analyzing in-depth unit/lesson plans and curriculum designs. Mrs. Sea has 8 years of teaching experience from Winchester, MA and APIS. Outside of the school setting, she taught Korean Language and Culture at her church, as well as arts & crafts classes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA. As an art educator, she believes that every individual has his or her own unique character and areas of strength. She wants to help her students to express their individuality and discover their potential by using art as a tool and method. As an active member of her church, she went on various mission trips and led Bible study camp for young children. Apart from teaching, she loves to travel, play the piano, sing praise songs, but most of all, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her new born baby, Chloe.

M.F.A. & B.F.A. Boston University


Hyun Hee (Alice) Chang, Korean Language Arts

Ms. Chang graduated from Ewha Womans University with a Bachelor’s degree in Korean Language and Literature and earned her Master’s degree in Korean Education from Yonsei Graduate School of Education. Her studies have mainly focused on developing practical teaching materials and methodologies in Korean language education. Upon graduating from her Master’s degree program, she received the best thesis award for her research on the use of Korean dictionaries as instructional tools in vocabulary lessons at the elementary school level. From very early childhood, Ms. Chang has been fascinated with reading and studying Korean literature. Her goal is to make her passion for the Korean language highly contagious so that her students would also develop a deep appreciation for the true beauty of Korean language. Besides teaching, Ms. Chang enjoys participating in various church activities. She took various mission trips to India and Nepal and is currently leading a bible study group in her church.

M.A. Yonsei University / B.A. Ewha Womans University

Carly Bargiel, Physical Education

Ms. Bargiel’s passion for physical education evolved at a young age while growing up in New Jersey. She has been an active team member on various athletic teams throughout her life including varsity level f ield hockey, swimming, golf, soccer, and basketball. Ms. Bargiel believes that physical education is a critical element of educating the whole child, providing the student the opportunity to develop his or her body and mind to work at peak condition. This belief led Ms. Bargiel to pursue a Health and Physical Education degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science and Education. While at West Chester University she worked in the fitness center, played college level golf, and was an active member of the Outdoors Club. As a physical education teacher at APIS, Ms. Bargiel wants to encourage students to stay active and help her students to recognize how healthy lifestyle can help them live better, not simply longer. Ms. Bargiel is a firm believer in teamwork and looks forward to every opportunity to work together with the faculty, students, and parents at APIS to improve student learning. In her spare time Ms. Bargiel enjoys traveling, hiking, Tai Chi, water and snow sports, and spending quality time with her family.

B. Sc. Summa Cum Laude, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Tyler Beatty, Math and Science

Mr. Beatty is from a small farming community in Saskatchewan, Canada. While completing his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, he worked part time as an automotive mechanic in the Canadian Forces Army Reserves. After completing his degree, he traveled around Canada from the pacific coast to the northern arctic tundra. He later earned his Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University where he was an assistant coach for the men’s field lacrosse team. In recent years, Mr. Beatty has used his technical knowledge to develop and deliver engaging workshops and camps on science and technology to students of all ages. He has also volunteered with a number of non-profit organizations, such as facilitating workshops for Engineers Without Boarders Canada and participating in a 2,000 km bike tour across Western Canada, bringing awareness to youth on issues of social and environmental justice. He is excited to share his experiences and technical skills with students at APIS and he hopes to assist students in becoming technically minded global citizens. In his spare time Mr. Beatty enjoys cycling, yoga, reading, and creating interactive electronic projects.

B.Eng. University of Saskatchewan / B.Ed. Queen’s University

Renee Draszkiewicz, Secondary Social Studies

Born and raised in Chicago, Ms. Draszkiewicz earned both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Master of Arts degree in Literacy, Language, and Culture from the University of Illinois at Chicago. After receiving her teaching certification from the state of Illinois, she moved into teaching history at Al Raby High School, which is, very much like APIS, a small school located within a large, diverse urban settling. As a teacher, she strongly believes in the importance of engaging with the students both in and out of classrooms and setting the highest expectations for them. Outside of her classroom teaching, she can be found coaching varsity basketball and volleyball, tutoring at-risk students after school, or working in the social science tutoring center she developed. Moving to Korea has allowed her to further diversify her teaching experience and to enjoy traveling all over Korea – which is now her new home.

M.A. & B.A. Cum Laude, University of Illinois at Chicago

Matthew Durham, Math and Science

Mr. Durham earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Arkansas. After graduating he moved to Toyama, Japan where he began his teaching career as an EFL instructor. Wanting to continue his education, Mr. Durham moved to Washington D.C. where he earned his Master’s in Education from George Mason University. During his time at George Mason he did research on developing a student centered classroom through collaboration between students and teacher and self reflective practices. While living in Washington D.C. he worked as an Earth Science, Astronomy, and Oceanography teacher in Prince William County Public Schools. Mr. Durham has a deep love for the Earth and nature and enjoys spending his free time hiking, camping, climbing, and mountain biking.

M.A. George Mason University / B.S. University of Arkansas

Suanne Forrester, Literacy Specialist

Mrs. Forrester has been teaching for 18 years in both public and Christian schools across the United States and most recently in China. She attended the University of Kansas where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Forrester most recently completed her M.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has worked with elementary and middle school students in both single and multi-aged classrooms. Her experiences include a range of learners including students with learning disabilities to those in the Gifted and Talented program. While in Texas, Mrs. Forrester served as Director of Children’s Ministry for 2 years and is trained by the Lutheran Church as a Minister of Religion. She loves to sing and work with children. Outside of school Mrs. Forrester enjoys traveling with her husband and two sons. She can be found baking treats for her friends and spending time outdoors.

M.S. in Educational Leadership, University of Texas at ArlingtonB.S. in Elementary Education & M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Kansas


Junko Furusawa, Japanese Language

Ms. Furusawa earned her Bachelor of Arts from Massey University, New Zealand, as well as a Master of Education and Postgraduate Diploma of Teaching from University of Melbourne, Australia. She is certified to teach both Japanese and Chinese languages. Ms. Furusawa taught Japanese in Taiwan for seven years and was also a writer for a monthly Japanese magazine published nationally in Taiwan. Always being fascinated by languages and new cultures, she enjoys teaching and researching various aspects of language acquisition and usage. Though she has travelled extensively throughout the world, Ms. Furusawa is new to Korea and is excited about learning Korean, as an addition to her repertoire of language skills. Her interests include playing volley ball, cooking traditional Japanese food, playing the piano, and reading.

M.Ed / PGDip, The University of Melbourne / B.A. Massey University

Grace Gao, Chinese Language

Mrs. Gao earned her Bachelor of English from Capital Normal University in Beijing, China, and Master of International Studies from Seoul National University in Korea. Before coming to Korea, Mrs. Gao taught at the Beijing Huiwen Secondary School in China for more than 10 years. At the Beijing Huiwen Secondary School, Mrs. Gao taught ESL to Chinese students and also served as a department head of the international division, teaching Chinese to foreign students. In 2001, Mrs. Gao spent a year in the United States as an exchange teacher, teaching Chinese to public school students of all levels in Tucson, Arizona. Mrs. Gao is an excellent ping pong player, having been a 3 time school district champion in China. She also enjoys Chinese calligraphy and received a number of national and local recognitions since she was a child.

M.A. Seoul National University / B.A. Capital Normal University, China

Sara Kathryn Hall, Grade 5 Classroom

Ms. Hall was born and raised in the area around Dallas, Texas. She is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies for the Middle Grades. For the past four years, she has taught 4th and 5th grade Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies in Irving, Texas. During that time, Ms. Hall has excelled in teaching Balanced Literacy through Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop as well as co-written curriculum for 5th Grade Social Studies for her district. Ms. Hall has been blessed to travel to Africa and teach English and Bible to students at Made in the Streets in Kamulu, Kenya. Her favorite thing about teaching is reading and discussing books with her students. Ms. Hall loves to learn, and she cannot wait to create a love for learning in her students at APIS. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Hall enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, playing outside at parks, and spending time with her family and friends.

B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies, Texas A&M University

Angela Hung, Chinese Language / AP Chinese

Ms. Hung graduated from Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia, where she completed a double major in Business and Art. During her time in Melbourne her extracurricular interests included learning Asian languages and teaching Chinese. She has 9 years of teaching experience as an Elementary classroom teacher and taught Chinese in the Chinese International School in Myungdong. In addition, she also has a lot of experience teaching middle and high school students in special classes. She also has gained the certificate of EDI (Education Development International) and TCSOL (Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages). Furthermore she had successfully completely a professional training from ICLT (Qualif ication Assessment Committee of International Chinese Language Teachers). She enjoys teaching and knows that it is not about just passing knowledge to someone. It is about relating to students and helping them to be successful in life.

B.A. Swinburne University

Jillian lwanuk, Grade 3 Classroom

Mrs. Iwanuk graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2003. During her undergraduate career, she studied in Spain and Scotland. She completed two Masters Degrees in 2007 and is currently working on another one. Her experience includes working with exceptional children in the United States, and this is her fifth year at APIS. In her free time, Mrs. Iwanuk loves to travel. Since moving to Korea she has visited many countries in Asia and Europe. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, and playing the clarinet and saxophone.

M.Ed. Elementary Education, Boston College / M.Ed. Moderate Special Needs, Boston College / B.A. Cum Laude, Sociology, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Sophie Holbrook, Band & AP Music Theory

Ms. Holbrook was surrounded with music from an early age: learning piano from her mother, absorbing classical sacred repertoire in church choir, and performing and soloing in operas. She began studying trumpet in elementary school. As a student she attended multiple music camps and schools including Stanford Jazz Workshop, Interlochen Center for the Arts, National Honor Band of America, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. At Rutgers, Ms. Holbrook was the only undergraduate brass player in the Grammy-nominated Rutgers Wind Ensemble, with which she can be heard on several albums. As a music educator, Ms. Holbrook values music as a universal language, one that can transcend boundaries and cultures. By teaching music to her students in their formative years, she hopes to instill a love of music in them that lasts a lifetime. Ms. Holbrook is actively involved with music education associations in Korea and has presented a music theory workshop at the KIMEA annual conference and has twice been a guest conductor at the KAIAC honor band festival.

M.Mus.Ed. Boston University / B.Mus.Ed. Summa Cum Laude, Rutgers University


Eun Joo (Emily) Kim, Korean Language Arts

Ms. Kim has earned her Bachelor’s Degree and completed the teacher credentialing program in Korean Language and Literature from Sookmyung Women’s University. She then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Korean Language Education from Hanyang University. Her master’s thesis examined the lexicon competence of bilingual speakers, utilizing evidence from bilingual language learners in foreign schools. As an experienced teacher of more than 10 years, she has taught Korean as a foreign language to students in Melbourne, Australia as well as Korean language arts to students in Korean domestic high schools. Ms. Kim has been teaching Korean language and Literature at APIS since 2007. Always learning to improve herself professionally, Ms. Kim recently was awarded the top honor for academic excellence from Seoul National University’s certificate program for teachers of Korean as a second language. Ms. Kim likes to spend her spare time reading and taking pictures.

M.A. in Korean Language Education, Hanyang University / B.A. in Korean Lan-guage and Literature, Sookmyung Women’s University

Jungwon Kim, Secondary Mathematics

Ms. Kim graduated from Stony Brook University with a B.S. in Mathematics and received her Master’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from New York University. While in school, she was elected to the Golden Key International Honor Society and to the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. She was also a recipient of the NYC Partnership for Teacher Excellence Scholarship. Before joining APIS, Ms. Kim gained experience teaching in the New York City’s public middle and high schools. She currently holds New York State teacher certification in Mathematics. Ms. Kim was born in Busan, South Korea, but she immigrated to America at the age of sixteen. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and counts going to museums and orchestral concerts as her favorite activities. She is also committed to various community outreach activities, sharing Jesus Christ’s love and grace with people in need.

M.A. New York University / B.S. Stony Brook University

Dawn Johnston, Middle School Math / Science

Ms. Johnston grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a small city located on the east coast of Canada. She has always had a strong passion for science and mathematics, a key influence that led her to teaching. She graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.Sc. in Chemistry, spending one year of her undergraduate studies at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. She earned her Bachelor of Education at OISE – University of Toronto, specializing in teaching intermediate and senior grades, in the subjects of Chemistry, General Science and Mathematics. She is committed to building a community of learners within her classroom and is excited to join the dedicated team of teachers at APIS. Ms. Johnston has always had an interest in traveling and has been fortunate to have had many opportunities to work and live abroad. In 2008, she worked as a teacher in a private elementary school in Busan, South Korea. She is a self-proclaimed “foodie” and in her spare time loves to cook, dine out and try new and exciting foods.

B.Ed. OISE – University of Toronto / B.Sc. Dalhousie University

Suk Ja Kwon, Korean Language Arts

Mrs. Kwon has 41 years of teaching experience at the elementary and 3 years at the middle school. For her accomplishments as an educator, Mrs. Kwon was twice awarded the highest recognition given by Korea’s Ministry of Education (교육부장관상). She was also awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Mogryeon Medal (국민훈장 목련장) from the Korean government for her contribution to education in Korea. Apart from teaching, she is also an accomplished poet and composer of children’s songs. Her poems have been published in numerous literary journals. Mrs. Kwon feels most rewarded, however, when she is teaching Korean children’s songs to her students. Under her direction, many of her students won major singing competitions in Korea. Some of the children’s songs written by Mrs. Kwon can also be found in the Korean school music textbooks.

M.A. in Education, Kyemyung University / B.A. in Korean Literature, Young Nam University

Terry Kim, Learning Support

Ms. Kim graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and earned a Master of Arts from Columbia University. Though originally born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ms. Kim has lived in Jakarta, Indonesia and attended an international school herself for many years. This “Third Culture Kid” upbringing has helped her to communicate with people with diverse backgrounds. Ms. Kim is a huge cinephile who watches films incessantly and especially loves to talk and write about them. As a graduate student, she has published several online articles for film journals. Before working at APIS, Ms. Kim spent two years in the film industry, both domestic and international. She is also a voracious reader, and a foodie who likes to take long walks to burn off the calories. Ms. Kim loves being a teacher because it means lifetime learning, not just from students but also from the surroundings and society at large. To her, learning is memory-forming, and “a day is not wasted if a memory is made.”

M.A. Columbia University / B.A. Wellesley College

Nam Hee Kong, Korean Language Arts

Ms. Kong graduated from Hongik University with a Bachelor of Arts in Korean Language Education. She is currently working towards her M.Ed. in teaching Korean as a foreign language at Korea University. Before joining APIS, she taught Korean as foreign language to college students at various universities. She firmly believes that language learning goes beyond a simple mastery of communication skills. It encompasses learning about the culture, society, and traditions in which the language is ingrained. Hence, whether teaching Korean as a foreign language or first language, Ms. Kong aims each day in her class to promote a deeper understanding of Korea and its place in the world. Apart from teaching Korean, Ms. Kong is also passionate about dancing. Started first during her college days, Ms. Kong’s main interests are street dancing styles, especially Hip Hop and “Poppin.”

B.A. Hongik University


Stephanie Kwon, Biology

Ms. Kwon, from Toronto, Canada, earned both Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Biology and History, and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Her passion for teaching grew with various teaching experiences in Toronto, Barcelona, and Brussels, mentor programs at local schools, and outdoor summer camps. She enjoys working with youth of all ages thus active involvement within and outside the school community has always been an important part of her life. Ms. Kwon strives to establish an inclusive and enjoyable learning environment for all students, and to challenge them in a positive and supportive manner. She encourages students to think creatively, ask questions, and learn through cooperation and collaboration in hopes of helping students grow and mature as leaders. Outside the classroom Ms. Kwon’s interests are: travelling, photography, baking, canoeing, cheering on her favourite sport teams, museums, and volunteering.

B.Ed. & B.A. Queen’s University

Brittany Lawson, Learning Support

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada Ms. Lawson graduated from Queen’s University, completing its 5 year Bachelor of Education Program (Honors) in History and English. Ms. Lawson has experience and passion for teaching English Language Learners, At- Risk students, and those with learning exceptionalities. Ms. Lawson has also instructed in an international classroom setting while in Zurich, Switzerland. Ms. Lawson believes that education has the ability to prepare all students to think critically and find their place and voice in an ever changing and complex world. She has an extensive work background with the City of Toronto, Parks Forestry and Recreation Division highlighted by coaching Dance and Gymnastics for 5 years and supporting children and youth with Autism, Down’s Syndrome, ADHD/ADD, Learning Disabilities, and Epilepsy. Ms. Lawson has a love of travel which has led her to Mexico, Cuba, Germany, Poland and now South Korea. Ms. Lawson is excited to join the staff at APIS and to benefit from the rich history and traditions of South Korea. Ms. Lawson’s faith and trust in Christ is extremely important to her and she will use this to encourage her students in their own walks with God.

B.Ed Queen’s University / B.A Honors History Trent University

Elaine A. Lee, Grade 2 Classroom

Ms. Lee, from Columbus, Ohio, graduated from the Ohio State University, specializing in Early Childhood Development and Education. She continued her study at the University of Pennsylvania, received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education, and holds the State of Pennsylvania’s teaching certification. One of Ms. Lee’s professional goals is to bring diversity into the curriculum, and she hopes to create an atmosphere in which children can explore and understand different cultures and have diverse experiences that are not limited to the classroom. She also hopes to see her students develop creativity, empathy, and the love of learning. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and trying out different cuisines, but most of all, she loves spending time with her family and friends.

M.S.Ed. University of Pennsylvania / B.S. Magna Cum Laude, Ohio State University

Zachary Luginbill, School Chaplain

Pastor Luginbill grew up in Ohio, and attended Huntington College in Indiana where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Cross-Cultural Ministries and minored in Bible. As a part of his studies, Pastor Luginbill spent six months in Cape Town, South Africa, leading worship in a local church, teaching about AIDS in schools, and ministering to juveniles with a prison ministry. He has over four years experience as a worship pastor working with adults and student ministry teams, and leads worship on guitar as well as piano. Pastor Luginbill comes from a family of educators (father-high school math, mother-kindergarten, brother-1st grade) and passionately lives out his heritage of faith with relatives on both sides of his family having served in full-time pastoral ministry. He loves reading while enjoying a strong cup of black coffee, or running while listening to a sermon on his iPod.

B.S. Huntington College

Joëlle Léger, Grade 3 Classroom

Born in a very small French town, Joëlle Léger learned English at the age of 9. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education at Nipissing University, specializing in French and Reading in North Bay, Canada. She is currently working on her Master of Education at Simpson University. She has been teaching for 5 years. During this time, she has been blessed with the opportunity to work with an amazing community here at APIS. Prior to moving abroad, she opened a new bilingual school and piloted many new Ministry of Education initiatives in Canada. From a young age, Ms Léger has been very involved with the community; she volunteered at Bobby Orr’s Camp for the Deaf, where she worked with students with auditory and speech disabilities and also volunteered at the Hospitality Department of Lakeridge Health Oshawa Hospital. Here at APIS, she assists with the Children’s Ministry during Sunday Services. Her other interests include, volleyball, travelling, cooking, and reading. She is looking forward to another amazing year at APIS.

B.Ed. Nipissing University

Sharon Lee, Learning Support

Ms. Lee is a graduate from the B.Ed and B.A.H. programs at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. She has gained learning-rich classroom experiences in Canada, Guatemala, and China. Ms. Lee is passionate about building trust-filled relationships with her students and is interested in getting to know them as unique individuals. She loves teaching and traveling, and has recently discovered her passion for writing poetry. Ms. Lee is interested in broadening her perspective, increasing self-awareness, and influencing students in a positive way. She is committed to student learning, development, achievement, and well-being.

B.Ed and B.A.H, Queen’s University


Michael Maldonado, College Counselor

Mr. Maldonado was born and raised in New York City by his Puerto Rican parents. He attended parochial school through high school and received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Columbia University. He has a Master of Science in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University-Mankato. Mr. Maldonado has over ten years of experience working with youth in a variety of settings. He has been a teacher at a Catholic school, a counselor at a therapeutic educational wilderness camp, and an adventure education specialist for a high school. He has enjoyed working with diverse staff and students. Mr. Maldonado has two children, Che and Mira, and after the birth of his daughter, he chose to stay home to raise his children. He has recently graduated with a Master of Science in School Counseling from University of Wisconsin- Whitewater and is a certified school counselor for grades K through 12. His interests include cycling, traveling, movies, reading, and exploring with his family. Mr. Maldonado is excited to build strong relationships with the students at APIS and looks forward to helping students to plan for higher education at great colleges and universities throughout the world.

M.S. Minnesota State University / M.A. University of Wisconsin / B.A. Columbia University

Shelly Maldonado, ES & MS Counselor

Mrs. Maldonado is from Wisconsin and brings a lot of energy and love to our staff. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and social studies education from St. Olaf College where she became a licensed social studies teacher for grades 7 through 12. Mrs. Maldonado has worked as a teacher for youth in Alaska and has been a counselor/teacher for at-risk youth in North Carolina. She has been a wilderness church camp counselor and a counselor for youth and adults with physical or developmental disabilities. After teaching for two years as a high school social studies teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she pursued a Master of Science in school counseling from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and is certified to counsel grades Kindergarten through 12. Most recently, Mrs. Maldonado has been a n elementary school counselor in Wisconsin where her passion has been to promote multicultural and diversity awareness in students and staff. Mrs. Maldonado is happily married to Mr. Maldonado and has two children, Che and Mira. Her interests are traveling, exploring, music, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.

M.A. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater / B.A. Magna Cum Laude, St. Olaf College

Caitlin McGraw, Grade 4 Classroom

Ms. McGraw grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. She is a graduate of Wellesley College with a B.A. in Spanish and a minor in Elementary Teacher Education. She studied her third year of college at the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla in Puebla, Mexico, and is a fluent Spanish speaker. Ms. McGraw has experience teaching elementary school students in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Massachusetts. She has participated in various education research projects and is passionate about education. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Outside of the classroom, Ms. McGraw loves reading, running, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

B.A. Cum Laude, Wellesley College

Andrew Murphy, Physical Education

Mr. Murphy graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science degree, in Human Kinetics with Honors in May 2004. While studying in university he volunteered for a variety of children’s charities in Ottawa, Canada. Through these experiences Mr. Murphy gained a passion and inspiration for teaching. This motivated him to obtain a degree and certification in education from the University of Ottawa in May 2005. Upon completion of this, Mr. Murphy worked for Children’s Village in Ottawa, Canada, helping guide and develop underprivileged youth become empowered, responsible contributors in society. For the past three years Mr. Murphy has been teaching Physical Education, Science, ESL, and Math in Korea.

B.Sc. & B.A. Cum Laude, University of Ottawa

Susan Milde, Learning Support

Ms. Milde comes to us from an American International School in India, where most of her students were Korean. She is excited about coming to Korea and seeing firsthand why her students so passionately love their homeland. Previously, Ms. Milde taught in Hungary, Turkey, Mexico, Nicaragua, and California. She played an active role in curriculum development in each teaching position. During her career she has also directed summer camp and adventure programs for people with disabilities, and coordinated children’s education programs for the Humane Society. Before teaching, Ms. Milde spent many years working with youth in various community service agencies, both as counselor and program director. She has studied Spanish and Turkish, and hopes to begin learning Korean. Ms. Milde holds a multiple subject teaching credential from California with a cross-cultural, language and academic development emphasis, with supplementary authorization in English, Mathematics, and Social Science. She holds an M.A. in English for T.E.S.L. from Kent State University, and an M.Div. from Starr King School for the Ministry. Ms. Milde completed her B.A. at Dartmouth College with a concentration in Asian Studies. Ms. Milde’s daughter Judy will be a 4th grade student at APIS this year.

M.A. Kent State University / B.A. Dartmouth College

Eunice Myung, Learning Support

Mrs. Myung has earned her Bachelor of Arts from Biola University and a Master of Arts from Westminister Theological Seminary. She is an experienced teacher who holds a California teaching credential. She comes with a wide range of experience from teaching elementary school children in the United States to college students in Korea. In addition to her teaching experience in the public school system, she also served as a children’s director and youth group director upon receiving her M.A. in Biblical Studies from Westminster. She is married to a pastor and they live in Shin Nae Dong with their daughter, Sarah.

M.A. Westminster Theological Seminary / B.A. Biola University


Charles Nichols, Mathematics

Mr. Nichols graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Religion. While at Duke, he was a leader in an outdoor student organization and led multiple backpacking trips to the mountains of North Carolina. After college, Mr. Nichols spent a year in an AmeriCorps program in which he connected college students to community service opportunities. He mentored students at North Carolina Central University as they planned a service trip to Washington, DC. It was the experience of working with college students that convinced him to return to Duke to earn a teaching license in Math and Social Studies. He spent the last two years teaching Geometry at KIPP Pride High School, a college prep high school in rural, eastern North Carolina. In addition to engaging his students in Geometry, he also chaperoned a week-long service trip to New Orleans with nearly 20 middle and high school students. Mr. Nichols also enjoys playing chess with his students during lunch and after school. In his free time, he can be found backpacking, skiing, reading, and watching Duke basketball.

M.A., B.A. Duke University

Ryan Niman, Secondary Humanities

Mr. Niman received his Master’s in Teaching at the University of Washington after previously studying creative writing, literature, and international relations. For the past nine years he has taught English and Social Studies in the north of Seattle, Washington. During much of that time he was an English Department Chair and for one year served as the District English Curriculum Coordinator. For the past two years he has also worked for the Center for Teaching Quality to improve teaching and the teaching profession. His writing on education has appeared in CTQ reports, edweek.org, and in regular contributions to the transformED blog. When not focusing on education he works on expanding and listening to his music collection (mainly alternative, rock and jazz), dabbling in photography, reading (from classics to science fiction to nonfiction), and traveling. Among other traveling adventures, he helped rebuild a Victorian walled garden at a Buddhist center in northern England.

M.I.T. University of Washington / B.A. University of Washington

Grace Nutter, Learning Support

Ms. Nutter, though originally from the U.S., has spent 11 years in Asia, living in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand and most recently Seoul, South Korea. In 2009, she graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While at school she took a special interest in classes focusing on gender studies and student-led a psychology research team examining gendered attitudes towards sexist humor. She also became actively involved in student and local community groups focusing on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. During her senior year at University, she joined a Community Outreach program, which allowed her to teach art at a local elementary school. This experience directly led to Ms. Nutter’s interest in education and prompted her to accept a job working with special needs children at an International School in Thailand. While there, she was also given to opportunity to lead high school students in a volunteer program that worked with Thai orphans, many of whom were abandoned as a result of HIV/AIDS. Ms. Nutter loves working with children and is excited to be joining the staff at APIS. Her other interests include painting, print-making, live music, cooking, and really amateur rock-climbing.

B.A. Ithaca College

Elaine Park, Curriculum Coordinator

Ms. Park received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. She worked for seven years as a Research Engineer for companies like Motorola, Inc. and Boston Scientific. She also gained experience in technical writing for patent applications as she worked for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, and LLP before finding her way into education where she has taught math and science for six years at private and international schools. Ms. Park has honed her skills in developing curriculum with inquiry and project-based units throughout her teaching career. Her teaching methodologies include establishing an environment where students have voice and choice such that the students may experience an extended process of investigating and inquiring in order to answer an essential question that would bring about an application to the “real” world. She is dedicated to integrating content inherent in 21st Century Skills such as: collaboration, communication & critical thinking. She believes that it is essential for every student to experience success and that she is the catalyst in supporting this success through personalized learning, differentiation, and making measurable progress visible. She is looking forward to working at APIS to continuously develop student-centered curriculum that ensures enrichment and measurable growth for every student.

M.A., B.A. Cornell University

Judy Park, Grade 1 Classroom

Mrs. Park’s 15 years of teaching in both public and private school systems are only a portion of more than 20 years of experience working with children in church settings, inner city programs, and summer camps. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Washington and a Master’s Degree in Teaching from Seattle University. Outside of school, Mrs. Park enjoys taking short trips with her husband and her lovely daughter, Claire. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership as well as learning to bake.

M.A. in Teaching, Seattle University / B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington

Ji Sung Park, Music & Orchestra

Born in Korea, Ms. Park started playing violin when she was seven and never stopped playing ever since. After graduating from Sun Hwa Arts High School in Seoul, Korea, Ms. Park decided to continue her music study in depth in the United States. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from the Boston Conservatory with a full scholarship. It was during her junior year in college that she made up her mind to become a music educator. Ms. Park extended her studies at the Boston Conservatory to earn a Master’s degree in Music Education and got her first experience teaching in public schools in Lexington, Massachusetts. Before joining the APIS faculty, Ms. Park was a violin instructor at Duxbury High School, as well as an orchestra assistant at BAYS youth orchestra in Duxbury.

M.A. & B.A. Boston Conservatory


Allen Sanchez, Secondary Social Studies

Mr. Sanchez earned his B.A. from Yale University, where he majored in American Studies, with a concentration on “The International United States.” While at Yale, he directed a youth mentoring program at an inner city high school, coached a youth water polo summer league, and started a campaign to reform investment ethics at Yale. He has an active interest in traveling and exploring new cultures. He spent time studying in Italy and has been on several backpacking trips through Latin America and Europe. At APIS, Mr. Sanchez hopes to pass on his love of culture and history by engaging his students in critical discussions surrounding the globalizing nature of the modern world. He hopes to prepare his students to become truly global citizens that will be able to think critically, write effectively, and argue persuasively in an increasingly interdependent world.

B.A. Yale University

Chris Stapleton, ELA / Social Studies

Mr. Stapleton graduated from Wheaton College with a B.A. in Elementary Education. Before attending Wheaton College, Mr. Stapleton grew up in a missionary home in the Philippines where he anchored his faith in Jesus Christ. After graduating he received teaching licenses in Illinois and Colorado. After moving to Colorado to teach 6th grade, Mr. Stapleton furthered his education at the University of Colorado. At the university he studied Curriculum and Instruction as well as Technology, and he graduated with his M.A. after two years. Mr. Stapleton has taught 6th grade for two years and 5th grade for two years. Since graduating from the University of Colorado, Mr. Stapleton was invited to become a part of their faculty. He has taught educational technology classes at the university as an adjunct professor. Mr. Stapleton has been an assistant coach to girls’ varsity volleyball and boys’ club volleyball for four years. In addition, he founded a media club, which has allowed students to practice logo design, animation, audio recording, and movie-making. Mr. Stapleton believes that student engagement and attentiveness is vital for successful education. He enjoys fusing technology with education to achieve greater engagement. Mr. Stapleton and his wife love to travel, play games, and build community.

M.A. University of Colorado / B.A. Wheaton College

Max Vu, Honors Economics & Precalculus

Ms. Vu has recently earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Yonsei University in 2012. She realized her passion for Economics after visiting UC Riverside, California on her exchange program, and is planning to pursue a Ph.D in the field. Along with her love for academic research, Ms. Vu believes teaching is the most fulfilling profession one could have. Even as a college student, she has always sought after teaching opportunities and has gained experience in teaching a wide variety of subjects, including English, Math, Economics, and Korean History. Now she is excited at the prospect of nurturing the eager minds of APIS and building a strong bond with its diverse and experienced faculty. Aside from her academic works, Ms. Vu devotes her time as one of the head managers of the Toastmaster International in Seoul--an international leadership and communication organization with over 270,000 members around the world. She also served as the university’s Student Ambassador during her college years. Seoul has been dear to her for almost four years, with all its glories and its worst, and she is looking forward to the new phase of her life at APIS.

B.A. in Economics, Underwood International College, Yonsei University

Jeffrey C.H. Underhill, Grade 5 Classroom

Mr. Underhill’s roots are in Colorado, where he was guided toward a teaching life through his work with inner-city adolescents in Denver. He comes to APIS with more than ten years experience in education, most recently spending good days educating fourth graders in Myanmar since 2008. Throughout university, Mr. Underhill concurrently worked full-time in Denver schools. Prior to teaching in Myanmar, he taught students in grades seven through nine at Littleton Public Schools, and has taught subjects ranging from physical education to technology. His interests include reading, biking, cardio sports, building websites, blogging, day dreaming, and discovering. Mr. Underhill counts as accomplishments founding and developing a leadership-mentoring program for middle school youth, being a mentor to kids, serving on mission trips in the United States and Mexico, being chosen Teacher of the Month by his elementary students, and, for his past four years, founding and building an elementary student council, coaching middle school boys’ soccer, and staying f it riding his bike each day twelve miles to work. Since childhood and throughout his divergent experiences as an educator, Mr. Underhill has been keenly aware of God’s presence in his life.

B.A., Metropolitan State College of Denver, with honors (emphases in English and Elementary Education)

Tammi Wenzig, ELA & Social Studies / MS Core Academic Coordinator

Ms. Wenzig moved to Korea in 2006 to begin her international teaching career. What she thought would be a short 2 year adventure has lasted so much longer than she expected! Since she has the chance to teach both Middle School and High School students, she never gets bored. She enjoys watching young students grow into the incredible men and women who graduate and go out into the whole world from APIS. While she enjoys keeping up with family and friends back in Salem, Oregon USA, she loves her friends, students, and church family here in Korea too. Ms. Wenzig is thankful that God has called her to a life of teaching that is full of adventure and new experiences!

M.A. in Education, Simpson University (Emphasis: Curriculum and Instruction / English Language Learner Instruction) / B.S. Cum Laude, Corban College

Nathan Walker, English Language Arts

Mr. Walker wanted to become a teacher from an early age. A big part of his decision to seek a career in academics has been shaped by a series of great teachers he had while growing up. They not only served as great role models for him but also significantly influenced his thinking and outlook on life. Mr. Walker graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in Literature and Philosophy and his Master’s degree is in Secondary Language Arts Education. He started out teaching in his native Seattle area. While teaching there, he also coached debate and Mock Trial teams. Several years ago, Mr. Walker made a big decision to move to Korea, where he continued his teaching and also wrote several textbooks currently used by Korean students nationwide. Mr. Walker is a big believer of student focused and directed learning. As a teacher, he guides and encourages his students to chart their own learning paths, taking ownership and command of their learning process. When this happens, he is consistently amazed at how creative and brilliant his students can be. Mr. Walker thus finds students to be the most important source of his inspiration.

Ed.M. Washington State University / B.A. University of Washington


Dyanne Wheat, Grade 1 Classroom

Ms. Wheat graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies for early childhood education through fourth grade. Her hands-on experience with children ranges from preschool through fifth grade, both in the United States, as well as abroad in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and South Korea. She has taught children with ADD/ADHD, Aspurger’s Syndrome, and ‘At-Risk’ students. While in Korea, Ms. Wheat has taught ESL students from age three to nine within a classroom setting. She also worked extensively to develop an early childhood program at APIS. Recently, Ms. Wheat acquired her Master’s degree in English Language Learner Instruction/Curriculum Instruction with an emphasis in Educational Leadership from Simpson University. Through the program she conducted research for implementing the iPad in an international preschool classroom. Aside from teaching, Ms. Wheat loves to travel and go on mission trips with her church. Her travels include places such as Italy, Turkey, Qatar, India, Nigeria, South East Asia, and Mexico. She loves journaling, photography, reading, listening to music, as well as playing flute. Adventure is always at her feet, whether it be camping, hiking, skiing or some other outdoor activity. Laughter, faith, and the richness of life are some things that she hopes to share with her students.

M.A. in Education, Simpson University (Emphasis: Curriculum and Instruction / English Language Learner Instruction/ Educational Leadership) / B.A. Texas A&M University

Sarah Louise Wood, Grade 4 Classroom

Ms. Wood graduated from Western Carolina University with degrees in Elementary Education and Reading. In addition to her two degrees, she is a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor for language based learning difficulties. Ms. Wood fell in love with teaching in high school during a 4th grade internship. After the internship she knew teaching was her calling in life. Ms. Wood believes in educating the whole child through hands-on, student centered learning, with an emphasis on teaching to students’ multiple intelligences. Originally from a small town located in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Ms. Wood loves being outside and enjoying nature whenever possible.

B.A Western Carolina University

Jeff Woodrow, Digital Media & Art

Mr. Woodrow was the Valedictorian of his high school graduating class and the recipient of the Christian Student of the Year Award. Mr. Woodrow went on to receive his Honors Fine Arts degree from the University of Waterloo and a Post-Graduate diploma in Film Production from Sheridan College. Before getting his degree in education, Mr. Woodrow had an active career as a social entrepreneur. He is the founder of Joy Apparel, an international e-commerce project that is aimed at promoting peace and equality on a global scale. For his work, Mr. Woodrow has been recognized internationally and he was awarded the 2010 St. Jerome’s University Alumni of the Year Award. In addition, Mr. Woodrow has a wealth of experience working in the film/media industry, adding numerous animation and documentary projects to his credit. Now as an educator, Mr. Woodrow desires to impart his love of art and technology onto his students, not just as a teacher but also as an artist, passionate about his profession. Instructionally, Mr. Woodrow likes to use a variety of multi-media tools to help create dynamic lessons that are engaging. He is also very interested in using assistive technology in his classroom to help his students achieve their learning goals. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Woodrow’s enjoyment and passion include: triathlons, basketball, squash, yoga, cooking, art, culture, design, film, photography, volunteering, and social activism.

B.A. University of Waterloo / PGDip, Film, Sheridan Institute of Technology / B.Ed. Queen’s University

Hye Kyoung Yoon, Music & Chorus

Mrs. Yoon graduated from Seoul National University with B.A. in Piano Performance and earned her Master’s degree from Hanyang University in Organ Performance. She earned her Graduate Artist Diploma in Choral Conducting from Colorado State University (2008). For the past 19 years, she has served as an Associate Conductor for the Seoul Ladies Singers, with whom she has performed hundreds of concerts throughout Korea, the US, Japan, and other countries in Asia and Europe. Mrs. Yoon also has many years of experience in leading children’s chorale groups and has won major awards in top competitions in Korea. By participating in chorus, Mrs. Yoon hopes that her students will not only learn about the joy of making music together but also learn the importance of caring for each other and cooperating with one another.

M.A. Hanyang University / B.A. Seoul National University


Zheng Iris Zhijun, Chinese Language

Ms. Zheng graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Shanghai University, where she was awarded full academic merit scholarships for all 4 years. She also earned a Master’s degree in Education from Seoul National University. Before coming to Korea, she taught Chinese to foreign students at the international division of Jincai Secondary School in Shanghai. With more than 9 years of teaching experience in a variety of settings, Ms. Zheng continues to find joy in inspiring students to learn about the beauty and elegance of Chinese language and literature. Apart from teaching, Ms. Zheng enjoys travelling and cooking. She likes to create new recipes and share them with friends. She also enjoys swimming and was a competitive swimmer for more than 10 years.

M.A. Seoul National University / B.A. Shanghai University, China

Stacey A. Wucherpfennig, Kinder 5 Classroom

Mrs. Wucherpfennig was born and raised on a dairy farm near Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. She comes to APIS with 29 years of teaching experience in the United States. She graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire earning a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a comprehensive major in special and elementary education followed by a Master of Science in Education degree with a special education emphasis. Her early teaching experiences include teaching special education at both the high school and primary school level in Montana and Wisconsin. For the past 21 years she taught f irst grade in Spooner, Wisconsin, where her special education background set the stage for her strong belief and commitment to meeting the needs of all students in her classroom. Because of her experience in both regular and special education she also coordinated initiatives at Spooner Elementary School in the areas of collaborative teacher assistance teams, differentiation, response to intervention, data-based decision making, and best practices in teaching. Because learning is a life-long endeavor, she continues to take graduate courses with an emphasis on differentiation, best practices, and literacy. She believes that having the privilege of guiding students on the path to reading and becoming independent learners is the most exciting and rewarding aspect of teaching at the primary level. Outside of school Mrs. Wucherpfennig enjoys golf, hiking, singing, gardening, theater, concerts, and travel. She and her husband look forward to exploring South Korea and are eager to experience new cultures, customs, and languages.

M.A., B.A. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Janice Young, Chemistry

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Ms. Young graduated from Queen’s University, completing its 5 year Bachelor of Education program (Honors) in English, History and Chemistry. In addition, Ms. Young has 2 years of experience teaching English as a Second Language in Toronto. Ms. Young is a passionate teacher who believes that compassion, inclusivity, and responsiveness is the key to engaging students in the classroom. She is excited to be involved in athletics and co-curricular clubs, as she believes that these are crucial in the holistic approach to education. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring the outdoors. Ms. Young is excited to join the staff at APIS and to experience the rich traditions of South Korea.

B.Ed. & B.A. Queen’s University

Documents

apis, 2012, faculty