Meet The Faculty - Khartoum International Community School

MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Primary Faculty
MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Maria Gebrial, Head of Primary
My name is Maria Gebrial and I am the Head of Primary here at
KICS. I did my teaching degree in the UK and have been an
educator for 15 years. Currently I am doing my Masters in
International Education Administration. Reflecting on my
educational experience, I appreciate the immeasurable impact that
teachers make on the lives of young people. I also realize the
skills and knowledge acquired within the classroom environment as
well as beyond that setting, will be used by young people throughout life. Therefore I
hope to be a role model that cultivates in young people, open minds, the knowledge
and ability to look at the world critically, and the belief in one's capacity to make positive
contributions to society. In my spare time I enjoy cooking and trying new cuisine,
travelling, exercising and spending quality time with family and friends.
Viv Wallace, Primary Years Programme Coordinator
I was born, raised and trained as a teacher in the deep south of beautiful
New Zealand. As the PYP Co-ordinator and am very excited about being
able to continue to develop the programme in the Primary school. My goal
is to encourage both teachers and students to strive for excellence in all
areas of their development in a safe and stimulating learning environment.
I have taught in Thailand, Cambodia and Bangladesh. In addition to 20+
years in education I have also spent a number of years working in a variety
of sales, marketing and management positions within the publishing industry. During
holidays I enjoy exploring different places and finding idyllic tropical beaches to lie on and
read books. I have always been a keen sportswoman, especially in netball, skiing,
swimming, tennis and basketball, though, these days I am more likely to be found cheering
from the sidelines!
Marina Cannon, Little KICS Teacher
I am an Australian teacher and my family live in Newcastle, NSW. My
teaching experience includes contracts in Botswana , Zimbabwe,
Philippines and remote indigenous communities. I enjoy all outdoor
activities and am making the most of the golf club here. I love to travel
and meet new people. I have an 18 year old daughter who will join me
for part of the year. I am looking forward to being a part of the KICS
community.
Suna Daoud, Reception Teacher
My name is Sawsan Elsayed Daoud. In school I am called Mrs. Suna.
I am from Sudan and I graduated from the University of Khartoum,
Faculty of Education. I also have a Diploma in Teaching English as a
Foreign Language, from the London Montessori Centre. I have
attended many PYP workshops, some here in Khartoum and one in
Mumbai, India. I have been in this school for 26 years, mainly
teaching the Reception KICS with three years experience in Nursery
class. My own children went through this school.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Joanna Sargent, Reception Teacher
I am from the U.K. and have now worked in 10 different wonderful
countries in international schools. I love working in Early Years, and
have taught the range of primary as well as being language support
teacher in some schools. I am passionate about archaeology. I also
enjoy water sports, live music and long lazy weekend breakfasts with
friends!
Lucy Hall-Patch, Year 1
Hello! My name is Lucy Hall-Patch and I am very happy to be
teaching Year 1 at KICS. This is my fourth year of living and
working in beautiful Khartoum. I am originally from Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada, but I have spent most of my adult life studying
or working in other cities in Canada and around the world. I have
taught in a range of situations - lower Primary, upper Primary and
EAL - and locations - Canada, Japan and Qatar. Outside of work, I
enjoy singing, reading books, cooking, riding my bike, and doing anything outdoors.
I also love to spend time with family and friends, and I am passionate about
travelling and seeing as much as I can of our amazing planet.
Jenny Lathrop- Year 1
I am from a small town in Wisconsin, USA. After having lived
abroad in the UK while at university, I realized the international
lifestyle was one I wanted to pursue. I am looking forward to new
adventures in Sudan and being a part of the KICS community. I
have a BA degree in Studio Art and a Masters Degree in
Education. Before coming to Sudan, I taught in international
schools in Colombia, Singapore, Morocco and Germany. I have
experience teaching a wide range of ages in both the primary
school and visual art. In my free time, I like to travel, scuba dive,
cook, read, draw, and paint.
Erica Zent - Year 2
I am from Arizona, USA. I have been teaching elementary and
middle school English in eastern Turkey for the past two years.
Prior to that, I taught primary school in Arizona and Texas. I enjoy
camp fires, sailing, scuba diving, and spending time at my family's
ranch. I look forward to returning to the desert and joining the KICS
community.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Christopher Fadera, Year 2
My name is Chris Fadera and I'm from the Philippines. I am thrilled to
be a part of the diverse KICS learning community and be immersed in
the culture of Sudan. This school year marks my 2nd year at KICS.
International school teaching has brought me to exciting places from
Manila, Philippines to Jakarta, Indonesia and now Khartoum, Sudan.
Aside from teaching I love to learn new things, sing, swim, run, cook,
yoga, read, watch movies, drink coffee, chat with friends, travel, surf
the net and much more!
Tanya Abdalla, Year 3
I am originally from Sudan and lived in Khartoum until the age of 13
after which I moved to the UK. After graduating from university with a
BA in French and Spanish, I returned to Sudan and worked as a
Classroom assistant in Hai El Matar Infant school. My experiences
there inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. I went back to the UK
to train as a teacher and spent six years teaching in London before
returning to Khartoum, to teach at KICS nine years ago.
Stephanie Groshell - Year 3
My name is Stephanie Groshell and I'm from Tacoma, Washington
in the USA. My husband, Zach, and I are moving to Sudan from
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I'm an avid swimmer and before I
began teaching in the classroom I was a swim teacher. My favorite
things to do outside of the classroom are travel, hike, scuba dive,
and drink coffee.
Isla Mcleod, Year 4
My name is Isla and I'm a New Zealander. I am single with two adult
sons (Tom and Olly) who live and work in Western Australia. I love the
Arts, travelling to exciting places and having nice times with friends. I
taught in Jakarta for nearly eight years and am really looking forward
to my 2nd year at KICS.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Brian McDaid, Year 4
Hi My name is Brian McDaid and I am originally from Derry,
Northern Ireland. I have been living in Sudan since 2007. I am a
recent addition to the KICS family having worked in the
private/commercial sector for many years in a variety of roles.
After deciding on a change of career, I spent time completing my
TEFL qualification and taught English for a short period before
commencing my PGCEi in 2014. I spent the 2014/15 academic
year training at KICS and have now completed my studies to
become a fully fledged class teacher. I am excited about my new
career and look forward to preparing the next generation for the
ever changing world around us. My wife is now also my colleague
and teaches at KICS and both of my children also attend the
school.
Zachariah Groshell - Year 5
My name is Zach Groshell and I am from the United States. My
most recent school was in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and before
that I taught at a Native American tribal school in my home state of
Washington. Before teaching, I worked in camping and outdoor
education. I'm here with my wife. Year 3 teacher Stephanie, and we
are excited to make our new home in Sudan. I love trying new food,
traveling, learning languages and playing sports.
Darwin Balog-Ang, Year 5
I was born, raised and educated in the Philippines. With over 9
years of teaching and learning experience in the IB-PYP setting, I
have been part of schools in countries such as Indonesia,
Philippines and now Sudan. Apart from assuming roles of a
homeroom teacher and an IB coordinator, my being an IB
workshop leader and also a school visiting team member have
brought me to different places and schools in the Asia-Pacific
region. I have had the pleasure of conducting workshops for
international school teachers and evaluating schools. I have the
passion of learning and experiencing different cultures as well as
watching documentaries about civilizations and societies.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Rick Devine, Year 6
My love of overseas living began when my father moved his young
family to Saudi Arabia from Northern Canada in the mid1960's. On
my return from schooling in ARAMCO and Europe, my university in
Canada prepared me for my first professional international teaching
experience. This was in Tripoli, Libya. Since that time I have taught in
Dubai, Japan and Oman. My experiences range from early childhood
through high school with extended stays in middle school. I have
recently taught the PYP in Kobe, Japan and MYP Humanities in Oman. I enjoy
creating grade level trips to enhance the curriculum and include an integrated service
component. This is my 2nd year at KICS.
Nick Devine - Year 6
Hi my name's Nick Devine and I am a Canadian/American dual
national. I was born and raised in Dubai, U.A.E., where both my
parents were teachers. I have taught in Korea and Taiwan for the
past eight years. Most of my experience has been teaching
elementary level students and I also taught for one year at a
university in Seoul. I enjoy Scuba diving, traveling, and reading. I
am really looking forward to meeting my new students and fellow
faculty members.
Randa Saeed, PYP Arabic
I am Sudanese, born and raised in Sudan. I have a 17 year old son
who is in the Seniors. I studied Economics and Development Studies
in the American University in Cairo. This is my 12th year at KICS and
I teach Arabic in the primary section. Recently I got my masters
degree in International Education from Endicott College in
Massachusetts. I love to travel, read and shop.
Lama Masri, PYP Arabic
Hi, my name is Lama and I come from the Palestinian Occupied
Territories. I was born in Jerusalem and lived most of my life there. I
have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the
University of Bir Zeit and a Cambridge International Diploma for
Teachers and Trainers. I have three sons and one daughter and they
are 6, 10,13 and 15 years old. This is my 12th year in Sudan and my
11th at KICS.
Wadiaa Elsharief, PYP Arabic
My name is Wadiaa Elshareif and I am Sudanese. I was a lecturer
at Sudan University College for Girls. This is my sixth year at KICS
and I teach Arabic in the Primary Section.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Barbara Devine, Art Teacher
Originally from California, I have travelled extensively and lived in
Ghana, Libya, Dubai, Japan and Oman. Having taught all the
grades from early years through middle school, adult education,
art, support and reading, I am again enjoying teaching junior art. A
Primary goal in my personal education has been to apply the
principles of Human Development. This has been helpful across
varying cultures, subjects and age groups. Rick and I have raised
our three children abroad. The two eldest are international
educators and our youngest presently attends a performing arts
college. Our eldest, Nick, is teaching here at KICS this year!
Dabbling in the arts, reading and writing are among my favorite
pastimes.
Jacklyn Nguyen, PYP Music Teacher
I am from Olympia, Washington USA. I started my teaching career
through working with primary aged students by the age of 15. I
have always enjoyed sharing my love and enthusiasm through
playing and teaching music. I received my Music degree at
Western Washing University, Masters in Ethnomusicology at
Sheffield University and lastly went back to The College of New
Jersey for a teaching certificate. I have played classical piano
since an early age and want to continue to take cello lessons here in Khartoum, as
well as join the KICS band. Using my knowledge as a trained classical pianist, I am
always exploring methods for my students to make music either through their
chosen instrument or by collaborating with other musicians at KICS. I have taught in
Olympia, Washington, Seoul, South Korea and Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam where my
students have explored music through rhythm on percussion instruments such as
drums, wooden blocks, bells, shakers and movement through stomping, clapping
and dancing. I bring harmonic singing into the classroom as well as melodic
instruments such as the xylophones, ukuleles and keyboards.
I am looking forward to working with your children at KICS to bring out the musician
in them by broadening their musical knowledge and deepening their appreciation
and skill in music.
Branden James - PE Teacher
My name is Branden James and this is my second year teaching at
KICS. Last year, I worked in both SSS and PE departments but will
be solely teaching primary PE in 2015/2016. I have taught in
Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and am proud to now
add Sudan to the list. I am an avid Scuba diver and will go diving
whenever I can. I also enjoy hiking and everything one can do in
the great outdoors. I eagerly await meeting you all in August. I
know it is going to be a great year.
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Senior Faculty
MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Debbie Coomber , Head of Seniors
I am from the UK and have been in teaching/leadership roles
overseas for 9 years in Thailand, Kazakhstan and India. I have two
daughters ages 22 and 19: I enjoy travel, music, motorbikes, skiing.
and horse riding. I am looking forward to meeting all the parents and
students.
Tammie Gilbert - Curriculum Coordinator
I am an Australian who grew up in 'Outback' Queensland. Having
taught in regional Queensland, cosmopolitan Dubai and historic
Erlangen, Germany, I am excited about moving to Khartoum and
experiencing life on a new continent. My teaching background is in
English and Social Studies. I have many years of experience
creating Middle School curriculum with the unique, inquisitive and
quirky Middle School learner in mind, as well as teaching IB and
IGCSE. I enjoy music festivals, unique cultural activities, creative
dance, new foods and laughter
Reem Heakal, DP Coordinator
I am originally from Egypt, but was born and raised in the United
States until the age of 15. I then moved back to Egypt and finished
my BA and MA at the American University in Cairo. I came to
Sudan almost 14 years ago with my husband who is half German
and half Sudanese. We have two children at KICS; Sharif is 10 and
in Year 6, and Tamara is 8 and in Year 4. This will be my 11th year
at KICS. I have worked at the CAS Coordinator and the IB
Business and Management teacher. I am currently the IB Diploma
Coordinator and the College Counsellor. In my free time I enjoy
walking, hiking, playing tennis, reading and especially relaxing and
spending time with my family.
Lauren Williams - CAS Coordinator
I am from flat and snowy North Dakota in the upper mid-west region
of the United States and have been living in Khartoum for the last 2
years serving as the US Education Advisor to Sudan. I am very
excited to continue my career in international education as the
KICS Creativity, Activity, and Service coordinator. I am passionate
about learning through experience and supporting our student body
as they attempt new pursuits to define their interests and life goals.
In my free time I run, ride horses, hang out with my Sudanese
street dog, camp in the desert, and bake cookies.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Stephen Almond, Head of Art
I like sport (particularly rugby union, tennis, athletics, cricket, golf and
football) but being English I live in hope more than expectation. I am
also fascinated by the arts and other cultures and enjoy the company
of open-minded people who share my value of equality for everybody.
My most important current project is a road safety awareness
campaign in Addis Ababa and I hope to expand that campaign to other
cities in the world's greatest continent-Africa.
Lawrence Espinosa, Drama Teacher
Mabuhay! I am from the Philippines, Pinoy Pride! It is my first year
in KICS and I am excited to share with the KICS community the
passion I have for theatre. I am accompanied by my wife Annette
and son, Thor, who will be entering Year 7. May the force be with
you!
Robert Denzel, Music
I am the Senior School Music Teacher teaching Years 7-11 Music.
Besides that I am also the director of KICS Band Programme. I direct
and teach the instruments of the band as well as piano in the
Instrumental Tuition Programme (ITP). This is my ninth year and I am
enjoying very much my work in KICS. I have several major goals for
the Music Programme in the years ahead, namely having a Gold
KICS Band; establishing the Associated Board of Royal Music
Schools external graded auditions for music students; joining the
Association of Music International Schools; recording our first CD for
public enjoyment.
Narvesh Auchoybur: DT & ICT Teacher
I am from the beautiful island of Mauritius. I have been working for
several years as a Design and Technology teacher in Mauritius and
Dubai. I am also an IB DT examiner. I am passionate about elearning, teaching, portrait, product and landscape photography. I
intend to make beautiful pictures of Sudan and show the warmth of
the Sudanese people. I spend most of my free time with my two
sons who are 5 and 7 years old.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Brad Butler - Head of English
I am from Texas, USA and have been teaching IB and IGCSE
English for the past two years in eastern Turkey. Prior to that, I
was a University Assistant Professor for 10 years in Texas. I have
two children aged 12 and 16. I enjoy golf, river running, and
sailing. I am excited to be working at KICS and joining the larger
Khartoum community.
Angela Dundas, English Teacher
I'm happy to be at KICS with my two children. I'm originally from
Ireland but have lived most of my life in Bilbao, Spain with some
time spent in Paris, London and Menorca. I have a B.A.Hons in
English and an iPGCE. This is my 2nd year at KICS.
Andrew Hodgkinson, Head of Science
My name is Andrew Hodgkinson. I am originally from Colne, which is a
small town in the North West of England near Manchester. I read
Physics at Newcastle University and I have been a teacher in the UK
and then overseas since 1991. On my travels I have visited 41
countries and taught in Egypt, Namibia, Syria, China, Japan and the
USA. I am an IB examiner for Physics and the Extended Essay. I have
a passion for cars, computers, crime fiction and enjoy most sports,
especially soccer, football and cricket. I joined KICS in August 2014.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Lize Janse van Rensburg, Chemistry Teacher
Born and raised in the fair Free State of sunny South Africa, I
completed a B.Sc. Hons degree at the University of the Free State
in 2004 and obtained a PGCE from the University of South Africa
thereafter. After nine years of teaching Physics, Chemistry and
Biology at both state and private schools in South Africa, I decided
to spread my wings and moved to the UAE to teach at an IB
school in Abu Dhabi. I enjoy music, reading and travelling and am
looking forward to my time here at KICS.
Greg Sims, Biology Teacher
I am originally from the United States. Pinning it down to a specific
state is difficult as my family moved a lot when I was growing up.
My teaching areas of specialty are biology, general science, and
mild/moderate learning disabilities. Before joining KICS in 2015 I
taught in Germany, Nepal, the US, and Korea. I studied
philosophy and biology in Wisconsin, and did my graduate school
work in experiential education, biology education, and special
education at universities in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Cycling, tennis,
badminton, music, cooking, photography and books are all areas of interest of
mine.
Colin Mitchell - Biology Teacher
I was born and raised in New Jersey, a state in the Northeastern
part of the US. I lived in France and Germany for 12 years before
moving to Sudan. I have a degree in Biology, picked up an MBA in
Marketing, and completed a PhD in Public Health with a
specialization in Epidemiology. I spent 12 years supporting the
medical device industry while presenting at educational and
scientific conferences and seminars in Europe. I enjoy reading, travelling and
learning something new.
Zainah Othman, Head of Mathematics
My name is Zainah Othman and I am originally from the southern
state of Malaysia, Johor Bahru. I have been teaching Mathematics for
the last 21 years in secondary schools, up to the IBDP level.
Countries where I have taught in the last 13 years before joining KICS
in August 2014 include Namibia, Syria, China, Japan and, the USA. I
enjoy cooking , reading and paper crafting in my spare time. I also
love traveling and hope to include drawing and painting on my list of
interests one day.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Elias Shashati, TeacherMathematics
I am Elias Shashati. I started teaching in 1974 at the Catholic Sisters'
School, then at Unity High in 1983 till 2006 when I joined KICS.
Melinda Ford, Mathematics Teacher
My name is Melinda Ford and my husband Chris and I joined KICS
from HCMC Vietnam in August 2014. We have two beautiful children,
Toni 5 and Daniel 3. I am Australian and Chris is British and we met in
the Philippines on a dive trip. This is our second posting as a family,
but when single I taught in International schools in both the
Philippines and Germany.
Imogen Van Der Bijl, Head of Humanities
I previously taught at KICS and am delighted to be back! I have
spent the last two years working in Lebanon but decided to come
back to Khartoum. I am very excited to be working at KICS again. I
am returning to the Humanities department where I shall be
teaching History and I shall be Head of Department. I am now
entering my eighth year of teaching, having taught in Vietnam,
New Zealand and Hong Kong previously. I am very passionate
about History and spend a large amount of time reading history
books and visiting museums and traveling to places of historical interest. I am very
happy to be back!
Samuel Dodwell, Geography Teacher
Now entering my 6th year in teaching having previously taught PE
and environmental science. I will be working in the Humanities
department teaching geography which is a subject I am really
passionate about. I am particularly interested in the geography of
Sudan and am looking forward to taking advantage of being able to
go on trips to the desert. I enjoy playing and watching sports in my
free time, especially following Liverpool FC and Northampton
Saints RFC. I am from a small village in the South East of England,
approximately 2 hours away from London. I am excited to be
working at KICS and getting to know more about the culture of
Sudan.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Victor (Vic) Vidrine, Business & Economics Teacher
I'm a retired business owner and insurance catastrophe adjuster
from Ville Platte, Louisiana, USA. I started teaching abroad around
2007. Since then, I have taught in the UAE, Republic of Georgia
and China. My hobbies include playing golf, hunting and fishing.
Currently I'm teaching Economics, Business & Management and
Humanties.
Selma Coban, Theory of Knowledge Teacher
I was born and brought up in Ankara, Turkey and studied philosophy in
Turkey and England. It has been a great pleasure for me to work with
many wonderful students since the start of my career. I am very
passionate about my field and love to experience and learn about
different cultures. I have worked at MSSF and BUPS at Bilkent
University in Ankara, BGY in China and ABS in Jordan. I joined the
KICS team in August 2014.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Josee Fortier - Head of Languages
I was born in Montréal and grew up on a dairy farm. I am thrilled to
come to KICS as the new French teacher. I will teach IGCSE and
DP Language B programs. As a true latin French Canadian, I am
passionate about transmitting the French culture that it is not
limited to France. I find it interesting to learn about new strategies
to facilitate the language acquisition. I got a teaching certificate
from Sunderland University (England) and a master degree to
teach French as a second language from Dijon University (France). I have over 25
years of experience. I have two teenage sons (respectively 15 and 14 y.o.) where
the eldest is passionate about computer and the youngest is very keen on piano.
During holidays, I enjoy international cooking for friends, reading, and watercoloring
I have lived 14 years in Beijing, so I speak a bit of Chinese; 3 years in Mongolia and
now moving on to a promising adventure in Khartoum. I will be very pleased to
move from the coldest capital of the world to the hottest one… Please drop by and
have a chat with me.
Cecile Montavont, French Teacher
I come from the beautiful region of Alsace, in the East of France,
and am very happy to be teaching French at KICS for a second
year. I taught Advanced French last year and am delighted to
teach both native and non native speakers this year. I have a
diploma in International Relations from Sciences Po Paris and a
Post Masters degree in Sociology from the University of ParisSorbonne. I have worked in international organisations in Sudan
(yes, this is my second time here), Iran, Kenya and the UAE.
My life as an expatriate in an international environment led me more and more into
languages. Since 2008 in Jordan, I have specialised in language curricula and
methodologies of teaching languages for international students. Before coming to
Sudan, I taught French in the Francophone Programme at the United Nations
International School, UNIS, in New York.
Besides being passionate about languages, Arabic above all, I love cats and music.
I have 2 daughters at KICS, Paloma in Y9 and Tamara in Y7.
Fawatih Ali Ahmed, Arabic Teacher
Graduate of Khartoum University 1977. Holder of many
Development Courses Certificates in Teaching English language
and Methodolgy such as, Master Teacher Certificate, Power Point
& Presentations, Leadership & Development Progamme,
Educational Events & Conference Planning, Young Learners
Certificate, First Prize in Using the Internet in the Classroom in
addition to Certificates of attendance to many international
conferences & workshops.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Rogaya Ibrahim, Arabic Teacher
My name is Rogaya Ibrahim. I am working as an Arabic teacher in
the Senior Section. I am married and I have one son and a few
daughters. I have been living out of Sudan for 28 years (10 in
Saudi Arabia and 18 in the UAE) I have a teaching diploma and I
used to teach in different schools in the UAE. I came back to
Sudan with my daughters who are studying at University.
Salwa Arian, Arabic Teacher
I was born in Omdurman and was educated in Khartoum. I
specialised in teaching Arabic language and attained a Master
Degree in General Translation from Juba University. I have
worked as an Arabic teacher in Sisters' School as well as Unity
High School. This year is my 4th year at KICS. I enjoy reading
Arabic novels by famous authors such as Nagib Mahfouz and
Taha Hussien.
Sabrin Mandil, Spanish Teacher
My name is Sabrin Mandil, I am Spanish with Sudanese-Egyptian
origins. I have a BA in Journalism & Mass Communication and a
minor in Biology (my real passion) from the American University in
Cairo as well as a PGCEi from the University of Nottingham. Four
years ago, I moved to Sudan from Spain and joined KICS as a
Teaching Assistant in the Primary Section. This year I will be
teaching Spanish in the Senior Section and I am very excited to
discover our senior students' outstanding language skills. In my
spare time I enjoy nature, travel, drawing (not that I am any good
at it) and all types of handcrafts.
MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Amy Ozols, Head of PE Department
This is my third year at KICS as the PE Head of Department. During
summer months I visit with family and friends in my hometown,
Ottawa, Canada. My love of active living is accompanied by a
passion for travel and music, which has taken me to many places
around the world. My husband Jamie and I are very excited to have
been given the opportunity to work at KICS and look forward to
enjoying a great year in Sudan.
Jamie Lynch, PE Teacher
I am a native of New Zealand and grew up in the beautiful South
Island. After teaching in New Zealand for three years, I taught in Chile
and most recently Kuwait. My specialties are high school PE, Health
and Outdoor Education. In my spare time I love playing sports,
listening to music and exploring the globe! This is my 3rd year at
KICS.
Beth Atiavila C. Mudaki - PE Teacher
I am Beth Atiavila, a Kenyan and I have been teaching for the last
ten years. I have worked for the IGCSE and IB systems for the last
eight years. My experience ranges from PYP to IB DP. I particularly
enjoy Literature and TOK. I have a Bachelor's degree in English
and Literature and a Master's degree in Education. I have worked
in Kenya, Tanzania and India and have found teaching to be a most
fulfilling career choice. I look forward to what the future holds and
from all the information and support provided, I am truly excited
about having joined KICS!
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School Wide
MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Brad Arnold, Technology Integration Coordinator
I was born, raised, and educated in the US, but I have spent the
majority of my life living and teaching overseas. I have lived in
Cameroon, China, India, Qatar, Thailand, and Sudan. I joined
KICSAugust 2014. My original specialization was teaching English
as a second language, but this has involved into developing
teaching for online learning and mobile technology. My bachelor's
degree is in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.
My master's degree is in foreign language education from Ohio State University. My
teaching certification is in international education from The College of New Jersey.
Currently, I am working for my doctoral degree in instructional design for online
learning through Capella University, specializing in collaborative learning with iPads.
Ultimately, I hope to help KICS develop into an exemplar of best practice and
student achievement.
Jeanette Brooker, Library Manager
Hello everyone, I am from Wellington, New Zealand but have been
fortunate to work as a librarian in Japan, Laos and Ecuador. I have
also taught English as a Second Language in Japan and New
Zealand. Am working at KICS as the head librarian and I am
passionate about reading and information literacy. In my spare time I
enjoy reading, travel, swimming, integrating into the local community
and learning languages (I've mastered Spanish and Arabic will be
my next challenge!). Before I Coming to Sudan in August 2014.
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MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Adrian Brink, Athletic Director & ODE
My name is Adrian Brink and I teach Outdoor Education in addition to
my role as Athletic Director. Sport and the outdoors is a big passion of
mine, especially because there are so many great things to learn from
it. I am originally from South Africa, but I have spent 9 years working in
Taiwan and China, where I taught Years 1-13 ODE & PE at local
private schools. I also coached rugby at Taipei American School
during my free time. I joined KICS in August 2014.
Jill Ellis, Riding School Manager
I am English and here at KICS with my partner David, who is the horse
riding instructor. I am manager of the KICS Riding School. This means
I am involved in liaising with parents, helping to plan riding lesson
timetables and organising Pony Club activities. I enjoy reading,
gardening and in my spare time can be found practising my golf swing
at Fenti.
David Hancock, Riding Instructor
My home is in Dorset, the south-west region of the U.K. I hold an
international instructors certificate (BHSII). Having been a product
of The Pony Club I graduated to representing G.B. in Eventing. My
approach to riding and instructing is to offer a relaxed professional
environment where I like to give confidence to my pupils, so they can
enjoy their riding and gain new experiences.
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Students Support Services
MEET THE FACULTY
2015 - 2016
Elona Bastion, Head of Student Support Services
I am entering the fifth year of being the Head of the Student
Support Services Department. I have over 20 years of experience
in this area as I have been a primary teacher, secondary teacher
(English/Art and Special Needs), Teacher of the Deaf (Secondary),
Special Needs teacher, Learning Support teacher and an
Interpreter for the Deaf. My job here at KICS entails supporting
both students and teachers from Little KICS all the way through to
Grade/Year 13. Support is given in many ways; sometimes through Learning
Support within the classroom, teacher consultation and or workshops and
sometimes withdrawal programs where small groups or one on one assistance is
used. We also have a support network for Gifted and Talented Students and a goal
of Personalised Learning in all classrooms. I look forward to meeting all the new
students and as many new parents as I can.
Christopher (Kip) Daly, Learning Support Teacher
I am a 1:1 instructor, an ESL teacher, and a behavior therapist
from Richmond, Virginia in the U.S.A. After achieving degrees in
both Psychology and Sociology from Northern Arizona University, I
have continued my passion to help others through further studies
and work projects around the world. For one year, I studied Maori
Psychology at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, for two
years I taught English and Environmental Science in the
Galapagos Islands, for the following year and a half was a social worker with 'at
risk' youth on the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona, and for the last five years
taught ESL and TOEFL to students of all ages with the Vietnam United States
Society in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
During his time in Vietnam I gained a lot of experience with an ABA company
(called Learning Strategies) where I attained an RBT (Registered Behavior
Technician) certificate to become a behavior therapist. I have four years of
behavior therapy experience in home and school settings with children of all ages
who have learning difficulties that range from low to severe. During my fourth year
at Learning Strategies I worked with multiple international schools where I
supervised and managed programs for teacher assistants who have students
requiring supplementary 1:1 instruction. I am proud to continue my journey by
providing learning support to children at both junior and senior levels at the
prestigious Khartoum International Community School.
Fadwa Elmasri, EAL Teacher
Hi, I am Fadwa Fathi Elmasri. I have been working in this school
for ten years, and before that in Hai El Matar School. I graduated
from the Faculty of Education, University of Khartoum. I also have
a Montessori Diploma in teaching English as a Foreign Language.
I used to work in the Junior and Infant Libraries as I enjoy reading
and getting students to love reading too. I joined the SSS team
last year as a teacher and I am enjoying teaching again.
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2015 - 2016
Sabina Slezak, EAL Teacher (Primary)
The Czech Republic in the heart of Europe is my home country.
Even though I spent most of my life here, I also lived in the US and
France. I started teaching English and Czech languages almost ten
years ago as a language lecturer at the Charles University and in
the Language School. Past four years I have been teaching in ISP
(International IB School) in Prague. At ISP, I was a member of the
Upper School SSS team focusing on supporting, accommodating
and assisting high school students in their daily activities and tasks.
This is my first year at KICS. I am excited to be a member of the
SSS team (EAL and Learning Support teacher) and help KICS
students to become successful inside as well as outside the walls
of KICS.
Samantha Montgomery, EAL Teacher (Senior)
Originally from the UK, I have lived and worked abroad for many
years, including stints in Europe, Australia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
and Malawi. I have a PGCE in Modern Languages from Exeter
University in UK and have taught second languages in the UK,
Malawi and most recently China. I will be teaching English B and
TOK at Diploma level and providing ESL support throughout KICS
and am very much looking forward to working with students,
parents and colleagues. My professional aim is to make my
students feel confident in their abilities and prepared to tackle new
challenges, be it in a second language or another area of life, as
well as to show them the joy to be had in learning something new
and the importance of building good relationships with others. My
personal aim is to do the same for myself! I am keen to take the
opportunity to explore the region, take part in plenty of outdoor
activities and learn from the people and experiences I encounter.
Natasha Winnard, Guidance Counselor
This year is my fourth year in the Student Support Services
Department as a Guidance Counsellor. As part of this role I will be
supporting students and families facing challenges that are beyond
the normal day to day social and emotional issues that young people
face. I will also be working very closely with Reem Heakal, in her
duties as College Counsellor, to guide Senior Section students with
careers and college counseling. When I am not working part time at
KICS I am studying. I also enjoy spending time with my husband
Nigel, our son George and time with friends. I am a keen swimmer,
enjoy pilates and horse riding. I plan to learn to play the piano and
start to play tennis and row again.
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