The small size of the school, the transition in the math curriculum from American traditional courses to integrated mathematics, and the warm weather of Jamaica are the things that inspired me to want to teach at AISK. I was teaching in Rome, Italy during the 2020-2021 school year, but I was looking for a subsequent teaching opportunity. I began my AISK adventure. at AISK in August 2021 to start my AISK adventure.

I am primarily the middle school math teacher at AISK, as I teach all math sections in grades 6 through 8.  But I also teach one section of Strategies of Success for 9th grade.  Once we are allowed to start up our after school activities program, I do hope to be involved with sports and coaching. 

I have a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a MA in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Connecticut.  I was a three-year Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon in central Africa, and I have both my MYP Category I and Category II certifications.  But most importantly, since 1984, I have continuously taught mathematics for students in grades 6 - 10 in international schools all over the world.  I have worked with all cultures of students and with all types of learners, having taught in American and International schools in the USA, Gabon, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Chile, Senegal, Italy, and now Jamaica.

The engagement of young learners when they believe they can get better in math and then apply their knowledge as true young mathematicians.  The pride, happiness, or sometimes just relief that I see in students as they build their math skills and understand how these skills apply to their lives.

I ride my bicycle 4 km each way to school every day, but I do not count that as my exercise for that day.  I still have to go for a run or have a workout later in the day!

When I first applied to teach at AISK I really appreciated the community feel and the new approaches to education that the school embraces. I joined the AISK family in January 2012 and have been here since! Currently I teach all of MS English and am also the MS Coordinator. I have a B.S. in English and Secondary Education and an M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Maryland, College Park. 

I personally did not really enjoy English as a high school student and so I garner great joy in bringing a new generation into the mysteries of English and imparting my love of the subject. The best moments are when students cannot wait to tell me about a new book they have read or to see their reactions when they make real world connections to the fictional characters/worlds we explore. 

An interesting fact, (though it is one all my students are aware of) is that I am an avid video gamer. Lesser known is the fact that I did Varsity track and swimming in high school.

It is in diversity that we find our threads of commonality are woven into one beautiful tapestry we call humanity. AISK epitomises inclusiveness, embracing the richness of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and it is for this reason that I, Jeanne Smith, joined the team in August of 2021. As a teacher of middle school science and IB environmental Systems and Societies, I have the opportunity of a global reach through my vocation, positively impacting young minds from many lands and backgrounds, fostering the development of their science and engineering skills, while also leaving an indelible mark on their lives as I seek to contribute to their robust educational experience.

A graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona, I hold an undergraduate degree in pure and applied sciences, a Master’s degree in biological sciences and a graduate diploma in science education. Having taught extensively across the sciences, I am a multidisciplinary science teacher with experience in teaching at both the secondary and tertiary levels of education. I have served in Jamaica and also in the USA teaching high school sciences. While in the USA, I was a participant in their Fulbright Program, which allowed me to serve as a cultural ambassador in South Carolina. While in the USA, I participated in courses including Differentiated Instruction through Winthrop University in South Carolina, and Project-based Learning with the Buck Institute of Education. I am also a teacher educator, having lectured and written courses in biology for the Bachelor of Education program at a university for teachers here in Jamaica. Additionally, I have been an examiner both for Caribbean high school exams and student teachers pursuing teaching certification through the Joint Board of Teacher Education in Jamaica. As an educator, I have a keen interest in helping students enjoy science and make real-life connections; I am also have an academic interest Social and Emotional Learning, particularly teen suicide prevention, as well as teacher evaluation processes.

One fun fact about me, is that being a hobby historian and also a geographer, I am a tour guide trainer and I also act as a tour guide whenever I have the opportunity. I conduct tours in Jamaica for students at all levels, and enjoy working with international students as they present interesting perspectives in keeping with their own culture and diverse experiences.

AISK promises an exciting teaching and learning experience in a culturally diverse setting. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work with both faculty and students from different cultural backgrounds, optimally facilitating the reciprocity of the vocation: ‘as we teach we should learn, and as we learn we should teach!’

AISK is an inspiring community that prepares young people for the future and makes room for students to develop their collaborative, creative and communication skills. I am a music educator and choir conductor with a degree in Jazz piano and Music Education from the City College of New York. I have worked in music my whole life: as a piano player, educator, arranger, musical theatre director, composer and choir conductor. I have been teaching music in local and international education for 15 years and have taught in Ghana, New York City and the Netherlands. I joined the AISK family with my wife and 2 daughters in August 2020 to start and teach a new music curriculum schoolwide, including the new IB Music course. 

The reason I love working at AISK is that we understand that music education and the rich musical culture of Jamaica can play an exciting role in that! I aim to design opportunities for our students to grow as human beings, develop musical skills, and become confident and creative members of a colourful society.

In my free time I love to play or watch football and my favorite hobbies are DJ-ing, cooking and playing board games with my family.

Art is truly my passion! I am the new HS/MS Art teacher this school year 2021-2022. I am an international teacher that has taught all around the world in countries such as Kuwait, Cyprus, Thailand, Israel and Bali. Throughout the pandemic I felt so far away from home and my family in Texas, United States. As I contemplated a change from living in Indonesia, my goal was to find an international school that was close to home, and there happened to be an opening at AISK. Perfect! 

I received my Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin - Stout and my Master of Fine arts Degree from the University of North Texas. I have been teaching Art for 36 years at all levels; from Early years through to University, but found a good fit teaching at the HS/MS level. I also discovered that I really enjoy teaching IB Visual Art. I am also an IB Visual Arts examiner. I feel a real connection to the HS/MS aged child and feel I can help this age group grow as people.

I have been involved with Art from a young age, art camp, after school art clubs, attended an Art school during HS called The Minneapolis Art Institute and studied Art at University. I was in the 7th grade when I realized that I wanted to be an Art teacher when I grew up after I was inspired by an Art teacher named Ms. File. I am an avid hiker and go on walks with my husband most mornings before school to get my blood flowing.

The diversity of the school as well as the culture of inclusion and the attitude that ANYTHING is possible is what drew me to AISK. I joined the school in August 2021 as the dance teacher.  Since being here I have met a faculty of teachers who truly care about students and their learning, and teachers who simply embody and exude positivity, even in a difficult time. 

I have been dancing since age 4; taking after-school dance at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts as well as the then-called Tony Wilson School of Modern Dance (now The CDT School). At age 13, I became the youngest dancer to become a member of The Company Dance Theatre with whom I danced for the next 12 years. While dancing in Jamaica I was pursuing a Medical degree at the University of the West Indies, but upon completion moved to New York City to pursue a career in my true passion; dance. I continued to study dance at the Ailey School before being invited to perform with the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Afterwards I went on to become principal dancer at Garth Fagan Dance, where I spent 6 years touring, performing and teaching with the company and its affiliated school. I’ve taught dance residencies throughout the boroughs of New York City, as well as master-classes and workshops across the US, in parts of Europe and throughout the Caribbean. I am excited to bring my passion for dance and love for teaching to the AISK community. 

The joy I see in children's faces when they get a step or perform a dance for others, as well as the shifts I see in a child’s confidence and self-esteem as they become more proficient in dance truly inspires me to teach.

I am also the new artistic director of the dance company CDT and it’s affiliated dance school - The CDT School.

Research into the school and initial interviews with the administration left me excited about the school’s vision and mission. I joined AISK in August 2021. After a few weeks here, it is clear that the school lives up to both and certainly embraces the definition of “One Love” as a celebration of unity and inclusion. As a Middle School and High School Theatre Teacher, along with celebrating life through exploring, making and presenting theatre, I believe my subject offers students five of the most important life skills. Developing Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Confidence and/or  Leadership Skills is the goal of every activity we do in class and in school wide drama productions. I have been teaching since 1978 and have taught internationally since 1990. I did my undergrad studies at the University of North Carolina and my Masters at Oxford. I am an examiner for the IBO and a workshop leader and consultant for the The International Schools Theatre Association. Outside of the classroom or working in theatre, I love playing golf, being a partner to an amazing wife, being Dad to two wonderful daughters, and Pop to my eleven grandkids. 

Teaching is profound and is a noble calling. I joined the AISK family in 2020 as a part-time Middle School Spanish teacher, a role which has expanded to my being blessed to serve in the High School in the past few months. As an I.B. trained Spanish teacher with E.S.L. (Celta Qualifications), multilingual voice actor, actor, (James Bond- No Time To Die), producer, musician and interpreter in both Spanish and Japanese. AISK offers an environment where a few of my international experiences garnered through having lived in Japan or having studied and taught in Thailand, translates to the potential for a synergistic exchange of knowledge. Teaching can be tough sometimes but when that spark hits and the success of succession occurs before your eyes, it is humbling and most rewarding.  

I have represented Jamaica in swimming and was invited to the U17 national football squad in my teenage years. I play many sports well and have been enjoying learning how to surf in the past year.

I am absolutely passionate about the teaching and learning of foreign languages. I joined the AISK family as a French teacher in 2017 and I currently teach Middle School, High School and IB French. My main objective as an educator is to inspire students to expand their horizons by showing them the benefits and opportunities associated with learning a foreign language.  

The international nature and cultural diversity of AISK initially sparked my interest as this is a good catalyst for forieng language education. However, being here for four years, I love the environment created by our team to foster a holistic, supportive and positive learning environment for our students. 

I am a proud graduate of Shortwood Teachers’ College, where I received a teaching diploma (Hons.) in French and Spanish as foreign languages and a Bachelor’s degree (Hons.) from the University of the West Indies in French education. After completing my Bachelor’s, I followed my passion for French to its origin, France, where I taught English as a second language at the high school and middle school level in the region of Orléans-Tours. While there, I also completed my Masters (Hons.) in the teaching and training course design of English and French as foreign languages from the University of Montpellier in France. 

During my spare time, I love reading, playing video games and catching up with my favourite T.V series. I consider myself a lifelong learner and I am always searching for new activities and strategies to improve the quality of learning for my students.

I believe that learning and speaking foreign languages are essential to being successful in the world today. I joined AISK in 2016 as a MSHS teacher of World Languages (Spanish and French). I was impressed by the fact that as an international school, AISK embraced all nations and focused on inclusiveness, a focus they maintain today. I have a BA in French and Spanish from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica and am in the process of completing my MA in Translation.

I’ve taught in France and Ethiopia and have travelled extensively to Spanish speaking countries, including Spain, Mexico and Cuba on various field trips. Throughout my 20 years experience teaching foreign languages at both local and international schools, I’ve completed IB Spanish training at IB workshops in Atlanta, Georgia and recently an IB French B workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

I enjoy reading, doing yoga, hiking, knitting (when I have time) and reasoning with my three sons.

AISK’s ethnic and cultural diversity, and it's progressive curriculum made me want to teach at this institution. I started teaching at AISK in August 2010. Currently I teach Middle School Strategies of Success, but I taught Middle and High School English in my earlier years. I have been an educator for two decades and have a BA in English, a Diploma in English Education and a MS In Literacy Education. I am inspired to teach because each day I learn something new and am grateful to have the opportunity to help to shape the next generation. 

I love to travel, read and spend time with my family and friends.