I am inspired to tap into the ‘gateway’ children have to a world of unlimited imagination. Children love to ‘Free draw’ where all the stories inside come tumbling out as visual images. I am grateful to be in a position that helps to foster a continued appreciation of its value. I began teaching at AISK in August 2006 and currently teach Elementary Art from EYP - Grade 5.

I am a Graduate in Fine Arts- Painting- from The Edna Manley School of the Visual and Performing Arts and I have a Masters Degree in Art Education from Ohio State University.

I initially came to AISK  to fill in for an art teacher who unavoidably had to leave due to an emergency. During that first year I taught Kindergarten to Grade 12. I quickly realized I wanted to focus on teaching Art to the Elementary students, so when I was asked to continue teaching at AISK I gradually and happily transitioned to that specific role. 

I am appreciative and impressed with the investment AISK puts into the Arts which includes the  working space we are given, the budget for materials, as well as the showcasing of the student’s work. I am inspired to teach Art because I have observed that the Arts, both Visual and Performing, are a natural language that children use to express themselves even before beginning formal education. I am also inspired to teach a subject that is constantly engaged with creative thinking.

From the early years, children have an ease and familiarity with drawing, painting, movement, singing, make believe drama - all of which gives them access to their inner world without much direction from adults, and helps to anchor a healthy interior space.

An interesting fact about me is that I am a twin. Art and Yoga are my favorite hobbies.

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.

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. 

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.

Art is truly my passion! My name is Michaela Marusak, 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.

AISK has always been a school that I admired as it truly prioritizes the whole child. I joined the AISK family in 2005 and have had many teaching roles at this institution including elementary classroom teacher and elementary, middle and high school theatre arts teacher. Developing the ‘whole child’ is the focus of our teaching and learning and the foundation of any successful student. 

I hold a Masters of Education degree and I am honored to have a positive, inspiring impact on children’s lives. I love music and dance. I have written and performed my music in the Caribbean, USA, Africa and Europe. I also have a passion for fitness and yoga. 

An interesting fact about me is that although I was born in Jamaica, I spent my elementary and high school years in Trinidad and have a strong “Trini” accent.