Teacher Presenters

Christina Bachl

Presenting Using your Noodle!

Christina grew up in Connecticut, USA, did undergraduate work at the University of South Florida - Tampa and graduated with a B.S. degree in Biology and double majored in Religious Studies. While at university, she worked at Busch Gardens Tampa in the Conservation Education department which included animal training and husbandry, as well as school programs and camps. It was there where she fell in love with education. She then taught middle school science for 3 years in Florida before spending the next 7 years teaching science and humanities in Mexico City. While in Mexico she studied with Endicott College and graduated with a M.Ed. in International Education. Christina is currently in her 5th year at Frankfurt International School teaching grades 6-8 Science, grades 6-7 Humanities, in addition to being a grade 6 advisor. Her main interests are social and environmental justice issues and she wants to inspire the next generation to take action and make a positive impact for all people. In her spare time you will find Christina with a book or out for a run in the woods with her husband.

Bridget Coleman, Ph.D., Nancy Rupert Ph.D., and Denise T. Johnson Ed.D.

Presenting Grit and Productive Struggle in Mathematics

Bridget is currently a Professor leading the USC Aiken School of Education’s Secondary Mathematics Education program and co-coordinating the Middle Level Education program. Bridget teaches mathematics methods courses and supervises field experiences. She has over 25 years of teaching experience in K-12 and post-secondary education. She is currently President-elect for the National Association for Professors of Middle Level education and Past President for the SC Professors of Middle Level Education. She is a member of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) and the European League for Middle Level Education (ELMLE). Bridget has contributed many presentations and publications related to mathematics instruction in the classroom.

Nancy, recipient of the AMLE 2020 John H. Lounsbury Award, is the chair of the education department at University of North Carolina Asheville. Nancy weaves her passion for young adolescents and those who work with them, with experience and research, in pursuit of sharing practical advice and inspiration to those who have the privilege of working with young adolescents. You can follow Nancy on twitter @artscienceunca.

Denise is an associate professor of education at Winston-Salem State University. Her work focuses on providing access to STEM education to girls and minorities in community-based environments. Denise serves as a board member of NC POMLE and North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Elizabeth Clarkson, Ed.D.

Presenting Practical Approaches to Blended Learning in Today’s Virtual Spaces

Dr. Elizabeth Clarkson began her career in North Carolina public schools. After living in several other countries, she now considers North Carolina her home again. She has worked as a teacher, literacy coach, and principal in public and private schools in the United States, Ecuador, and Brazil. She combines her experiences in schools and nonprofit education to view all education conversations within the larger context of community, its values, and influences.

Elizabeth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education at Appalachian State University. With a deep appreciation for the learning process and a passion for an international perspective, she completed a short study program in Reggio Emilia, Italy and her Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado. Drawn to coaching and committed to providing supportive leadership in school settings, she completed her Ed.D in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia with a dissertation focusing on effective professional development. She continues to draw from her experiences in academic coaching and international living to support schools in developing strong curriculum processes that support their unique values and identities. You can follow Elizabeth on Twitter @ElizClarkson.

Robin Dever, Ph.D. & Joanne Previts, Ph.D.

Presenting Using Virtual Bookshelves to Promote Middle Level Literacy

Robin is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Middle Childhood Education program at Kent State University-Geauga in Burton, Ohio. Previously, Robin taught middle school in the Cleveland, Ohio area for 8 years. She has earned a Masters degree and Ph.D. from Kent State University in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Middle Level Education. She also currently serves as coordinator of Kent State’s International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). Her research interests include middle level literacy and middle level teacher professional development.

Joanne is a Professor of Middle Grades Education at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia and is currently serving as the Interim Chair for the Department of Teacher Education. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Kent State in 2009. Since 2009, she has worked at Georgia College as a middle grades teacher educator. Dr. Previts served as co-editor of both the Middle School Journal and Research in Middle Level Education Online as well as editor of AMLE Magazine, all publications of the Association for Middle Level Education. She received the Outstanding Professor of Middle Level Education Award in 2016 from the National Professors of Middle Level Education and Georgia College’s University Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015. Her research focuses on middle grades teacher education, signature pedagogies, and self-study.

Mike Findlay & Andrew Grover

Presenting Maintaining an Activities Programme During a Pandemic

Mike is the Athletics Director at the Inter-Community School Zurich. He also teaches Physical Education and Science and was the Head of the Physical Education Department for 8 years prior to being the Athletics Director. Mike is also an Executive Committee member of the SGIS Athletics Committee. He has been a part of Middle School education for the last 18 years and is a strong advocate of extra-curricular programs within schools. Over the last nine months, Mike has worked hard in collaboration with his colleagues to keep the school’s Athletics program running to the best of its ability despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrew is the Primary Experiential Learning Facilitator & Assistant Athletics Coordinator at the Inter-Community School in Zurich. He is also the SGIS Athletics Committee Secretary and has been active in maintaining and enhancing opportunities for students, staff and schools across Switzerland during the global pandemic. Andrew works to create unique alternatives for individuals, as well as school clubs and sports at a time where regulations changed constantly and creative thinking is essential. Through real-world solutions and the use of educational technology Andrew helps to manage changing expectations, promote being nimble and maintain effective communications with the school staff and community. You can follow Andrew on Twitter at @GroverAndrew.

Anne Flaherty

Presenting Jamboard - collaboration, feedback and accountability

Currently working at Frankfurt International School, Anne has been a middle and high school mathematics teacher for the past 25 years in the UK, Latin America and Europe. An ex engineer, Anne tries to engage students in challenging and relevant mathematics, using challenge by choice as a tool for students to push themselves further and collaborate with others. This past year has been a challenge, but also an opportunity for growth. Her work with jamboard this year came from a need to create collaborative spaces and problem solving activities that would work efficiently in both a socially distanced classroom and online. When not messing around with ed-tech, Anne can normally be found hiking or biking in the local forest.

Kiruba Janani

Presenting Hybrid Learning

With graduation in Computer Science Engineering and a Master's degree in Library and Information Science, Kiruba has more than 5 years of work experience in technologies used in international schools. She is a Google certified educator, currently working as a secondary school Technology Integrator at American International School Chennai (AISC). This role allows her to expand her career to various technologies like exploring VR/AR in education. As a part of her goal to work collaboratively with teams, Kiruba is able to understand the learning requirements to integrate technology like Equity map, Newsela, Screencastify, etc. Kiruba leads the I Lab where as a team they explored VR integration in middle school art supporting the STEAM fest.

Kiruba's ongoing project is setting up hybrid classrooms with the help of cutting-edge technology, something that is quintessential for international schools with students from all over the world. She is working on this project as a part of my IT/Technology Director certification by TCEA. You can follow Kiruba on Twitter @KirubaJanani.

Ignasi Jaumandreu

Presenting Creating Video Tutorials to Optimise Student Engagement and Success

Ignasi is a computer engineer with experience organising robotics competitions for young learners. A few years ago he switched careers to become a Technology teacher. This is his 7th year at the American School of Barcelona teaching Middle School students but also learning from them everyday!

Gabriela Jiménez

Presenting Language Learning with Relevant and Rich Challenge

Gabriela Jiménez has been teaching internationally for twenty years. She has taught Spanish to various ages and proficiency levels at the International School of Prague, International School Bangkok, and Academia Cotopaxi American International School in Quito-Ecuador. She is currently the Curriculum Team Leader for the MS Modern Languages department at ISP and has also been the World Languages Department Head for the MS World Languages department at ISB. She has previously presented on formative assessment and digital tools for writing in the CEESA conference, Digital Writers Notebooks in the EARCOS and EMLE conference. Gabriela has co-authored articles at In The Classroom(ACTFL) and Bridge in the Middle. You can follow Gabriela on Twitter @GabrielaBkk

Chyrelanne Kuipers

Presenting Do You See What I See? Using digital whiteboards empowers learnings to share their thinking.

Chyrelanne is an international middle school educator, originally from Vancouver, Canada. During the past 15 years, she has taught in Belize, Australia, Macau and Beijing, China. Ms CK recently moved from Asia to Europe where she is currently co-teaching Grade 6 mathematics and science in the International School of Prague. Three words that best describe CK’s teaching and presentation style are risk-taking, collaboration and empowerment. Her greatest joy comes from the 'aha' moments students experience when they make a personal connection to their learning. You can follow Chyrelanne on Twitter @MsCK_teachesMS.

Gail Matheson

Presenting The Space Between: Reaching Through the Screen with Star Power

Believing that 'the spaces between' are best filled with books, Gail has spent the past thirty years teaching in the United States, Turkey, the Philippines, and Switzerland. Known for creating memorable learning experiences for students, whilst keeping the fire extinguisher handy - just in case, Gail currently works at Zurich International School as an English teacher and Literacy Specialist. You can follow Gail on Twitter @GailMathesonTR.

Piotr Olczak

Presenting Learning Analytics Created by Educators for Educators - Introduction of the Learning Analytics Collaborative

Piotr has been working in Planning, Analytics and Business Intelligence for over 15 years in both higher education and K-12 Schools. Prior to joining Consilience as Director of Learning Analytics, Piotr had been working for over four years for The KAUST School in Saudi Arabia as their Data Analytics & Technology Lead. He has a masters degree in Econometrics with a specialisation in Operational Research and Optimisation.

Piotr has extensive knowledge of deploying Information and Analytics services, designing and implementing BI Dashboards and engines, and leveraging visualisation tools. He is committed to developing cutting edge data analytics services for Education utilising business intelligence solutions while applying wide knowledge of operations & strategic analysis methods and practice. Piotr sees data and information as powerful enablers that can bring strategic insight and improve practices and processes. He focuses on championing a culture of evidence-based decision making to improve learners’ outcomes. Piotr is an experienced leader, mentor and manager, always seeking to engage stakeholders at all levels.

Eric Nelson & Dawn Summerfield

Presenting An Introduction to MAP Growth

Eric Nelson is an Account Executive with NWEA’s International Team, supporting partner schools in Africa, Western Europe, Latin America, and Canada. Upon graduating from Pomona College with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, Eric was chosen by Teach for America to join its national teacher corps. As an educator, he taught 6th and 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies in New York City and served on his school’s curriculum development team. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Pace University and is a permanently certified teacher. After a family sabbatical in the Netherlands, Eric returned to New York to join Children’s Progress, Inc. and finally NWEA. Eric supports international schools in the use of NWEA’s solutions (such as MAP Growth) and coordinates professional learning opportunities and regional events.

Dawn has worked in education for 28 years and has expertise in school leadership, curriculum design and assessment, special education and differentiation through the use of data.  Her current focus is on improving student executive functioning skills, promoting school community health and wellness, and mentoring new teachers. She has held leadership positions in both American schools and International IBO schools and has earned two advanced degrees in special education and health and wellness education.   Dawn is passionately committed to driving continuous school improvement in the standards of teaching and learning.  You can connect with Dawn on Twitter @SummerfieldTEC.