New GJS Faculty Bios

Hello Global Jaya School community! My name is Alexis Smiley, and I am excited to join Global Jaya as the Learning Diversity Coordinator. Originally from Valdosta, Georgia in the United States, I have spent nearly a decade serving students and school communities as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Throughout my journey, one belief has remained constant: every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.

I am passionate about creating inclusive learning environments where students receive the support they need to be successful. I look forward to partnering with students, families, and colleagues to build on each student's strengths, remove barriers to learning, and help every learner feel seen, valued, and capable of success.

Outside of school, I enjoy staying active, exploring the outdoors, and finding opportunities to learn something new. Whether it's taking on a new challenge or experiencing something for the first time, I believe there is always room to grow. Beginning this new chapter in Indonesia is both an exciting adventure and a meaningful opportunity to continue learning alongside the Global Jaya School community.

I look forward to meeting each of you and becoming an active member of the Global Jaya School family.

My name is Chandra Isyanto, and I am thrilled to be joining the team as a Math MYP and DP teacher. I am incredibly excited to be part of this wonderful IB World School community here in Global Jaya School.

I have been teaching math for 15 years, and I have always been fascinated by the intersection of analytical thinking and creativity, which led me to pursue Master's degrees in both Mathematics and Design. I am really excited to see how blending these two disciplines can work in the classroom, bringing a creative and visual edge to how students learn.

I completely understand that math can sometimes feel intimidating. While not everyone considers themselves a natural math person, I have a goal to make math a friendlier, more approachable subject. I want to create a supportive classroom environment where learning math is not just bearable, but genuinely enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

I am eager to dive deeply into the IB math world and explore new, engaging ways to teach the subject. Please feel free to say hello when you see me around campus.

Greetings GJS Community!

My name is Anupama Yarnal, and I am delighted to join GJS as the Secondary School Biology Facilitator.

With over 25 years of experience in education—including 15 years as an IB educator across India, Malaysia and Georgia—I have taught students from Kindergarten up to the university level. I hold a Master’s in Biochemistry, a B.Ed, and Team & Curriculum leadership certifications from the Principal’s Training Center. Over the years, I have served as a Science, Chemistry, and Biology teacher, a School Principal, Extended Essay (EE) Coordinator, ASA Coordinator, and a teacher at one of the United World Colleges. Since 2013, I have also served as an IB Examiner and Team Leader and Standardisation Team Member for Higher Level Biology.

Moving frequently across eight Indian states as an Army spouse has taught me to embrace change and bring a rich, global perspective to my classroom. As a parent of an IB graduate, I deeply value how the IB program fosters resilient, caring, and open-minded lifelong learners.

Outside of school, you’ll find me hiking, painting, traveling, and exploring new cuisines. I look forward to inspiring a love for learning in my students and partnering with the wonderful GJS community!

Hi everyone! My name is Pankaj Singh, and I am thrilled to be joining Global Jaya as the new Computer Science teacher.

My goal in the classroom is simple: to help students transform from passive technology consumers into creative problem-solvers. Whether we are learning the fundamentals of coding, exploring how the web works, or tackling logical challenges, I strive to make computer science welcoming and accessible to every student—no prior coding experience required!

A little background on me: I have a master’s degree in Information Technology. I have been teaching IB DP for the past 11 years with a total of 20 years of teaching experience.

Beyond school you will find me travelling most of the time and I love to spend some quality time with my family.

I’m looking forward to a fantastic year of exploring, building, and learning together.

My name is Matthew Dimos, and it is with joy and expectant excitement that I am returning to teach and learn at Global Jaya!

I have deeply missed working within the IB framework and being a part of the exceptional family at this amazing school, where I have been able to live my belief that teaching and learning should fully integrate my personal and professional life.

Here is a little more about me:

In between my time at Global Jaya, I spent time teaching in Miami, Florida, USA, and then in Bucharest Romania. Before Global Jaya I taught in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Before teaching, I was a photographer and graphic designer, so I grew into teaching using art to understand the world around me. Now, I see my students as a canvass in which we collaboratively create a life of teaching and learning how to experience, analyze, evaluate, and critically think about the world. As a result, I bring a passion for art, philosophy, social work, and a deep desire to partner with students to develop their agency and a future where they have an influence and an ability to make the world a better place.

My passion for education is grounded in a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education & Social Policy alongside a Bachelor’s Degree in Art/Photography. I have 27 years experience educating and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds with diverse needs.

The Vision, Mission and belief statements of Global Jaya matches my ideals, dreams, and hopes for what teaching and learning can and should be. My pedagogy and practice adheres to constructivism through continuum based, differentiated learning; recognizes the importance of balancing cognitive health alongside social and emotional health; and harnesses a students’ creativity, imagination, curiosity and cognitive abilities as the primary vehicles for agency and enquiry.

I am thrilled to return and join the Global Jaya School community again! This year marks my 20th year of teaching across a diverse span of age groups from Year 1 to Year 11. My global journey has taken me from national and international schools in Indonesia to classrooms in Miami, USA, and Bucharest, Romania. I hold a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership, a graduate certificate in Special Education from the University of Central Florida, and a Bachelor's Degree in Indonesian Language and Literature Education. In my new role, I am excited to teach Secondary Bahasa Indonesia Language and Literature and Language Acquisition.

Throughout my career, I have adapted to various curricula and frameworks. My experience includes teaching DP and IGCSE, serving as an MYP Service as Action Coordinator, supervising personal projects, Common Core from America, the British Curriculum, and developing integrated IPC-national language programs. Growing up in an Indonesian village inspired my dream to explore the world. International education became my gateway to do just that, allowing me to pour my passion into my students and fulfill the meaning of my full name: "one who explains and helps others understand."

I strive to empower students to become self-initiated, lifelong learners. By bringing rich, real-world perspectives into the classroom, I am eager to align my teaching experience with Global Jaya School’s vision and mission to prepare students to make the world a better place.

Hello! My name is Setia Sejahtera Alexander Purba, and I am from Bandung, Indonesia. I graduated from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) with a Bachelor's degree in Indonesian Language and Literature Education. For the past eight years, I have worked in education, helping students develop their language skills, confidence, and love for learning.

I enjoy creating a classroom where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their ideas, and learning from one another. Outside of school, I enjoy playing sports and traveling. I love exploring new places, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures.

I am excited to be part of the Global Jaya community and look forward to getting to know my students, colleagues, and families. I hope we will have a wonderful year of learning and growing together.

Hello everyone! My name is Claudia, and I am beyond excited to join the wonderful community at Global Jaya School. I earned my Bachelor's degree in English Education in Yogyakarta, where I discovered my passion for inspiring young learners. I believe that learning is most meaningful when it is engaging, creative, and filled with curiosity. Every new classroom is an opportunity to grow together and create unforgettable experiences. I am truly looking forward to beginning this exciting journey with all of you.

When I'm not teaching, you'll often find me travelling to new places, getting lost in a good book, or enjoying a refreshing run. Exploring different cultures and stories inspires me both personally and professionally. Running has also taught me the value of perseverance, balance, and enjoying the journey one step at a time. I can't wait to meet the students, connect with parents, and build meaningful relationships within the school community. I am excited to collaborate, learn from one another, and create a positive and supportive environment together. 

Here's to a fantastic year ahead, filled with learning, laughter, and memorable moments!

Hi! My name is Arindah Arimoerti, but please feel free to call me Ibu Arin. I’m a clinical psychologist and have been working with children since 2014. I earned my bachelor’s, professional, and master’s degrees in psychology from Universitas Gadjah Mada. I’m a mom to a cute little baby girl, and playing with her has become my new favorite hobby.

I’m thrilled to join Global Jaya School this year as a Social-Emotional Counselor. I can’t wait to meet, learn, play, and support you all in every fun way possible.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Hi everyone! My name is Larasati Ajeng, but you can call me Ajeng.

I’m here to help you explore your insightful mind and provide support for any social-emotional concerns you may have. As a Secondary Counsellor, I also support students in their academic journey. I hold a master’s degree in clinical psychology and am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychology.

In my free time, I enjoy sports such as yoga and weightlifting. I also love singing, playing the guitar, and ukulele too but only privately :)

I’m excited to join Global Jaya School and look forward to getting to know the students, parents, and staff. Hopefully, I can be a supportive part of each student’s journey along the way. See you around!

Hello Hawks!

My name is Masta Silalahi, and I’ll be teaching Theatre in the Secondary Department.

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts Education from the Indonesia Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta. Over the past 6 years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach students across different age groups and curriculums, while also exploring other areas of Performing Arts, including Dance and Music.

Outside the classroom, I love spending time outdoors, especially at the beach! I also enjoy dancing in different genres and going to music festivals whenever I get the chance.

I’m so excited and grateful to be part of the Global Jaya family.

You can usually find me in the Black Box room, so feel free to stop by and say hi!

Looking forward to creating, exploring, and growing together through theatre!