Learning Diversity and Inclusion Team
Learning Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator
Irene Viau
Ms Irene graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada with a Masters in Educational Psychology and Special Education and a focus on language disorders presenting as learning issues. Her Bachelor of Education majors were in the General Sciences and French Immersion. Additional training includes the administration, interpretation and programming for Achievement and Cognitive Assessments, Functional Behaviour Assessments, and Applied Behaviour Analysis (IABA). Ms Irene is currently training for her certificate in the Orton-Gillingham Intensive Phonics and Reading Intervention Program. Her experience includes 15 years in Canada working as a teacher and an Inclusive Education Coordinator and another 15 years working in Administration and Special Education in the Arab Gulf countries. Hiking, cycling and water sports, with a chess or Mancalla game in-between, are part of her own recipe for health and happiness. Ms Irene joins BIS in August 2020.
School Counselor
Alexandra “Ali” Savidge
Ms Ali graduated from Florida State University with a Master’s degree in Social Work with a special focus on clinical practice, play therapy, and expressive arts therapy. Ms Ali is licensed in the USA for clinical social work and has 15 years experience providing psychosocial counseling to children and families. She has worked in nonprofit health clinics, as well as in schools and private practice, including a year volunteering with orphaned youth in Nepal. Ali is child-centered in her engagement with children, school teams, and parents in the counseling process. Ali is also a yoga instructor and practitioner and enjoys incorporating relaxation exercises in her work with children and adults.
Head of Student Welfare
Darren Simpson
Mr Darren has a teaching qualification and Master’s Degree in education policy from the University of Glasgow. He joined BIS in August 2019 following teaching in the UK and South Korea and three years at Wellington College, Shanghai, where he led the history department and worked in student welfare roles. Mr Darren is also the Head of the Individuals and Societies Department at BIS and History Teacher, and is Designated Safeguarding Lead at BIS
PYP Core Curriculum Mentor, Multi-Tier Support System Teacher and PD Coordniator
James Long
Mr James graduated from the University of Wisconsin Platteville (B.A. in English) and received his teaching licences from the Teach-Now School of Education. He has taught internationally since 2013 first teaching in South Korea as an English teacher. He then moved to Myanmar where he taught as a grade 3 teacher and finally China as a grade 2 teacher before joining BIS in August 2020. He is a firm believer in the effectiveness of guiding pupils to develop the skills they need to not only understand but thrive in the world around them.
Inclusive Education Support and ELA Teacher
Kyzjibek Tekenova
Ms Kyzjibek graduated from the Kyrgyz Russian Slavic University and has a Diploma in Theory and Practice of Translation. She taught English before joining BIS in August 2017 as a Co-Teacher. In August 2018, Ms Kyzjibek moved to the position of Primary 2 Co-Teacher, and is moves to the role of Inclusive Education Support and ELA Teacher from August 2020 based on her interest in, and commitment to, this area of work. Ms Kyzjibek is also currently studying a Masters in Special Additional Learning Needs University of East London, UK, via remote learning.
Inclusive Education Support and ELA Teacher
Altynai Isabekova
Ms Altynai has a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy from the International University of Central Asia. She has 5 years’ teaching experience. Before joining BIS she worked with children in Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. She believes that early development is very important and has significant influence to children’s future life. Ms Altynai joined BIS as an ELA Teacher in January 2020 and moves into a new role as Inclusive Education Support and ELA Teacher in August 2020.