PEDAGOGICAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Director of Studies

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Esther Johnson

 

Ms Esther graduated with an Honors degree in Russian Studies with French and Spanish from the University of Leeds. She worked for four years at the University of Leeds promoting the study of languages throughout the UK, and has worked as an ELA teacher as well as advising on the reformed Russian GCSE and A-level qualifications in 2016. She trained as a languages teacher in the UK and taught Spanish and French in primary and middle school. Ms Esther joined BIS in August 2019 as a Head of Language Acquisition & Spanish Language Teacher and her proven skills led to appointment as Director of Studies from summer 2021.

IB Diploma Programme (DP) Coordinator

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Makiko Inaba

 

Ms Makiko has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Waseda University in Japan. Foreign languages and cultures have always been her passion and she has lived in the United States, South Korea, France, China and the Kyrgyz Republic in pursuit of that passion. She has the UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and has experience teaching students ranging from elementary to high school level. Ms Makiko joined BIS in summer 2014 and is a much-loved teacher with exceptional skills in education. Ms Makiko has been IB Diploma Programme Coordinator since 2017.

Cambridge IGCSE Coordinator

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Jacques Prinsloo

 

Mr Jacques has a PGCE in Secondary teaching from the University of South Africa, a Diploma in Investment Management from the University of South Africa, a Bachelors in Economics from the University of Pretoria, a Diploma in teaching English as an Additional Language and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Illinois. Mr Jacques taught EAL in South Korea for several years before joining BIS in August 2017. Mr Jacques has taken on leadership roles in the school and is IGCSE Coordinator and teacher of Economics and Business Studies in IGCSE.

IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinator

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Tim Johnson

 

Mr Tim has a first class honours degree in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford, and is a qualified teacher (University of Newcastle)  with a Master’s in Education from the University of Leeds. His work experience covers both NGO leadership and teaching in Austria, Portugal and the UK. Tim joined BIS in August 2019 as MYP Coordinator. He is also the Head of Language Acquisition in Middle/High School and he teaches German Language Acquisition at BIS. His hobbies include learning languages, traveling, cooking and playing the piano. 

IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator

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Alicia Grinsteinner

 

Ms Alicia is entering her eighth year of teaching with a range of experiences. She worked as both a preschool and ELA instructor in South Korea prior to coming to Bishkek. She holds an elementary teaching license from Washington D.C. as well as a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University. Ms Alicia joined BIS as a Primary Homeroom Teacher in August 2019 and became the PYP Coordinator in summer 2021. 

Head of Preschool

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Carmen Prinsloo

Ms Carmen graduated from the North West University of South Africa with a BA in Education in Foundation Phase learning, and is a certified teacher at the South African Council of Educators accredited to teach Foundation Phase. Ms Carmen has worked in international preschools in both South Africa and South Korea for four years prior to joining BIS in summer 2017 as Head of Preschool and has led our Preschool from strength to strength

National Curriculum Coordinator

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Chynara Abdyraeva


Ms Chynara has a Doctorate in Education from Arabaev Kyrgyz State University. She worked for many years in the University sector, including work with the Ministry of Education and Science for curriculum accreditation. Ms Chynara is responsible for BIS accreditation with the Ministry in order for the school to hold national examinations at BIS for Grade 9 and Grade 11 students, enabling local students to graduate with a local High School certificate in addition to our internationally accredited programs.

Librarian

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Irina Pak

 

Ms Irina has a Master’s Degree in Russian Language and Literature from Kyrgyz National University. She has 19 years’ experience in library services, first with the National Library of the Kyrgyz Republic as senior librarian in the computer technologies department, then with the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) as electronic service librarian. Ms Irina is also the Executive Director of the ‘Library and Information Consortium of the Kyrgyz Republic’ and country licensing coordinator of the project ‘Electronic Information for Libraries –  elFL’. Ms Irina joined BIS in 2019.

Learning Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator

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Kathryn Ryder

 

Ms Kathryn graduated in French and German from the University of Exeter in 2001 and taught English abroad until 2004.  After a break from teaching to explore other areas, she returned to education in 2010 to start an MA in Special Educational Needs/Dyslexia while supporting children who needed extra help during and after school.  Ms Kathryn joined BIS in September 2020. She is passionate about giving every child the chance to succeed at whatever they want to do in life and is happy to have found a position at BIS which will enable her to do this.

Head of Student Welfare & Community Engagement

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Laura Kircough

 

Ms Laura graduated from the Swansea Institute of Higher Education and has many years of experience teaching in different schools in the UK. In 2017 she moved to Sierra Leone where she volunteered as a Head Teacher at a local school for one year, before teaching at the American International School of Freetown, Sierra Leone, for two years. In her spare time, Ms Laura enjoys singing, many types of exercise, and has just learnt to ride a motorbike. Ms Laura joined BIS in August 2020.

Head of School

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David Grant


Dr Grant is a Co-Founder of BIS and has been involved in all aspects of school development. From 2011-13 he served as Chair of the Governing Board. From April 2014 to September 2015 he joined the school in a management role and rejoined staff in May 2016 as Development Director before serving as Head of School and Chair of the Management Board. Dr Grant has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and MBA from Henley Management College. He has managed projects in many different sectors in Central Asia for both international development and major private sector investors. His teaching experience includes leading courses in development and economics at the University of Edinburgh and at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek.