Like any other international school, AISB welcomes new teachers every year. To help students get to know them better, The Bite asked 14 new teachers to tell us a little bit about themselves.
Here’s what they had to say:
Danielle McDonald
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: I moved here from home, which was Melbourne, Australia. This is my first time living overseas! My partner, Todd, and I taught for six years in Melbourne before moving here to AISB (He is teaching Grade 5).
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: Grade 6 Math and Grade 9, 10 Science.
Q: What would you like your students to know about you?
A: I like dad jokes, like: “How did the farmer find his wife? He tractor down!” Haha.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: I like a lot of food. I especially love fresh sweet corn – grilled on the cob with paprika and parmesan and fresh lime juice. Yum. I also like Bun Thit Nuong (Vietnamese noodle bowls), tacos, lasagna, passionfruit, and nectarines.
Kirk McDavitt
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: New Delhi, India.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: 6, 7, 8 MYP English.
Q: What would you like your students to know about you?
A: When I was five years old my parents made me take figure skating lessons before they would let me play ice hockey – they thought it would build up my skating skills. […] Later, as an adult, I worked as a baker in Detroit, Michigan. It wasn’t my dream job, but I rolled with it for a while.
Christopher Cotton
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: My previous school was in Shanghai, China, but my hometown is Toronto, Canada.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: Mathematics.
Q: What would you like your students to know about you?
A: The most important thing to know is I LOVE heavy metal. Anyone who wants to talk about metal, come find me; let’s start a heavy metal club after school!
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Pizza. There are so many different combinations you can never get sick of it!
Jennifer Lawless
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: Most recently, Cambodia. Before that, I lived in Shanghai, China, and Chicago, IL, USA.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: MYP & DP Theatre.
Q: How do you like Bucharest so far?
A: We love it! My favorite things are the architecture and the street art. I’m excited to explore Romania and learn more about this beautiful country.
Marty Lawless
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: Phnom Penh, Cambodia (but originally from Chicago, IL in the US).
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: MYP Design 6, 7, 8.
Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A: I chose to become a teacher originally to help my family find our best future, then it evolved into wanting to see how many kids I can get to be excited about creating something.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Fixing things, smartphone games, movies/TV, sports, Lego, Washington Capitals (NHL), music, talking pop culture, learning about tech.
David White
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: Singapore.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: This year at AISB I am teaching English Language and Literature – I have also taught English Literature, Film and TOK.
Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A: Because every other job seemed boring by comparison. I have spent a large part of my career so far exploring and talking about great literature, films, and important issues with groups of bright, engaged and interesting young people. I have learned as much as I have taught and no two days have been the same – it’s a great job!
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Running (I am currently training for the Bucharest marathon), reading, creative writing and watching films. I also support the Arsenal football club and follow them closely, although in recent years that has brought me more pain than pleasure.
Barbara Montgomery
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: New Delhi, India.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: English Language Acquisition.
Q: What would you like your students to know about you?
A: I love chocolate, hiking, and reading!
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Cooking, reading, and yoga.
Peter Killham
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: My family and I were in Maastricht in the Netherlands for five years before we moved here. We have also lived in Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: This year I am teaching DP Geography and MYP Humanities. In the past, I have also taught ESS and TOK.
Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A: I have a lot of teachers in my family and I resisted becoming a teacher for many years. I worked as an urban planner but found myself volunteering in teaching roles. I eventually decided to give in to family tradition and switched careers to teaching. A change I have always been very happy about.
Steven Vorster
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: Singapore.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: DP Economics and MYP Humanities.
Q: What would you like your students to know about you?
A: I love eating Hawaiian pizza; my favorite food is Southern Indian (very spicy); and I support Arsenal football team (groan).
Breen O’Reilly
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: Beijing.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: MYP & DP Film.
Q: What would you like your students to know about you?
A: I’m a huge music fan. My band recorded an album just before I left China.
Sabine Ozesen
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: Grade 6, 9 and 11 French
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: Vietnam
Q: What would you like your students to know about you?
A: The fact that they will be my students forever. For me, it’s more than teachings–it’s sharing a span of life together and you can’t undo that; they will always be my students, they will always be special to me.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: I don’t have one in particular. but I really enjoy the school croissants.
Sommer Blohm
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: Beijing, China.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: I am one of the Grade 10-12 counselors.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Hmm…that is a tough one…I’m a gluten-free vegetarian so I am always excited when I can find a good gluten-free pizza, as it is not something that I can get all of the time. I also love veggie sushi, popcorn, and dark chocolate.
Marzia Nicastro
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: The UK, in the heart of England, called Oakham.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: French and Spanish.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I like reading comic books and novels, watching comedies (but not horror) and walking.
Codruta Pohrib
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: I’m coming back to Bucharest after living in the Netherlands for the past six years, first in Maastricht and then in Utrecht.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
A: I teach Romanian MYP and DP.
Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A: I started teaching when I was 20 and my first students were 16-18 year- olds. I fell in love with the profession back then and still think it’s the best job in the world. At the best of times, teaching gives me awesome experiences: shared enthusiasm, discovery, infectious inspiration. When I’m not at my best as a teacher, it forces me to rethink, question, and grow. As a teacher, everything matters, it’s a great responsibility, but I’m loving it!
The Bite wishes our new teachers a warm welcome to AISB!