For GESS to be the education partner of choice for families, our academic team plays a pivotal role, bringing with them rich experience, professional expertise and plenty of passion. We are proud to have as part of the GESS family our new Secondary teachers in Academic Year 2023/24.
I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada in a small farming community. I went to Brock University to study Child Studies and Education. I taught for 2 years in Ontario before moving to Auckland New Zealand. Whilst working there, I undertook my Post Graduate Diploma in Special Needs teaching. My first IB experience was teaching at the Western Academy of Beijing where I taught Middle School, Elementary School, and then pre-school. I returned to New Zealand, and earned my Masters of Educational Leadership. In 2017, I moved to Cambodia and taught MYP English and Individuals and Societies in Middle School. I have lived in Singapore since 2019, teaching MYP English in Middle School. I am excited to continue my career at GESS in the Secondary School teaching English across Grades 6-8.
Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subjects: English
I have a BEd(Hones) First Class in Secondary Design & Technology education from Sheffield Hallam University in the U.K. and a Diploma in Leadership in Education from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. I am the Principal examiner and a member of the extended Curriculum Development team for the IB Design Technology Diploma course and bring more than two decades of experience nurturing student innovators to identify social, environmental and economic problems and apply design thinking and creative concepts to improve individuals and communities. I have led several D&T Curriculum Groups and conferences both in Singapore and Hong Kong with organisations and expanded my contribution in networking with other D&T groups around the world including both Assessment and Curriculum with the Extended Review Committee for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Design Technology course at The Hague, Netherlands.
Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subjects: Design Technology
I earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages, literatures and civilisations from the University of Michel de Montaigne, in Bordeaux, France. I became a qualified teacher in the UK, after getting a PGCE from Goldsmiths, University of London, in 2006. I have been teaching French as a foreign language ever since.
Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subjects: French
I have a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from the Free University Berlin. I studied abroad at Warwick University. I gained 4.5 years of teaching experience at Grundschule an der Bake, Heinrich Hertz Gymnasium, Carl-von-Linne Schule and Barnim Gymnasium and spent 2.5 years at Kepler Schule (Neukölln, Berlin) and Albrecht von Graefe Schule (Kreuzberg, Berlin)
Secondary School Teacher, German Section
Subjects: English, Biology, Ethics
I grew up in India. My two decades of teaching experience have taken me across 5 cities, 4 different curriculums, and hundreds of wonderful students. My experiences include teaching in an international school where there are students from 62 countries and considering that the school size was 250 students, it was a very unique experience. I have taught extensively in schools that prioritise academic rigor and also in schools that focus on overall growth. I have learned from both experiences and look forward to putting all those experiences to work as I make the transition to GESS. Before arriving in Singapore for this stint, I lived in Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Gurgaon & in Singapore during an earlier stint as a young teacher. I have a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics with high honours & bachelor’s degree in teaching Mathematics and Sciences.
Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subjects: Mathematics
Greetings! I am Mr. Bedrossian, a Canadian teacher with more than 18 years of valuable experience teaching abroad. My expertise lies in English, Humanities, and Social Studies. I am absolutely thrilled to join the dynamic and motivated team at GESS, where I am eager to foster an atmosphere of learning, inclusivity, and enjoyment for all our students. In my free time, I find immense joy in pursuing my hobbies, which include cartooning, art, engaging in various sports activities, and exploring different parts of the world through my love for traveling. My love of traveling has taken me to over 80 countries, providing me with a wealth of cultural experiences and perspectives. Aside from my native fluency in both English and French, I also speak beginner Mandarin. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of living in Canada, France, Thailand, China, and South Korea, enriching my understanding of diverse cultures and educational practices. I am also a proud father of two young kids, a role I cherish dearly. Being a parent has taught me valuable lessons in empathy, patience, and the importance of nurturing young minds. I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to contribute my knowledge and passion to GESS, and I am committed to making a positive impact on the lives of our students. Together, let us create an environment where learning is a joyous journey filled with growth, support, and the celebration of each individual’s unique abilities.
Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subjects: English and Humanities
I have worked in education for over ten years and I have experience teaching in Germany, England and Taiwan. I feel privileged to be able to teach my own language to young people and I also enjoy being able to communicate in other languages. I’d like to thank everyone for the warm welcome and I am looking forward to being part of this community.
Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subjects: German
I’ve studied German and English for a teaching degree in the beautiful city of Tübingen, doing private tutoring on the side throughout that time. During my state exam internship I taught at Kepler-Gymnasium in the same city. After passing my state exam there I started working at Klinikschule Böblingen – a school inside a hospital. I’ve had the chance to see many different learning environments and meet a variety of different learners and I’m excited to continue this journey at GESS.
Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subjects: German
During my studies I was able to gain experience in teaching young people in the youth development program of the soccer club FC St. Pauli. After my studies I completed my traineeship in Schleswig-Holstein. The last 8 years I have been teaching at a German/Spanish bilingual high school in Hamburg. There I was able to gain a lot of experience as a class teacher in grades 5, 6 and 7. Furthermore, I have trained as a guidance counsellor and have spent the last 4 years advising students, colleagues and parents in various situations. Now I am very much looking forward to the new tasks and experiences in Singapore at GESS.
Secondary School Teacher, German Section
Subjects: Spanish, Chemistry
After studying Physics and Educational Science, I completed my teaching qualification for Mathematics, Physics, and Sports in Frankfurt. I worked for several years as a homeroom teacher and Head of Swimming at a Montessori School. Now, I look forward to joining GESS in the Secondary School.
Secondary School Teacher, German Section
Subjects: Mathematics, Sports, Physics, Open Learning
I studied English and German at the University of Duisburg-Essen in order to become a teacher for secondary school (1st State Examination). At the University of Duisburg-Essen I worked as a researcher and lecturer at the „Zentrum für Lehrkräftebildung“ and did a PhD in the discipline „German as a foreign language“. I finished my 2nd State Examination (Referendariat) at Burggymnasium in Essen.
Secondary School Teacher,
European & German Section
Subjects: English and German
Secondary School Teacher, German Section
Subjects: Mathematics, Physics, ICT
I completed both my undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Psychology in Australia and after graduating, I then worked as a Psychologist in a Private Practice in Sydney. I have a special interest in working with young people and their parents and this passion led me to becoming a School Counsellor, which I have been enjoying for over 10 years now. I am a strong advocate for holistic and inclusive education, supporting students with diverse social, emotional and developmental needs to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to thrive. I’m so excited to be joining the GESS community and I look forward to meeting everyone!
Lead School Counsellor, Whole School
I’m Jennifer Alessi and have joined GESS as a relief teacher for the European Section in both primary and secondary school. I completed my degree and credentialing program in the United States where I taught before moving to Singapore almost four years ago. I have two children that attend GESS in the European section in grade 4 and grade 6. After years as a GESS parent, I am happy to continue supporting the school as a member of the staff.
Relief Teaching in Primary and Secondary School, European Section
I went to university in Tübingen in Germany and successfully completed degrees in English and History. After teacher’s training in Weingarten I successfully completed my second exam and started to teach in the small countryside town Bad Friedrichshall in Southern Germany. I have been teaching there for the last ten years.
Secondary School Teacher, German Section
Subjects: English and History
I am Friederike Boltze, Secondary Teacher for French, History and English. I just moved from Stuttgart (Germany) to Singapore. I am looking forward to working at GESS!
Secondary Teacher, German Section
Subjects: German, PE
My name is Dario Villalobos and I am a theatre educator, musician, actor, and director, originally from Monteverde, Costa Rica. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN, USA), a Master of Education degree from Moreland University (Washington, D.C, USA) and a K-12 Drama Teaching License from the State of Hawaii. I am also a member of the American Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA), and the Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA). Throughout my career, I have been privileged to teach Theatre & Music in diverse settings across the USA, Costa Rica, and China. As the Managing Director of Far Corners Community Musical Theatre, a non-profit organization empowering youth in under-served communities worldwide, I cherish the opportunity to make a positive impact through performing arts education. My artistic endeavours as a music director, lighting & sound designer, composer and theatre practitioner have seen me involved in various productions and performances in cities around the globe including Madison, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, London, Shanghai, and San José. As an international drama teacher, I have also taught the MYP, IBDP, American Common Core, and IGCSE curriculums. Through my teaching approach, I strive to empower students to explore different human perspectives through compassionate understanding and commitment to team work. Inspired by the timeless wisdom of playwright and theorist Bertolt Brecht, I humbly endeavour to have my students embody Brecht’s words: “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.”
Primary & Secondary School Teacher, European Section
Subject: Drama
I am Maria Mertens and I come from Germany. I completed my Master’s degree in Social Work and worked in youth welfare in Germany. Most recently I worked at the Youth Welfare Office in child protection in Germany and have successfully completed my further training as a specialist in child protection and as a systemic counsellor. I am looking forward to working at GESS.
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead,
Whole School
We extend a warm welcome to these new teachers and are excited for our wider community to meet all of them.
