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School Leadership Team
Email: academics@snamarianapolis.edu.vn
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to SNA Marianapolis International School. We are a blending of international Schools of North America and Marianapolis Preparatory School bringing a nearly 100-year tradition of American education at its finest to Bien Hoa, Vietnam. It is an honor to lead our highly qualified faculty from around the world ensuring that your children learn to become global citizens of the 21st century as well as gain strong academic skills, knowledge, and understanding that goes hand in hand with 21st-century skills.
I believe that school leadership is responsible for living and breathing its mission and values. Our mission is one that emphasizes academic excellence and a commitment to faith in humanity by building character, compassion, and integrity. As an educational leader and professional, I work diligently to be fair, open, and honest and lead as an example to the school community and stakeholders. I am transparent with faculty and staff that my educational philosophy is one in which I believe students can take ownership of their education. This student-centered approach to teaching and learning has served me well in the past three decades as an educator and leader. Out of this comes one of my strengths in continuous school improvement. As a lifelong learner, I attempt to constantly improve my knowledge and be relevant to the current practices and standards. I possess two master’s degrees (MEd and MSW) and have obtained an International Leadership certificate.
When I began my teaching experience in the last century, the emphasis from leadership, experienced teachers and professors alike was to keep the class quiet, studious, and in control. As a school leader, I now find that good teachers have students who are engaged, are positive in interactions and communication and there is a palpable “buzz” going on in the room. Good teachers vary the learning environment, have clear and concise expectations (academic and behavioral), and allow students to have some input in their learning journey. I think that striking the right tone is something that good teachers strive for throughout their careers. However, in today’s education world, it is important to give students some choices in their learning. Good teachers give choices. As a school leader, I can see that students are gravitating towards those classrooms where the teacher makes a connection with the students, that are warm and inviting where the teacher is perceived as fair to all, and those classrooms that vary the teaching methods.
You will find that our teaching methods are progressive, modern, and student-centered at SNA Marianapolis International School. The days of rote memorization and repeating back have changed to days where students have voice, choice, and ownership of their learning. I look forward to meeting parents to explain my educational philosophy and how SNA Marianapolis International School strives to be a center of learning and growth academically and personally with each student. This can be seen as our students show great character whether playing football against rival schools, cheering on peers at assemblies, or simply collaborating with classmates during lessons.
Again, welcome to SNA Marianapolis International School. We would be delighted to show you all that it offers from our spacious classrooms and labs to our 680-seat auditorium, our sporting and arts facilities, or our happy students and talented faculty.
Email: academics@snamarianapolis.edu.vn
What an honor to be joining the school as the Elementary School Principal and to be joining this great community. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of our students and I can see we have a young, inquisitive, and enthusiastic generation of students eager to take on any challenges.
I am a passionate educator. After completing my undergraduate at the University of London and doing a year abroad in Japan, I fell in love with teaching and education and remained in this field ever since. My teaching career began with English language teaching in Japan over 20 years ago. Over the years I have taken various roles including teaching, curriculum development, teacher training, administrator, and general management. I have spent most of my professional life in Asia.
In South Korea, I worked as an academic manager in a private language school. In China, I designed the English curriculum for English Language majors. In Vietnam, I worked for over 10 years with ILA Vietnam, re-designing their English language program to ensure 21st Century learning skills were incorporated into the curriculum, but also bringing an element of project-based learning to the schools. More recently, I worked at a group of bilingual schools as the International Program Director where I developed an integrated project-based learning curriculum and oversaw the delivery of the curriculum in the first years of operation.
I have now been in Vietnam with my family for just under 15 years. I am deeply committed to learning and understand the importance of a solid English language foundation in international education. I am a firm believer of integrating learning skills, digital literacy and empowering children to take ownership of their own learning. My aim is to ensure our students develop a strong set of knowledge and skills in Elementary years, through plenty of learning opportunities in all developmental areas, setting a strong foundation for academic success in later years.
I am excited to meet all our students and families. Once again, I am honored to have the opportunity to bring my professional experience to the SNA Marianapolis community.
Middle school represents a critical transitional period during which students require supported independence, define their personal voice, and develop sound reasoning skills. My primary objective as Middle School Principal is to cultivate a structured, safe, and engaging educational environment where students feel confident to take active ownership of their academic and personal growth.
I have worked within international education for 25 years, first as a Biology and Geography teacher and then most recently as school Principal across Asia, having served in leadership roles across Taiwan, Thailand and Hong Kong. Certified through the Canadian Principal’s Qualification Program (Canada) and holding a Master of Science in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (USA), my approach to educational leadership is student-centered and inclusive. I believe that true academic success occurs when students have voice and choice in their learning journey, guided by high academic expectations, and progressive instructional methods.
Strong partnerships between the school, parents, and the broader community are fundamental to student success. I prioritize open communication, consistency, and active parental involvement within our school community. I warmly invite parents to come to meet me on campus whenever it is convenient, as working closely together ensures our students receive the comprehensive support needed to thrive academically and grow into confident, compassionate global citizens.
I am honored to be back in Vietnam after a brief absence and thrilled to rejoin the SNA family. My journey through the educational context in the past 40 years, has allowed me to teach and held positions of responsibility at international schools in three different continents (Peru, Colombia, mainland China, Hong Kong, the UAE, Germany and India).
I believe in the power that education has in generating change, in shaping individuals’ personalities and eventually in solving the world’s most serious problems. I am also convinced that education and instruction are not synonyms, but that they complement each other. As an international educator, I strive to make a difference in the personal growth of students so that they can become better-rounded global citizens.
Apart from being passionate about Education, I am a ‘hardcore’ philatelist. Philately is just the fancy term to refer to postage stamp collecting, which is something that I have been doing for over five decades. If anyone feels interested in knowing more about this hobby, I will be more than happy to oblige!
I am also what you would call a ‘seasoned’ traveller. Travelling around the world has been an extraordinary eye-opener and a constant reminder of the importance of international mindedness. Whenever you are able to travel, please do so as much as possible. There is nothing more educational than exploring new lands and learning about new cultures.
Welcome to our school! I am very much looking forward to meeting you. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me to find out more about us.
THE JOURNEY OF CREATING EDUCATIONAL VALUE
It is a great honor to be part of the school community in my role as Principal of SNA Bilingual Signature Program.
I have always believed that the greatest value of an educator lies not in titles or achievements, but in the ability to create positive and lasting impact on students, teams, and the community. With more than 20 years of experience working with international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, in roles ranging from curriculum development and academic leadership to school operations, I view every experience as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and continuously grow.
The core values that guide me are Standards, Modern, and Creative, along with a strong spirit of service and a commitment to innovation in education. I aspire to build a learning environment where students can develop holistically, teachers are inspired to grow and make a difference, and parents become true partners in their children’s educational journey.
My focus is on strengthening the quality of our teaching team, establishing consistent operational systems, and building a positive learning culture. I am committed to developing internationally minded educational programs that connect international standards with local values, creating sustainable advantages for the school. Above all, I hope to contribute to building a pioneering educational community where every student develops the capacity for lifelong learning, a global mindset, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
I do not see myself as someone who creates change alone. Rather, I see my role as connecting resources, unlocking the potential of our collective strengths, and working together to create meaningful educational value for future generations.
