Month: September 2024

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the newest addition to the vibrant teaching team at ILG School in Kosovo. My name is Tiffany Erasmus, and I come to you with a wealth of enthusiasm for teaching. My journey started when I had the privilege of teaching at an international school in Beijing in 2019, where I had the opportunity to work with students from Chinese cultural backgrounds. This experience broadened my perspective as a person and I became eager to learn more about different cultures.

I have spent three years in Shenzhen, where I teach Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry to Secondary school students. As a progressive educator, I firmly believe in the power of hands-on learning and inquiry-based teaching methods to ignite curiosity and inspire lifelong learners.

Beyond the classroom, I have a deep love for animals, particularly dogs and horses. In my free time, you can often find me exploring the outdoors with my furry companions or indulging in my hobby of crocheting. These interests bring me joy and balance, and I look forward to sharing snippets of my life with the ILG School community.

As I embark on this new chapter at ILG School, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the meaningful connections we will build together and the transformative learning experiences that lie ahead. I am eager to collaborate with fellow educators, support students in their academic and personal growth, and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of our school community.

Thank you for welcoming me with open arms. I am honored to be a part of the ILG family and am eager to embark on this journey alongside each of you.

I’m Brian Erasmus, and I’m thrilled to be part of the ILG community soon! With 13 years of classroom experience, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching Biology and Science to curious minds. Originally, from South Africa, I’ve spent the last 5 years sharing my passion for learning in the bustling city of Shenzhen, China. 

You’ll often find me immersed in the wonders of nature, especially when it comes to wild animals whether it’s observing their behavior or marveling at their habits. I can’t get enough of the beauty our planet has to offer. 

I’m a sports enthusiast, from teeing off on the golf course to sprinting on the track, I love staying active and embracing the competitive spirit. 

Joining the ILG community excited me because I know there’s much I can learn by sharing ideas and experiences. I am looking forward to meeting you all soon.

Ms. Larissa Adam was born and raised in Germany. After working as an AuPair in New Zealand for a year she realised she wanted to study internationally and pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in International Teacher Education for Primary Schools (ITEPS) complemented by Minors in Mindful Leadership, International Relations, and Inclusive Education.

During multiple internships in Germany, Kosovo (at ILG in 2022) and Malaysia as well as in a semester abroad in Thailand, Ms. Adam was able to gain experience in international settings and enrich her global perspective. 

Recently Ms. Adam acquired a Master’s Degree in Outdoor and Sustainability Education and is very excited to be back at ILG for her first full-time teaching position. She will be the third grade homeroom teacher and is dedicated to fostering educational environments that prioritize both students safety and personal growth. 

In her free time Ms. Adam loves spending time in nature, doing various sports, cooking and expressing herself creatively as well as meeting people and exploring places.

Lynette McInnes is originally from California, though has lived in England, Zimbabwe, The Bahamas, and most recently Hungary. She graduated from The American Intercontinental University in London with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, in addition to holding an Associate’s degree in Fine Arts from San Joaquin Delta College in California and having completed Moreland University’s Teacher Preparation Certificate Program.

Before entering the education realm, Lynette was a professional in marketing and communications and she brings that relevant expertise with her. For the past two years Lynette has been teaching in Budapest, Hungary, and prior to that in California.

In addition to teaching and all things art, Lynette enjoys history, wine, traveling, and learning about other cultures. She also enjoys participating in outdoor activities including hiking, running, and biking, and looks forward to exploring her exciting new home, Kosovo.

Lynette has a passion for adventure, connecting with people, and making a positive impact in the local community and world. She has founded and organized several educational and awareness campaigns focused on local and global issues including dog safety, the environment, and women’s rights. For the latter, she was selected as a ”Woman of Inspiration” by The Freeport News in The Bahamas.

Lynette’s motto is, “Forever a student of life.”

Hi, I’m Chloe from Australia!

I have had the amazing opportunity to develop an international teaching career, spanning over 5 different countries. I am passionate about contemporary pedagogies and developing confidence in our young people. I love posing challenging, real-life questions and working with students to develop their creative and innovative solutions. In addition to this, I am known as ‘the teacher who loves math’ – and thoroughly enjoy sharing this love with the school community.

When I’m not teaching, I am usually sipping coffee, drawing and painting. Over the last few years, I have begun painting murals for various organisations in my local community.

Math, art, coffee and design – this pretty much sums me up!

Abigail Alvarado-Smith is a lifelong musician with over 12 years of experience and a passion for teaching. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal and General Music Education from the University of Arkansas in the USA and hopes to continue her education with a Master’s Degree in the near future. During her time at university, she distinguished herself by performing in the top choirs and opera theater ensembles, honing her skills and musicality to a professional level.  Abigail holds teaching licenses in both Arkansas and Texas (USA), reflecting her dedication to excellence and her commitment to educating aspiring musicians. After graduating, she embarked on a fulfilling journey teaching choir and general music in public schools across both states, where she nurtured a love for music in her students and helped them achieve their goals.

Abigail also completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme herself during her secondary school years in El Paso, Texas. This gives her a unique perspective as both an IB student and teacher and allows her to share real-life experiences and provide guidance to the IB students at ILG.

In her free time, Abigail loves to travel and spend time with her husband and their two cats. Her love for travel and experiencing new cultures is what drew her to ILG school, and she is very excited to begin her international teaching career as a part of its vibrant community. Her approach to teaching is rooted in personalized instruction tailored to each student’s individual learning style and aspirations. Her passion for music and her comprehensive understanding of vocal, guitar, and piano techniques, as well as music theory, helps to create a nurturing learning environment where students can explore, grow, and develop their talents to their fullest potential. She is very excited to get the chance to collaborate with her fellow teachers and can’t wait to meet everyone!

Thomas Wesson is joining ILG after seven years of teaching at The American Embassy School of New Delhi. He has been teaching IB Theater, Theater electives, directing two mainstage theater productions a year and serving as Co-Coordinator for all High School Service Clubs. 

Prior to AES he was a professional actor in New York City. Mr. Wesson has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from Bates College in Maine, USA. 

He also has strong interests in English, History and Filmmaking. In his free time, Mr. Wesson enjoys tennis, weightlifting and recently completed his first 50km ultramarathon race last summer.

My name’s Drew Rickard and I’m originally from Brisbane, Australia – or Meanjin as it’s known in the local Australian Aboriginal language.

I’m an experienced community practitioner and have worked alongside young people to support them to navigate their challenges and thrive rather than just survive. I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue this work in the beautiful Republic of Kosovo and look forward to joining the ILG community.

Personally, I love to experience the mundane in another cultural context. I look forward to trying local food, joining gym and sporting teams, hiking, and getting involved with local community projects.

Visar Jasiqi is a full-fledged believer in the socio-economic transformation of Kosovo through education and technology, and that this transformation comes primarily from the development of human capacities that embody technology in learning, work, business and everyday life.

He led Human Capacity Development Initiatives for more than 20 years, initially as the IT Training Manager for IPKO Institute and then for more than 16 years at RIT Kosovo (American University in Kosovo) serving as the Director of Training and Development Institute, the Chief Operating and Outreach Officer and Chief Development Officer. For more than five years he served as a Board Member to Kosovo National Qualification Authority.

Mr. Jasiqi has over 15 years of teaching experience in professional courses such as Project Management, Business Competence and Entrepreneurship. He holds a Bachelor in Entrepreneurship and Management from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), a program certificate for an Executive MBA from University of Sheffield and another Master of Science in Future Foresight and Innovation – an innovative RIT program combining Scenario Planning, Project Management and Design Thinking.

He is currently the Head of People and Special Project at Radix, a US based company offering an online – cloud based – research and analytics platform for multifamily market, and a Board Member for BONEVET Gjakova, a maker space that encourages children, youngsters and adults to identify and develop talents and skills.

Mr. Jasiqi is excited to join the ILG community and teach DP Business Studies part-time. 

Adam Kingry is an enthusiastic and experienced IB Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science teacher from the Washington D.C. area, with experience from international schools in Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Norway.

His academic background centers on Earth/Space Science, Astronomy and Astrophysics, and STEM Education. He has degrees from Indiana University, George Mason University, and Harvard University – with additional studies at MIT in Space Science and Engineering. 

Adam is an avid cyclist and astrophotographer, who has spent three recent summers participating in underwater Roman archeology in Spain.