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Tiffany Erasmus – MYP Science, DP Chemistry, and Grade 11 Homeroom Teacher

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.

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Brian Erasmus – MYP Science, DP Biology, and Grade 7 Homeroom Teacher

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.

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Larissa Adam – Grade 3 Homeroom Co-Teacher

 

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.

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Chloe Rickard – PYP and MYP Visual Arts, MYP Design, and MYP Math

 

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!

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Ms. Abigail Alvarado-Smith – MYP and DP Music

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!

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Drew Rickard – Behavior Support Specialist

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.

 

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Visar Jasiqi – DP Business Studies

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. 

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Albana Kqiku – PYP Teaching Assistant

Ms. Albana Kqiku lives in Prishtina. Initially, she started working as a substitute teacher. She has a passion working with kids and enjoys teaching  through play. Albana is a great team member and is always willing to help whenever needed. She has been associated with ILG for over five years. Her enthusiasm and hard work resulted to a promotion and became  in 2023, she joined ILG full-time as an Elementary Teaching Assistant. 

 

Albana has an adventurous spirit and likes to travel around the world to visit new places and get to know with other cultures.

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Elma Maliqi – DP and MYP Albanian and Admin Assistant

Ms. Elma Maliqi joined ILG in February 2024. While studying for my BSc in the Faculty of Philology at University of Prishtina, she developed a keen interest of teaching Albanian as her future profession. At the end of her bachelor studies she started to practice her profession as a teacher in local schools. Her experience in these schools helped her develop her research skills. 

 

Ms. Maliqi did an internship in the Ministry of Internal Affairs – Department for Finance and General Service – Human Resources Division, where she worked in the document equipment center. At the end of this internship she continued her studies in the field of Master of Albanian Language and Literature, University of Prishtina. She is so pleased with the choice she made to study in this field and although she is at the end of these studies she believes it is only the beginning of knowing this broad and important field

for all. 

 

To find herself in this field means that she gets to teach a new generation of our country!

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Teuta Kacabac – Early Years Specialist Teacher

Ms. Teuta Kacabac joined ILG in 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in from AAB College Faculty of Social Sciences in Child Care and Well-being. Ms. Kacabac was a student teacher at ILG while studying for her degree. 

 

Ms. Kacabac was a volunteer trainer at an NGO dedicated to empowering women. Her role involved providing guidance and support to women from diverse backgrounds. She facilitated skill-building workshops, conduct training sessions, and offer mentorship to help women develop essential life skills and gain confidence. Through her efforts, she contributed to fostering a more inclusive and self-reliant community, ensuring that women have the knowledge and resources they need to thrive in various aspects of their lives.

 

As a parent of three children, she has deep understanding of the specific requirements and behaviors of young children. Parenting has allowed her to refine her skills in working with

children, always being sensitive and responsible. She is thrilled to be part of ILG to help children learn and grow in a caring and educational place.