Passionate about education, Jeff is originally from the state of Iowa in the USA. He became a teacher after training as an Army officer and earning his BA in History. After a brief stint in public school, Jeff earned his MA in Secondary Social Studies Education, teaching at the University of Iowa. In 1996, Jeff was fortunate enough to join an international school in Bogota, Colombia, and he has been an international educator ever since. He has worked in both the classroom and leadership roles in top schools in Qatar, Denmark, the Philippines, and Singapore, then back to the Philippines before moving to Taiwan in 2012. Jeff served as a teacher and as senior leadership at another prominent international school in Hsinchu/Zhubei for 10 years, before consulting in Tainan and then joining HCAS.
A classroom teacher for more than 30 years, Jeff has taught various regular, AP, IB, and IGCSE History, Geography, and Political Science courses, and even Musical Production! He had the wonderful opportunity to coach football (soccer) at 4 different schools, including 3 champion teams (2 girls, 1 boys), and he had the privilege of serving on the THIMUN Advisory Board for 13 of his 20 years as an MUN director. His leadership roles have ranged from Department Head to IBDP Coordinator and Academic Dean to Director of Curriculum and Instruction (functionally Assistant Principal.)
At every step along this journey, Jeff has experienced amazing adventures, but the most important weren’t swimming in the Amazon, or going inside the Great Pyramid, or whitewater rafting on the Zambezi. Second only to being a husband to his wife Jackie and father to his teenage children Rhys and Elena, the greatest adventure has been getting to work with incredible students, colleagues, and parents all over the world, establishing lifelong friendships, and helping shape future generations of leaders while always seeking to grow himself as well.
Jeff believes that people are the most important element of any organization or community, highly values interpersonal relationships, and lives by two quotes that drive him to this day: From the US Army — “Take care of your people and they will take care of you,” and from Civil Rights activist and poet Maya Angelou — “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Assistant Principal
& Head of First Program
B.S.: Fort Lewis College
M.A.: Norwich University
Washington State University
Nathan is originally from Denver Colorado, but he has been traveling and working in education in various places around the world since 2007. He greatly enjoys the process of learning, be it as a teacher, school leader, or even student. Nathan has returned to Taiwan because he views Taiwan as serving an important role as a bridge between the Eastern and Western worlds. He is proud to be a part of building this important bridge.
He also finds this country to be his true second home. His educational leadership belief is that a leader’s main role is to serve others. This includes serving students to ensure they have a challenging yet enjoyable learning environment, serving parents with ensuring their voices are heard and responded to as well as serving teachers with providing the goals and support needed for professional growth to benefit student learning. He believes that to lead others truly means to serve others!
If you would like to learn more about his background, please feel free to explore his personal website at www.deanbryanteducation.com
Head of Department and Social Studies/Social Sciences Teacher
Mark Vickers is a high-school teacher of 3 years, and he hopes to help cultivate our school climate and culture of success as well as have a positive impact on the students. He joined HCAS after teaching 3 years as a business, economics, and PE teacher within a high school in Taiwan. He also has over 9 years of teaching ESL within Taiwan. Before Taiwan, Mark worked as a manager and coach at a university in the UK.
He received his bachelor’s degree in the UK from the University of Sunderland but received his master’s degree within Taiwan at MingHsin University.
Outside of work, Mark loves to play basketball and is an avid computer game player. One of his main passions is to travel, and he really enjoys traveling around the island of Taiwan on 2 wheels.
Director of Student Affairs
M.S.: Bristol University
B.S.: National Changhua University of Education
Alicia Chuang is the Director of Student Affairs at HCAS. She was born in Taiwan but raised in Paraguay (South America), graduating from an American school. She then returned to Taiwan to pursue her dream as a teacher and entered into National Changhua University of Education. Alicia started her job as a teacher then she took some time off to do her master’s degree in TESOL from Bristol University (England). She has 15 years of teaching experiences plus administrative experiences in bilingual and private education systems.
Office Support & Cashier
& Board Executive Assistant
Holmes Colleges Sydney
Christine Wu plays many vital roles at HCAS, ensuring the functioning of purchasing, security, and cafeteria maintenance. She also helps Student Affairs with the needs of the kindergarten and field trips.
Academic Coordinator and Registrar
B.S.: Ming Chuan University
Walker Chen joined HCAS in 2016 and is currently working as our Academic Coordinator and Registrar. As a born and raised Taiwanese citizen from the countryside, he stepped in the education field as a science teacher and academic staff in a private high school after graduating from college. He mainly works on schedules, textbooks, transcripts, and report cards, helping with PowerSchool maintenance and some technical support from time to time. Walker met his other half while at HCAS, and he enjoys weight training outside of the school.
Special Educator
& Football Coach
B.S.: MacMurray College
M..Ed.: Westfield State College
M.A.: University of San Francisco
Advanced Grad. Cert.: Washington State University
Dave is originally from Philadelphia but has lived in western Massachusetts with his wife, Pam, while raising their 3 children, Devon, Kyle, and Cory, who are all married. His bachelor’s degree is in Physical Education, and he has a masters degrees in Special Education and Organization and Leadership. He also holds a graduate certificate in International School Leadership. Teaching is only one of a number of professions he has had. He taught in the U.S., Morocco, Mongolia, Sudan, Zambia, and Vietnam. He enjoys adventures, being outdoors, a nice bottle of wine, and learning about different cultures and their languages. Dave believes that all students have the ability to learn, that each one has special talents, and that collaboration with staff is critical for to optimize student learning.
社會老師及學科負責人
Mark Vickers 是一名 3 年的高中教師,他希望幫助培養我們的學校氛圍和成功文化,並對學生產生積極影響。 他在台灣一所高中任教 3 年商業、經濟學和體育老師後加入 HCAS。 他還在台灣擁有超過 9 年的 ESL 教學經驗。 在台灣之前,馬克在英國的一所大學擔任經理和教練。
他在英國桑德蘭大學獲得學士學位,但在台灣明新大學獲得碩士學位。
工作之餘,馬克喜歡打籃球,並且是一名狂熱的電腦遊戲玩家。 他的主要愛好之一是旅行,他非常喜歡駕駛 2 個輪子環遊台灣島。
學務處主任
M.S.: Bristol University
B.S.: National Changhua University of Education
Alicia Chuang 是 HCAS 的學生事務主任。 她出生在台灣,在巴拉圭(南美)長大,畢業於美國學校。 其後回台追尋教師夢想,考入國立彰化師範大學。 Alicia 開始了她的教師工作,然後她抽出一些時間在布里斯托爾大學(英國)攻讀 TESOL 碩士學位。 她在雙語和私立教育系統擁有 15 年的教學經驗和行政經驗。
“Sarah Chuang 是 HCAS 的運動協調員和學生事務助理。 她在不同行業擁有豐富的工作經驗,包括經營自己的企業、管理日本和台灣專業運動隊和運動員的粉絲俱樂部、在醫院擔任顧問,以及在語言學院教授日語和中文。 在校外,她喜歡看體育比賽、閱讀、聽音樂、旅遊和畫畫。 她是一個思想開放的終身學習者。 懷著對運動的極大熱情和對運動員的尊重,她以奉獻和愛心照顧我們的運動隊。 她最近的挑戰是通過力量訓練來改變自己,參加 2024 年的博洛尼亞兒童書展,以及說一口流利的韓語。”
Sharlin 是 HCAS 的學校護士。 她通過治療傷病、安排疫苗接種、完成健康檢查、提供疾病諮詢和實施流行病預防方案來維護所有學生和所有教職工的健康。 她認為校園安全是學習的根本!
Daphne的教育之旅始於她早年對英語的熱愛,這份熱情在她讀二年級時,聆聽ICRT廣播時被點燃。這股熱情驅使她追求教育事業,並成為一名經驗豐富的教育工作者,從幼稚園到九年級教授語文藝術。
她對教育的變革力量的信仰體現在她對學生成長和發展的奉獻中。在她目前的職位上,Daphne負責協調夏季和冬季營隊,管理註冊事務,組織外出活動,並提供學生行為方面的重要支持。
在校外,她喜愛騎自行車、烘焙、閱讀、觀看電影,還有美食。
Parent Services and Human Resources Staff
B.S.: Yuanpei University of Medical Technology
Sara Huang joined HCAS in 2019, and she is in charge of the payment slips, transfer requests, uniform management, staff attendance, and leave application management. She offers support and assistance to all parents and is honored to grow with HCAS. Outside of school, she enjoys discovering new cuisines and spending time with her family.
Calima graduated from Fujian Normal University in 2019, and she had worked as an administrative teacher, as well as an English teacher in kindergarten, which helped her gain experience in teaching.
Outside of work, she loves to exercise outdoor and spend quality time with her family. Before joining HCAS, she had lived in several countries including Malaysia, China, and Canada, broadening her cultural horizons and life experiences.
General Affairs Director
HDE: National Taichung College of Business
Nunu Sun serves as the Director of General Affairs at HCAS, a role integral to the seamless operation and administration of our school. With meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to excellence, she oversees the procurement of essential school supplies, ensuring that both educators and students have the resources they need to thrive.
Her responsibilities extend to managing school bus operations, coordinating schedules, and ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of our students. Additionally, she is responsible for overseeing monthly transaction costs, maintaining a keen eye on the financial aspects that contribute to the smooth running of the institution.
Nunu’s multifaceted role encompasses a variety of duties that are vital to the daily functionality and long-term success of HCAS. Her dedication and expertise help create an environment where education can flourish, allowing our school to operate with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness.
General Affairs Staff
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Yean Huang is a member of the General Affairs staff and takes care of our electric lighting, refrigeration, air-conditioning system management, fire equipment, sewage water supply system management, electrical equipment system management, and engineering project improvement assessment and construction. We can count on him to make the school run smoothly.
He studied at National Chiao Tung University, specializing in mechanical related skills, and worked at AUO as a research and development engineer. Yean is kind, helpful, and is always up to help with whatever issues people may have!
Head Chef
Yongjing High-tech
Jrshiang Huang is very happy to join the HCAS family as our Head Chef, and his hobbies are playing baseball and watching movies.
Chef
B.S.: National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism
James Ma has worked in professional kitchens for 5+ years. He has expreience in hotels as well as private restautants and bistros. He enjoys cooking and loves to learn about the culinary culture from all differents regions around the world. After graduating from college, he spent some time traveling in Europe and worked as an intern in a small neighborhood restaurant in Paris called Au Passage. He loves to watch movies on his days off and go camping. He lives with his cat and loves her very much!
Chef
China University of Science and Technology
Prior to joining HCAS, Josh Lin used to live and work in Kenting for four years in the hospitality industry, cleaning rooms and leading guests to great travel experiences. This experience has given him many friends from all over the world!
Chef
GUANGFU High school
Before joining HCAS as a Chef, Lisa Wu worked as an after-school tutor at Chung Cheng Elementary School.
Kindergarten 2~3
Homeroom Teacher
B.S.: Purdue Universty
Christa Barker joined HCAS as the Kindergarten 2 homeroom teacher after 7 years of teaching ESL Kindergarten in Keelung and Zhubei and three years as a Reading Specialist in Singapore. Prior to moving to Taiwan, she served in the United States Peace Corps in San Ignacio,
Belize as a Youth Development Volunteer. Christa graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Services from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She holds a TEFL certification and is in pursuit of her teaching license through Moreland University. Her hobbies include geocaching, scuba diving, and exploring the beautiful island of Taiwan.
Kindergarten 3 Teacher Assistant
B.A.: MingDao University
King George international college
Loria Hsieh is a kindergarten Teaching Assistant. She graduated from MingDao university with a major in English, after graduate she went aboard to get TESOL in Vancouver. Loria has been teaching kindergarten for 10 years , join HCAS form January 9th 2023. She got a nanny licence this year.
First Program Homeroom Teacher
BA (Honors) : Open University, United Kingdom
Delicia Engle, a South African native who has called England home for over 16 years, brings a wealth of experience to her role as the grade 1 homeroom teacher at HCAS. With over 20 years of teaching experience in both public and private schools in South Africa and England, Delicia holds a teaching certificate in early childhood education and a BA (hon) in Childhood and Youth studies.
Spending over 7 years teaching in Taiwan has given Delicia a deep understanding of holistic learning. She is passionate about fostering individuality and socio-emotional intelligence in her students, dedicating herself to nurturing a love for learning in her classroom.
Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher
B.S.: CPUT
Foundation Phase Education: UNISA
Catherine is an experienced educator from Cape Town, South Africa, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Management and a Post Graduate degree in Foundation Phase Education and Early Childhood Education. With over a decade of teaching experience, she has focused on young learners, in both public and private schools in South Africa and abroad. Catherine’s teaching philosophy emphasizes holistic development, and her lessons are designed to promote intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth. She believes in active involvement and encourages creativity in expressing knowledge. Catherine recognizes the importance of social interactions and language in learning, creating a stimulating environment that fosters deep understanding. Her goal is to provide a comprehensive educational program and inspire a love for learning in her students, empowering them on a lifelong journey of knowledge acquisition.
Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher
B.A.: London Guildhall University
Colm Cosgrove comes from Ireland. He is delighted to be the grade 2 homeroom teacher here at HCAS! He has over a decade of teaching experience with elementary level students here in Taiwan, and he strives to be patient and approachable at all times. His aim is to provide a positive, nurturing environment for his students.
Grade 5 Teacher
B.A.: National University of Singapore
M.Ed.: Framingham State University
Jane has over twelve years of experience teaching in public and private schools across Asia. She began her teaching journey in Japan and taught most recently in Thailand before joining HCAS. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Singapore’s top university, she attained a master’s degree in education from Framingham State University in Massachusetts. She is also a CELTA-certified educator, making her well-attuned to the needs of English language learners.
Jane’s primary goal is to nurture a love of learning in her students. She believes that education goes beyond imparting knowledge; it is about inspiring curiosity and cultivating a lifelong passion for discovery. Through the use of literature, creative writing and interactive teaching methods, Jane strives to ignite her students’ imaginations and encourage them to express their ideas confidently.
Outside of school, Jane enjoys watercolor painting, drawing in her art journal and taking long walks in nature. She also loves curling up with a good book and her two fluffy feline companions by her side.
Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher
M.A.: Victoria University of Wellington
Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher
B.S.: University of Oregon
Lorenzo Andrade is from a multi-cultural family in Portland, Oregon in the US. He has over 12 years of teaching experience with students aged 4-17, in a range of environments including after-school ESL programs, kindergarten, and elementary school homerooms in Taiwan. His background in psychology has given him invaluable insight into the learning process, while growing up as a third-culture kid who was devouring college level books in elementary school instilled the values of curiosity, patience, and strength in diversity. His goal is to either encourage or awaken the passion and curiosity for knowledge in all his students. His hobbies include running, reading, and dancing the Argentine Tango.
Head of Department and English Teacher
B.A. Wilfred Laurier University
Dave Vaughan is a Canadian with experience teaching in Beijing, Taichung, and Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. He discovered the joy and value of teaching growing up in a largely connected extended family in small-town Ontario. Dave has shown great interest in developing his institution’s approach to international education, both through the organization of extracurricular activities (MUN conferences and Young Diplomats training) and curriculum flexibility (project-based learning courses and international learning projects). He enjoys hiking for the sake of feeding his need for adventure and exploration, while also contributing to a coalition of writers and activists online.
English Teacher
Juris Doctor: Temple University
Throughout my career while working in Florida public schools as a teacher and trainer, I’ve had the privilege of watching my students achieve tremendous learning gains on the state and district tests. After teaching in Florida for close to fifteen years, I had worked and resided in Hsinchu where I taught at the high school level for over ten years. Since 2015, I worked at the International Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park, a public K-12 school, operated jointly by the Ministry of Education and the National Science Council. While at IBSH, I have taught a variety of regular and AP English courses as well as elective offerings at the high school level.
After years of working with and observing many outstanding teachers, I’ve managed to build classrooms that release the latent talents and skills in my students, close the achievement gap between struggling and advanced learners, and transform students at risk of failure into achievers and believers. My teaching style is direct and decisive, yet flexible in responding to constantly changing demands of the teaching profession. During my career, I’ve had the opportunity to teach a diverse group of students, thus enhancing my teaching techniques and instructional methods. As a result, I have developed superior interpersonal and leadership skills. In addition, I have become proficient in motivating my students by developing engaging lesson plans and using alternative assessment strategies to accurately gauge my students’ performance. In addition to quizzes, exams, and standardized tests, my assessments incorporate a variety of performance-based measures and portfolio opportunities. I believe one of my greatest strengths as a teacher is instilling a love for learning. Achieving that goal means helping students to understand, organize, and retain information in order to become confident, lifelong learners. It also means respecting each student’s background, culture, and learning style and holding high expectations that all children can and will learn.
Before embarking on a teaching career, I was a practicing attorney in the US for over twenty years. After passing the bar, I was admitted to practice law in the following jurisdictions: NY, NJ, PA, and FL. I reached the pinnacle of my legal career in 1999 when I appeared as co-counsel in a case argued before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
English Teacher
MA: New York University
Gustavo is originally from New York City and has been teaching for over 14 years and is very excited to join the HCAS family. He has earned a degree in Classics, with a concentration on the Ancient Greek Novel and Pre-Socratic Philosophy, a Certificate of Music Performance, and most recently a Masters in Education from NYU.
In his years as an educator he has taught Latin, Ancient Greek, Spanish, and a variety of English courses, and has prepared all of his students to successfully sit for the NYS Regents Exam, Florida Statewide Assessment and AP Exams. His approach to education is to create a classroom environment that is student-centered, student-driven, and where everyone’s voice and opinions are heard and respected.
He believes in a restorative approach to education where positive relationships are built between all members of the classroom to ensure that everyone is working towards building a community of learners.
English Teacher
B.A.: Binghamton University
EAL Teacher
PhD Language Education (English), Benguet State University
MA TESOL, Benguet State University
BA Secondary Education (English) Saint Louis University
Grace is thrilled to join HCAS as an EAL Teacher, bringing over a decade of international teaching experience. Her passion is to make a positive impact on her students and colleagues through the delivery of top-tier instruction and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
At the core of Grace’s teaching philosophy is the belief in continuous learning. She is dedicated to staying current with the latest educational practices to provide the best guidance to her students.
Beyond the classroom, Grace has a strong commitment to education. In her previous role as an Accreditation Coordinator and Professional Development Coordinator, she played a pivotal role in leading the school’s accreditation process and designing engaging professional development programs for faculty and staff.
Ever since college, William always enjoyed inspiring talented minds. He mentored at several gifted programs in Bellevue and served as adviser for the incoming freshman in his university. Since it had been a tremendous and rewarding experience, William decided to continue serving in education after college. William was a former software PM with an electrical engineering degree from the University of Washington. Prior to becoming a full-time mathematic teacher at an international school in 2009 in Hsinchu, William worked at various engineering firms ranging from aircraft to powerlines to weapon system to cellphones. He would work at a company by day and tutor students in the neighborhood by night. It was then when he discovered his true passion in teaching and devoted himself in it. William joined HCAS in 2018 and brought his two children to this big family. He teaches middle and upper school mathematics, specializing in Advanced Placement Calculus and SAT mathematics.
Mathematics Teacher
B.S.: National Tsing Hua University
M.A.: Penn State University
This is the 5th year since Lin joined HCAS in 2020. She has seven years of experience teaching middle and high school mathematics in international schools. She received her undergraduate degree from National Tsing Hua University, and her MS degree in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
She used to work as a software programmer in the United States for ten years before her career change. She finds the most fulfilling part of being a teacher is fostering curiosity and love of learning mathematics in her students.
Math & Science Teacher
MA: Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany
Joanna Lim is a Singaporean who graduated from Technical University Munich, Germany. She is conversant in Mandarin, English and German. Having majored in Life science, Economics and Policy, she is well placed to teach mathematics and science.
Her interest in sustainable management practices saw her in work stints in Beijing and beyond. Previously she curated curriculum content for an Edutech platform aligning them with NGSS and iGCSE syllabus helping teachers at the elementary and middle school level.
Outside of school, Joanna likes to relax with a cup of tea and plan her next adventure in Nature or exploring urban cities.
Mathematics Teacher
Ph.D: Universidad De Dagupan,
Pangasinan
Mr. Alberto Perez is thrilled to join Hsinchu County American School as a Math Teacher this year. With a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education and significant progress towards a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Alberto brings over 17 years of teaching experience, including five years in the USA and extensive tenure in prestigious private schools in the Philippines.
He holds a US teaching certificate with an endorsement in Mathematics. Alberto’s teaching philosophy emphasizes creating dynamic, inclusive learning environments tailored to diverse student needs. He is skilled in differentiated instruction and passionate about integrating technology and real-world applications into the curriculum to foster academic excellence.
Mr. Perez is excited about sharing his love for math and innovative teaching methods with his students and is looking forward to a fun and enriching school year. Committed to nurturing student success through innovative teaching methods, Alberto aspires to leadership roles in education, driven by his global perspective and dedication to enhancing educational practices.
Science Teacher
M.phil, M.Sc (Botany), B.Ed University of Delhi
Garima is from India and served in Indonesia as an IGCSE, AS and A level Cambridge Biology teacher for several years. She has also worked in Thailand.
She has been teaching biology for the last 14 years. She had received letter of appreciation for stellar performance of students in secondary school examination of CBSE from Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister Human Resource Development, Government of India. She also received a letter of appreciation from Edu heal foundation, learning for life, New Delhi for promoting biotechnology in school. She also did research and had publication in the field of microbiology in International Journals.
She facilitates teacher-student collaborative methods to keep students attentive and involved in the learning process. She also believes in active involvement and encourages students to express themselves. She initiated several environmental related activities in her previous school to bring awareness about the environment in the school community.
Garima is passionate about her subject and her goal is to inculcate love and passion towards science in her students too.
Science Teacher
BA Physics and Math with Astrophysics Concentration /Alfred University
Nicholas has been teaching both Science and EAL to middle and high school students as well as early learners for over ten years. He has taught in the US, Singapore, and spent the last four years teaching middle school science in Taiwan. He is passionate about teaching and understanding nature and tries to impart this passion to students through student-centered activities and inquiry-based learning.
He did research with cataclysmic variable stars at the Stull Observatory, analyzed Kepler Space Telescope data regarding quasi-periodic variable stars at the Kitt Peak National Observatory, and modeled near-Earth asteroids at the Arecibo Observatory.
For all students that gaze at the stars and wonder about the nature of the universe, Nicholas is determined to guide them and help share what science has discovered so far.
Hailing from the scenic state of Maine, he enjoys sailing, boardgames, and exploring nature with his Formosan mountain dog.
Science Teacher
M.Sc.: Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)
Fredi Francis Cheruvathoor is an accomplished Indian chemist with extensive experience in teaching and research, currently instructing science courses at both middle and high school levels. He holds an M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and has conducted advanced research in organometallic chemistry at National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.
His research includes the synthesis of organic compounds, the design of ligands, and the creation of compounds with metal-metal bonds, significantly contributing to green chemistry and industrial applications.
Fredi has published several scientific papers and co-authored book chapters in his field.
His academic interests are diverse, encompassing academic research writing, scientific writing, and chemistry education. He is passionate about integrating STEM subjects under a unified approach and introducing higher-level STEM topics to elementary students. His interests also include recycling and upcycling polymeric, plastic, and waste materials, as well as researching nanomaterials and polymers for drug delivery applications.
Fredi dedicates his time to general chemistry education and outreach, as well as higher education consultation. During weekends and holidays, he loves spending time with his family.
Social Studies Teacher
BA, MA: University of Iowa
Daniel Scalberg is an American who has joined HCAS after serving as a TESOL instructor in a Lycee school in Toulouse, France. Originally from Vancouver, Washington, Daniel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from George Fox University in 2017 and a Master of Arts in history from Washington State University in 2021, where he served for two years as a graduate teaching assistant in the history department. A life long reader and sports fan, Daniel is an enthusiatic follower of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Alouettes, and the Detroit Tigers, while his favorite authors are Agatha Christie, August Wilson, Victor Hugo, and C.S. Lewis. The son of a college professor, Daniel has always had a passion for the subjects of history, geography, and government and is exctied for the opportunity to bring his interest to the classroom. When not reading or listening to music, Daniel enjoys hanging out with his friends as well as taking time to travel and explore new cities.
Social Studies Teacher
B.A., B.Ed.: University of Alberta
Shandy is joining HCAS after the last several years living in Kuwait, and prior to that, in London. He grew up in Calgary, Canada, and went to the University of Alberta nearby in Edmonton. He has family in Brazil (grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc.) and so travels far and wide, both for family, and for personal enjoyment, having been around much of the Middle East and Europe. Shandy enjoys bringing inspiration from travels into the history classroom, and making the current world explainable and accessible for all his students whenever possible. Designing new projects that are enjoyable and develop new skills in argumentation, presentation, evaluating, or analyzing sources are a cornerstone of his approach in the classroom.
When not teaching or travelling, he is often playing a wide variety of sports, playing chess, cooking, or out discovering new foods, learning a new language.
Social Studies Teacher
BA: University of Birmingham, UK
Daniel Lockyer is British teacher with a vast amount of experience teaching in both Taiwan and Thailand. He always aspired to become and teacher from a young age, and made his dreams come true to teach a subject he is passionate about. Teaching in Thailand and Taiwan has allowed him to do his dream job and experience new cultures, countries, traditions, and food.
Daniel has a growth mindset and personal progression approach to both his teaching and his life. He has undertaken many personal progression and learning opportunities throughout his teaching career. He is a very keen scuba diver, certified to Divemaster level, and enjoys taking underwater photos.
Head of Department and Chinese Teacher
B.A.: Wenzao Ursuline
College of Languages
M.A.: National Kaohsiung
Normal University
Prior to joining HCAS, Mina Lai taught at St. Theresia Tourism High School in Indonesia. She currently teaches Chinese as an Additional Language at HCAS and leads the World Languages Department. When she is not working, she enjoys her time with family and exploring the world as a backpacker.
Chinese Teacher
B.A.: National Tsing Hua University
Connie Fan graduated from Taiwan National Tsing Hua University and then went to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where she completed her master’s degree. She stayed in Shanghai for about three years and taught the Teaching Chinese as Second Language classes in the language center of SJTU. In recent years,
Chinese has become more popular, inspiring more and more people learn Chinese. As Taiwan is a rare place that still uses traditional Chinese characters, we should show students the importance and help them understand the opportunity they have. In class, Connie likes to make students read and think instead of over-testing them. Learning a language is not about the number of words they know or how much grammar they can recognize.
We have to allow the students to experience the culture behind the author’s sentences. She hopes every student can enjoy themselves in her Chinese classes and, from the bottom of their hearts, love Chinese!
Chinese Teacher
B.A.: National University of Kaosiung
Yunzhen “Jenny” Chang is very excited to start her second year at HCAS. She earned her master’s degree in English Literature at National Chung Cheng University and obtained the Certificate of Qualification to Teach Chinese as a Second/Foreign Language. Prior to HCAS, Yunzhen taught in Thailand and Taiwan.
The education she received and teaching experience she gained have prepared her to teach and work with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. She is very passionate about learning and implementing different teaching methods to support as well as challenge students.
Chinese Teacher (part-time)
B.S.: Ming Chuan University
TESOL Cert.: St. Petersburg State University
Joey Huang is a First Program Chinese teacher at HCAS. She has approximately ten years of teaching experience, and this is her sixth year at HCAS. Her other work experiences include being an English teacher in Shi-hsing Elementary School and Guang- ming Elementary School. She is a friendly and kind teacher whose continues to grow as a genuine educator and mentor. She is convinced that education will eventually help kids grow up to make positive contributions to society. She exercises active listening to truly understand the meaning behind the words. She continues to enrich her knowledge base by continuously learning new things (e.g., reading, being close to nature, and visiting with people).
Besides teaching, Joey also takes time for service to her religious community, which reminds her of the reason she teaches. The true impact is not what teachers teach but how they treat students.
Spanish Teacher
B.A.: Higher College University of Cundinamarca
M.A.: University of Wales
Trinity Saint David
Liliana Torres joined our school in 2021, and she is eager and enthusiastic to provide a creative environment for students to learn Spanish as a foreign language. She believes in motivating our students who will eventually make a positive change in the society
She holds a master’s degree in Marketing (University of Wales Trinity Saint David) and a Spanish teaching certificate (Nebrija University). She is currently pursuing her teaching licensing with Moreland University.
Liliana is devotedly loved by her two adorable Taiwanese dogs named Charles and Pickles.
French Teacher
MA: University of Perpignan
Kader Bellahouel, also known as Mr.B, is returning to Taiwan after many years, it feels like coming home again. In total, he spent 11 years working in Taiwan, six of which were at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), followed by five years teaching at Hsinchu International School (HIS). These experiences have been deeply meaningful and have left a lasting impact on him, allowing him to better appreciate the beauty of its rich culture and wonderful people.
After his time in Taiwan, he spent another 11 years abroad working in international schools in Bangladesh, Singapore, and the Philippines, where he diversified his teaching experiences across different countries and educational programs. Each of these places has brought unique challenges and opportunities that significantly contributed to his professional growth.
He holds two master’s degrees in French as a Foreign Language (FFL) and Sociology and Social Development, and a PGCE international from Nottingham University.
There are many things that define a person. For him it is language/culture, music, and family. All play a significant role in his life. Music is and of itself, a universal language. To that end, it is little wonder that both the French language and that of music are an integral part of his life-his spirit of which he so readily imparts in various aspects of his life. His family consists of a beautiful and talented wife, Claire, and the lively Yanis, our twelve year old son. Together as a family, we like to travel, explore, experience new cultures and embrace life.
Mr.B is really excited to be starting his first year at Hsinchu County American School and is looking forward to the opportunity to work collaboratively with the students and staff of HCAS.
Information Services Director
Data Manager
Computer Science Department Chair
AP CS Teacher
Tech Coach
B.S.c.: University of Melbourne
David has been with HCAS since 2019 and has taught all levels of Computer Science. Originally from Melbourne, Australia where he studied Computer Science at The University of Melbourne, David has taught English in Korea and China, worked as an Analyst/Programmer, and as an FX trader. After visiting Taiwan in 2016 and falling in love with Isla Formosa, he made the move to Hsinchu and back to teaching.
Since joining HCAS, he has enjoyed sharing his knowledge of computers with all the inquisitive young minds here. In addition to teaching and solving technical issues, David has also been involved with the school tennis team, ran the first HCAS Hedge Fund, been Green Dragons House Leader, and, along with the MADD Department, started the HCAS Film Festival. He even wrote and directed two teachers movies (can be viewed on our school’s YouTube page). In his free time, he travels, trades, and explores more of Taiwan.
Computer Science Teacher
BA, MA: University of Iowa
Candido R. Castro Jr III, is an experienced ICT teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and has over 15 years of experience teaching ICT at an international school in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mr. Castro is dedicated to professional development and continually seeks training and opportunities to stay current on the latest technologies and teaching strategies.
He brings his professional development discoveries to the classroom and uses his knowledge to help his students and fellow teachers with their technological needs. He is passionate about assisting students to use computers to their advantage.
Computer Science
B.S.: Mapúa Institute of Technology
M.S.: Mapúa University
Ph.D.: I-Shou University
Julio is thrilled to impart his expertise and ignite a passion for technology among the students as he joins HCAS this year. He recently achieved his PhD in Information Engineering from I-Shou University and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Information Technology from Mapua University in the Philippines. After gaining valuable experience at renowned tech companies like Hewlett-Packard and OpenText, Julio followed his passion for teaching and became an instructor at his alma mater. In addition, he served as the head of the MIT Department and taught Middle and High School students at the Dominican International School in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for a year. During his leisure time, Julio enjoys exploring Taiwan through travel and mountain hiking, always seeking his next adventure.
Head of Department and Music Teacher
M.: University of Auckland
M.M.: Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover
D.M.A.: Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden
Dr. Afra Su grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, and has been passionate about music for as long as she can remember. She started to learn piano when she was 6 years old and, during her school years, she also learned violin, guitar, and voice across a variety of genres. She attended the University of Auckland for her Bachelor of Music with honors and went onto Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover for her Master and D.M.A in Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden. As a teacher at HCAS, her goal is to encourage students to appreciate music, master their own talents, and be creative! She tries to explore her students’ favorite genres and styles of music, helping them to create a passion for music, just as she has. She also enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading outside school.
Hermann Hesse is one of her favorite writers and once said, “Oh, music! A melody occurs to you; you sing it silently, inwardly only; you steep your being in it; it takes possession of all your strength and emotions, and during the time it lives in you, it effaces all that is fortuitous, evil, coarse, and sad in you; it brings the world into harmony with you, it makes burdens light and gives wings to depressed spirits.
Art Teacher
BFA, MFA, and PhD: Hungarian University of Fine Doctoral School Budapest
Dr. Tamas Szvet is an artist and a visual art teacher. He developed his art education in Hungary, Denmark, and the Netherlands. He obtained a master’s degree in the Department of Sculpture and as a visual art teacher at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in 2007. In 2009, he started an artistic research project at the Doctoral School of Budapest, which he continued at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He earned a Doctorate in Liberal Arts from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in 2018. He was a visual art teacher for three years in an Art High School in Hungary before joining HCAS. Szvet have trained students in drawing, anatomy, art history, and sculpture works with clay, paper, and stone. During his art career, he has participated in Artist-in-Residence programs in Taiwan, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Finland, France, South Korea, Iceland, and in the United States. During his travels, Szvet organized workshops, exhibitions, and public events. He really enjoys working with children, especially when different cultures become the main topic of creation. Szvet’s art classes contain a lot of magic! Outside of class, he enjoy traveling, hiking, swimming… and of course making his own works of art.
Drama Teacher
MA: The College of New Jersey
George is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He has long term experience teaching at various schools in Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Bitten by the theatre bug early on in life, George has always enjoyed performing, creating, and expressing himself, and sees little difference between being a teacher and being on stage.
He believes that, besides being a creative output, theatre, drama, and all the machinations around it- set, costumes, showrunning, directing- all create unique and time-sensitive problem-solving situations, and that students of theatre benefit from these opportunities to think creatively and collaboratively to arrive at a solution.
Physical Education Teacher
B.S.: National University of Tainan
Shane Nick Blanchard hails from the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia. He is the fourth of five children of Andrina Blanchard. He attended the St. Mary’s College, which is a high school in his home country where he graduated as the top performing athlete. At the university level, he was on an athletic scholarship at Molloy College in New York. In Taiwan he graduated from the National University of Tainan, earning his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Sports. Shane is very proud to be our Physical Education teacher for Middle and Upper School students. Students must learn how to take care of their bodies so they can be better prepared to participate in sports. Shane is also a basketball coach and recently has completed the level 1 coaching course with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA).
Shane has a passion for sports, and he is very active in the sports of basketball and soccer. During his leisure time, if he is not playing sports, he most likely will be viewing television or debating with friends. During the summer vacation, he is usually engaged in a sports camp for students.
Dance and Physical Education Teacher
M.E.d: Chinese Culture University
Serdar Kurbanov is from Turkmenistan, and he completed his master’s degree in Sports Coaching Science from Chinese Culture University in the Spring of 2015. In addition to his degree, Serdar also obtained Coaching Degrees from the National Tai Chi Association of ROC and the National Sepak takraw Association of ROC. Before joining HCAS, he worked for ten years as a Wushu coach. As a children’s coach in Taiwan, Serdar understands how vital a positive athletic experience is and provides a fun, active, and knowledgeable learning experience for students. He loves to work with all ages, but teaching preschool and elementary student levels has a special place in his heart.
Serdar’s hobbies include reading complicated Russian novels, collecting postcards, and sports, including Wushu and conditioning training.
Physical Education Teacher
B.A.: Metropolitan State University of Denver
主管特別助理
English PhD, Miami University, Ohio
English MA, Northwestern University
English BA, National Chengchi University
Diana在邁阿密大學獲得博士學位,專 攻美國文學、小 說、新聞和跨文化傳 播。她是持證英語教師,在大學作文 和文學、ESL/EML課程、TESOL 、 TEOIC 、TOEFL等方面擁有超過10 年 的教學經驗。她還在課程設計、項目 管理、語言諮詢、商業和英語方面擁 有豐富的專業知識。具備時事通訊寫 作、文件翻譯和分析等專業職場技能 。此外,她還擅長表達、演講和待人 接物的技巧。並且很容易與他人合作 ,作為領導團隊的核心成員。