qualifications: BSc Sports rehabilitation, QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS, UEFA B LICENCE

Carl Bailey joins TASIS England as Head of PE. Prior to moving to TASIS, he spent 19 years teaching in the UK working in both state and independent schools across a range of roles including Teacher of PE, Head of PE, and Assistant Director of Sport.

Carl earned his BSc degree in Sports Rehabilitation from St. Mary’s University, and later obtained his Qualified Teacher Status from the University of East London through the Graduate Teacher Programme.

Carl is passionate about all sports, in particular football (soccer), with which he has been in national and county winning teams and currently coaches his son’s grassroots team, Abbey Rangers FC. He also has a great interest in golf and actively plays throughout the year.

qualifications: b.a. eNGLISH AND fRENCH, pgce, celta, delta

Chris Herring joins TASIS England as an Upper School Teacher of English and EAL. Prior to moving to TASIS, he taught in companies and language schools in England, Italy, and France, and in international and government schools in Belgium, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore.

With 30 years of experience as an English and EAL teacher, head of department, and examiner (International and European Baccalaureate), Chris is delighted to join the TASIS community. He very much enjoys language, educational technology, and helping EAL students gain confidence and proficiency in English. Chris earned his PGCE from the University of Exeter in the UK.

In his free time, he can often be found with a guitar, attempting to make music, or gasping for breath on a squash court.
 

QUALIFICATIONS: B.A. (Hons) French, MSc International Relations, PGCE Modern Foreign Languages

Isaac Ward joins TASIS England as a Deputy House Parent, Tower House, and Teacher of Senior Humanities. Prior to moving to TASIS, Isaac spent the past year in the UK working as a French teacher and Head of Key Stage 4 in a high school.
 
With nine years of experience as a French teacher, and six years of experience in boarding, Isaac is delighted to join the TASIS community. Isaac earned his BA degree in French from the University of Liverpool, and his MSc in International Relations from the University of Bristol.

QUALIFICATIONS: B.A. in Graphic Design

Javier Garcia Lecuona joins TASIS England as a Teacher of Art. Prior to moving to TASIS, Javier spent 10 years at ACS Egham working as a Middle School design, media, and art teacher.

With over 20 years of experience as an arts teacher working in international schools, Javier is delighted to join the TASIS community. Javier obtained a BA degree in Graphic Design from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.

He has also been involved in different pastoral roles in previous schools, including chaperoning trips, and is looking forward to doing the same at TASIS.

QUALIFICATIONS: BSc in Zoology, M.A. in Wildlife Documentary Production, PGDE Secondary Biology with General Science

Jillian Norrie joins TASIS England as an Upper School Teacher of Science (Biology). Prior to moving to TASIS, Jillian spent four years in Scotland training to become a teacher. She worked for two years at Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans, just outside Edinburgh.

With five years of experience as a biology teacher in Scotland and an outdoor educator in the US and Mexico, Jillian is delighted to join the TASIS community. She has previously worked in animal care and conservation in the UK and abroad. Jillian earned her BSc degree in Zoology from the University of Edinburgh and a Master’s in Wildlife Documentary Production from the University of Salford.

QUALIFICATIONS: M.Ed. Education and Curriculum with a Special Education Concentration, B.A. Writing and Literature

Joanna Preucel joins TASIS England as an Upper School Learning Specialist. Joanna has spent the last two years at Singapore American School, where she was a learning support teacher and co-teacher of English. This is a return to the UK for Joanna.

With 19 years of experience as a learning support teacher, the majority in international settings, Joanna is delighted to join the TASIS community. Joanna earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Special Education Concentration from Southern New Hampshire University.

QUALIFICATIONS: BSc Science, M.A. Education

John Mendenhall joins TASIS England as an Upper School Teacher of Science (Biology). Prior to moving to TASIS, John spent seven years working as an IB Biology teacher at ACS Egham in England. Before this, John taught in both AP and A-level programs in China for six years.
 
With 15 years of experience as a science teacher across several educational programs, John is delighted to join the TASIS community. John earned his Bachelor’s in Science and his Master’s in Education from Duquesne University, Pennsylvania.

John enjoys playing board games with his wife, doing puzzles with his son, and organizing the annual Destination Imagination UK STEAM competition.

QUALIFICATIONS: Degree in Archaeology and Ancient History, PGCE, M.A. Teacher Librarianship

Kate Riddle joins TASIS England as a Lower School and Middle School Librarian & Media Specialist. Prior to moving to TASIS, Kate spent 15 years in Dubai working as a teacher librarian. Most recently, she worked as the Founding Librarian at Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai.

With over 20 years of experience as a teacher working in international schools, Kate is delighted to join the TASIS community. Kate earned her Master’s degree in Education (Teacher Librarianship) from Charles Sturt University, Australia.

Kate is a published children’s author. She is passionate about reading and inspiring this love of reading with her students.

QUALIFICATIONS: B.A. (Hons) in Physical Education with QTS, M.A. in Applied Educational Leadership, National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL)

As Matt Kiely takes up a new Boarding Manager role that will span both the academic year and Summer Program, Mike Rust joins TASIS England as the Director of Boarding on August 1, 2024.

Mike is an experienced teacher with extensive whole school academic, pastoral and co-curricular senior leadership experience gained through a career within the international education sector. Mike has also supported accreditation processes with the Council of International Schools (CIS). He earned his B.A. in Physical Education with Qualified Teacher Status from the University of Brighton, plus an M.A. in Applied Educational Leadership from UCL.

Mike is thrilled to be joining the TASIS England community, and we are pleased to share his reflections on his successful appointment: “The school has an incredible reputation and I hope to come and add value to an already outstanding boarding provision.”
 

QUALIFICATIONS: FdSc Humanistic Integrative Counselling, Place2Be Certificate in Counselling Children in Schools

Monica Oleksy joins TASIS England as an Upper School Counselor. Prior to moving to TASIS, Monica had eight years of experience working as a private and student counselor in a variety of educational settings, such as Place2Be schools, Richmond upon Thames College, and with students at the University of Cambridge, University of Brighton, and University of Portsmouth. Her FdSc degree in Humanistic Integrative Counselling was awarded by the University of Greenwich.

In the last seven years, Monica worked at Magna Carta School in Surrey, supporting students through challenging experiences and helping them to overcome social, behavior, and academic problems.

Monica is passionate about mental health and believes that people deserve to receive the best support to meet their needs and live a more fulfilling life.
 

QUALIFICATIONS: B.A. Communication

Rhea Taylor II joins TASIS England as a Student-Athlete Support Specialist. Prior to moving to England, Rhea spent many years in California and Wisconsin involved in a variety of school settings. He has worked with student-athletes at the Lower School, Middle School, Upper School, and University level. This will be his fourth year as a TASIS parent.

With almost 20 years of experience, including 13 years at an independent co-educational day school in Southern California as a teacher, administrator, coach, and mentor, Rhea is excited to begin a new journey within the TASIS community. He earned his BA degree in Communication from Santa Clara University where he was a student-athlete.

Further, Rhea previously worked as a patient advocate, supporting and educating patients and caregivers affected by the Primary Immunodeficiency disease. He spent three years lending an ear, letting people know they were not alone, and reminding them they could only control the controllable.
 

QUALIFICATIONS: BSc (Hons) European Business Studies, PGCE (Modern Foreign Languages)

Vicky Williams joins TASIS England as a Middle and Upper School Teacher of Spanish. Prior to moving to TASIS, Vicky spent eight years at ACS Egham working as a language acquisition teacher.

With 21 years of experience as a French and Spanish teacher in international school environments, Vicky is delighted to join the TASIS community. Vicky earned her PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages from the University of Cambridge.

Amy Bennett joins TASIS England as the Upper School Attendance Manager. Prior to moving to TASIS, Amy spent five years working as an attendance officer within a state secondary school. Amy has worked closely with students, families, and a large multidisciplinary team to support student attendance, giving her a strong understanding of all aspects of attendance.

With her years of experience, Amy is delighted to join the TASIS community. Amy has a strong passion for supporting students and their families through their educational journey, and will always be on hand to offer support whenever and wherever needed.
 

QUALIFICATIONS: B.A. Communication, Media and Culture

Gabrielle Westhead joins TASIS England as the Communications and Content Manager. Prior to moving to TASIS, Gabrielle spent two years working in Central London as a copywriter for a global design and advertising agency.

With 10 years of experience in communications, content marketing, filmmaking, PR, and publishing in England, France, and Latvia, Gabrielle is delighted to join the TASIS community and enter the world of education. Her BA degree in Communications, Media and Culture was awarded by Oxford Brookes University.

Gabrielle is passionate about humanistic education, traveling, and the power of written and spoken word in creating positive change. She occasionally features on BBC Radio 2’s Pause for Thought.
 

Liz Hamilton joins TASIS England as a Middle School Secretary (Interim). Prior to moving to TASIS, she spent five years at the University of Surrey working as Senior School Administrator and Personal Assistant to Head of School.

Liz has worked in administration for Royal Holloway, University of London for 14 years and for Sony UK Ltd. She brings a blended work experience of academic and business administration to TASIS.

Outside of school, Liz is passionate about sport and enjoys tennis, spin classes, and being a member of Staines Hockey Club. She also enjoys spending time with her family and encouraging her children’s interests in Sea Cadets and Lacrosse.