Grade 1
Megan Nielsen
Year starting at Clifford: 2017
Position: Grade 1 English Teacher
Qualifications: Masters of Arts in Teaching
Teaching Experiences: USA & Clifford's International Kindergarten
"I love watching students learn new things and gain confidence. It is so fun to watch them learn and grow each day!"
Tiffoni Moss
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2017
Position: Grade 1 English Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts & Texas Educator's Certificate
Teaching Experiences: Taught in Houston, Texas & Guangzhou
“Children are the blueprint of our world's future. As a teacher, I am so honored to help them grow into well-rounded people through education and experiences."
Suzanne Homer
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2016
Position: Grade 1 English Teacher
Qualifications: BA of Science in Elementary Education & ESL Training
Teaching Experiences: Grade 2 & 4 in USA and sub for 2 years in Nevada
“I love being able to see children’s faces light up as they are able to understand and learn new things. I truly believe that each child is an important member of our classroom family.”
Andrew Gomez
Year starting at Clifford: 2010
Position: Grade 1 English Teacher & Grade 1 Team Leader
Qualifications: BA Spanish, MA Elementary Education
Teaching Experiences: Taught for several years in China
“Teaching students to read and write is very rewarding. Each morning I love being bombarded by hugs from my students. I also enjoy coaching and being a part of older students' lives.”
Jan Anderson
Nationality: Canadian
Year starting at Clifford: 2007
Position: Grade 1 English Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Education
Teaching Experiences: Taught in South Korea, Thailand, America and China.
“I enjoy watching the students become more confident readers and writers and expressing their thoughts in English.”
Grade 2
Susan King
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2016
Position: Grade 2 English Teacher
Qualifications: Master's degree - Elementary Education
Teaching Experiences: Taught grade 1 - 5 students in USA and China
“Second grade is my favorite grade to teach! Our students in second grade work hard to improve their skills, accept and embrace challenges, and learn how to work well with others.”
Kevin O'Hearn
Nationality: Canadian
Year starting at Clifford: 2016
Position: Grade 2 English Teacher
Qualifications: BA Psychology, BA Criminology, BA of Education
Teaching Experiences: Teaching in Canada, Columbia & Egypt
“I am very happy to be teaching here at Clifford Bilingual. I use a lot of positive reinforcement in my classroom to create an environment that promotes a love of learning.”
Joe Mock
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2018
Position: Grade 2 English Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor's of History & Elementary Teaching
Teaching Experiences: Taught in Colorado and Shenzhen
"I'm excited for a new experience at Clifford! I am looking forward to seeing all the growth the students will achieve this year in my classroom."
Laurel Bergsma
Nationality: Canadian
Year starting at Clifford: 2014
Position: Grade 2 English Teacher & Grade 2 Team Leader
Qualifications: BA of English Literature & Political Science, BA of Education
Teaching Experiences: Taught in South Korea and Spain
“I truly enjoy helping my students progress in their study of English. It's incredibly rewarding to watch a child grow to become more confident and independent. My time at Clifford Bilingual School is very gratifying.”
James Bayern-Hindle
Nationality: British
Year starting at Clifford: 2016
Position: Grade 2 English Teacher
Qualifications: BA & MA Degrees in Law, Post-Grad Certificate in Education
Teaching Experiences: 5 years prior teaching in China
“I am fortunate to have two excellent classes this year! I’m looking forward to developing their enthusiasm for speaking English, and helping them to become the best language-learners they can be.”
Grade 3
Ashley King
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2016
Position: Grade 3 English Teacher
Qualifications: BA in Political Science; MA in Elementary Education
Teaching Experiences: Taught in Colorado for 8 years
“I am very excited to be working with the students at Clifford Bilingual. This is my first time teaching abroad and I am very much looking forward to growing and learning with the students.”
Katrina Mathews
Nationality: Australian
Year starting at Clifford: 2011
Position: Grade 3 English Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Nursing, ESL Certified, PYP trained
Teaching Experiences: Thailand, China, Egypt and Nigeria.
"I have enjoyed teaching at Clifford and watching the progress of the students throughout the year. Having been here for a while, I am able to see their progress through the years. A rewarding job and the children are a joy to teach.”
Charlie Middlebrooks
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2014
Position: Grade 3 English Teacher & Grade 3 Team Leader
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Education
Teaching Experiences: Taught Grade 1 for six years and Grade 5 for one year in America.
“I enjoy watching the Clifford students learn and grow. Helping them on the journey from reading simple words to reading full stories is very rewarding.”
Jeffrey Walker
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2018
Position: Grade 3 English Teacher
Qualifications: Business Administration & U.S. Teaching Certificate
Teaching Experiences: USA and China
"I really enjoy teaching Grade 3. The students are now becoming to fully understand the language and I really like watching their progress."
Jonathan Webb
Nationality: British
Year starting at Clifford: 2017
Position: Grade 3 English Teacher
Qualifications: Masters of Education, Bilingual Education
Teaching Experiences: England and Thailand
“To do your best and to see your students trying their best, growing and succeeding is very rewarding to me. I really enjoy the times when I see in the eyes of my students they have moved from one level to another and want to know more!"
Grade 4
Andrea Doty
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2013
Position: Grade 4 English Teacher
Qualifications: Associates Degree in Psychology; TESL
Teaching Experiences: Taught in the USA
“It is wonderful to see each student become an individual. They all have fears of their own. We are here to help them get over their fears, and find the confidence within themselves to accomplish their individual goals!”
Rebecca Hagon
Nationality: British
Year starting at Clifford: 2017
Position: Grade 4 English Teacher
Qualifications: BA Honors in Education, Diploma in Primary Education, CELTA
Teaching Experiences: 8 yrs in Japan, Nepal & New Zealand
“I enjoy watching students increasing their confidence and language skills and making great progress. It’s a great pleasure to be part of the Clifford staff, working together to make this school a great place to be."
Adam Huffey
Nationality: British
Year starting at Clifford: 2018
Position: Grade 4 English Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Social Science, Post-graduate Certificate of Education (U.K.)
Teaching Experiences: Taught in all levels in Thailand & China
“I have spent most of my adult life teaching English to Asian learners, and I am looking forward to contributing towards the betterment of the Clifford school environment and especially, my Grade 4 students.”
Nathan Overmann
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2015
Position: English Language Support (ELS) Teacher
Qualifications: Masters in Education Technology, Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning, and TESOL Certification
Teaching Experiences: I have taught 5 years in Thailand
“I enjoy having the opportunity to teach at a school that cares about their students and offers a great educational program that motivates its students to learn English.”
Tim Little
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2006
Position: Grade 4 English Teacher & Grade 4 Team Leader
Qualifications: Bachelor of Education & Masters in Education
Teaching Experiences: TESOL in China
"It is a pleasure to help the children build and maintain an interest in learning English, which will benefit them throughout their lives. I also encourage them to protect the Earth for future generations.”
Grade 5
Maria Martensson
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford : 2015
Position: Grade 5 English Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Teaching Certificate for all subjects EC to Year 8
Teaching Experiences: One year in Kuwait & two years in USA
“I enjoy teaching and exploring books with students and seeing them grow as individuals and in their capabilities in English.”
Paul Desmond
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2018
Position: Grade 5 English Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Law, TESOL, CELTA
Teaching Experiences: Taught in China & Kenya
“My goal is to have an English conversation with my students. I have always felt students do not care how much we know, they want to know how much we care. Show students you care, teach them how and give them the opportunity to express themselves.”
Shelly Gurney
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2018
Position: Grade 5 English Teacher
Qualifications: Degree in Elementary Education & Masters in Curriculum and Instruction
Teaching Experiences: USA
"I am very excited to teach at Clifford Bilingual Elementary. It is amazing to see the students work hard to become better English speakers and show me the pride of their country."
Jeffrey Lee
Nationality: Canadian
Year starting at Clifford: 2017
Position: Grade 5 English Teacher & Grade 5 Team Leader
Qualifications: Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Sociology
Teaching Experiences: Experience teaching in Canada
“I like to show students the joys of learning and to nurture their interests, passions and individuality. I enjoy providing them with the tools for success and watching them grow.”
Loretta Sunday-Gittinger
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2014
Position: Grade 5 English Teacher
Qualifications: BA, MA, MAeD, TEFL, TESOL
Teaching Experiences: 20+ yrs teaching in USA, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Libya & China
“I really enjoy the different learning styles of the students and seeing them grow with their English ability based on their hobbies and interests. I'm really enjoying being a part of the Clifford staff."
Grade 6
Kimi Isom
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2015
Position: Grade 6 English Teacher & Grade 6 Team Leader
Qualifications: Masters in Education
Teaching Experiences: 2006-2015 Taught English as Language B for Grade 10 in China
“Nothing is more rewarding then helping other individuals learn a new skill or grasp a new concept.”
Vince McDermott
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2015
Position: Grade 6 English Teacher
Qualifications: Masters degree in Elementary Education
Teaching Experiences: 1 year in USA & 4 years in South Korea
“I'm very passionate about teaching, guiding, and helping students grow intellectually and emotionally. For kids to learn and grow there needs to be a strong collaborative effort between teachers, parents, and students.”
Thomas Reynolds
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2017
Position: Grade 6 English Teacher
Qualifications: Masters in Education
Teaching Experiences: Throughout Asia, including Korea, Thailand and China
"Teaching is a long time passion of mine. Throughout my many years of teaching I have enjoyed watching my students grow into strong and independent learners. My teaching involves having students problem solve and develop into lifelong learners."
Nat Paulsen
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2017
Position: Grade 6 English Teacher
Qualifications: BA & Masters in Music, Professional Educator's Certificate
Teaching Experiences: Taught in China for 9 years
“I love to help students' improve their abilities in my classes. It is a great joy to see students who come in very shy to speak and with limited writing abilities learn to be confident in both reading and speaking!”
Joanne Nicholls
Nationality: American
Year starting at Clifford: 2015
Position: Grade 6 English Teacher
Qualifications: Ed.D. Educational Leadership, M.Ed. Education, B.A. Elementary Education
Teaching Experiences: Over 24 years; including Africa, Micronesia, UK, and USA teaching from Preschool to Postgraduate
“I believe that every student has innate potential and it's the teacher's role to help facilitate this ability through the strength in Clifford's program.”