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Departments
Chris Ainsworth
Head of Primary LET
Primary, Head of Department
Profile:
I am excited to be a member of the Secondary Learning Enhancement Team at RCHK. After a decade of experience in the airline industry, I decided to pursue my passion for teaching. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Commerce and later obtained my teaching qualification. In my pursuit of professional growth, I have completed several courses in special needs education.
Prior to joining RCHK, I worked in the secondary learning enhancement department of two international schools in Hong Kong. I am thrilled to be working with the experienced teaching staff and the curious students of RCHK.
In my spare time, I enjoy exploring my creative side by sketching and painting. I also love hiking and practicing yoga to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Anju Bailur
Educational Assistant - LET
Secondary
Profile:
Kumusta! My name is Jhosa Ria Banca Stewart, but everybody knows me as Ms. Kim. I was born in the Philippines where I studied Hotel and Restaurant Administration at the Philippine Women's University. I moved to Hong Kong when I married my husband. I have one daughter who is studying at RCHK. I love working with children and excited to work with the Primary LET team. When I'm not at work, I like to travel, go dancing and watch movies.
Kim Banca Stewart
Educational Assistant - LET
Primary
Profile:
I have been working at Renaissance College for several years with the Learning Enhancement Team. I am originally from Jonestown, Texas, a small community on the North Shore of Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. I began my educational career in the Austin Independent School District working with special populations at the public Alternative Elementary School. That experience gave me the foundation to understand students' social and emotional lives and how they foster good academic practices. Having come from a performance background, I enjoy using imagination to aid students in learning new concepts and creating new and innovative ways to present content. I am honoured to be a part of the RCHK community of learners.
Educational Credentials:
BS Radio, Television, and Film, Certification Special Education K-12, Certification Classroom Teacher EC-6, Post-Graduate Diploma in Education Leadership and Management
Jerry Carroll Jr
Primary LET Teacher
Primary
Profile:
Hello! My name is Doreen. I am from Hong Kong. I used to work in the banking industry. After having my two children, I realised I enjoy working with my children and helping them grow. In 2015, I decided to become a teacher after obtaining my PGDE. I love spending time with my family. We enjoy eating, singing, reading and playing family games together.
Educational Credentials:
B.S.SC. (Hons) in Psychology, Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Doreen Chan
Educational Assistant - LET
Primary
Profile:
I am delighted to be a part of the Learning Enhancement Team of RCHK. I previously worked as a class teacher in an international kindergarten and primary school in HK. As much as I miss having my own classroom, I love being able to work with teachers and students across different year levels. I am also very proud to work in a school that values diversity and that places students at the centre of everything that we do.
I moved to HK from Manila in 2009 with my husband, Ian and two boys, Ben and Maxi. My weekends are usually spent supporting my boys in their various sporting activities. I am a movie buff and I enjoy going to the cinema every week – I’ve even developed a taste for Cantonese movies!
Educational Credentials:
BA Communication Arts, PGDE, M.Ed specializing in Designing Powerful Learning Environments, Masters in Inclusion and SEN (in progress)
Certificate in: TEFL, Differentiation, Working with Students with Special Needs
Joana Clayton
Primary LET Teacher
Primary
Profile:
Hi There. Thank you for welcoming me into this vibrant RCHK community. I look forward to getting to know each of you throughout the school year. Although I am American and grew up in Oregon, I have been teaching internationally for the past 20 years, with my last 5 years being spent in Saigon, Vietnam. As a firm believer that the best learning is that which we acquire through our mistakes and failures, I strive to inspire students to adopt a growth mindset; hence embracing their failures in order to really thrive as lifelong learners.
Educational Credentials:
MSc Special Education with an EAL endorsement
Kari Jennings
Secondary LET Teacher
Secondary
Profile:
Hello everyone, I am a former RCHK alumni! I previously worked at a local university and am excited to return to RCHK to meet the next generation of students. I enjoy cooking and baking and spend most of my free time with my family and our very active dog hiking and camping!</span>
Jasmine Leung
Educational Assistant - Secondary LET
Secondary
Profile:
I am originally from the UK, but have lived more than half of my life in Hong Kong. I worked as a researcher in evolutionary linguistics and neurolinguistics at HK universities for much of that time, but decided to switch my focus to educating high school students, first as a personal tutor and now as an EA. Outside school, I love cricket: I’m a keen England fan and I volunteer in the HK cricket scene as a youth coach and administrator at a local club.
Educational Credentials:
B.Sc. (Hons) Maths; M.Sc. Maths; Ph.D. Electronic Engineering
James Minett
Educational Assistant - LET
Secondary
Profile:
I was born and educated in Melbourne, Australia and hence became a huge fan of Australian Rules Football and Cricket which I support with great enthusiasm. I attended Melbourne University for both my undergraduate degree and postgraduate diploma, majoring in English and Drama which is where I developed my penchant for acting in theatre. I became a regular performer in the Melbourne Comedy Festival as well as the Melbourne Fringe Festival. My teaching career has taken me from boarding schools in Australia to secondary schools in England and for the past several years, International schools in Hong Kong. My free time is spent enjoying the company of family and friends and whenever possible, I do try to squeeze in the odd snow-skiing trip!
Educational Credentials:
BEd, PGDipEd
Therese Owen
Primary LET Teacher
Primary
Profile:
I am a Secondary LET teacher working as the liaison for the Science department.
I have come from the US (Illinois) with 12 years of experience in education. I have a Bachelor's degree in fiction writing, and Master's degrees in secondary education (English Literature) and special education. My three children and husband have joined me here in my first overseas appointment. Two of my children have become a part of the RCHK family. My youngest attends CWBS. We have loved Hong Kong since we’ve arrived and greatly enjoy our time in RCHK.
Kelly Richter
Secondary LET Teacher
Secondary
Profile:
This is my first full-time position teaching internationally. I have lived in Hong Kong for a few years and have been a supply teacher with ESF. Before moving to Hong Kong I was a teacher and coach in the United States. I have three kids in Secondary school and I enjoy spending my free time traveling, hiking and being with family.
Educational Credentials:
B.A. Sociology, minor Geography. Licensure in Education at Bethel University
Tim Ryan
Primary LET Teacher
Primary
Megan Ryan
Secondary LET Teacher
Secondary
Profile:
Born and raised in Hong Kong, I joined the LET team at RCHK in September 2017. I obtained my teaching qualifications at the Hong Kong Institute of Education in 2004 and have since been actively engaged in this field. I have spent most part of my teaching years in elementary schools and yet further growth as a specialist educator continues as one encounters an array of fresh personalities every academic year. I fancy yoga and exercise as I strongly believe in maintaining a healthy mind and body!
Monisha Samtani
Educational Assistant - LET
Secondary
Profile:
I previously worked for 4 years at ESF Beacon Hill School as an Individual Needs Teacher. Prior to this, I worked in this role in a number of ESF schools. I am passionate about working together with the student, teacher and parents to support students to be the best they can be. I am proud to work in a school that values diversity and that places students and their wellness at the centre of everything that we do. I moved to HK from England in 1998 and it quickly became home. My weekends are usually spent with family and friends enjoying all Hong Kong has to offer. I have a love of learning and sharing my new knowledge with others.
Educational Credentials:
BSc (Hons) Psychology, DipTESOL, MA Primary Education, PG Cert SENCo.
Samantha Saxena
Primary LET Teacher
Primary
Profile:
I love working as an EA and RCHK is my second teaching position. I was working in the LET department at Kowloon Junior School for the last 10 years. I love travelling and have lived in six different countries: Indonesia, New Zealand, USA, Norway, Singapore and Hong Kong. I have two beautiful children studying at the University of Oxford and University of Edinburgh.
Educational Credentials:
BSc Accounting, BCA Economics, CPA certificate
Vera Suryana Firth
Educational Assistant - LET
Primary
Profile:
I was born in Hong Kong and attended Peak School followed by Island School. I was also lucky enough to teach at Island School for seven years. I am passionate about education and have taught in the UK, Hungary and the UAE. I have also been fortunate to work with young people through NGOs in Cambodia and Australia. I am very excited to start my next teaching journey at RCHK and I am so happy to be back home in Hong Kong.
Educational Credentials:
MA (Hons) French and Politics, Certificat d'Études Politiques, PGCE Modern Languages, MSc International Relations
Eleanor Walsh
Spanish and French Teacher - Modern Foreign Languages, LET
Secondary
Profile:
Hi, I am from London UK but have spent time living and working overseas for the past 22 years in various international schools. I have been living in Hong Kong for eight years with my husband and two children, who are all part of the RCHK family!
In my spare time I enjoy hiking the mountains and beaches, listening to and playing music, and exploring the cultural riches of Hong Kong. I am very excited to be working in the Primary school, and look forward to a great year ahead.
Jennifer Watson
Educational Assistant - LET
Primary
Profile:
I am originally from the United Kingdom and previously worked as a Civil Servant and Support Worker there. I moved to Hong Kong in 2015 and worked as an Educational Assistant for another ESF School before joining Renaissance College in 2019. I enjoy reading and writing and I am also the author of a previously published book “Life and Soul in Fables”, a collection of 45 short story fables.
Alan Wong
Educational Assistant - LET
Secondary
Laverne Wong-Thomson
Secondary LET Teacher
Secondary
Profile:
I have previously taught in a bilingual school in Hong Kong, as well as in an early intervention centre for children with various needs. I am excited for another academic year at RCHK and looking forward to seeing familiar faces. When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, travelling, and exploring Hong Kong’s outdoors.
Educational Credentials:
BA (Speech Sciences and Psychology), PGDE (English), MEd (Special Needs and Inclusive Education)
Siuling Woolcott-Brown
Head of Secondary LET
Head of Department
Profile:
Hi everyone, it is a pleasure to meet all of you and I am really happy to be part of the RCHK family. I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I studied English and English Literature in University. In my spare time I enjoy reading, playing with my bunny and being together with my family.
Queenie Yeung
Administrative Assistant
Secondary
Candy Yeung
Educational Assistant - LET
Primary
Winnie Yip
Educational Assistant - Primary LET
Primary