New teachers join the Shark Tank

• Where are you from and what do you teach?
• How long have you been a teacher?
• What was your first impression of SMIC-I?
• Do you have any personal education-related belief that you would like the students to know?
• So far, what in the school impressed you the most?
• What is different about SMIC-I compared to schools that you have taught previously?

• I was born in Chesterfield, United Kingdom, but I was raised in Sydney, Australia. I teach English.
• I graduated from my Masters in 2011, so it’s been 6 years!
• I thought the students were polite and lovely. The teachers are supportive and caring. After my experience in more difficult schools in Australia I thought it was a nice change!
• You can’t learn from somebody who doesn’t care about what they’re doing. And you can’t teach somebody when you’re not open to constructive criticism.
• The students! You’re great people!
• The students care more about their studies. My previous school was in a very low socioeconomic area, so I had to work really hard to get the kids to care. I don’t have that problem here.

• I was born in New Jersey, USA. I teach Grade 11 US History.
• I’ve worked in the education field for 5 years, but this is my second year teaching in a high school.
• I was so impressed with the level of hard work and positive attitudes shown by both the students and teachers at SMIC-I.
• I believe we all have something to learn from one another, and it’s our responsibility to listen to our peers so that we can gain new perspectives and ideas in order to improve who we are as human beings.
• My students have a great sense of humor and always come to class eager to share their thoughts. It makes my job so enjoyable.
• The dedication to a high quality of education is apparent throughout the school – everyone is involved to create a strong learning environment. Also, I think everyone is devoted to creating a welcoming community for everyone here.  Thank you!

• I’m from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I teach Physics here.
• I taught two years in the US, three in Korea, and four in Vietnam. So it’s been nearly a decade!
• I’ve been very impressed by the level of professionalism among the faculty/staff and the level of motivation among the students.
• We all have room to grow and learn new things. Like Bill Nye says, everyone you meet knows something you don’t.
• The students are amazing here!
• The students really care about doing well. I’ve been in places where students aren’t nearly as motivated as [they are] here.

• I am from the United States. I’ve lived in several states and visited all but a few so I claim several states as home. I teach Middle School Math here.
• This is my ninth year teaching in a traditional school setting. It is my 6^th year teaching Middle School Math.
• This is a great place to work. My colleagues were friendly and helpful from the very first day, and my students are a joy to know and teach.
• We never stop learning. Formal education should equip students with the tools to learn anything that they are passionate about for the rest of their lives.
• The students and their parents. It’s very refreshing to see the level of commitment to education that SMIC-I families have.
• It’s a safe environment where the focus is on learning.

• I am from El Paso, Texas and currently I am teaching 7^th Grade History and AP Comparative Governments.
• I have been a teacher for 13 years—teaching in Texas, Venezuela, Japan, Egypt, and now China.
• Very well organized school and the people are very helpful all around.
• Just when you think that things are getting tough for you, remember the rest of the people in the world who would do anything to have the same educational and life opportunities as you.
• The cafeteria and all of the great food at lunch!!
• I have always had my own classroom, so I am not used to moving from classroom to classroom all the time. I am also used to having longer classes, so this is an adjustment phase for me.

• I’m from the great state of Maine in the USA. I’m teaching Grade 7 Literature and Grade 10 World Literature.
• This is my seventh year working in an international school. I’ve had lots of different jobs over the years. This is my second year teaching English Literature.
• Everyone has been consistently friendly and welcoming since I arrived. I’ve been impressed by the hospitality from staff and students here.
• Recently this quote from Rainer Maria Rilke has been resonating a lot. He’s somebody I read a lot back in college and have come back to lately:
  “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
• The students and the staff. This community takes learning so seriously and it’s great to be a part of it.
• SMIC-I is much more international than my last school. I appreciate being in such a diverse community.

• I am from Columbia, SC in the United States and I’m the Middle School Counselor.
• I have been a school counselor for 6 years.
• I was super excited about how friendly and helpful the people were. Everyone was so excited to welcome my son and me here. No matter how many questions were asked or problems arose, someone was there to be helpful and that was comforting.
• Teaching begins with relationship.
• The people!
• Here at SMIC-I, especially in the counseling department it’s a big sense of team work. We are willing to go above and beyond to assist each other no matter the task, because we know that the students are the most important priority. That for me makes it easy to not only come to work, but to go into the classroom and be an effective educator!

• I am British and I was born in Portsmouth in the south of England. At SMIC-I, I am the Technology Department Head and I also teach Computer Science.
• I started teaching in 2005, so about 12 years.
• My first impression was how helpful and friendly everyone has been. The staff and students at SMIC-I really make this a great place to teach.
• You can’t learn something new without making mistakes along the way. Learn from those mistakes and you’ll become stronger.
• Our students are awesome. Keep up the good work!
• Our students are highly motivated and keen to learn. My students have already impressed me with their positive attitudes in class and their pride in SMIC-I.

• I’m from USA -Denver Colorado, and I am the PE Department Head.
• 23 Years.
• Very excited to be here and working with great teachers and students. The community has a very friendly/welcoming attitude.  I have felt right at home from the day we arrived.
  Your hard work and dedication will always be a reflection of who you are.
  – Our Character counts
  – Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
  – Winners are losers who got up and gave it another try
• How much students care about each other and their dedication to school work.

SMIC-I is smaller than the school I worked at in America and classrooms were much more like 30-40 students in a class which was a 90 minutes class period. Also I feel like because SMIC-I is smaller I feel like I have a better connection with my students, parents and staff. I am here with my wife Ellie and our two children Janna 8th grade, and Marco 6th grade who also attend SMIC-I. We are excited to be here and we are enjoying China.