Gabriel Evans---Head of Gr 7 (HOG) Technology/Head of Grade 7
I grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand. I have spent most of my adult life overseas and now I call the UK home. I am passionate about good food, writing and nature and I love teaching and working with young people.
I graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a egree in Combined Studies (Health Education and Sports Nutrition) and I hold a Post-graduate Diploma in Teaching from the Christchurch College of Education. I also hold various food related advanced trade certificates awarded to me by the New Zealand Trade Certification Board and City and Guilds of London.
I taught MYP Food Technology and Applied Nutrition at SSIS from 2007-2009. I have also taught a variety of food subjects at schools in Kuwait, New Zealand and the United Kingdom during my eleven-year teaching career. I am currently teaching Food Technology on a part-time basis at Torpoint Community College in Cornwall, England.
Prior to teaching, I was a professional chef in various restaurants,
hotels and resorts around the world. The highlights of my ten-year career as a professional chef included owning and operating an award-winning restaurant and appearing in Rick Stein’s BBC cookery series Taste of the Sea.
I met Silvana while working at SSIS and we returned to the UK to get married last summer. I also returned to the UK to finish writing my first book, which was published in July 2010. I am very excited about returning to teach at SSIS.
In my spare time I enjoy playing sports, reading and travelling.
Cao Jing (7L)---PE
My name is Cao Jing and I am from Suzhou. This is my eighth year as a Suzhou Singapore International School teacher. I taught in Primary PE for four years. This year I have two roles, one is as homeroom teacher for 7L, and the second is teaching Middle School PE to Grades 6, and all Middle School gymnastics.
Please feel free to contact me at caojing@ssis-suzhou.net if you have any questions.
Lara Skadsen (7L)---Arts
Hi, my name is Lara Skadsen and I will be teaching middle school art at SSIS. I am originally from South Africa, but I grew up in San Diego, California. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a supplemental in Art and a multiple subject teaching credential from San Diego State University. I have 14 years of teaching experience. My first teaching experience was at the International school of Johannesburg, South Africa. I taught 3rd grade for 3 years and then Art for 6 years. We have lived in St. Croix, a U.S. Virgin Island, where I taught part of the time, but I was more involved in pursuing my own art. I started a small business, selling my work. I have owned another art business, a “Paint on Pottery” ceramic & mosaic studio in North Carolina. Other international teaching experience includes Qatar Academy at Qatar Foundation in Doha, Qatar and Casablanca American School in Morocco, where I taught elementary and middle school Art. I have another passion besides art and that is yoga. I am a certified yoga instructor for children and adults, as well as training in Thai Yoga body work. My husband and I have two daughters, ages 11 and 15. Paul my husband is a Math teacher and we are all excited about joining the SSIS community.
Shukufeh Ahmadzadegan (7E)--English
My name is Shukufeh Ahmadzadegan and I am a Middle School teacher at SSIS. The students call me Mrs. A.
I was born in Iran, but my nationality is American. I got my teaching certificate from George Mason University in Virginia, and have 7 years of teaching experience in International schools and 10 years of experience in private English classes. Beside United States, I have lived in many different countries namely South Africa, Botswana, Israel, China, Portugal and now I am happy to be back in China, which is one of my favorite countries. This is my fourth year at SSIS. I teach English and I am also the 7E Homeroom teacher. I believe in group work and cooperation and not in competition. I also believe that each child is potentially created with many talents, abilities and wonderful qualities and that the proper education will enable him/her to develop them. For this reason I hope that with your help we can bring about a better future for your child, which in turn will affect the future of the world. After all, we are all connected and each one of us can influence the world. So, please feel free to make an appointment with me to get to know one another better.
You may contact me by email shukufehahmadzadegan@ssis-suzhou.com.
Tom Millay (7E)----Mathematics
I am from the northeastern state of Maine in the United States. I have worked as a teacher for 34 years. I studied education at the University of Maine at Orono, and completed my Master’s Degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
I am new to SSIS this year. I like the students and the school. It is very diverse. I am interested in gardening. I am assisting students in the Gardening Club during lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We hope to have a beautiful garden this year.
Please contact me at tommillay@ssis-suzhou.net .
Aubrey Curran (7A)---Humanities
I am an experienced educator, teaching in IB schools since 2004. Educated as a Geography teacher in Amsterdam (1999), I have completed an Advanced Certificate in International Education at the University of Bath. I have taught Geography, Humanities, Politics and Contemporary Moral Issues in MYP schools in Holland and China, and have been a moderator for MYP Humanities since 2007. I am also a trained Workshop leader (MYP Humanities) and an MYP Evaluation Visiting team-member.I am from the Netherlands, but also hold British nationality and could claim Irish citizenship through my father as well. I am fluent in Dutch and English, intermediate in French and have started learning Mandarin. I am a convicted lover of football.
At SSIS, I work as a teacher Humanities in grades 7 & 8 and am the subject leader for Humanities too. I am the homeroom teacher of 7A and I lead the SSIS TV station activity, due on air this fall. Please contact me through aubreycurran@ssis-suzhou.net if you have any queries.
Miao Lingling (7R)----Chinese
I am a native of China. Prior to joining in SSIS, I studied and got my bachelor’s degree in Suzhou University, majoring in teaching Chinese as a second language.
Since 2006, I have been teaching such Chinese courses as B Advanced, B Standard, B Foundation and Chinese Studies in Secondary School of SSIS.
In addition to my teaching duties, I am also one of the Grade 7 R Homeroom co-teachers this year.
Please contact me at miaolingling@ssis-suzhou.net
