New Teachers - Moshi & Arusha Campuses 2008

Catherine Egglestone, Geography and World Studies teacher in Moshi; Catherine is British Hi, my name is Catherine and I am currently living and working in Cambridge, UK. After graduating with a BSc in Geography from the University of Sheffield in 2003 I went to the USA to work at a girls' summer camp. I loved being at camp so much that I went back for three more summers, teaching sports and leading hiking and canoe trips. I also spent lots of time travelling and particularly enjoyed spending time in the Rockies and some of the stunning National parks along the west coast of the USA. More recently I have travelled to Egypt and have just returned from a week of skiing in France. I completed my PGCE at the University of Nottingham in 2004 and worked at a school there on a temporary contract before taking a year out. I spent some of my time in the USA but also spent five months in South Africa. Part of this time was spent living and volunteering in a township, and the other part was spent travelling in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and the Victoria Falls. Although volunteering in the township was challenging I absolutely loved it and knew that I would be back in Africa to live one day! I am very excited to be joining the staff at ISM, and also to be finding out about a new country and culture. I'm currently working at a very successful school in Cambridge. I mainly teach geography but I am also involved in coaching sport (mainly field hockey) and I help with the army cadets. I play hockey for a team in Cambridge and love participating in sport. I also go to church regularly and I am looking forward to immersing myself in a new culture and community.

Anne Hacquebord, Physics teacher in Moshi. Anne is from the Netherlands. Hi, my name is Anne Hacquebord and I will be teaching Physics and Mathematics. My name always needs some explanation as I was born in the only part of the world (a province in the north of the Netherlands) where Anne is a boy's name. I grew up in the Netherlands and went to University in Amsterdam where I obtained an M.Sc. in Physics as well as a teaching qualification. I have been a teacher of Physics and Maths for most of my professional life, working at schools in the Netherlands, Asia and Africa. At present I am in Togo, West Africa. Togo is a great place but the climate doesn’t encourage being active far away from the air-conditioners. Apart from teaching, one of the things I look forward to in Moshi is participating in some of the many outdoor activities the school and the region offer.

Khari Lee, Music teacher in Moshi. Khari is from the USA. Saxophonist, educator, composer Khari Allen Lee earned a B.S. in Music Education from Auburn University in 2002 and went on to attend the Berklee College of Music. In the spring of 2005, Lee graduated from Berklee with an Artist Diploma in Professional Music and was chosen to become a member of the University of New Orleans Louis Armstrong Quintet. During his time in the historic Crescent City, Khari has been an active, versatile performer and passionate educator, working with such groups as the Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet, the Treme Brass Band, and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Irvin Mayfield. Lee graduated with a Masters of Music in May of 2007 and is currently a faculty member at Tulane University and the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.

Emily Vient, English as a Second Language Teacher in Moshi. Emily is from the USA. The joys and challenges of East Africa first stumbled upon Emily in 2000, as a student with the School for Field Studies in Southern Kenya. After earning her B.A. in Anthropology from Boston University in 2001, Emily knew that she wanted to have another international experience. As a result, she joined the Peace Corps and found herself assigned to Kenya as a public health volunteer. She spent two years in a small village in the Taita-Taveta region of coastal Kenya, learning from her neighbors and students, and doing some community health work. Her time in Kenya was filled with many new experiences; studying Kiswahili and mastering the public transportation system were just a few. However, it was how her perspective changed that affected her most, leaving Emily with a strong desire to work with immigrant and refugee populations upon her return to the United States. After some serious soul-searching, she joined the Peace Corps Fellow program at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2005 and obtained her M.A. in TESOL in 2007. During this time she has also worked as a full-time ESL/English teacher at Gregorio Luperon High School in New York City. Working with newly arrived immigrants from Latin America has once again immersed her in the dual position of teacher/student. Emily feels blessed to find new reasons to learn every day and is looking forward to continuing this life-long ride as a member of the ISM community.

Yolanda Romero-Garcia, English and Drama Teacher in Arusha. Yolanda is from Spain. Hi Moshi and Arusha "campers", my name is Yolanda Romero-Garcia and I am delighted to join you at ISM as an English and Drama teacher. As you could possibly gather by my long, 'r' rolling name I am from Barcelona, and, of course, I support the city’s wonderful football team: FC Barcelona. I have lived, however, in England on and off for the most part of 20 years. It is here in the UK where I completed my BA in English and European Literature, an MA in Literary Translation and Comparative Studies, an MA in Drama and Theatre and my PGCE. I love teaching, I love working with young people and I love learning and exploring new cultures and ways of life. So, for me coming to ISM is the realisation of a dream: I really cannot wait to meet you all and start working with you. I am passionate about writing and directing plays, storytelling and, dramatically speaking, I am particularly interested in the works of Shakespeare and Harold Pinter. I am a highly creative and dynamic person who enjoys writing plays and playing sports. I particularly like cycling (I cycle to work everyday), I used to play basketball as a teenager - I am too old now! and, in sum, I like any other sport that requires spending time out in the open surrounded by nature. I have spent most of my teaching experience at Cardinal Pole RC School in Hackney - East London and even though my teaching experience has been highly rewarding and enjoyable, I am now ready to come to join you at ISM to share my knowledge and experience with you and to learn from you. I am also looking forward to enjoying the nice, relaxing evening surrounded by nature in the hope that my inspiration to write plays gets back to me. I can really see myself sitting outside my house writing away at the end of a nice, enjoyable teaching day. Ah, how wonderful!

Leigh MacRae, Humanities Teacher in Arusha. Leigh is from Canada. I have been working towards being a part of the learning community at ISM for quite some time now, so I am thrilled to be on my way to contributing to and learning with your community very soon! Originally from Toronto, Canada, I have worked and lived in Thailand, Japan, Barbados, the U.S.A., the British Virgin Islands, and now Qatar. I have enjoyed teaching grade 6 language arts and social studies at the American School of Doha for the past three years. I spend most of my weekends on the shores or in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, either with a friend, a book, or on my windsurfing board! My passions lie in the sea, painting, history, and learning! I can’t wait to learn with all of you!

Teresa Margheri, Primary Boarding Parent in Moshi. Teresa is from Italy.. Ciao! I am Teresa, born in Florence, Italy and I've been living in Tanzania for nine years, so my home is here now, with two children Carlotta, 12, and Tommaso, 6, and my husband Leandro, a very passionate pilot. His passion and love for flying, my aim to seek a better quality of life and a bit of luck brought us to Moshi. As a family we enjoy camping, playing football, horse riding, and trying all kinds of sports. I love running, very therapeutic! In Italy I got a primary teaching diploma (I always loved children) and went to Political Science University in Florence (my dream: to be a journalist!) This was interrupted because of my wish to become financially independent. I started working hard and had lots of responsibilities in the fashion field. Since my husband and I met we have never stopped traveling around the world with just a rucksack on our shoulders and ready to explore new cultures and ways of living: Malaysia, USA, India. Africa, and especially Tanzania, has always remained in our hearts. So now here we are, ready to share the excitement and joy of this new experience with the ISM community.