11 October 08 (20:20 EAT)

New Teachers - Arusha Campus 2006

We were pleased to have welcomed the following new teachers to the Arusha Campus in August 2006.
Click here to see Moshi Campus' new teachers.

Adrian Moody, Head of Campus; Adrian is Australian

My name is Adrian Moody and I currently live and work as Deputy Director for International Programmes in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I am originally from Melbourne, Australia, where I began my teaching career before moving overseas to a variety of countries that include Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and New Zealand - which was an overseas experience for me and where I learnt the importance of rugby. My family and I have been in Kazakhstan for the last four years.

I am married to Gillian and our daughter Beth is in kindergarten this year. After four years of a bilingual education she is fluent in Russian and actually translates for me. I enjoy golf, skiing, reading and study and most of all living in different countries with rich cultures.

I believe education is an integral and ongoing component for life. In a good school a child learns the basics that will equip them for life and the child will be encouraged to explore, to question and debate, and to develop their own personal worldview. In every school a team approach is paramount. Staff, students and parents need to work cooperatively for the benefit of each student, and as such there should be an effective and ongoing communication among all three groups.

I am looking forward to leading the staff at Arusha and contributing to the further growth of the school. Beth is looking forward to insects and riding lions. Gillian and I are looking forward to more mundane adventures.

Di Kitterer, History and Geography Teacher; Di is American

Hello!
I hope to introduce myself by sharing a bit of my educational philosophy and background with you.

l believe educators have a duty to teach students essential skills and knowledge that enables them to be lifelong learners. It is equally important to expose students to varying cultural and philosophical perspectives, global issues and experiences, so that they can and will use their skills and knowledge in a contextual manner. In order to become a lifelong learner and globally conscious citizen, a student must realize his/her inherent worth. Provided with nurturing guidance in a safe environment, I believe students will develop the skills and abilities that are essential to goal-setting and risk-taking, allowing them to meet the challenges facing them now and in the future. Such an approach to education fosters within students the capacity to achieve individual as well as class and whole school objectives.

The foundation of my educational philosophy comes from my life experiences. Born in Guam, I moved with my parents, both international school teachers, to Pakistan, at age four. This was the first of many international settings in which I lived and was educated, settings which have formed the foundation of my commitment to internationalism. As a dependent, I lived in Guam, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Bolivia. The benefits of international education which I received are those which I hope to share with my students.

I attended the University of Nebraska in the United States and graduated with my Bachelor degree in Social Science Education. I have taught abroad for 10 years in Jamaica, United Arab Emirates, and Japan. I have taught a range of grades levels and courses from middle school to IB Diploma. Currently, I am completing my Master degree and working as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

I look forward to meeting you, working with you, and exploring Tanzania.
Take care.
Di Kitterer
Marcello Mongardi, Primary Teacher; Marcello is American.

I was born in Moshi (yes, the same one!) a couple of years before ISM was started. My father (Italian) was a sisal farmer down by the Kikafu River and my mother (American) was a teacher in Arusha. I grew up here until we moved away when I was almost 5. Since then, I have lived in many different places, finally landing in New York City in 1997, where I embarked on a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I began to teach in the East Village in Manhattan, and after having a pre-kindergarten/kindergarten bridge class for four years, I am now teaching a fifth /sixth grade class. I love both ages, and have found that an amazing number of parallels run between them.

Three years ago I met my wife, Samantha, and right away we began to talk about returning to East Africa. When the time was right, we decided to try our luck. We have been fortunate enough to be asked to join ISM, a school community that seems to be dynamic and supportive. We will be saying goodbye to many things that we love dearly, namely our friends, our shoebox-sized apartment in Brooklyn, and New York’s culture and art. We will gladly leave behind the pace of New York life, the grind of our 6:30 a.m. commute in the freezing snow, and the daily battle to find a parking spot.

For many years I played rugby (including a farewell season with the Mighty Moshi Kili Cats), and I enjoy practically any other sport. I love to play and listen to music, read books, and cook with my wife. There are many opportunities opening up for Samantha and I in Arusha, and we look forward to getting started.
Samantha Mongardi, Primary Teacher; Samantha is American.

My name is Samantha Mongardi and I am very excited to be joining the staff and community of ISM Arusha. My husband Marcello and I met whilst teaching here in New York and have been married almost a year. I am a native New Yorker, but spent many formative years in California and a few other places. I am in my third year teaching 4th/5th grade. I work in a diverse, urban setting and I love the discoveries that teaching brings every day, for both my students and myself.

I also spent time in the corporate and nonprofit worlds prior to getting my masters in Early Childhood and Elementary Education in 2002. After getting my undergraduate degree in, I went to Malawi with the Peace Corps. For two unforgettable years I taught English at a village secondary school. I am delighted to be returning to East Africa for the new experiences that Arusha will bring.

I am an avid student of yoga and love camping, dabbling in painting, and other artistic pursuits, and cooking. I look forward to getting to know the many people who make up the ISM Arusha community. I also look forward to being part of a motivated group of learners who embrace the world around them.


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