Sheal Bhagwandin
Sheal is a graduate from Centennial College’s Operations Management program and Ryerson University’s Bachelor of Commerce program in Toronto, Ontario. Following her passion for travel, culture and adventure her journey took her to teach English in Japan for over two years. The experiences of exploring Japan, South East Asia and Australia, to learning Japanese calligraphy to climbing to the top of Angkor Wat to view the sunset, motivated Sheal upon her return to Toronto to continue her quest as a teacher. She enrolled and graduated from York University’s Bachelor of Education program and has taught in various socio-economic communities in Toronto. Sheal’s continued interest in Buddhist studies inspired her to spend a summer in Hawaii where she was drawn to learn more about Qigong, yoga and cultural diets that now infuse into her daily life. She enjoys creating collage art using Washi paper, cooking and reading both fiction and non-fiction books. Sheal is enthusiastic about integrating into the Bhutanese culture and its education system in Mongar. Through these experiences she is looking forward to growing both personally and professionally.
Simon Brownlie
Simon Brownlie is from Queensland Australia. He was born into a farming family and raised on farms in central and southern Queensland and northern News South Wales. He is currently on leave from teaching in Australia and has just finished a six month journey through Central and South America, where he interspersed touring with volunteering with community projects, animal shelters and a marine conservation program. He enjoys scuba diving, mountain biking, bushwalking, rodeo, travel and long walks on the beach at sunset. :) Simon is looking forward to teaching in Bhutan and learning about its unique culture when he arrives at Tashitse HSS, T/gang.
Sarah Carlin
Sarah comes from Naples, Florida, and graduated college with a degree in Elementary Education and French in 2010. Since graduation, she has worked in Antarctica, which has only increased her desire to travel and experience the world. She is very excited to live and teach in Bhutan for 2012. Sarah writes about her adventures, and wherever she might find herself, on her blog http://sarahstravelsandadventures.blogspot.com/.
Vicky Chartres
was born, raised and educated in Adelaide the capital city of South Australia, sometimes called Australia's biggest country town. After qualifying with a Bachelor of Education Degree majoring in Drama from Adelaide College of the Arts and Education she began a teaching career that has spanned 30 years so far, in rural South Australia. It has taken her to China, Japan and Thailand and included teaching Drama, English, Chinese and ESL. Some of the many highlights were managing the intensive secondary English course for international students in an international school in Adelaide, leading student trips to both Japan and China and teaching herself Chinese while living in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan. She is an avid swimmer and cyclist and enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, photography and fine wines. The new challenge of taking up a position teaching in Rangjung Higher Secondary School, eastern Bhutan is currently motivating her to spend the summer break in Australia reading and researching about Bhutan. Follow Ian and Vicky's experience in rural eastern Bhutan on their blog In The Shadow of the Mountains
Jean-Daniel Côté
is a young and dynamic teacher who is always ready for a new challenge. He has been teaching in the north of Canada as core French teacher for Kindergarten to grade 3. He also had the opportunity to work with High School kids from grade 8 to grade 12. When Jean-Daniel read about Bhutan, he instantly fell in love with the philosophy and the country. For him, teaching is the most beautiful job in the world and this is the way he has found to make the world a better place to live. Jean- Daniel hopes to get a chance to share his passion and joy for life with his students and colleagues in Bhutan.
Aurelia “Reidi” Darveau-Smith
A country girl, Aurelia grew up on in rural Nebraska, farming the land and raising the various animals her family had. She believes this unique upbringing, aside from producing some hilarious stories, also coincidentally prepared her for the time she will be spending in rural Bhutan. She graduated from the University of San Diego in 2003, majoring in Interdisciplinary Humanities and Philosophy. In the time between her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, she was a tutor in AP Lit./History, Essay Writing, SAT prep, and all other English and History subject areas, primarily for ESL students that had immigrated from China and Korea. This experience was the catalyst for her attending San Diego State's College of Teacher Education and receiving her Secondary English credential in 2011. As a new teacher, she is ecstatic to have this teaching opportunity in Bhutan as one of her first, and to be able to have this experience be foundational in the formation of a long career in teaching!
Andrea Giesbretcht
graduated from the University of Victoria with a BA in English and History before attending Malaspina University- College in Nanaimo, BC, for her Bachelor of Education. Before heading to Bhutan she taught English for three years in the remote jungles of Bruneii. Andrea is posted at the Tashidingkha Middle Secondary School, a boarding school about 4 hours drive from Thimphu, where she teaches English and History. As a long distance runner, her skills have come in handy as the marathon coach at her school.
David Green
Dave grew up in Southport in the North of England where he lived a life of mischief and imaginary adventures until he went to Nottingham University. There he studied Chemistry & Molecular Physics, learnt to play guitar and found out that the world was bigger than he had previously thought. After a stint of working in London he departed for the East and, following a chance encounter with a grumpy guitar-genius, he set off on an adventure that would turn into Music of Maninjau, his first novel, published in 2007. More scribbles followed, as well of lots of songwriting, gigs, some web-design and eventually the beginning of his teaching career and the first practical steps towards getting him to Bhutan. Dave has taught Science at Chepstow School for three fantastic years, specialising in Physics at 16-18yrs. Dave recently said: “I’m fascinated by the Bhutanese culture, am really excited about the friends and colleagues I’m going to meet, and am curious to see what it will be like being immersed in a culture that is at once very different to the one I’m used to, and at the same time so appealing to me in so many ways. It’s going to be an interesting time!”
Tim Grossman
Tim was born in San Francisco and grew up across the Bay in Marin County, the home of Mt. Tamalpais. As a child, Tim was fortunate to vacation with his family at Donner Lake in the Sierra Nevada. This exposure to the mountains was formative and instilled in him a passion for the outdoors, in particular a love of downhill skiing and hiking. Tim enjoyed several seasons making tracks at Alpine Meadows in the Lake Tahoe basin before beginning his teaching career in South Korea in 2007. He taught kindergarten through 5th grade to an amazing group of students near Seoul. Teaching overseas was a life changing experience that left Tim certain of his path. Upon returning home Tim earned his California Teaching Credential. His primary passion is working with students to achieve their own personal academic and social goals. Tim believes the role of a teacher extends beyond the classroom and he is ecstatic to make a difference in The Kingdom of Bhutan.
Martha Ham
Martha Ham is a graduate of Bishop’s University where she completed her BA, ESL certificate, and most recently her M.Ed. In Canada, Martha has been teaching in the primary and secondary English system since 1993. She has also taught English as a Second Language to adults, teens and tots since 1998. She volunteered in 2000 to teach ESL to Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala and has wanted to return to the East in the teaching capacity ever since. Martha has travelled throughout Canada, United States, and parts of Europe with her family. She then branched out by herself to tackle England, Switzerland, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Palestine, Turkey, and India. She saw a poster to teach in Bhutan with BCF and was hooked.
Scott Harris
was raised on a farm in Southern Utah and has spent the last 25 years working as a pharmacist. Previously Scott taught math and science at Parowan High School. He has also been a tutor for math and physics. In his free time Scott enjoys canyoneering, hiking, 4-wheeling, traveling and seeing new places. Scott is heading to the small rural town of Yadi in Eastern Bhutan to teach Math and Chemistry at Yadi Middle Secondary School.
Ashley Huffmon
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”- Gandhi. When Ashley began to think about this expression, she reflected on how she wanted to live her life. She recently took a trip to Quito, Ecuador that changed her life. She worked at a local non-profit school deep in the heart of Quito (San Marino School) with children who live a level of poverty she had never witnessed. This experience enabled her to realize that making lifelong connections with these diverse individuals can change their lives as well as hers. Ashley graduated from Mckendree University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in the spring of 2011. Working with students and children for the past eight years as a tutor, mentor, and recreational aid has shaped her views that she wants to help future generations.While teaching abroad, Ashley plans to further her knowledge in educational studies and become immersed in a whole new culture. Ashley believes that any person in a leadership position should have an open mind and love what they do.
Iman Mefleh
A product of the Minnesota winter wonderland, Iman was born in a snowstorm in the great city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She grew up in a Lebanese-Scandinavian-American household filled with siblings and languages. She taught English as a second language to middle school students in Minneapolis before deciding to explore beyond the city she had known since birth. Learning, connecting, and moving transports Iman through life, whether in biking, yoga practice, skiing, or the arts. An adventurer, a "yes"-sayer, Iman has enjoyed exploring the world and nature, travelling and camping in North America and abroad. She has the utmost excitement and curiosity for the opportunity to live in Bhutan as a teacher. To keep up to date on her Bhutanese adventure, visit http://imaninbhutan.blogspot.com.
Delaine Keenum
Delaine Keenum is from Keller, Texas. She received her B.A. from the University of North Texas where she studied Regional Geography and English Literature. Delaine has taught Early Childhood Music and Movement and Kindergarten. Delaine has two daughters; Bryn, 18 and Alysa, 20. Bryn will graduate from high school in the spring and Alysa is a sophomore at Louisiana State University. When not working or reading books or blogs, she likes to camp, hike, and go to the symphony. She is looking forward to going to Bhutan to learn as well as teach!
Noorin Shivji
Born in Canada, raised in Kenya, and having taught in China, Pakistan and Northern Canada, Noorin has been able to explore various cultures and experience the uniquely human aspect that education has to offer. She believes that education takes place in each breath that an individual takes. In her more recent adventures, Noorin has been involved in teaching and working in several Anishnaawbe communities, which has afforded her the opportunity to learn Indigenous skills and participate in activities beyond her imagination; ice fishing, rabbit snaring, and weathering -53 degree weather. She is looking forward to teaching in Bhutan, which has a curriculum etched in preservation and progress, and cannot wait to share and learn in the nature and nurture of life’s synchronicities that global society has to offer!
Sabrina Soares
Sabrina was born and raised in northern California. She attended San Diego State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Liberal Studies as well as her Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. She also received her Master of Arts in Teacher Education at SDSU. She has been working with students of all ages in multicultural settings for over ten years. Some of the various positions include a tutor, science instructor, P.E. teacher, and literacy support teacher. She chose to be an educator because she believes that education is the key to transforming the Earth and all its life forms for the good of humanity. Her hobbies include reading, writing, hiking, gardening, and dancing. Her favorite books are A New Earth, Anatomy of the Spirit, and Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. After watching a documentary on Bhutan, she fell in love with the country and looks forward to having a cultural exchange.
Becky Story
Becky joins us from Colorado. Originally she went to Cumberland College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Public Health. After moving out to Colorado to spend a year volunteering at a homeless shelter, she took a position running the local school and community gardens. It was here that she discovered she wanted to be a teacher. Becky returned to school and is now certified in Elementary Education. Bhutan will be her first official teaching placement, and she is excited to be part of this dynamic education system. Other pursuits that have kept her busy in recent years include Latin American travels, various organic farming projects, and school food reform.
Ian Swift
comes to BCF from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. When at home he lives in a century old house in South Australia's capital city, Adelaide. Ian has taught English in China, Japan and most recently, Thailand. He enjoys the challenge of surviving as a minority foreigner and learning about new cultures and countries. Ian had a gap 30 years and only recently returned to university to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies. He enjoys cycling, walking, cooking, photography and playing ping pong. Ian is very much looking forward to the new challenge of living in eastern Bhutan and teaching English at Rangjung Lower Secondary School. Follow Ian and Vicky's experience in rural eastern Bhutan on their blog In The Shadow of the Mountains
Martin Thorn
Martin lives on Saltspring Island, on the West Coast of Canada with his wife, Tara, in the family home he built. Now that his children have grown up and left the Island, Tara and Martin are looking to do "something completely different". He looks forward to sharing with his new students at Wangdicholing LSS in Bumthang his passions for language, performing arts, and discovery of the world around us. Having studied German and Philosophy at The University of Victoria, Martin then lived in Europe before returning to Canada for a Teaching Certificate. He has taught French Immersion at the Middle School level for over two decades. When not playing soccer or involved in local theatre productions, Martin loves to make things: in the forest, the garden, the basement and the kitchen!
Ann Berman
Going to Bhutan to teach was the fulfillment of a life dream for Ann. From the first time she traveled the world from 1972 to 1975, and visited the people of the Himalayas, she knew that this was where she wanted to teach one day. She returned home to attend York University to become a teacher. In the process, she settled down and brought up two wonderful sons. After 30 satisfying years teaching primary school in Simcoe County, Ontario, with short volunteer teaching stints in Guatemala and Mirik, India, she finally had the opportunity to teach in Bhutan in 2010. Ann spent an incredible year teaching English and developing a Special Education program in Mongar in eastern Bhutan. She returned to Canada at the end of 2010 to be with her family, but Bhutan will always remain close to her heart. Read about Ann’s adventures living and working in Bhutan on her blog Ann’s Adventures.
Natalie J. Bannister
is an Island Girl born and raised. She graduated from the University of Victoria in 2008 with a Bachelor of Education. After spending an amazing year teaching in Wamrong, Natalie is heading to Kanglung Higher Secondary School in eastern Bhutan for the 2011 school year. Besides teaching Natalie has been a student Counselor and was co-sharing responsibilities with another teacher for the Drawing and Painting Club in Wamrong. Never having left Canada before, going Bhutan is the first step (of hopefully many) to fulfilling a lifelong dream of travelling the world.
Natalie Charlton
was investigating new projects and wondered about working with student teachers, in Bhutan. Fortunately, this year she will be posted to Paro College, a campus of the Royal University of Bhutan, where she will teach Language Arts methodology courses, in the Bachelor of Education program. She is an experienced teacher, having taught indigenous children in K-12 classes, and while seconded to Simon Fraser University, student teachers. Natalie completed her Master of Education, in Curriculum and Instruction, and is currently teaching English and Social Studies at Smithers Secondary School, in northwest British Columbia. Previously, Natalie enjoyed a teacher exchange to Queensland, and has worked at Outward Bound Schools in Canada and Australia. She has co-authored a teacher resource, funded by CIDA, entitled, A Day In The Life Of A Child In Sierra Leone. Natalie looks forward to learning, teaching and living in Paro, Bhutan. Read about Natalie’s travels on her blog Paro Valley View.
John Chatwin
has been a teacher for over twenty years specializing in the teaching of international students. He is currently on leave from an international college in Vancouver where he has taught ESL, Secondary English, Communications, Sociology, Drama, Applied Skills and Physical Education. From 2003-05, he was a volunteer with WUSC at Hong Duc University in Vietnam. John has always been involved in extracurricular activities: ski trips, camping excursions, mountain hikes, teaching canoeing and outdoor survival skills, first-aid training, and has sponsored numerous sports activities. His love of the mountains and interest in international development has drawn him to Bhutan. John has been posted to Trashitse Higher Secondary School in Wamrong where he will be teaching grades 9 – 11 English.
Maureen de Camp
Although born in Toronto, Maureen happily calls Vancouver, and its surrounding mountains and ocean, home. Maureen has worked as an ESL/EFL teacher at the elementary and high school level for twenty-four years. During her teaching career she has actively sought out overseas experiences as a way to enrich her life and inform her teaching in very diverse Canadian classrooms. In addition to working in Japan, Germany and Cuba she most recently (2003-20005) spent a remarkable two years in Vietnam working with WUSC in training teachers of English at Hong Duc University. In her free time she loves all manner of outdoor pursuits, yoga and writing travelogues. She is looking forward to living and working with the people of Bhutan. Maureen is joining her husband John in Wamrong and is teaching at Wamrong Lower Secondary School teaching English to grades 7 and 8.
Lynda Deszpoth
hails from Kingston, Ontario and graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Social Science with Honours in Psychology and Geography. She is posted at Gaselo Lower Secondary School, a 4 hour drive from Thimphu, where she teaches Geography. She lives in a new apartment a five minute walk from the school that she shares with a young woman who works in the community. Although the youngest of the BCF teachers, she is well-adjusted to her school and has made great friends with some of the teachers. She feels she is learning something new every day.
Scott Forbes
Scott Forbes was raised in rural Wyoming and has spent the majority of his life in regions with high wilderness availability to human population proportion. He spent several years as a fly-fishing and whitewater rafting guide and enjoys many modes of outdoor exploration. After obtaining a master’s degree in biology from Northern Arizona University, Scott headed to Alaska where he worked as a fisheries biologist for seven years. He spent last year teaching biology and agriculture at a secondary school for underserved Maasai students in Tanzania with his partner Lisa. Scott will be traveling with Lisa to Kanglung to be a lecturer in the Department of Life Science at Sherubtse College and is looking forward to teaching and being taught in a very special culture.
Sue Hollingsworth
is a graduate of Shimer College, one of a handful of Great Books Colleges. After working in the business world, she returned to school, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, to get her teaching license. She taught for an extended length of time in the inner-city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She returned to school to obtain a Master’s degree which incorporated a Reading teacher license as well as a Learning Disabilities license. Prior to leaving for Bhutan, she was a specialized reading teacher whose focus was early intervention. She is anxiously waiting the opportunity to observe the culture of Bhutan from an inside perspective, while doing what she loves to do, namely teach.
Carson Koller
is taking a post at Samtengang Middle Secondary School teaching English and math to grades 7-9. Carson has a B.A. in Classics and History from the University of Puget Sound. After graduation, Carson traveled to Uganda and spent most of 2008 teaching sexual reproductive health in a rural village. Upon his return, Carson worked toward and, to his pleasant surprise, was awarded a M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Boston College. In an effort to be closer to family and trees, Carson moved to Seattle, Washington where he has been teaching English, history, and math at Dartmoor School for the past year. Carson loves backpacking, hiking, and the outdoors.
Keira Loukes
is a graduate of Queen's University where she completed degrees in Environmental Biology, Physical and Health Education and a Bachelors of Education with a focus on Environmental and Experiential Education. She teaches Science, Biology and English to Classes VIII and IX students at Phuyum Higher Secondary School, a boarding school in Lhuntse District. She has been assigned the Botany Club-in-Charge and is now working on a botanical garden in the school. She also coaches the girls’ soccer teams and other sports after school, which she enjoys as this gives her a chance to interact with students outside the classroom.
Kendra Matheson
comes to us from Heatherton, a small village in Nova Scotia where she completed her practice teaching. She holds a Bachelor of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University and a Bachelor of Science from St. Mary's. There, her main research interests were paleontology and petroleum geology. She is joined in Bhutan by her new husband William; they married on January 1st, 2011. She is teaching math and English in Trashiyangtse. To learn more about Kendra and William's adventures in eastern Bhutan read their blog Bamboo Valley.
Nick Morris
is from Toronto and studied Philosophy at Dalhousie University before going on to complete a M.Sc. in Adolescent Education from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. He currently teaches English at Jigme Sherubling Higher Secondary School, a boarding school established by Father Mackey in 1978. Besides teaching, Nick has his plate full with his involvement in regular school activities, as the founder and coordinator of the Creative Writers' Club, and as a member of the Literary Committee. Nick blogs about his experience teaching, living and traveling in a foreign land on his blog Bhutanlines.
Lisa Phu
Although Lisa is currently "homeless", she is very lucky to have called so many amazing places home at different times of her life. She has just finished up one year of volunteer teaching in Africa with her boyfriend, Scott. They spent their time with extremely bright Maasai students in northern Tanzania learning more than they taught, and during their off time traveled around East Africa. Prior to that, Lisa lived in Wrangell, Alaska for four years working as a newspaper and public radio reporter. Wrangell, an island community of 1800 people, is where she became acquainted with small-town living and fun activities like king salmon fishing, berry picking, and stomping around in the rain. While in Alaska, Lisa also tried deckhanding on a commercial fishing boat in Bristol Bay and worked for StoryCorps, an oral history project, in the frigid arctic of Barrow. Other teaching experiences involve two years at Lingnan University in Hong Kong where Lisa was a visiting tutor for the English Department and a summer teaching in Xian, China. Lisa is looking forward to the challenges and rewards that come with teaching students at Kanglung Primary School in Eastern Bhutan.
Julian Richards
Born in England and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Julian is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for the mountains and mountain cultures. Julian has been a resident of Banff National Park for more than 20 years and enjoys backcountry camping & trekking, downhill mountain biking and ski touring in the Rocky Mountains. Julian regularly journeys to the Andean, Sierra Madre and Himalayan regions where he explores by cycle touring on the great rough & rewarding roads of the world. Julian is a graduate of the University of Calgary’s Latin American Studies BA and Masters of Teaching BEd programs. Along with his wife, Shauna, Julian is very excited to be teaching in Bhutan for the 2011 school year. Julian will be teaching English to grades 4 to 6 at Bartsham Primary School in Eastern Bhutan.
Julia Tousley-Ritt
grew up in a small town in Ohio near Lake Erie and knew from the second grade that she wanted to be a teacher. She has taught kindergarten, first-second grade blend, fourth grade, and has been the TAG coordinator at schools in Oregon and Ohio. Julia is very excited to have the unique opportunity to teach in Bhutan and will be teaching English and Special Education to grades 3 to 6 at Mongar Lower Secondary School. Her husband, Charly, will be joining her. Follow Julia's experience living and teaching in Bhutan with her husband Charly on her blog Julia's Journeys.
Loretta Sartin McClure
holds a BA in Secondary Education with a major in History and Geography. Loretta has taught in Quito, Ecuador in South America at the Colegio Americano de Quito. She taught English, U.S. History, and Theories of Knowledge to 9th through 12th grade students. Loretta has also taught English, Biology, and Physical Science in the United States as well as Special Education to 9th -12th grade students. She has worked with mild to moderate students with disabilities; as well as, students in the T.I.P. program (Therapeutic Intervention Program). Loretta has also tutored students with disabilities at the college/university level. Up until her Bhutan departure Loretta was working with at-risk students in the urban areas of Nashville, Tennessee as well as tutoring grades K-4th in Metro Nashville Schools in Reading and Mathematics. Loretta has a daughter, Leah Blackmore, who is 23 years old and currently lives with her husband in Jacksonville, N.C. of the United States. Her son-n-law, Brandon, is a Marine in the United States of America Marines. Loretta also currently has 6 hours towards her Masters in Special Education and is and is excited to be teaching English and Special Education to grades 4 - 8 at Zhemgang Lower Secondary School in central Bhutan.
Meghann Turner
is a wanderer at heart, and lives to teach and learn. Born and educated in Manitoba, Meghann graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. She specializes in early childhood education and has worked with youth in the justice system. Meghann has spent the last three years finishing her education degree, practicing yoga, teaching and traveling in Thailand and Cambodia and backpacking across Europe. Meghann lives for music, has taught choir and music clubs, and is excited to find an extra curricular musical niche in Phobjikha Lower Secondary School where she has just been posted to teach English grades 4-7. Read about Meghann's adventures in Bhutan on her blog In The Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Shauna West
was born and raised in the lovely maritime province of Nova Scotia where her key interests were sailing and skiing. Lured by the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, she moved west to the small ski hamlet of Lake Louise, Alberta at twenty years of age, and she currently resides there with her husband, Julian, working summers for Parks Canada. Shauna is a graduate of Dalhousie University’s BA program with a major in English and the University of Calgary’s BEd program. A great love of cycle travel in several remote mountain regions of the world inspired a desire to visit and work in the Kingdom of Bhutan, where she is teaching for the 2011 school year. Shauna has been placed at Bartsham Middle Secondary School in Trashigang, Eastern Bhutan, to teach English to grades 7 to 11 students.
Nathan Woollard
comes from seaside town of Tsawwassen on the west coast of British Columbia. He studied at the University of British Columbia for his two bachelor’s degrees, one in Arts with a Major in Mathematics, and one in Education. Besides being completely in love with mathematics, Nathan also has ten years of experience in drama and theatre, as well as having recently written a play which is now touring in Western Canada. He is excited to bring his passion for mathematics education to his classes of Math 8 and 9 at Kilikhar Lower Secondary School.