Mr. Kirsch’s passion for education started at a young age. Being raised in Texas provided an ideal backdrop for learning and growing. He graduated from Texas State University and soon afterward began teaching in Korea. He is certified as an elementary school teacher as well as a middle school science. His master’s program emphasized instruction and curriculum from a Christian worldview. Serving in the local church is also important to Mr. Kirsch. He enjoys working with youth and encouraging them to build a strong foundation of faith while they are young. Leading students to discover their passions is another priority for Mr. Kirsch. He believes that students should be safe, challenged, free to learn, free to explore, and free to grow.

Ms. In originally comes from Korea but was raised up in Ireland. She earned her Bachelor's degree in social science at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan. Furthermore, she earned her Graduate Certificate in counseling at Edith Cowan University, Australia. Ms. In worked as an Assistant Head of both middle school boarding and high school boarding at an international school in Jeju for five years. She is also very passionate about student leadership. In her free time, Ms. In enjoys baking, cooking, reading, and playing golf. This is Ms. In’s first year at APIS and she is looking forward to meeting new students.

Ms. Jeon received her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Seoul National University in Korea and is currently completing her Master’s degree in Art Education from Boston University. Additionally, she studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago USA, and Ca’Foscari University in Venice, Italy, for a year as an exchange student. There she was able to gain valuable insights into the field of contemporary art. She is also a certified IB educator in the Primary Years Programme from Bethel University. Prior to joining APIS, she taught K-12 art for two years. As an art educator, she aims to create an inclusive classroom where students can celebrate their differences and show their individuality through the art-making process. She is also passionate about teaching interdisciplinary themes by integrating art with other subjects to promote deeper learning experiences. In her free time, she enjoys art making, traveling, and spending time with her husband and young son.

Ms. Johnson joins us from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She received her bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Primary Education from Grand Valley State University. Among her various teaching experience includes several years at a public Spanish Immersion school and working as an ESL teacher in Spain. Ms. Johnson is passionate about cultivating an inclusive environment where students feel valued, empowered, and challenged. Also, as an avid reader herself, she aims to inspire students to enjoy reading and writing by making literacy accessible and engaging. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Johnson’s hobbies include language learning, meeting new people, exploring/traveling, and playing pickleball.

Ms. Josway comes from Indiana, where she taught seventh grade social studies for three years at a public school. Before that she had taught International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prep in Guangzhou, China, as a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) teacher. This is Ms. Josway’s 10th year of teaching since she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary Education from Indiana University in 2011. Ms. Josway is passionate about creating learning experiences for students that place them in charge of their own education through unique projects. She believes every child can become an advocate for their own learning, which will benefit them as they grow into their roles as adults in our global community. Outside of school Ms. Josway is an avid reader who enjoys visiting museums. She spends much of her time trying to learn new things.

Ms. Kaas joins APIS from Jupiter, Florida and received her bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the State University of New York. She went on to complete her Master's degree in Teaching Science at the same university. She is the proud mother of three grown children who live in the United States. She loves all things associated with water such as swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Her first career was as a professional high diver where she enjoyed entertaining crowds with diving tricks lighting herself on fire. She is passionate about education and considers herself a lifelong learner. She has been a teacher since 2009 and has taught a wide variety of science courses from Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science at various levels. She has lived abroad for the last 5 years and was most recently department chair of science at an international school in China. She loves traveling and learning about new cultures. Her inside hobbies include baking, reading, and watching movies.

Ms.Kester has been teaching since 2004. She has taught in Arizona, Mexico, and Kuwait and is excited to be teaching here in Seoul. Her background includes endorsements as a reading specialist, mathematics specialist, middle school specialist, and structured English immersion. She enjoys helping students to see themselves as capable, confident, and compassionate. When not in the classroom, Ms. Kester enjoys participating in triathlons, knitting, and being out in nature with her family.

Ms. Kim earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of British Columbia in Canada. After college, she wished to study Physics, so she continued for one more year to complete Continuing Studies in Physics. Ms. Kim then moved to New York to study for her Master of Arts Degree in Mathematics Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Advanced Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education at Hunter College. While working as a math teacher for more than six years, she organized multiple math competitions, after-school math teams, and mentorship programs. Ms. Kim has embedded international-mindedness by living internationally, attending elementary and middle school in Seoul, high school and college in Vancouver, and graduate school in New York. Living in three different countries has allowed her to learn a new language, adapt to new cultures, and gain a global mindset. Ms. Kim enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with her family and her 18-year-old dog, Melon.

Dr. Soo Kim has performed in a number of recitals in New York, Boston, Chicago, Michigan, and Seoul. Dr. Kim has served the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and South Bend Symphony Orchestra as the principal pianist and also as one of fellow members working closely with world famous cellist, Yo-Yo Ma. She has also worked with Mr. Ma at Youth Music Culture Guangdong as a fellow member in 2020 in China. Dr. Kim has been very passionate for choir music playing for the church choir for many years as well as directing a Chicago Covenant Youth Orchestra.
Dr. Kim had taught as a piano faculty at the New Music School and a piano department chair at The People’s Music School in Chicago until she came back to Korea. At her class, Dr. Kim is eager to bring out students’ musical creativity through their enormous potential that originated from their background, history, and interests. In her free time, she loves to walk, cook and swim.

Mrs. Kwon has 47 years of teaching experience at the elementary level and three years at middle school. For her accomplishments as an educator, Mrs. Kwon was twice awarded the highest recognition given by Korea’s Ministry of Education (교육부장관상). She was also awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Mogryeon Medal (국민훈장 목련장) from the Korean government for her contribution to education in Korea. Apart from teaching, she is also an accomplished poet and composer of children’s songs. Her poems have been published in numerous literary journals. Mrs. Kwon feels most rewarded, however, when she is teaching Korean children’s songs to her students. Under her direction, many of her students won major singing competitions in Korea. Some of the children’s songs written by Mrs. Kwon can also be found in the Korean middle school music textbooks.