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Mida Abdul, originally from Indonesia and currently based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has been named Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator at �鶹ֱ�� beginning August 2026. Mida brings more than 25 years of experience in education, including extensive experience in international schools and the IB. She has been an IB Educator (PYP School Evaluator/Consultant/Trainer) since 2005 and has worked across Early Years, Primary and whole-school settings. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of teaching and leadership roles, including Kindergarten teacher, PYP Coordinator, Primary Principal, Academic Director, and Director of Welfare and Administration. Before joining TAS, Mida worked in school leadership and curriculum development, supporting schools with areas including PYP implementation, curriculum development, strategic planning, professional learning, student wellbeing and school improvement. She is particularly passionate about developing learning environments where children are curious, confident and active participants in their learning. Mida holds an MA in Curriculum Development and Leadership from the University of Nottingham, a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University, and a PGCEi, also from University of Nottingham. She has also undertaken further professional learning in early childhood education and leadership. As a PYP Coordinator, Mida is passionate about supporting teachers to bring the PYP philosophy to life in meaningful and practical ways. She believes that strong relationships, purposeful inquiry, collaboration and reflection are at the heart of effective learning and teaching. Mida is excited to join the TAS community and looks forward to getting to know the students, families and staff, and to working together to continue developing a strong and vibrant PYP learning community.

Mr. Geers holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing) and a Certificate in Secondary Education (Business & Marketing and Computer Education) from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is a Google Certified Educator (Levels 1 and 2) and a Certified Common Sense Educator. With over 14 years of teaching experience, Mr. Geers specializes in technology curriculum development and driving academic achievement in international settings. Most recently, he served as a Technology Teacher, Coordinator, and Specialist Department Head at an International School in Ho Chi Minh City. During his seven years there, he developed a standards-based middle and high school technology curriculum and launched a school-wide Digital Citizenship program. Prior to Vietnam, he spent two years at the Mazapan School in La Ceiba, Honduras, where he established a K-12 technology curriculum, a high school computer science program, and AP Computer Science Principles courses. His earlier experience includes teaching Microsoft Certification preparation, Lego Robotics, and elementary computers at Horizon Science Academy McKinley Park in Chicago, as well as teaching middle school math and STEM in Opelousas, Louisiana. Outside of school, Mr. Geers is an avid sports enthusiast and a certified master freediver. He is deeply passionate about marine conservation and actively participates in coral restoration projects to protect vulnerable aquatic ecosystems.

In her professional career, Ms. Courtney has taught in South Africa, Egypt and Vietnam. Originally from South Africa, she began her teaching career in early years education before moving into primary education, where she gained experience teaching across a range of grade levels. She has taught Kindergarten and Early Years students, as well as primary students, and has experience providing learning support to students with diverse learning needs. Most recently, Ms. Courtney has worked as an ELA Specialist in Vietnam, supporting students with additional learning needs through targeted literacy and language support. She has also worked closely with classroom teachers to support individual student needs and develop effective learning strategies. Ms. Courtney incorporates her experience in early years education, primary teaching, learning support and ELA into her classroom and constantly works towards creating a warm, engaging community where children feel confident to explore, communicate and develop their independence. She is passionate about learning through play and providing young children with opportunities to be curious, creative and active participants in their learning. She is excited for this opportunity to join the TAS team and looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that await.

Mr. Tristan Naidoo has been named ES Tech Integrationist. Originally from South Africa, Mr. Mr Tristan brings six years of teaching experience gained across three countries. He began his career in South Africa, where he spent two years teaching Mathematics and Economics. He then moved to Kuwait, where he spent two years teaching ICT and coaching robotics teams. Mr. Tristan now lives in Vietnam, where he continues his work in educational technology.

For the past 15 years, I have supported children (at the early age or the primary students) in international schools across Vietnam. Combining a background in English language education (B.A.) with expertise in Educational Psychology (M.A.), I focus on building confidence, personal growth, and academic success for every student I work with. I am working as a connection between the children and their school relationships. I bridge linguistic clarity with psychological insight to create inclusive, supportive learning environments where our children thrive both academically and emotionally during the school time.

Mrs. Claire was born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA and moved to Chicago, Illinois to pursue her undergraduate education. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago in May 2021; she also studied in Ho Chi Minh City in Spring 2019 at the Loyola Vietnam Center. After graduation, Mrs. Claire worked at a magnet high school in Chicago Public Schools for 5 years, teaching 9th and 10th grade English, English as a Second Language, and AP Language & Literature. At her school in Chicago, Mrs. Claire was the first ESL program teacher, and worked closely with administration to develop their ESL Curriculum for the first time. From 2023-2024, Mrs. Claire completed her Masters in Linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University. For her thesis, she conducted research on Vietnamese compound words.

Niamh is originally from Galway, Ireland, and began her teaching career in Dublin, where she worked in a small school teaching both early years and grade 5. Driven by a passion for international education, she took her first overseas post at the International School Havana in Cuba, where she spent two years teaching grade 1. Following her time in Cuba, Niamh moved to Vietnam to join the team at the Canadian International School for three years where she also taught grade 1. Niamh’s educational philosophy centers on play-based learning approaches, with a strong focus on building solid early literacy foundation skills in young learners.

My name is Shelly Marie Hosler and I have a masters degree in elementary education from Hunter College in New York City. I have taught in elementary schools across the world including in the United States, Peru, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Guided by a philosophy of empathy and authentic human connection, Ms. Dong Tran is a dedicated educator committed to fostering a student-centered learning environment. She brings a unique blend of literary depth, linguistic proficiency, and psychological insights to support the holistic development of every student. Ms. Tran’s academic foundation is built upon a Master of Arts in Vietnamese Literature (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Arts in English. Furthering her commitment to student wellbeing, she is in her final year of a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, complemented by a School Counseling Certificate (Excellence) from USSH - VNU-HCMC. This expertise allows her to effectively integrate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into her teaching, nurturing both the academic and emotional growth of her students. Her pedagogical expertise includes: English Teaching (Elementary), TESOL certification, and Vietnamese Literature (Secondary). With additional qualifications in Curriculum Design and Educational Management, she skillfully employs Inquiry-based Learning to encourage critical thinking and independent discovery in the classroom. Ms. Tran’s professional journey spans from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU-HCMC) to various public and private educational settings. Her bilingual and multicultural background enables her to serve as a bridge, helping students connect Vietnamese cultural values with global perspectives. At TAS, Ms. Dong Tran is committed to creating a safe and dynamic learning space. Beyond delivering academic content, she strives to inspire students to become confident learners, responsible citizens, and lifelong thinkers prepared to thrive and lead in an ever-changing world.