Secondary School

Mrs. Álvarez majored in Education focused on Social Studies from Francisco Jose de Caldas University. She also specialized in Educational Management from La Sabana University in Colombia. Later she obtained her International Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish Language and Culture from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in Spain. She has 18 years teaching experience, eight of which were in IB schools in PYP and DP.

Mr. David English is an experienced IB educator, and is joined by his wife, Morena Camilletti who works in the PYP. In Hanova, Mr. English will serve as the Head of Language and Literature across Secondary and teach English in both the MYP and the DP. Mr. English has lived and worked in Russia, China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, France and the UK. He received his original degree in Literary Studies and his CELTA from the University of Glasgow, his Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of the West of Scotland and is currently working towards his Masters in Education with the University of Dundee. He is also a DP examiner. When not working, he is a passionate film aficionado, likes to broaden his knowledge of other languages, and spends much of his time trying new food from all the countries his wife and he visits!

Mr McKeown joined Hanova at its inception in 2012. He holds an MSc in Analytical Chemistry from Queens University of Belfast (United Kingdom). He had been teaching Science to middle year and senior students in his native Belfast for 19 years. He was a departmental head for 10 years. Formerly, Mr McKeown worked as a manager and industrial chemist. He teaches Science, specialising in Chemistry.

Gary Wood has lived in Xi’an for four years before joining Hanova in 2016 as a Humanities and English Acquisition teacher. In Xi’an he taught in the International Department of Xi’an Tie Yi High School before joining Hanova. Gary hails from County Durham in the United Kingdom and has a BA in Childhood & Counseling from Northumbria University, an MA in TESOL from Durham University and he qualified with a teaching certificate with Nottingham University, all in the UK. Gary is also a reserve manager for the Yellow River Soup Kitchen in Xi’an and regularly contributes to the expat magazine Xianease.

Mr Gerardo Nájera, currently teaching mathematics in MYP and DP at Hanova has outstanding qualifications and experience in education, He has worked as a teacher for 34 years from 5th grade to university level, including 10 years in MYP and 9 in DP. He has also been the Athletic Director of 3 different schools.

He has worked for very prestigious international IBO schools in Mexico, and during that time he has proven to be an excellent staff member and colleague, responsible, conscientious and committed to his career preparation, school attendance and accreditations. Students and parents alike have found him to be a responsive, compassionate and caring teacher.

Gerardo has a PhD in Educational Reserch,1.5 Master in Education, 2 Bachelors, one Technical career and many diplomas and credentials of education and math related courses and workshops. He is an inspiring example of lifelong learning.

Mrs. Jeon joined Hanova in August 2016. She earned BA in Korean Language & Literature from Kangnung National University (Korea) and is pursuing a Masters in Education at Sookmyung Women's University (Korea). She has 15 years' of experience in her native Korea and in Vietnam, where she taught Korean Language and Literature in DP, MYP as well as IGCSE Korean, and Korean for foreign nationals. In her previous international schools, her students received high scores in IB Korean as part of their preparation for university entrance.

Ms. Jane Lei joined Hanova as University and Careers Counselor (UCC) in 2018. Jane is a graduate of University of Connecticut with a degree in Economics and specialization in Accounting. In university, she worked for First Year Experience Program as a mentor for this program by providing counseling and advice for 40 freshman students. She also completed her College Counseling Certificate from UCLA (University of California-Los Angles). Currently, she is working on pursuing postgraduate certificate in Education from University of Nottingham. Prior to entering Hanova, she was employed by Deloitte Audit & Assurance after graduation. She has been a presenter at the British Council on subject of UCAS confirmation, clearing and adjustment for Chinese international school guidance counselors. She attended UCAS international teachers and advisor’s conference in June 2019 and Education USA guidance counselors workshop in September 2018 and various professional development IB workshops.

Ms Jelena Dokic is a qualified English teacher, who joined Hanova in January 2018. She previously worked as a high school English Language and Literature teacher in international schools in Gaborone, Botswana. She is very familiar with the IB programme, having successfully completed the IB Diploma herself as a student and having taught in an IB World School in Botswana. She attained her Bachelors and Honours Degrees, along with her Postgraduate Certificate in Education, from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She is currently an IB Diploma examiner for English Language and Literature and pursuing her Master’s Degree in Education.

Miss L. was born and raised in central Canada. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts (Criminology & History) 1998 and Education (History & Geography) 2000. Her Diploma in Library Science (LIBE) was completed in 2017. Miss L. has taught: Language Arts (English), Social Studies (History), and Performing Arts (Drama). Miss L. continues to study with her passion for theater and books and will resume her Masters in Shakespeare Education (Royal Shakespeare Company & University of Warwick – UK) in 2019. Miss L has been teaching and exploring all the many cultures and countries in Asia for the last 15 years. She has taught in: Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, China (Guangzhou & Beijing), and now here in Hanova International School as the Head of Arts and MYP Performing Arts Teacher.

Mr. Ashworth comes from the UK where he began his teaching career in 2001 and has since taught in Spain, Ukraine, Egypt, Sudan, Vietnam, and Qatar. He initially qualified as a Science teacher, but has since followed his passion to become a Design teacher. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Sheffield (UK), a PGCE in Science (Biology) from the University of Leeds (UK), a CELTA certificate, and has also attended IB workshops for teaching IB MYP and DP Design. He believes passionately in the effectiveness of the IB learner profile in investigative subjects and also in giving students a well rounded education and establishing them as lifelong learners.

Mr Rauth, our new head of Mathematics, is originally from Argentina, but raised in Australia. He has a BSEd Major in Mathematics and Science from the Queensland University of Technology, Australia. He has over 20 years’ experience of teaching and inspiring students around the world.

Mr Rauth is an experienced leader, who amongst other achievements has headed Mathematics departments at St Joseph College, Immanuel Lutheran College and Rivermount College in Australia. Mr Rauth has also participated in a range of education-related practices in Australian and Chinese schools over the past 20 years where he has created and developed general curriculum structures and programs. Mr Rauth is a self- motivated and enthusiastic leader with a strong commitment to further developing his career in secondary education within an International environment. He brings to Hanova a passion for teaching, a willingness to work collaboratively with others and a strong desire to raise the student learning outcomes.

Mr. Muhittin Gurbuz is from Turkey where he has taught at all levels of secondary education at top-notch schools both in English and German. He graduated in 1994 from HACETTEPE University, gaining double major in physics and education, and completed his further educations and practical trainings in Germany. Mr Gurbuz has worked as founding teacher for four years at a bilingual IB School in Istanbul before joining Xi’an Hanova International School.

Mr Gallerno was one of our founding teachers in 2012. He worked for several years in Xi'an in differing administrative and teaching roles including AP Coordinator, Head of Languages, English and Psychology, before joining Hanova. Previously he taught EAL in Korea for four years. He comes from Ontario, Canada, holding a Master Degree in Education from University of Phoenix, AZ (USA) and lives in Xi’an with his wife and two children. Richard is our IB Diploma CAS Coordinator.

Mrs. Trull has in excess of 20 years' teaching experience teaching all the Humanities subjects - Geography, Economics, History, Business and Management and Business Studies - in various schools in her native South Africa, where she also gained experience in the IB curriculum. She gained her teaching qualifications (Bachelor of Arts and Higher Diploma in Education) from the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and is accredited by the South African Council for Educators. She joined Hanova in August 2014, together with her husband and children, as Pastoral Coordinator for Secondary School, contributing to the MYP and DP curriculum, supporting the Secondary Leadership. In this role she established our House Systems and oversaw all students activities. She will now apply her leadership experience to coordinate Hanova's Middle Years Programme.

Ms. Sharon Zhu is our University and Careers Counsellor (UCC). Sharon holds an MBA from Adelphi University in New York. As a member of the Overseas Association for College Admission Counseling (OACAC), she provides advice related to universities, helping students and families have realistic aspirations and choose wisely to achieve their career goals. She manages all relationships with universities and is responsible for arranging and coordinating university visits. In addition to this, Sharon has also been re-appointed as our IB Diploma Coordinator.

Ms. Zhan gained her Bachelor Degree in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics from East Normal University in Shanghai. She was then an exchange student at University of Oregon (USA) and completed her internship in Spencer Butte Middle School (Oregon, USA). She also gained teaching qualifications for secondary mathematics from Shanghai. She is curently enrolled in a two-year programme at East China Normal University to receive a Master Degree in Mathematics. She joined Hanova in 2015.