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.

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.

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. 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.

John McGovern graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MA in history and politics before further study at St Antony's College, University of Oxford, where he obtained an MPhil in Modern Chinese Studies and an MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology. He has been living in China on and off for twenty years, and completed an exchange course in Chinese at Peking University as part of his MPhil.

He came to Hanova International School from Shaanxi Normal University where he taught programmes to postgraduates in anthropology and world history. He is passionate about learning about other cultures and travel and is excited to be joining the Hanova family!

Sam Werlinich is a recent addition to the Hanova faculty. He is teaching IB Diploma Economics, History and Theory of Knowledge. Over the last 20-ish years in education he has worked multiple international schools such as Shanghai American school, Anglo American school of Moscow and ABA Oman., where he coordinated or taught various social science courses. Sam comes from the East slope of Colorado in the USA. He has a BA in political science and a BS in secondary education. He has his teaching certificates from Colorado and Florida in secondary education.

Mr. Im has 9 years of teaching experiences in several international schools before joining the Hanova family. He was trained being an international school educator in Chadwick International School in Korea. He has taught MYP and DP Korean Language and Literature in Mercedes Benz International School (India) and Suzhou Singapore International School (China). He has gone through a period of freshman in Social Science in In-Ha University and moved to graduate from University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities in B.S. of Education.

He is currently acting as an IB DP Korean A Workshop Leader as well as an IB DP School Visit Team Member. He loves interacting with his students as well as exploring cultural diversities with his family.

Brian OConnell has a BSc from Auckland University and a PGrad from Massey University in New Zealand. He has taught for over 40 years including 10 years as a Head of School in New Zealand. He has also been a National Examination writer in New Zealand for Physics and also worked for the New Zealand Government as an assessment facilitator. Mr OConnell has taught in New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia and China. He was previously Head of Secondary School at Hanova International School but wants to spend his working time teaching science. He is very keen on sport especially watching Chelsea Football Club and the All Blacks rugby team. Mr OConnell is returning to Xi'an because he enjoys traveling in China and really enjoys the local food.

Mr Miles is an experienced educator with over 16 years teaching, 7 of which in the UK where he was born. This is his 9th year teaching internationally, with schools in Malaysia, Shanghai and Dulwich College Suzhou. He has been the head of faculty at each school and has many years experience with the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, and the CIE IGCSE Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. Two of his pupils received best in the world certificates for achieving 100% in their Y10 public examinations. Mr.Miles has a Bachelor Degree in Theoretical Physics from Queen Mary College, University of London.