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.

Ms Danaher is an experienced English teacher with over twenty-five years secondary teaching experience. She joins us from King’s College International School, Hangzhou. Prior to this she has held posts as Vice Principal, Head of English and Head of Faculty at schools in China, Thailand and Oman as well as ten years' teaching experience in Scotland, her home country. She has a Masters degree in Social Anthropology and Religious Studies from University of Glasgow (UK), and a PGCE in English Language and Literature from University of Strathclyde (UK). She has two children; an older one educated and living in Scotland, and one accompanying her overseas.

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.

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.

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.

Mr. Kim has 30 years of teaching experiences including 11 years teaching at IB schools. He had taught MYP and DP Koean Language and Literature in the Canadian International School of Beijing and BISS International School of Beijing. He has a bachelor's degree in Pedagogy & Chinese Character education from College of Education in Gangwon National University and a master's degree in Linguistics from Nankai University in China. He thinks education is a meaningful behavioral change and believes the possibility of change is one of human nature.

Javier Hernandez Stalder recently came from Hangzhou and is Spanish and Swiss by nationality. He has a degree in Drama and Theatre Studies, a Postgraduate in Theatre Directing and an MA from the prestigious MBA Business school. He is an experienced Senior leader in Performing Arts, having recently devised the current curriculum for the founding Drama department at RDFZ Kings College School. Under his leadership, he have also delivered 94% success rate in all courses at Bedford College, and contributed to the College achieving an Outstanding College status from OFSTED in 2011. He also contributed to the outstanding achievement in the Arts at Raha International School in the March 2015 ADEC inspection. He is fully experienced with the IB curriculum and is also an IB Theatre examiner for Spanish and English as well as a Theatre Director, with shows in London’s West End.

Javier has extensive experience in developing a broad range of student activities and leading successful partnerships with other external organisations and the wider community. He feels that the arts, sports and enrichment can transform the future of many young people from all backgrounds. He has many years successful experience in providing strategic Senior leadership with leading performing and creative arts educational providers of quality. His vision is to create and maintain a diverse, dynamic learning environment, which not only challenges the learner, but nurtures creative talent and enterprise as well as providing a centre of excellence for all in the community and beyond. This can be tailored to offer students breadth and depth to their individual needs.​

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.