Staff
Who We Are
Our students, staff and faculty work together to make our
school a safe, engaging, rigorous, learning environment.




Only the BEst
We Know How to Make Learning Fun For Kids
The mission of SAIS is to provide a progressive American style learning environment where all students develop and apply the knowledge, skills and habits of mind necessary for academic, workplace and personal success anywhere in the world.
Our small school serves as a community nucleus that invites strong support from parents and community members as well as closer working relationships among the school staff.
SAIS Staff

Nathan Abbott
Principal
nabbott@szsais.org
About Nathan
Nathan (Nate) Abbott is a proud husband, a father of 5, and an educator. He has over a decade of experience in the classroom and over 6 years of administrative experience. He has enjoyed teaching students from kindergarten to university. He has a BA in Asian Studies, and an MA in Secondary Education.
Throughout his educational career he has had the opportunity to present and give trainings all over the United States and also had the opportunity to work with and give trainings for the Confucius Institute in Beijing, China. The topics included Project Based Learning, language acquisition, student engagement, classroom management, and staying in the target language. He is a deep believer in children and their ability to learn and absolutely loves his job.
All of his children are learning Chinese and he has loved exposing them to the wonders of China. He is passionate about education and connecting teachers, parents, and students as a community.

Lucy Zeng
Vice Principal
About Lucy
Lucy Zeng received a master degree in educational management, who has worked in international education for over a decade. She is the administrative backbone of Shenzhen American International School and has been part of the core team that has built the first Project Based Learning school in Shenzhen. She has a deep understanding of what administrative needs are required to create a thriving makerspace in an educational setting, as well as administrative support that is required to produce student platforms.
Lucy is a strong advocate of PBL, Maker culture, and Design Thinking as she believes these methodologies bring about meaningful learning to students.
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Faculty

Mabel Choi
ELE1 Teacher
mchoi@szsais.org
About Mabel
Mabel Choi grew up in New York City. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Nyack College and has a TESOL certificate from American TESOL Institute. After college she was a Mental Health Worker at New York Presbyterian hospital working at a psychiatric unit for five years. She wanted to pursue her other passion, which is teaching and decided to move to Korea. She taught English in korea for five years and worked with elementary students most of the time. After that her family decided to make a life in Shenzhen, China.
Mabel missed teaching and felt she is ready to teach again, now that her daughter is six years old. Being a teacher and a mother helped her understand the importance of child development. She cares deeply about how kids develop and grow. She uses her experience and her understanding of psychology in her classroom. She believes the first five years of a child life is so crucial. To her a teacher is a role model and must help students develop and learn in a safe and happy environment.
Her hobbies are reading, scrapbooking, and spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

Michael Wilkinson
ELE2 Teacher
About Michael
Michael has over 6 years teaching experience with a wide array of age groups taught. I left the Washington, DC area to move to South Korea to teach which turned into over 6 years of experience teaching and educating kids aged from Kindergarten up to high school. I have spent 5 years teaching in South Korea, focusing on middle and high school students with the past year spent teaching in Shenzhen, China. I look forward to a great year ahead!

Finnbarr O'Callaghan
Kindergarten Teacher
About Finn
Mr. Finn grew up near Washington D.C. in the United States. His passion for science led him to become a certified science and social studies teacher. He has been teaching in America, Korea, and China since 2014. Mr. Finn aims to promote a love for science while challenging his students’ ability to understand the mysteries of the world around them. Mr. Finn is an outdoorsy guy who spent much of his childhood catching various animals at the local creek. Along with this, he is an avid golfer and fisherman.

Edwin Nieves
Grade 1 Teacher
About Edwin
Edwin is originally from New York City, has been working in the field of education since 2005 and really enjoy teaching young minds. He has been teaching at S.A.I.S. since 2018 and continues to be extremely excited to be part of this great institution. Prior to moving to Shenzhen, he taught in South Korea for almost 7 years and in New York for 2 years. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Nyack College and has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Moreland University. He is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish both at native levels. In addition, he can also speak Korean and Chinese. During his time off he enjoys sight-seeing, learning about other cultures, Latin dancing, and listening to music.

Zainab Tabasso
Grade 2 Teacher
ztabasso@szsais.org
About Zee
Zainab (Zee) is from Johannesburg, South Africa. She has worked in corporate South Africa for more than 17 years where she held numerous executive management positions. She has vast experience in leadership, project management, management consulting, mentoring, coaching, and facilitating training at both junior and senior levels. Zainab has a TEFL certificate from the TEFL Academy (UK) including a BA(Hons) Management degree from the Anglia Ruskin University in the UK as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Management and Leadership. She is in the process of completing her MBA in Educational Leadership. She has experience teaching kindergarten, primary/middle school and is extremely passionate about being a catalyst in fulfilling her student’s highest potential. Zainab (Zee) believes that a solid foundation for young learners is key to the future of society. She strongly endeavours in leading by example, has an extremely high work ethic, and considers herself a lifelong learner. Zainab (Zee) arrived in China (Shenzhen) on 1 April 2018 and loves living in the vibrant expat community of Shekou. She loves colouring abstract designs, is ardent about reading, and enjoys travelling across the globe. “Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.”– Maria Montessori

Parker May
Grade 3 Teacher
About Parker
Parker May is a professional teacher with half a decade of experience in the classroom. He has inspired students from Kindergarten to Primary school. Parker left his hometown in New Jersey to study art and design in Philadelphia receiving his BS in Art and Graphic Design. Besides inspiring students and teaching in the classroom Parker enjoys training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Ellen Abbott
Grade 4 Teacher
About Ellie
Ellie Abbott loves learning and exploring along with her students, so SAIS’s focus on project based learning provides a great environment for Ellie to bring real world experiences into her classroom. She received degrees in cultural anthropology and nursing, before becoming a teacher. She has six years of teaching experience including 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. She loves teaching 4th grade because the students are starting to figure out who they are and what they like. She strives to motivate them to be scholars. She strongly believes that positive energy and feedback can help lift her students to achieve more. Prior to teaching Ellie was a health instructor and registered nurse. These experiences have increased Ellie’s ability to meet the needs of the whole student, from academic to social and emotional. When Ellie is not teaching she loves to hike, bike, and be outside with her five children and husband.

Ronney Price
Grade 5 Teacher
rprice@szsais.org
About Ron
“True education occurs when there is that “divine dance” between the teacher and the student. True education is caught in that instant that becomes a moment, which turns into a path of perfection as for the case of both the teacher and student. It is when the teacher “touches the spirit” of the student and opens up the passion for knowledge and inspires the student to love learning.” I am because we are, and we are therefore I am.
Dr. Ronnvey Price was born and raised in Saginaw & Lansing, Michigan where he graduated from East Lansing High School. He received his undergraduate degree in 2001 from Michigan State University in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Education. During his tenure at Michigan State University, he was active in wrestling, student organizations and Boys to Men mentoring program in several local schools within the district as a partnership with the University. He received his Master of Education degree with a specialization in Special Education from Concordia University Chicago in 2013 and his doctorate in Educational Leadership with a specialization in curriculum design and development in 2020.
Ron served for six years as an elementary, middle, high, and instructional coach for various schools and organization throughout Shenzhen. Dr. Price’s indelible mark as a leader – from his infectious laugh and jovial spirit to his “warm demander” approach to developing high expectations and equitable experiences for all children, staff, and families – remains in every school, community, or educational entity he has touched. He always leaves a place better than he found it; and he remains committed to dismantling anti-intellectualism in international education and improving educational experiences for all children.

Samantha Fung
Library Teacher
sfung@szsais.org

Mark Moran
English Language Art Teacher
About Mark
Mark grew up in Maryland, USA before teaching in African-American and Latino communities in Chicago. Along with degrees in international studies and education, Mark has an MA in English from the University of Nottingham, UK and has taught English across a variety of levels in Thailand and Cambodia helping to establish an IGCSE program at a top bilingual school in Bangkok and recently teaching A Level English in Phnom Penh. He also has acted in the theater and has sung in classical choirs and operas. An avid cyclist, Mark looks forward to exploring Shenzhen and beyond on his bike.

Katleho Dawn Meje
PE Teacher
kmeje@szsais.org
About Kay
Katleho Dawn Meje is proudly South African. She graduated from the North-West University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with minors in French and Linguistics.
Katleho has done multiple courses for play-based learning for younger children, and she is currently completing her PGCE in English, social studies and physical education.
Before teaching, Katleho worked within the marketing department of a corporate company, but her love for education pushed her to change her career path. She packed her bags a few months later and has been teaching in Shenzhen for over three years. She is known to her students as Miss Kay.
Her appreciation for sports stems from her upbringing- she was raised in an athletic household. She has participated in numerous sports and competed in regional and provincial levels in sports such as hockey, netball, soccer, athletics as well as cheerleading and dance. Currently, she practices two Mixed Martial Arts disciplines: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai.
The philosophy that “every champion was once a contender” is what she lives by, and she encourages her students to always try their best, no matter how challenging the work may be.
When Miss Kay is not teaching or at the gym, she enjoys hiking, travelling, reading and artwork.

Laura Felusiak
Humanities Teacher
lfelusiak@szsais.org |
About Laura
Degrees: Dual Bachelor’ Degree in Economics and German Language/Culture from Uniwersytet Szczecinski in Poland and Fachhochschule Dortmund in Germany; Masters of Germanic Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, USA and Masters of Business Administration from Prairie View University Northwest Houston, Texas, USA. 3 Previous work experience: Humanities Teacher at Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District in Texas, USA, AP Economics Teacher at BASIS Parklane Harbor in Guangdong, China. Philosophy: guide students holistically, as their academic success is as much important as their social and emotional well-being and development. Professionally and leisurely, she aims to remain a life long learner. Laura is grateful that her students help her enrich that goal. She strives to encourage and motivate SAIS students in their educational journey and enjoys celebrating their daily progress. Interests: music concerts, travel, and spending time with family, preferably while cooking together, going on a road trip, or for a bike ride.

Nicholas Barber
Humanities Teacher
About Nic
Mr. Barber is from Texas, U.S.A. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station where he received a Bachelor of Science in Geography. After university, he acquired his teaching license in social science education and English for speakers of other languages from The University of West Florida.
He has six years of teaching experience, having taught ESL for four years at Shixia Middle School in Shenzhen and Social Studies for two years at NCIC-The Bay Academy. He strongly believes that students are more likely to succeed when they feel an authentic, personal connection with a subject and have a well-equipped teacher to help them make that connection.
Mr. Barber has a diverse background ranging from water-quality data collection to creative video and podcast production. His true joy, however, is derived from helping students understand the world and its past. He loves to read, write, and tell stories using maps and timelines. His goal here at SAIS is to help students develop the tools necessary to tell compelling stories about the world on their own. When Mr. Barber is not teaching, he is training martial arts, playing sports, or learning Chinese.

Jason Tippetts
Athletic Director, PE Teacher, Social Studies Teacher
jtippetts@szsais.org
About Jason
Jason Tippetts grew up in Idaho State, a sparsely populated state in western United States of America, where he enjoyed being active outdoors. After living in Taiwan for 2 years, he returned to Las Vegas where he completed a degree in Political Science, with a minor in Asian studies, at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. He also has Washington D.C. issued teaching licenses for PE and Social Studies.
After teaching a few years in the U.S., Jason and his family moved to China where he and his wife have been teaching for the last 5 years. As an athletic director and league executive he has been very involved in international school competitive sports here in Shenzhen. Jason also has several years of experience coaching basketball and volleyball teams.
Jason challenges his students to improve and loves to see their satisfaction when they achieve hard things. He encourages students to think for themselves and provides opportunities for students to develop leadership skills.
When he’s not teaching, Jason loves to spend time with his family, play basketball, or go for a run. He also enjoys cycling, hiking, playing video games, watching movies, and he always has a book, an audiobook, and a podcast that he is working on getting through.

Amanda Tippetts
Math Teacher
atippetts@szsais.org
About Amanda
Amanda Tippetts grew up in Washington State and received a bachelors degree in Math Education from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She taught in the United States for 12 years before moving to China in 2017. In the last 5 years, Mrs. Tippetts has specialized in college-level math classes, creating courses for advanced students to continue to study beyond AP level. She believes that every student can learn high-level math and her goal every year is to help each student reach their potential.
Mrs. Tippetts loves to read all kinds of books, hike and play sports. She has loved living in China and learning more about Chinese culture and history.

Platon Kerau
Art Teacher
pkerau@szsais.org
About Platon
Platon Kerau graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw / sculpture faculty. Before that he completed his Master degree in Art Education at the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Poland.
Before teaching in China he lived in 5 European countries and taught Art in Poland, Austria and Portugal, participated in various art events / completed different artistic commissions like sculpture, spray-art on canvas, murals and another street art projects. Created and provided spray-art events for teenagers based on summer camp format.
In free time he enjoys skateboarding, surfing; has advanced experience in rock climbing, mountaineering, parachute jumping/ has a holder for an snowboard instructor international certificate. Also passionate about Chinese traditional culture/ history/ Qigong/ tea ceremony. Develops his skills in photography.

Ariel Perez
Music Teacher
aperez@szsais.org

Joanna Palle
Science Teacher
jpalle@szsais.org
About Joanna
Ms. Joanna Palle is from India. She has done her Masters in Psychology, Bachelor of Education in Mathematics and Physical Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Math, Physics and Chemistry from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, India. She has been teaching high school Math and Science for the past 19 years and this is going to be her fifth year teaching in China. Her vast experience of teaching has not only helped her discover how best she can facilitate students learn and grow but also make learning easy and simple. She believes that each student in her classroom is a precious individual with his/her own abilities, talents, beliefs, ideas, and feelings. Her Passion for teaching inspires her to improvise her teaching methods constantly and make the students as critical thinkers. Ms.Joanna is a mother of two kids who are studying at SAIS. Gardening, cooking and playing badminton are her hobbies.

Rachel Guo
Maker Teacher
rguo@szsais.org




Cindy Shi
Chinese Teacher
cshi@szsais.org

Dawn Yu
Chinese Teacher
About Dawn
Dawn graduated from Beijing Normal University with a master degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. She is an excellent Putonghua speaker, holding a Certificate of Results of Putonghua Proficiency Test, A Level. She had taught Chinese in several local schools in UK. After she came back to China, she has worked in several international schools. Dawn has a wealth of experience both in Chinese and Western education. Based on the experience, she compared and analysed the two different education systems. At SAIS, she combined with PBL teaching philosophy to develop a bunch of Chinese courses which are applicable for international schools.

Joy Jiang
Teaching Assistant
jjiang@szsais.org

Becky Chen
ESL
bchen@szsais.org



Ying Zhang
Teaching Assistant
yzhang@szsais.org

Lyshing Li
ESL
lli@szsais.org



Grace Zhong
Teaching Assistant
gzhong@szsais.org

Bella Zhang
Teaching Assistant
bzhang@szsais.org
Support Staff

Yilia Zhong
Administrative Specialist
yzhong@szsais.org


Yoyo Yao
Finance
yyao@szsais.org

Yaya Liu
Finance
finance@szsais.org

Josef Chen
Logistics Supervisor

Jerry Chen
Security

Zhang Xiaoyuan
Security

Ding Jun
Security

Ou Qinglan
Cleaner

Xiang Yan
Cleaner