Teachers
Ms. Burden, Marie-Louise
Ms. Burden is entering her eighth year of teaching at HAS and enjoys being a part of the HAS community. She is the WASC coordinator in addition to her roles as middle school and elementary school chair. She teaches Sport, Exercise, and Health Science, as well as Life Science and elementary PE. Ms. Burden also advises the Middle School Student Council and is the academic advisor for 6th grade in addition to these classes.
Ms. Burden graduated from North-West University in South Africa with a bachelor's degree in Human Movement Science and Recreation. In addition, she has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of South Africa and a Masters of Education from The College of New Jersey. Ms. Burden is a South African native who has been teaching in Taiwan for the past 13 years. Before moving to Taiwan, she taught in South Africa and coached and managed various sports teams. She has vast experience teaching English Language Learners (ESL) at various levels and enjoys being outdoors in her spare time.
Mr. Bangs, David
Mr. Bangs is thrilled to be joining HAS this year. He will be teaching 6th World History, US History, Journalism, British Literature, and MS Study Skills. He also will be advising the Camping Club and the Homework Club for this 2024-2025 school year.
Mr. Bangs is from Milwaukee, USA and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor's in History and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. He has also earned his teaching license from the State of Wisconsin in four subject areas. He previously taught in Taiwan from 2018-2022 and is delighted to be back. When not teaching, he enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with his rabbits.
Mr. Bangs is looking forward to a fantastic year with the HAS students and community!
Mrs. Ferris, Brittney
Mrs. Ferris will be entering her fourth year at HAS. Last year, she taught 5th grade and led the elementary drama club, but this year she will lead the elementary Wolf Pen Club which focuses on reporting, writing, and publishing work for the school magazine. She will continue teaching 5th grade and looks for this 2024-2025 school year.
Mrs. Ferris is from Seattle, USA, and graduated from Washington State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice. Her teaching journey began in South Korea in 2011, but she has spent the last 10 years teaching in Taiwan with her husband. She earned her teaching certification in Upper Elementary Language Arts through Moreland University. In her free time, she enjoys being a mom, watching crime shows, reading, playing games, and traveling.
Mr. Ferris, Patrick
Mr. Ferris is excited to return to HAS for his fourth year. This year, he will be teaching marketing, Weather Science, Business Math, and AP Economics. He has 10 years of experience teaching and traveling in Asia, but has spent the majority of his time overseas in Taiwan.
Mr. Ferris was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Economics from The Ohio State University. He loves learning new things, playing competitive games and sports, and taking care of his amazing daughter and wife.
Mr. Felipe Pedro Wieczorek Villas Boas
Mr. Boas is elated to join HAS this year as a music teacher. He will be teaching all Elementary and Middle School music classes, as well as Film Score, Pop Music, and Band classes for High School. With the belief that music is a multifaceted art, he fosters a diverse choice of repertoire and activities in his classes. In his classes, students are encouraged to listen, analyze, perform, compose, and improvise in a variety of styles and genres, ranging from Classical Music to today’s latest K-pop songs.
Mr. Boas was born in Brazil into a Polish family. He has a Doctorate in Musical Arts from Michigan State University, as well as master’s degrees in music performance, music theory, and musicology. He has more than 10 years of experience teaching music, having taught students in Brazil, the US, and Taiwan.
In his free time, Mr. Boas enjoys learning languages, listening to music, and getting lost in the YouTube algorithm.
Mr. Jaeger, Gabriel
Mr. Jaeger is very happy to be back at HAS for a second year as this year’s Computer Science, PE and Physics teacher.
With a Master's in Industrial Engineering and a wealth of experience as a software developer in innovative fields such as AI and blockchain, he brings a unique blend of academic and practical perspectives to teaching.
He is excited about sharing his passion for software development, fitness and the natural world with the students and looks forward to a fun and enriching school year.
Mr.Kensinger, Derek
Mr. Kensinger is excited to enter his first year at HAS as Principal. He hails from San Francisco, California, and has worked in K-12 international education as a teacher and administrator for over twenty years. He fosters a safe, diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just school setting for all stakeholders.
He received his Bachelor’s degree from Colby College in Philosophy, a Master’s degree from the University of Alabama in Education, and a Master’s degree from the University of San Francisco in Educational/Organizational Leadership. He is over 75 percent finished with his doctorate from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in International Education Leadership. He holds a teacher and administrator license from Washington State.
Mr. Kensinger is looking forward to an excellent school year at HAS. Go Wolves!
Mr. Kudra, Michael
This is Mr. Kudra’s fifth year as the 2nd-grade homeroom teacher at HAS. He teaches his students the core subjects of Reading, Writing, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. He is from Dearborn, Michigan in the United States and has lived in Hsinchu for the past 6 years. He has taught in Asia for over fifteen years, in both Taiwan and South Korea, mostly with younger learners in grades K-6. He brings lots of positive energy and enthusiasm into his classroom and strives to create a fun and productive learning environment for his students.
Mr. Kudra has a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University, a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis on teaching multilingual learners from Moreland University, and an elementary education teaching license from Washington D.C. He loves being a part of the HAS team and looks forward to having a fantastic year with all of the students!
Mrs. Lai, May
Mrs. Lai returns to Hsinchu American School for her fourth year, teaching Elementary and Middle School Art, AP Studio Art, Painting and Drawing, and Modern-Contemporary Art History. With over 15 years of experience in art research and education, she believes art is a universal language and a gateway to critical thinking. She emphasizes process art, prioritizing creativity, expression, and experimentation over the final product. To enrich her students' learning, she collaborates with local art museums and artists.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Mrs. Lai attended inner-city public schools, forming meaningful relationships with diverse individuals. She holds a B.A. in Art History from Oberlin College, an MBA from National Chiao Tung University, and a teacher certification from The College of New Jersey.
In her free time, she enjoys nature walks, good food, meditating, and the art of doing nothing.
Mr. Murphy, Camren
Mr. Cam (Mr. Murphy was already taken) is returning for his third year at HAS. He is teaching 6th, 7th, & 8th grade Social Studies, Modern World History, and AP Modern World History. He will be serving as the director of the Model United Nations.
Born and raised in Southern California, Mr. Cam earned a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies Learning & Teaching and a Social Studies/History Teaching Credential. He has been teaching in the US and abroad for the last six years.
Mr. Cam enjoys traveling, hiking, playing guitar, and reading.
Ms. Muñoz, Jennifer
Ms. Muñoz is excited to be joining the HAS English Language Arts program this year in which she will be teaching AP Literature and middle school Literature and Writing. She is inspired by the immensely talented group of young scholars and educators at HAS.
She has been teaching English Literature, Language, and EMI Global Issues courses at high schools and universities for nine years in Taiwan, Turkey, and Chile. She has been working to complete a PhD in English Literature from National Taiwan University, holds a Master of Science degree from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, and a Bachelor's Degree in English from Purdue University. She has worked on education and research programs at institutions such as New York University and the United Nations. She endeavors to create safe, compassionate, and engaging learning environments that foster holistic development.
Mr. Merck, Seth
Mr. Merck is very pleased to begin teaching at HAS this school year. He is teaching middle school math, computer science, and PE.
Mr. Merck grew up near Atlanta, GA in the United States, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology. After graduating he taught in China for several years before moving to Tainan where he worked as a teacher as well. During his time in Tainan, Mr. Merck also conducted research on effects of urbanization on local wildlife at NCKU where he received his master’s degree.
In his spare time Mr. Merck enjoys playing banjo, training Brazilian Jiujitsu, and spending time in nature.
Mr. Pérez, Ivan
Mr. Pérez is excited to continue being part of the HAS family as the Spanish teacher for eight consecutive years. Mr. Pérez received his Bachelor degree in Engineering of Opto-Mechatronics and Materials at the University of Chung Hua located in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He also studied a master’s degree in Technology Management and Business Administration at the same University.
Mr. Pérez is from Mexico and has been living, studying, and teaching in Taiwan for over 10 years. Before arriving in Taiwan, he also lived in Montreal, Canada for three years. His thrilling experience of learning languages such as Spanish, English, French, and Chinese awakened a passion for teaching and sharing the Hispanic Language and Culture.
Mr. Ramanujum, Rakesh
At Hsinchu American School, Mr. Rakesh is starting his second year of teaching high school biology, chemistry, AP biology, AP chemistry, and Food Science.
Mr. Rakesh received his teaching credential from Moreland University in Washington, D.C., and his Ph.D. in Biological sciences from National Sun Yat Sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. For more than a decade, Mr. Rakesh has taught middle school and high school students in Taiwan and China.
Mr. Rakesh is ecstatic about the chance to build dependable relationships with students in order to support their academic development. Inspire children to work together and establish a secure, nurturing environment where students feel appreciated and respected in the classroom.
Ms. Rodriguez, Kimberly
Ms. Rodriguez is thrilled to enter her second year with the HAS community. She will be teaching 6th Grade Literature and Writing, High School World Literature and ESL courses. Aside from teaching, Ms. Rodriguez will be serving as the middle and high school Guidance Counselor for our students. She will also be advising our Middle School Student Council for the second time this school year with Ms. Burden.
Ms. Rodriguez is from Southern California and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Master of Arts degree in Education specializing in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from California State University, San Bernardino. Additionally, she has a teaching certification in English Language Arts from Moreland University. Before moving to Taiwan, she taught in South Korea for 10 years in the public education system ranging from primary school to university.
Ms. Rodriguez has a passion for education, food, traveling, cycling, and anything related to penguins. She is looking forward to creating a positive and friendly learning environment for all her students as well as continuing to explore Taiwan
Mrs. Román, Denise
Mrs. Román is entering her fifth year at HAS. This year, she is looking forward to teaching at the high school level for Introduction to Literature, American Literature, Introduction to Writing, Creative Writing, and College Essay. In addition, she will be the academic advisor for 12th grade.
Mrs. Román graduated with a Masters degree in 2010 from Long Island, New York with a dual certification in Special Education and English for grades 7-12. She taught in New York public schools for middle and high school before moving to Asia in 2012. Since living in Asia, Mrs. Román has taught in all levels ranging from Kindergarten to university. Although she has been an educator for over ten years, she has taken extensive professional development courses throughout the years to continuously grow as an educator.
Mrs. Román is an avid reader of nonfiction and mystery novels. She also enjoys music, dancing, biking, and traveling to new places. During this year’s summer break, she went on a backpacking adventure with her husband and visited 12 different countries where she learned about the historical culture of each country and enjoyed delicious cuisines. In addition, Mrs. Román has cycled both the East and West coast of Taiwan. She hopes to continue her cycling journey in different parts of the world.
Mr. Shantz, Aaron
Mr. Shantz is entering his fifth year at HAS and is looking forward to another exciting and fulfilling year. This year, he will be teaching Sociology, AP Psychology, Drama, and AP Research. Mr. Shantz continues to embrace his roles as a guidance counselor and assistant coach for the boys' basketball team.
Mr. Shantz holds an MA and has completed all of his doctoral coursework in sociology at the University of Toronto, specializing in the sociology of knowledge and education. With over a decade of teaching experience across various educational levels in both Canada and Taiwan, Mr. Shantz brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his classes.
In his free time, Mr. Shantz enjoys running, playing basketball, and reading. He feels truly grateful to be part of the unique culture and community at HAS. Go Wolves!
Ms. Sheu, Winnie
Ms. Sheu is looking forward to her second year in the HAS family as the Middle School and High School Science teacher. Ms. Sheu will be teaching 6th grade Earth Science, 8th grade Physical Science, Marine Biology, AP Environmental Science and Global Issues.
She was born in Southern California, but grew up in Oregon. Ms. Sheu holds a B.A in Life Science and an M.A. in STEM Education from King’s College London. She also completed her teaching certification at King’s College London and has taught in the UK and other international schools for the last six years.
Ms. Sheu has a passion for education, meditation, and yoga. She sets high expectations for her students and hopes to bring the joy of learning to her classroom
Ms. Sliger, Rebecca
Ms. Sliger is very excited to begin her third year at HAS and is thrilled to be teaching 1st Grade. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Exercise Health Science. She obtained her teaching certificate from the University of West Florida, specializing in ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages). Currently, she is pursuing her M.A. in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Educational Technology, at Louisiana State University.
Ms. Sliger has been teaching abroad since 2009, spending most of that time in Taiwan. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, swimming, and baking.
Mr. Thompson, Shane
This will be Mr. Thompson’s seventh year at HAS. He will be the homeroom teacher for grade 4 and will be teaching them Math, Science, Social Studies, Writing, and Reading. Mr. Thompson will also be running after school clubs and very active in sports activities at school all year long.
Mr. Thompson earned his Bachelor of Arts with a History major and English minor in 2006. He earned his Bachelor of Education in 2017. Mr. Thompson is from eastern Canada, but has been living in Taiwan for 12 years. He has also taught in an immersion program for six years teaching English full-time to Taiwanese students. Mr. Thompson is a father of two and loves being a dad! Mr. Thompson is very active and loves hiking, sports, and playing board games whenever possible with friends and students alike. He focuses on creating a fun and entertaining learning environment for his students.
Ms. Tsai, Teresa
Ms. Tsai is embarking on her seventh year at HAS, where she shares her passion for mathematics to students across high school, Algebra 2, Geometry, Precalculus, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus AB/BC. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Tsai plays a role in nurturing young mathematicians as the coach of the Math Team. Students gain confidence and expertise in tackling advanced mathematical challenges. Furthermore, she shares advisory duties with Mr. Jaeger, providing guidance and mentorship to 9th grade students.
Her academic journey commenced at the University of Sydney, where she pursued a double major in Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, culminating in a Bachelor of Science degree. Prior to her teaching career, Ms. Tsai accumulated a wealth of experience working with multinational companies, collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds across the globe. Her goal is to empower her students with the tools they need to confidently navigate life’s challenges armed with the power of mathematics.
Mr. Wiebe, Dennis
Mr. Dennis will be teaching his second year of 3rd grade homeroom at HAS. He teaches the core subjects of Reading, Writing, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. He is originally from Canada, but has lived in Taiwan for approximately 15 years. He has 19 years of teaching experience in Canada, Taiwan, Mexico, and Bahrain.
Mr. Dennis holds a Bachelor of Arts as well as a Bachelor of Education Degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. He also holds a Master Degree and wrote his thesis on Cooperative Learning in the Elementary Classroom.
Along with many years of homeroom teacher experience, Mr. Dennis also has experience as a Curriculum Coordinator and an Elementary School Department Head. He has high expectations for all of his students and looks forward to helping them succeed by creating a cooperative, fun, and safe learning community in his classroom. His hobbies include traveling, hiking, swimming, cycling, river tracing, and scuba diving.
Mr. Chaperon, Philippe
Mr. Chaperon is the French teacher for the tenth consecutive year at HAS.
He is from Nantes (a city in western France) and has been living in Taiwan for thirteen years.
He studied Secondary Education in Nantes and graduated in 2000. He also obtained an academic degree in BTS Force de Vente (specialization in Professional sales qualification). He simultaneously did Writing Classical Music studies in the conservatory of Nantes. He has played pipe organ since he was 15 years old
