Teachers

Bio coming soon

My educational journey has taken me across both Taiwan and Canada, shaping my perspective on local and international education. I am a British Columbia Certified Teacher (K–12) specializing in secondary mathematics and have over a decade of teaching experience in accredited international schools in Taiwan.

In addition to teaching mathematics, I am a CAP Level 2 Accredited Counsellor and a British Council UK Certified Counsellor. I currently serve as the Director of College Counseling, supporting students in Grades 9–12 with academic planning and university admissions around the world.

Beyond education, I am an accredited Chinese-to-English translator and interpreter recognized by the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC). In my free time, I enjoy playing the flute in wind bands and exploring different cultures and educational experiences. My own daughter attends a Japanese school, which continues to broaden my appreciation for diverse languages, perspectives, and approaches to learning.

Mr. Gonzalez is very excited to join HAS and contribute to its educational community. He was born and raised in Córdoba, a historic city in southern Spain, where he completed his studies in English Language and Literature. During his academic journey, he participated in exchange programs at the University of Barcelona and Université Paris 8, experiences that helped shape his international outlook.
After working in language academies and as a private tutor, Mr. Gonzalez began his career as an international educator, first in China and later in Turkey, where he lived for seven years. He has been living in Taiwan for the past three years, continuing to develop his skills as a teacher and learner. Alongside his professional experience, he holds an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities from the UOC and a PGDE in Secondary Education from VIU.
Beyond education, Mr. Gonzalez is a multidisciplinary artist working with sound, video, text, and installation. His creative practice explores experience, perception, and environment through observation, field recordings, and artistic experimentation. He enjoys bringing creativity, curiosity, and interdisciplinary perspectives into the classroom.

Ms. Fu is the fifth grade homeroom teacher at HAS. She has taught in first, third, and fifth-grade international school classrooms. She received her teaching license from the state of Florida and has a Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership from Penn State. She is passionate about English literacy in international classrooms, especially in blending and balancing Eastern and Western cultures for a holistic learning experience. 
 
Ms. Fu loves spending time with her dog, Belly. When she’s not cuddling her dog, she is either at the gym, watching a sitcom, or solving crosswords.

Nick Javier is excited to join the Hsinchu American School community and looks
forward to inspiring students through a lifelong love of music. He teaches Elementary Music, Middle School Music, and High School Band and Orchestra. His teaching philosophy is rooted in the American art form of jazz, emphasizing creativity, collaboration, improvisation, and learning through active music-making. While he values all musical traditions, he believes jazz provides students with unique opportunities to develop confidence, critical thinking, and strong ensemble skills.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Michigan, Nick earned a Master of Music degree from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal
Conservatoire in The Hague, Netherlands. He brings more than ten years of international school teaching experience, having worked with students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

Outside the classroom, Nick remains an active and sought-after performer throughout Taiwan as the leader of The Nick Javier Group (The NJG). He has shared the stage with many of Taiwan's most celebrated pop artists, including Jay Chou and David Tao. Nick is
passionate about connecting his professional performance career with his teaching, helping students develop both musical excellence and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Mr. Loi is returning to Hsinchu American School after taking a two year hiatus to be with his baby girl. He is thrilled to be back in the classroom and looking forward to reconnecting with all of the students he knew from before and all the new students he’ll meet this school year. 

Mr. Loi will be teaching AP Literature and Composition, British Literature, AP Human Geography, and Grades 6 and 7 P.E. In his classroom he will challenge students to develop their critical thinking while fostering a collaborative, engaging, and respectful environment.

Mr. Loi was born and raised in sunny Southern California. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor’s degree in literary journalism and a Master’s degree in the art of teaching with an emphasis on English language arts.

In his free time, Mr. Loi enjoys spending time with his family, exploring Taiwan’s great outdoors, and developing his movement practice.

Ms. Manuel is excited to be joining Hsinchu American School and looks forward to teaching Middle School English, History, and Geography. She enjoys helping students discover how literature, history, and geography connect and to the world around them.
Growing up in Saudi Arabia and later making Taiwan her home, Ms. Manuel has developed a deep appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. She has lived and taught in Taiwan for more than ten years and has over fifteen years of teaching experience across Taiwan, India, and the United Arab Emirates. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Madras, a Master's degree in English Literature from IGNOU, and a CELTA teaching qualification from the University of Cambridge. Along the way, she has taught students from elementary through senior high school, taught academic English at the university level, and supported K–12 students through curriculum design and personalized academic coaching.
Ms. Manuel enjoys creating welcoming classrooms where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and growing in confidence as readers, writers, and thinkers. She hopes every student leaves her classroom with greater curiosity, confidence, and an appreciation for lifelong learning.
In her free time, Ms. Manuel enjoys reading historical fiction and classic literature, exploring Taiwan, and painting. A self-taught artist, she enjoys experimenting with acrylic and gouache and is always excited to learn new techniques.

Mr. Rakesh  will commence his fourth year of teaching high school Biology, Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Environmental Sciences at Hsinchu American School. Mr. Rakesh has a Ph.D in Biological Sciences from National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and a teaching credential from Moreland University, Washington, D.C. Mr. Rakesh Ph.D  studies expanded his knowledge of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, which still influences his curriculum development and instructions.
For more than a decade, Mr. Rakesh has taught middle and high school students across Taiwan and China, gaining a deep understanding of diverse learning styles and educational needs. He has guided students through both local and international academic programs, supporting them in achieving success in competitive exams, university preparation, and science competitions.
Mr. Rakesh believes that strong, dependable relationships between teachers and students form the foundation for effective learning. In his classroom, students are encouraged to collaborate, think critically, and explore beyond the textbook. He is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment where every student feels valued, respected, and confident in expressing their ideas.

Ms. Rodriguez is excited to begin her fourth year as a member of the HAS community. This year, she will be teaching 6th Grade Literature and Writing, High School World Literature, English Language Development (ELD), and History of Film. In addition to teaching, she will serve as the Middle School Advisor and Guidance Counselor, supporting students' academic, social, and emotional development. She is also the 6th Grade Homeroom Teacher and will continue leading the Middle School Student Council as its advisor. 
Originally from Southern California, Ms. Rodriguez earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Education with a specialization in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from California State University, San Bernardino. She also holds teaching credentials in K–12 English as a Second Language (ESL) and secondary English Language Arts (ELA) through Washington, D.C. Before moving to Taiwan, she spent ten years teaching in South Korea, where she worked with students from elementary school through university.
Ms. Rodriguez is passionate about creating a positive, engaging, and inclusive learning environment where every student feels supported and challenged to grow. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, cycling, discovering new foods, and anything related to penguins and cats. She looks forward to another exciting year of learning and helping students thrive at HAS.

Mr. Shantz is excited to begin his seventh year at HAS, where he serves as a teacher and counselor. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Toronto, where he also completed doctoral work focused on the sociology of knowledge. He recently finished his counseling certification through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
 
At HAS, he teaches AP Psychology, Drama, and Modern World History. Alongside his teaching, he leads the school's counseling program and its behavior support policies. He is also one of the teachers who designs, implements, and teaches the advising program, which is being rebuilt this year so that each grade level gets something suited to where students actually are. This year he takes on a new role as advisor to Student Council, and he is looking forward to working with such a talented group of student leaders.
 
Outside the classroom, Mr. Shantz enjoys playing guitar, running, doing yoga, and spending time on the basketball court. He is a proud father; his son Bryan graduated from HAS and remains a big part of his life. He loves being part of the HAS community and is ready for another meaningful and memorable school year.

Mrs. Sliger is excited to begin her fifth year at HAS and is thrilled to be teaching both 1st and 2nd Grade. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Exercise Health Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She obtained her teaching certificate from the University of West Florida, specializing in ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages), and has a M.A. in Education with a focus on Educational Technology from Louisiana State University.
Mrs. Sliger has been teaching abroad since 2009, with most of that time spent in Taiwan. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, cycling, and baking.

This will be Mr. Kolo’s first year teaching at Hsinchu American school. He is the homeroom teacher for 3rd grade. He teaches the core subjects of Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies. 
 
Mr. Kolo enjoys incorporating the arts into all the core elementary subjects. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from California State University Stanislaus. In 2012 he went to study for two years in Florence, Italy at l’Accademia di Belle Arti. He worked for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the University of California Berkeley. Afterwards Mr. Kolo worked as a primary school teacher in South Korea before coming to Taiwan in 2023. He is a licensed K-3 instructor through Washington D.C.
 
Originally born in California, his family goes back and forth from the West Coast to Hawai’i. Mr. Kolo enjoys playing the ukulele with his students and has performed with them at the Taiwan International Ukulele Festival. He also enjoys surfing, martial arts, baseball, and learning languages.

This will be Mr. Thompson’s ninth 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 is the basketball coach and soccer club leader and he enjoys nothing more than giving guidance to young learners.
 
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 16 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 is entering her ninth year at HAS, where she brings her enthusiasm for mathematics to a wide range of high school courses, including Algebra 2, Physics, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus AB/BC. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she leads the Math Team, guiding students to build confidence and skill in tackling complex mathematical problems.
Her academic path began at the University of Sydney, where she earned a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, and minors in Applied Mathematics and Physics. Before transitioning to education, she built a strong professional background working in multinational corporations, where she collaborated with colleagues from around the world.
With every lesson, Ms. Tsai strives to empower her students, equipping them not only with mathematical knowledge but also with the confidence and critical thinking skills needed to navigate life’s complexities.

Ms. Tucker is excited to be starting her first year at HAS! She will be teaching Grade 7 Literature and Writing, Creative Writing, and Grade 10 American Literature and U.S. History.  She received her teaching license from the state of Illinois for English education for grades 9-12 and also has an M.A. in Linguistics. 

She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, but has been teaching abroad for around 15 years in China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. She has lived in Taiwan since 2018, and is happy to live in Hsinchu for the first time this year. 

In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to records, and attempting to learn Spanish and play the cello. She is looking forward to the new school year and fostering a thoughtful, creative, and accepting environment where we explore ideas and ask probing questions through the written word.

Mr. Wu joins the Hsinchu American School community as an accomplished designer and educator dedicated to empowering the next generation of creative thinkers. Bringing over a decade of industry expertise across graphic design, UX/UI, branding, and data visualization, he approaches art education as a bridge between creative intuition and real-world application. In his studio classroom, students learn to view visual art not just as technique, but as a powerful language for problem-solving, digital communication, and personal expression.

Raised and educated in New Zealand, Mr. Wu earned his Bachelor of Media Design alongside diplomas in Digital Media and Graphic Design from the Media Design School in Auckland. With hands-on experience teaching in Taiwan, he combines an international industry perspective with an approachable, mentor-driven teaching style.

Outside the studio, Mr. Wu is an avid photographer, sports enthusiast (basketball, football, and Formula 1), and traveler. He loves sharing his passion for visual culture, music, and design with his students.

Mr. John joins Hsinchu American School as a Middle School Math and Science Teacher, bringing nearly two decades of teaching experience across the Caribbean and Taiwan. Originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he has made Taiwan his home for over eleven years and brings a genuine understanding of the diverse cultural and academic backgrounds that shape international learners.
 
He holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Kun Shan University of Science and Technology and an Associate of Arts in Mathematics and Science Education from Teachers' College, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He is a licensed secondary school Mathematics and Science teacher who has prepared students for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), a rigorous regional examination equivalent to the British GCSE, administered across Caribbean nations.

Mr. John believes that strong mathematical and scientific thinking are life skills, not just academic requirements. His classroom approach emphasizes curiosity, problem-solving, and the development of genuine confidence in students who might otherwise find these subjects intimidating. He is excited to join the HAS community and looks forward to a great year.
 
Go Wolves!