Meet the Team

Alena is from Fiji and joined WAT in 2016. She completed her Bachelor of Secondary Education in History and Geography and holds a Graduate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of the South Pacific. Alena has been an IB educator for over 17 years and has taught and led Middle Years Programme teams in international schools across Fiji, Malaysia, and Africa. During the past 17 years as an educator, she has been an MYP and DP Humanities teacher and has also held a variety of leadership positions, including MYP Personal Project Coordinator, MYP Curriculum Coordinator, DP Curriculum Coordinator, and Secondary Principal. Alena is also an IBEN member, serving as a subject examiner for Diploma Programme History for 13 years now, specializing in the Internal Assessment and Paper 1.

Alena considers herself to be an open-minded, lifelong learner with a mission to enable teachers to be the best they can be and to have a positive influence on the educational experiences of their students. In addition to her passion for teaching and learning concepts, she takes pleasure in travelling, reading, watching movies, cooking, and learning about different cuisines.

Shikha is from India and joined WAT in 2016. She has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in English (Hons) and Bachelor's in Education from a renowned university in India. Shikha is an IBEN member and works with the IB as a Workshop Leader and a School Visit Team Member, thus providing learning opportunities for teachers in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In addition to teaching in Primary, she has also had the opportunity to teach Theory of Knowledge (TOK) to our DP students for two years. Shikha's IB journey began in 2011 and she has taught and led the PYP team in different international IB schools in India, Gabon, Austria and Albania. Originally from New Delhi, India, she prides herself on her cultural roots. Shikha is very passionate about educating young minds and her education philosophy stems from George Evans quote - “Every child can learn not just the same day and not the same way”. It is her endeavour for her team at WAT to holistically nurture every child to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.

Marinela is from Albania. She has joined WAT in 2011. With a Bachelor Degree in English Language and a Masters Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Tirana, she had the opportunity to fulfil one of her earliest dreams and passions, the one of becoming a teacher. While working at World Academy of Tirana for more than 14 years and learning from multiple IB workshops expanded the dimension of her teaching practices and philosophy to the level of an internationally minded educator who strives to embody to its best all IB learner profile attributes that we seek to cultivate in our young learners.

One of Marinela's favourite quotes is: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” (Aristotle)

In her spare time, Marinela enjoys reading, travelling and spending quality time with her family.

Diana is from Kyiv, Ukraine and graduated with a Master's degree in Languages and Literature from the National Pedagogical Dragomanov University, joining WAT in 2021. Diana has previously taught in Ukraine and China, and has worked at an Early Years Center teaching language, maths and logical thinking skills to children. In addition to numerous IB trainings, she is also CELTA certified. Diana is a lifelong learner and very passionate about everything she does.

Amy is a qualified and registered Early Years Educator. Hailing from South Africa, she has almost 8 years of experience teaching young learners in Hong Kong. It's Amy's true passion to unlock each child's potential and help them fall in love with learning. Her academic credentials are extensive from both South African and British institutions, including a BCom in Hospitality Management, Post Graduate Diplomas in Education Management and Foundation Phase Education, a Master of Arts in Education, and she is currently studying towards a BA in Psychology and Counselling. This wealth of knowledge allows Amy to create dynamic, tailored lessons to support every child in achieving their dreams. Beyond the classroom, she enjoys building strong connections with students and families.

Brendan is from Australia and has been working in education for several decades, including teaching for 10 years, starting in Australia and then in Costa Rica where he was the Maths and Personalised Learning leader for Primary and developed the Art Curriculum. He is excited to teach in the PYP at WAT, where the curriculum and approach are a great match for his personal goals as an educator. Brendan is passionate about helping students to become their best self and ignite their natural love of learning and thinking.

Erin is from Philadelphia, USA where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's degree in Special Education from Temple University. She is an enthusiastic educator with a passion for inspiring children to become curious, lifelong learners. Her experiences span early years and primary settings, in both Spain and China, where she has embraced diverse cultures and learning styles. Erin has worked with the Common Core curriculum, the UK national curriculum, and has also helped schools develop their own curriculum. Her goal is to equip every child with the confidence and skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Marichelle is an experienced IB PYP international educator, who taught across grade levels from Early Years to Middle School. She has partnered with established IB, American, embassy and UN-attached schools and families in Brazil, China, Japan, Laos and Singapore before joining the team here at WAT. She is a strong proponent of academic reform, child & human development, inquiry and project-based learning. Marichelle is also a practicing international business and project development consultant in the global commodities, energy, maritime and oil & gas industries. Ethnically from the Philippines with mixed Chinese, Filipino and Spanish ancestries, educated in the UK and calls Japan home. Her interests extend to the arts, aquatic sports and expedition travels.

Paige is from Cape Town, South Africa and holds a BA in Alternative Education as well as a Montessori specialization. She has taught Foundation Phase for 5 years in South Africa and tutored English for a year in New Zealand. Paige is excited to be part of the WAT family, teaching grade 3 in the PYP.

Evelina is from Albania and joined WAT in 2011. She has a Bachelor's degree in English language and a Master's degree in teaching English. Evelina has been with WAT since its opening and has had different roles during her time here, including being an Albanian teacher, Head of ESL and Librarian. Throughout the years she has gained valuable teaching experiences and has participated in many IB trainings and trainings in child development and safety, including Introduction to PYP, Making the PYP happen, Concept-based learning, Engaging in Collaborative Communities, and PYP evidencing learning.

Imran is from Scotland in the United Kingdom. He has been working in education for over 10 years, having worked in private schools and universities around the world, both in the classroom and online, before joining WAT in 2022. Imran has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Languages and Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh. He also minored in history, literature, and philosophy. Shortly after graduation, Imran gained his teaching qualification from the University of Cambridge. As one of our kindergarten teachers, his goal is to create a warm and supportive environment where our students can grow and gain the confidence and skills needed for future years. 

Maria is from the Philippines. She has taught in the IB Primary Years Programme for a decade and joined WAT in 2016. She has a Master's in Advanced Teaching and is proficient in the PYP curriculum. Maria has received many trainings in child development and safety, and is a valuable and long-term team member who has grown professionally with the school. As an educator, Maria is passionate about inquiry and student agency. She always looks forward to supporting our learners, developing their skills and encouraging them to become risk-takers, creative thinkers, and compassionate individuals. Outside of the classroom, she loves travelling and exploring the outdoors.

Reema is from India and joined WAT in 2017. She is a qualified teacher with 15 years of experience in international education, a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from University Of Delhi, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Bath, UK, and a Diploma in Pre School Education and Teaching from the International Center of Early Childhood Education and Teaching, Singapore. She has taught the British curriculum and International Baccalaureate in Singapore and India. Her experience with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program began in 2010. What she enjoys most about IB is to connect with students and understand them at a deeper level and help them grow into better individuals and learn from everyone around them.

Jennifer Yaver is originally from California in the United States but has been living and teaching in Albania for over a decade. This is her fifth year at WAT. She looks forward to supporting our WAT scholars as they learn and grow.

Igli is from Albania. He has a Bachelor's degree in Composition and Music Theory from the Fine Arts Academy of Tirana. Igli has been teaching since 2008 and joined WAT in 2012 as the PYP Music teacher. He holds several IB PYP Certificates and is a senior member of our team. Together with the art colleagues, they organise lots of wonderful musicals with our Primary students.

Ani is from Albania and joined WAT in 2022. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Sports' Faculty of Physical Activity and Recreation in Tirana and a Professional Master's as a Fitness Trainer, as well as a Master’s degree in Physical Education and Sports from Marin Berleti University, Faculty of Social Science, Tourism and Sports.