Faculty -A global school

Faculty

Whittle is looking for passionate practitioners worldwide

To recruit passionate educators from around the world, a team of Chinese and American professional recruiters and experienced educators selected our group of excellent teachers through the screening of resumes and applications received around the world and through several rounds of interviews.

In order to ensure fairness and cooperation between campuses, we apply an intelligent recruitment system called Green House to our teacher recruitment. This helps record, track, and communicate information as we build a large pool of talented candidates.

In addition to resume screening, video interviews, demo lectures, and principal interviews, we have also worked with Sterling Backcheck, one of the world's largest and most professional employee background check companies. A set of comprehensive background checks and identity checks are conducted on candidates who have been admitted to join Whittle, which include their educational backgrounds, work experiences, or criminal records in the country where they have lived.

Of the teachers at our Shenzhen campus, over 76% hold a master’s degree or above and 70% have more than 4 years of teaching experience. Chinese teachers mainly come from top-level international schools with some joining us from reputable public schools; the rest are those highly brilliant young fresh graduates from first-tier universities here in China and beyond. Foreign teachers are mostly from the US and the UK. They have at least 2-years teaching experience with many having been in the field of education for over 10 years.

Master's Degree Or Above
Four Years Or More Of Teaching Expereince
Fluent In At Least One Foreign Language

Early Learning Center

Mengya Zhang

Early Learning Divison Head

Ms. Mengya Zhang graduated from Columbia University with a master's degree in guidance and rehabilitation of health and behavioral studies. She was a core member of the Center for Opportunities & Outcomes for People with Disabilities, Columbia University. She is a trained behavioral analyst who has conducted research into several Waldorf, Reggio, and integrated kindergartens in New York State and has served as the Director of Strategic Development of a well-known early childhood education group in Shenzhen. As the co-founder of China’s first national special education foundation, she has always been committed to protecting and promoting children’s rights and has always been a pioneer of Whittle’s social responsibility initiatives. She has initiated and successfully held two Artist-in-Residence Charity Auction Events on campus.
In the past, Mengya was also a member of the ELC build team. This team collaboratively created the core curriculum design for Whittle's Early Learning Center with highly-qualified founding members from across Whittle's global network.

Martina Lu

Deputy Head of Early Learning Center

Martina LuDeputy Head of Early Learning Center

Martina Lu graduated with a degree in pre-school education and has more than ten years of pre-school education and international kindergarten management experience. She has been a national supervisor, chief director, and director of pre-school education institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong . She also served as the CEO of a well-known education investment company. Martina has a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of pre-school educational institutions and educational development in Wuhan, Hangzhou, Jingdezhen, the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong, and Japan. She has put this expertise into practice at Hudong Education College and in four kindergartens across Japan. Martina once founded a bilingual kindergarten implementing IB and Reggio concepts. She has unique understandings of the mix of cultures and backgrounds in schools, and advocates a holistic education that connects family, society, school, and the individual. She has dedicated herself to becoming an educator of lifelong learning.
Joshua Joseph Zachary Barr

Head of Curriculum

Joshua Joseph Zachary BarrHead of Curriculum

Josh is an experienced and qualified Early Childhood Educator holding teaching licenses from both the USA (Pre-k to Grade 3) and UK (QTS 4-11 years old). He has been teaching young English language learners in China since 2010 and prior to joining Whittle he taught in Chinese, IB PYP and American curriculum schools. Josh has continued to grow and learn academically earning his M.A. in Education Leadership and Management and M.Ed. in Education Globalization. Josh believes strongly in the philosophy of Reggio Emilia and has taken part in many professional development programs focused on Reggio Inspired practice as well as attending the official ‘Reggio Emilia Digital Study Tour in 2021’. Throughout his career Josh has gained experience in teacher training, managing departments, and curriculum design/ development. As our Head of Early Learning Curriculum Josh will bring his extensive skills and experience to develop Whittle’s Reggio Inspired bilingual program for both our Shenzhen and Suzhou campuses.
Elaine Eastwood

Deputy Head of Early Learning

Elaine EastwoodDeputy Head of Early Learning

Elaine Eastwood is a Reggio Emilia-trained early childhood educator with 15 years of experience teaching in culturally diverse classrooms. Prior to joining Whittle School & Studios, she worked for a decade as an early childhood educator at a renowned international school in Southeast Asia. Elaine is highly regarded for her ability to develop the natural curiosity of young children, helping them become confident and self-directed learners.

Lower and Middle School

Dr. Guo Xin

Lower and Middle School Divison Head

Dr Guo Xin studied a for a Bachelor’s in Journalism at Wuhan University, two Master’s degrees – in Higher Education at Tsinghua University and in Evidence-Based Social Intervention at Oxford University – and holds a PhD in Sociology of Education from University College London. She has held a variety of senior leadership positions in schools and educational organisations and has worked as a Senior Education Advisor for a branch of UNESCO. Dr Guo Xin joins us as Division Head for Lower and Middle School.

Dr. Lei, Isabelle

Head of Chinese Language and Literature

Dr. Lei, IsabelleHead of Chinese Language and Literature

Isabelle Lei obtained her doctoral degree in Chinese classic literature and has an extensive background in the Chinese language and culture. She used to serve as the Head of the Chinese Language Department at Tsinghua University High School and was in charge of the Chinese teaching and research of the elementary school division. She also took charge of organizing large-scale Chinese culture events on campus, implementing international education philosophies and methods in Chinese language teaching, improving the Chinese course system. She successfully promoted the Chinese Culture Program at Tsinghua University High School and made it one of the most well-known Chinese programs among international schools, benefiting the field of multi-cultural education. During that time, she also served as the chief editor of the school’s internal Chinese textbook, “Hua Zhang Qing Yun,” and was in charge of the design and delivery of the course. Through the teaching of this internal course, she managed to pass on the mission and vision of the school to her students. What made Isabelle join Whittle was the school’s focus on both Chinese and English and the resolution of creating a global learning community.

Specialists

Alessandro Antonicelli

Head of Creative Arts and Design

Alessandro AntonicelliHead of Creative Arts and Design

Passionate about how traditional and modern media bridges cultures, Alessandro completed his bachelor’s and masters’s degrees in multimedia design and production, and was recently awarded a Certification in Evaluating Design with Users. In 1999 Alessandro founded The Web Agency, specializing in animated interactive websites, and started off his academic career teaching design and multimedia. In 2004, he moved to China, where he became program director of graphic design and interactive media at Raffles Design Institute attached to Changchun University and Donghua University in Shanghai. He became associate professor through the application of multiple intelligence combined with learning-by-doing while teaching design. Alessandro’s most recent project was the design of the e-learning platform for La Sapienza University in Rome.
Dr. Wu, Nelson

Head of Performing Arts

Dr. Wu, NelsonHead of Performing Arts

Dr. Nelson Wu read Ph.D. at King’s College London and studied violin at the Royal Academy of Music. He worked professionally as an orchestral and a chamber musician and made several award-winning recordings with the London Symphony Chorus as a first tenor. He performed with world-famous conductors in venues such as Sydney Opera House, Auckland Town Hall, the Lincoln Center in New York, Severance Hall in Cleveland, and Royal Albert Hall and Barbican Centre in London. He presented academic papers at Oxford and Cambridge universities and published peer-reviewed articles on Brahms and Messiaen. Dr. Wu has served as Director of Music/Performing Arts in four leading schools in Australasia and China. One of his students came third in the world in A Level Music. He was the founding director of music at Wycombe Abbey International School where he built their flagship music program within three years. Under his dynamic leadership, the musicians averaged over 80% Merit and Distinction awards in ABRSM and RSL practical and theory exams. He coached several national finalists of Steinway and Carnegie Hall competitions. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II received Dr. Wu for his academic excellence and distinguished service to community.
Dr. Yang, Brian

Director of Center of Excellence

Dr. Yang, BrianDirector of Center of Excellence

A native of Hunan, China, Brian Yang received his bachelor’s degree from Peking University and a Ph.D. from Yale University. Brian then went on to work for McKinsey & Co., first in Chicago and later as the founding member of McKinsey’s office in Shenzhen. Having experienced the best of what both China and the US have to offer in education, Brian is attracted to Whittle by the vision of a global school that leverages the best resources, talents, and capabilities from around the world.
Simon Pang

Head of P.E.

Simon PangHead of P.E.

Simon was born in Hong Kong and attended boarding school and university in the UK. After completing his PGCE in 2010, he taught PE internationally at DR Congo, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Outside of school, Simon is certified to the highest degree as a rugby coach, and he has coached professionally for the national youth rugby teams in Hong Kong and China. He is also a certified coach trainer for World Rugby and has delivered numerous professional courses for teachers and coaches in Asia. He is currently completing his master’s degree in coaching performance at the University of Stirling.
Taylor Collard

Athletics Director

Taylor CollardAthletics Director

Taylor Collard was born in London and later moved to Spain where he grew up loving football. He played through his late teens and then moved into coaching. In 2011, Taylor moved back to the UK where he achieved a bachelor’s in sports coaching from the University of Central Lancashire and worked at the professional football club Preston North End FC. In 2014, he moved to the United Arab Emirates where he led a sports & wellness program at the American University of Sharjah. Upon leaving the UAE in 2016, Taylor continued his journey into China working as a Lead Player Development Coach at a teenage football club. Taylor also has an English Football Association Coaching license.
Isabel Li

School Counselor

Isabel Li School Counselor

Isabel Li has experience working in schools and in clinical psychology. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology (London) and achieved First Class Honours in her master’s degree in clinical psychology (Wales). She has worked in various schools in the UK, with children from Lower School to Upper School, providing additional support for students with learning difficulties as well as psychological support for students of different ages. Isabel also worked in various psychology teams in the UK. During her role at the neuropsychological assessment clinic, she conducted cognitive and psychological assessments. She also worked in the depression and anxiety clinic (children and adolescence team) in Reading, UK, where she conducted psychological assessments and provided psychological support for children and young people who experienced mental health difficulties. She enjoys collaborating with families and, most importantly, believes that a holistic approach is important for supporting children’s wellbeing.
Swing Liu

College Counsellor

Swing LiuCollege Counsellor

Swing Liu studied for her Bachelor’s in English at the China University of Political Science and Law and for her Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at the University of Pennsylvania. She worked as the College Counsellor at the Houde Academy in Shenzhen and founded the Shenzhen Career Development Association. She joins Whittle as our College Counsellor.
Audrey Ma

Assistant Coordinator of Information Centre

Audrey Ma Assistant Coordinator of Information Centre

Audrey Ma received her bachelor's degree from the State University of New York and a master’s in art history from the University of Kansas. With a passion for community service and library, she has worked as a cataloger intern at the Roberson Museum & Science Center and participated in the “Rare Book” project at the Library of KU. After graduation, she worked as a librarian at an international school in Hangzhou and helped to build the school library. She believes that information literacy is a key to the student's success, and in every book there’s an inspiration. Her goal is to build a library that helps facilitate reading and learning and is also a center for information sharing and space with a sense of the community.