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Educational leadership team

Head of School

Stephen Dare

Secondary School Principal

Teresa Tung

Secondary School Assistant Principal

Joanna Crimmins

Primary School Principal

Virginia Hunt

Primary School Assistant Principal / PYP Coordinator

Carly Buntin

Student Support Services Director

John Shanahan

Simon Roberts
MYP Coordinator & Sports Science Teacher

Simon Roberts

DP Coordinator & Sciences Teacher

Claire Shaffery

Head of School

Stephen Dare

In his 14th year as Head of School, Stephen believes that everyone in an organisation has the capacity to contribute to the co-construction of learning experiences that both elevate thinking and promote action in support of broader educational initiatives. He is passionate about creating opportunities to democratise learning and elevate student voice within schools. Stephen began his career as a preschool teacher in Southeast England, and has worked as an administrator in North and South America as well as Southeast Asia. He is the treasurer of the ACAMIS Board and is on the Next Frontier: Inclusion Design Team. Stephen is an Agency Trainer for the Thinking Collaborative and has embedded the work of Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools into the professional learning culture of HKA, helping to implement the school’s mission and identity. He regularly presents courses on coaching and building institutional trust at international schools and conferences. Stephen initially left his home town for a two-year adventure overseas, and over thirty years later he continues to embrace the opportunities of working in a global culture.

Secondary School Principal

Teresa Tung

Teresa believes that great learning experiences should support each child to know themselves, understand the world, and be joyful, successful and contributing global citizens. An experienced international educator, Teresa regularly contributes to IB curriculum development, participates in IB and Council of International School (CIS) school authorisation visits, and leads educator workshops. Having previously served as a Global Citizen Diploma (GCD) Co-ordinator, Teresa brings her passion for and experience with the GCD to help students reflect on and gain recognition for their academic and community contributions. Exemplifying her own global citizenship, she is part of Compass Education, empowering educators with the tools to encourage students as sustainability advocates and systems thinkers. As a course leader for Amala Education, she helped develop the world’s first international high school curriculum for displaced youth. Teresa holds a Certificate of International School Leadership from Principals’ Training Center and a Corporate Innovation Certificate from Stanford Business School. In addition, she has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Teaching from the University of Virginia. In her down time, Teresa is nourished by spending time with her family and connecting with nature around Sai Kung. Her son is a proud HKA Dragonfly in Kindergarten, and her daughter attends HKA Playgroup.

Secondary School Assistant Principal

Joanna Crimmins

Joanna is an experienced IB educator who believes that young people learn best when authentic learning experiences allow them to develop an evolving understanding of our changing world. Joanna has worked with young people for nearly 20 years in multiple countries around the world; originally from Wales in the UK, Joanna has also taught internationally in Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Joanna believes strong relationships with parents and the wider community are vital in ensuring students are supported as they move through their school life. Joanna is passionate about the HKA community and is delighted to be working together with students, staff and parents to support the ongoing growth of our secondary school programme. Joanna has a Bachelor’s degree in Drama and Education from the University of Wales and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from The Open University, UK.

Primary School Principal

Virginia Hunt

Virginia believes that children make sense of their world by constructing meaning in an inclusive and authentic environment where students have opportunities for experiential learning by interacting with their social and natural world. She values diversity and the range of gifts students and adults bring to a learning environment. Virginia prides herself on the development and support of collaboration and self-directed learning in teachers and students. She is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World Leader Trainer and a Next Frontier Inclusion Reviewer, and is currently in the process of becoming an Adaptive Schools trainer. Virginia holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and an Advanced Master’s in Educational Leadership. She is certified by New York State. Virginia lives in Sai Kung and both of her children have graduated from Hong Kong Academy. Her children most valued the opportunities they had to explore an additional language and the range of sports on offer.

Primary School Assistant Principal / PYP Coordinator

Carly Buntin

Carly believes that every child is a capable individual who can thrive and be their personal best in a nurturing and inclusive environment. For Carly, fostering growth mindsets and supporting solution-oriented thinking are foundational tenets for empowering others to drive the change they want to see in themselves and their environment. Carly draws on 16 years of experience as an inclusive international educator to scaffold positive, caring and engaging classroom cultures anchored by mutual respect, throughout the primary school. An empathetic leader, she prides herself in establishing strong connections with students, colleagues and parents. Carly is trained in Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools and has a Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principal’s Training Centre to complement her Bachelors degree in Religious Studies and Postgraduate certification as a primary school educator. A mother of two daughters who attend HKA, she endeavours to maintain a balanced lifestyle at work and home through creativity, agency and laughter. As a lifelong learner, she continues to explore new avenues for growth as a female leader and educator.

Student Support Services Director

John Shanahan

As a qualified educational and developmental psychologist and special education teacher, John believes in the importance of celebrating the uniqueness of every individual. Originally from the United Kingdom, John has spent most of his life living in Hong Kong. Before joining HKA, John worked in private practice, providing psychological and educational support to families and international schools across Asia. John consults, advocates for and leads professional development around inclusion, socio-emotional resiliency and learning, and learning enhancement. He is also passionate about his work with non-profit organisations, and has served on the executive committee of the Dyslexia Association of Hong Kong and the Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong. John is currently an advisor to Kids4Kids, a local charity which is internationally recognized for encouraging international school students to engage with at-risk communities in Hong Kong, and also sits on the Safety Committee of Outward Bound Hong Kong as their Psychologist. John is an HKA parent, and has two children in Primary School.

Simon Roberts

MYP Coordinator & Sports Science Teacher

Simon Roberts

As the Grade 6-10 Curriculum Leader and IBMYP Coordinator, Simon believes that every student can find success through pursuing their passions, hobbies and interests. Recognising and rewarding the diversity of success is what builds the confidence in students and allows them to make progress within their individual pathways. As an experienced educator, Simon has developed programmes in the UK, Shanghai and Hong Kong. He values inclusion, diversity and opportunity. Simon holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Science and a Masters in Health and Wellbeing. He gained qualified teacher status in Secondary Physical Education in the UK. In his spare time, Simon is a keen sportsman and keeps a very close eye on his favourite football team, Leeds United. He also enjoys travelling, trying new restaurants and spending time on the beach with his daughter.

DP Coordinator & Sciences Teacher

Claire Shaffery

Claire Shaffery is an IBDP Coordinator and Secondary School science teacher with experience from Grade 6 through to Grade 12 in teaching MYP Science, GCSE Science, A Level Biology, IBDP Biology and IBDP Environmental Systems and Societies. Claire is also an IBDP Biology Examiner. Claire’s passion lies in empowering student choice and delivering a holistic education. She believes that tailoring her teaching to suit the many different learning styles enables all children to fulfil their potential and have meaningful, self-directed, engaging experiences. Originally from the United Kingdom, Claire graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science Degree (Honours) in Medical Biochemistry and Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Keele. She has been in education for twenty years having taught in both Birmingham and London before beginning her international career at Hong Kong Academy nine years ago. Claire has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia and South America and thrives on meeting new people and experiencing new and diverse cultures. In her free time, Claire enjoys playing chess, mahjong and has completed nine half-marathons for fund-raising events.

HONG KONG ACADEMY
International IB School in Hong Kong

33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
香港學堂國際學校  新界西貢惠民路33號
+852 2655 1111
office@hkacademy.edu.hk

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