Ms. Patty Johnston is from the U.S. A. and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor in Design and Art. She had a successful career as a photo-film stylist working for many U.S. and International magazine print ads as well as commercial television shoots. Changing professions she then earned a Masters of Art Education from Northern Illinois University and began her international visual art teaching career in Bangkok Thailand. She has also taught in international schools in Kuala Lumpur and in the U.S. before coming to BISS in August 2011.  Her love of teaching and traveling is continuing inspiration for creative artworks.

Mr. Matt Stocking has recently completed his Master in Education degree with a Master’s Certificate in Special Education from Fairmont State University. He completed his BA in Secondary Social Studies from the same school.  He has been teaching middle school social studies at BISS in the Philippines for the last two years. Before that he was in Mali, West Africa teaching a few different subjects at the small AISB. He also has a few years experience teaching high school special education in America. Matt enjoys basketball and has coached various levels from middle school to varsity. He is looking forward to bringing his unique experiences to Beijing BISS.

Ms Sheryl Krengel is a graduate of the University of Minnesota in the United States. She has been teaching business and marketing education as well as computer and information technology for 15 years in both private and public schools. Prior to teaching, Ms Krengel worked for over 10 years in private industry for a Fortune 500 company as an account manager. In 2004-2006, she and her family taught overseas in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she served as the Technology Coordinator and Student Council advisor, and assisted in the IB authorization process. Ms Krengel enjoys camping, reading, interesting food and traveling. She, along with her husband and daughter, are looking forward to experiencing China, working with extraordinary people at BISS and the big city life of Beijing.

Mr. Daniel Krengel is a 25-year-teacher with teaching licensure in four distinct areas: English Language Arts, Speech Communication, Learning Disabilities, and Emotional-Behavioral Disabilities. In addition, he has advanced training in AP and IB.

"Mr. Brian Wiesner is originally from the state of Pennsylvania in the United States.  He completed his BS in Chemistry from Penn State University in the US and worked as a chemist for the Paint & Coatings as well as the Fats & Oils industries before becoming a High School Mathematics teacher.  He acquired his teaching certificate through Northwestern University in the US and has worked in Chicago Public Schools and for the past two years at the Universal American School in Dubai.

Mr. Wiesner is looking forward to living in Beijing and teaching MYP and DP Mathematics at BISS in the upcoming years.  He is an avid traveler who is always keen on experiencing and discovering how other cultures thrive whether it be in the Far East or beyond."

Mr Gerard Dutton graduated from, and was a lecturer, at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Australia.  He has a Bachelor of Music - Instrumental (1987), a Graduate Diploma of Music - Instrumental Performance (1988), a Graduate Diploma in Education - Secondary Music (2007) and is currently studying for a Masters of Music Education at Northwestern University, Chicago. Prior to international teaching Gerard had an active career as a professional flautist, playing with many ensembles and orchestras.  From 2001-2004 he taught secondary music and was Instrumental Music Co-ordinator at the International School Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Gerard’s other interests include carpentry, boating, chess, and computers. 

Mr Mark Saunders graduated from the University of Southampton in 1981 with a BSc. in Chemisty and obtained his PGCE from the same university in 1982.  He has taught Chemistry, Science and Mathematics at schools in the UK and the Dominican Republic and held the Head of Science post in the later of these.

Mark is a qualified IBDP examiner

Ms. Li obtained her degree from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, majoring in English Language and Literature.  Before that, she obtained a Diploma in Art Education and Teaching from the 201 Art School, affiliated with the former Central Academy of Art and Design.  In 2003 Brenda also undertook training in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at the Beijing Language and Culture University.  Brenda worked as a certified English and Art teacher in the local Chinese schools for a number of years before joining BISS in 1998.  While working at BISS Brenda has taught a variety of levels of Chinese language – from PYP to MYP, currently she is teaching mainly MYP Chinese Language A & B, Grades 5 -10.

She enjoys reading, painting, writing calligraphy and visiting museums and concert halls in her leisure time. With her passion and dedication, Brenda will continue to contribute her enthusiasm and expertise to the BISS family.

Shujuan Qu holds a degree from the Beijing Normal University, where she majored in Science Education, as well as a degree in English from Beijing Foreign Language University. ‘Shu’ has had experience working in Eritrea, and subsequently worked at a number of international schools. She has worked at BISS, as the Science Education Assistant and is looking forward to her new role as Activities Coordinator.

Mrs Filipa Covington graduated in 1999 with a BA honors in Modern Languages and Literature English and German Studies from the University of Lisbon.  In 2001 she completed her two-year Teaching degree in ESOL and German from the same university.  She moved then to London, where she lived and worked as a language teacher.  Prior to joining BISS, Filipa worked for two years as an ESOL teacher and served as the German coordinator in an international school in Istanbul, Turkey.  She is, herself, a product of an international education, having graduated from the German School of Lisbon.  Apart from having a VERY long name (Ana Filipa da Cunha Abreu Moita de Deus Covington), Filipa is also well known for her linguistic abilities.  She speaks English, German, Portuguese, and some Spanish and French.

Ms Angela Ku graduated from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul with a Bachelors degree in English Language and Literature and a Masters degree in American Studies.  She completed her PhD coursework in American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin after she studied at the PhD program in American Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She taught at the college she graduated from and started her secondary school teaching career at Korean International School of Beijing.  She joined BISS in 2003 and has been teaching MYP and DP Korean.

Angela is a qualified IBDP Korean A Examiner and IBMYP Korean A Moderator.

Mr David Wang teaches IB Chinese A1 in the Secondary School.  He has 20 years of teaching in both Chinese and English in high schools in southern China.  He received his teaching license from Heilongjiang Education Board and since 2007, has been working on his Master of Education from the Beijing Language and Culture University.  David believes that language is best learnt through appreciation of the history and culture and in his lessons, he draws extensively from the depths of Chinese heritage in art and literature to bring his lessons alive to his students.  David's other skills include playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, singing, Chinese painting and calligraphy.

Ms Makiko Koike holds a BA in Law and an MA in Applied Japanese Linguistics.  She graduated with a Bachelors degree from Chuo University in Japan and a Masters Degree from Monash University in Australia.  She has taught all the different levels of Japanese in Japan, Australia and Canada prior to teaching Japanese at the Beijing International Studies University.  Makiko is presently teaching MYP and DP Japanese at BISS.  

Ms Cheryl Moen graduated from Central University of Iowa in 1987 with a BA in Spanish before leaving for studies abroad in Mexico.  She then studied TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) at the University of Washington in Seattle and received an MA in Teaching English as an International Language in 1995 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  For over 15 years, Cheryl has been in the field of foreign language teaching in Seattle, Illinois, Taiwan and China.  She has been with BISS since August 1998.

Ms Henry DeGreef is a native New Yorker who has taught 2nd through 12th graders in Greece, Turkey, Germany and Texas.  She is a graduate of Columbia University and Brooklyn Law School, and among her extracurriular interests are cooking, black and white photography and scrabble.

Mr Robert Anderson was born in Scotland and educated in Australia.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Industrial Arts from the University of Newcastle and completed his Master of Design at the University of Technology, Sydney.  He has taught Design and Technology at all secondary levels in Australia and most recently the UK.  Mr. Anderson was seconded to the Department of Education, NSW, Australia to facilitate the training of teachers within Design and Technology.  He has also taught in Japan for two years prior to joining BISS.

Mr. Covington is a science teacher and holds a Bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh and a teaching certificate in biology and general science. He taught in England for two years before moving to his first International School in Istanbul, Turkey. Mr. Covington and his wife joined BISS in 2005.


Mr Covington is a qualified IBDP examiner.

Dr Mary Montgomery obtained her Certificate in French and Humanities in France and subsequently her Bachelor of Arts and Masters Degree in the United States.  She received a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from the University of Maryland, USA in 2004.  Mary has worked as an undergraduate advisor and teacher and while in China, was a Professor in the departments of American Studies and Diplomacy in the Beijing Foreign language University.  She joined BISS in 2008, teaching English and Humanities.

Mr. Daiju Vithayathil comes from Bangalore, India and has earned Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Business Administration, as well as an MBA.  Daiju has taught at international schools in India and Japan and serves as an IB Assistant Examiner for the Extended Essay and HL Paper 1 components in Business and Management.  His is also passionate about sports coaching and language learning where he is a qualified swimming coach.  He peaks six different languages (now learning German!).

Daiju is a qualified IBDP Business & Management Examiner.

Mrs Christine Vithayathil originally hails from Austria, in a small village in the Tyrolean Alps.  Since becoming a qualified teacher in her native Austria in 1997, she has held various teaching, as well as administrative, positions in Austria, the UK, India and Japan.  Language learners have always been the passion and focus of Christine’s teaching career, especially since she is one of them!  Christine has recently completed her MA in English Literature and CELTA course.

Ms Catherine Laing hails from Aoteroa, New Zealand and graduated from Auckland University in 1993 with an MA in Political Studies.  Catherine spent the following eight years working in local and regional government, and traveling throughout Europe and Southeast Asia before earning a secondary teaching diploma in drama, literature, speech and language.  After starting her teaching career in her native New Zealand teaching high school drama and English, she soon yearned to travel once more.  This time Catherine ended up in Dhaka, Bangladesh teaching MYP and DP English and served the local community working also with local schools and NGOs.  An avid cook, she is also anticipating some thrilling culinary experiences in eastern cuisine and hopes to finish her quest to “master the art of noodle soup".

Ms Jenna Barnes is from Fresno, California.  She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in natural science and her teaching credential from California State University in Fresno.  Upon completion of her studies, she taught for three years in Fresno before moving overseas.  Since leaving California, she has taught Middle School IT in Kuwait and Grade 8 Earth Science in Colombia.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, photography, backpacking, downhill skiing, shopping and walking with her dog (Charlie).  She came to Beijing to explore what seems to be the cultural center of the world; she came to BISS because the school’s educational philosophy seems to fit so well with her own.

Ms Alexis Kossiakoff taught ESOL for two years in Washington, D.C and completed her teaching internship at BISS in the fall of 2007.  She earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Connecticut College in 2002, a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from The George Washington University in 2004, and a Master’s of Education from George Mason University in 2008.  Prior to teaching, Alexis advised international students at the University of Chicago and worked at a nonprofit organization fostering literacy in the developing world.  She enjoys hiking, making jewelry, and exploring the world.  She lives in Beijing with her husband and cat.