Tina graduated from the University of Oxford, UK, and the University of Leuven, Belgium, holding both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Education. She currently serves as the Vice-President of the Oxford University Alumni Association in Guangzhou, leveraging the academic rigor of world-renowned institutions and a robust alumni network to support school development and student growth through a global lens.
With over 20 years of experience in international education, Tina brings deep expertise and leadership insight to her role. She joined ISA in 2013 as the founding Deputy Head of School of ISA Tianhe. In 2018, she was appointed Head of the International Education Division of Best Study Education Group. Her extensive school leadership experience enables her to design and implement growth pathways tailored to the needs of every student.
During her tenure as Head of Operations of ISA Science City, Tina focused on enhancing the quality of educational services by establishing efficient cross-functional collaboration systems, which significantly improved the school’s overall operational effectiveness.
A seasoned expert in education management, Tina possesses a keen understanding of global education trends, educational research, and the evolving landscape of international curriculum development and accreditation.
In her concurrent role as Director of Public Affairs Department at ISA International Education Group, Tina maintains close communication with government departments, supporting the Group’s strategic development and ensuring a favorable policy environment. She also plays a key role in building global partnerships, creating wider opportunities for international exchange, and broadening students’ global outlook and intercultural competencies.
Rovanna Bawden
Director of Student Support
Rovanna comes from Australia and has worked extensively in other big international schools across six countries, most recently at the International School of Macao and the Western Academy of Beijing.
She has a Master of Education in Inclusive Education and a Master of Education in Guidance and Counselling, and her expertise is in supporting families and students who require individual programming.
At ISASC, she will develop the Student Support Team which will grow to include pastoral care, English as an Additional Language, Learning Support, and Counselling services for students.
She believes that ISASC will be a school where all students can be successful given the right conditions, and with individualized support, all students can reach and even exceed their full potential.
Joe Caruso
Director of Pedagogy
Joe Caruso is an accomplished Australian educator and senior academic leader with over 20 years of international experience across Australia, China, Germany, and Norway. Currently serving as Director of Pedagogy at ISA Science City and Executive Manager: Pedagogy at ISA International Education Group, Joe has played a pivotal role in shaping high-quality, future-oriented education across five campuses. His work includes the design and implementation of a group-wide teaching standards framework, the rollout of a comprehensive instructional coaching programme and the coordination of CIS, WASC accreditations, and IB evaluations (PYP, MYP, and DP) across multiple ISA campuses.
A former Deputy Head of School and Dean of Academic Affairs, Joe has led school-wide pedagogical improvement initiatives and designed strategic development plans that have enhanced institutional coherence and academic rigour. He is trained across IB subject groups 1, 2, 3, 6 and the Core, and has served as an IB examiner for Language A and Theory of Knowledge. His expertise spans multiple curricula, including the IB continuum, IGCSE, and the Australian curriculum.
A published author and experienced trainer, Joe has delivered professional development to teachers and school leaders globally on topics such as instructional coaching, elevating formative assessment, AI in education, and middle leadership. Joe’s leadership is characterised by intellectual rigour, cross-cultural fluency, and a commitment to student-centred learning.
Brayan Munoz
Director of Data and Assessment
Mr. Brayan Munoz holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas, a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Westminster College, and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University.
He combines twelve years of teaching experience with ten years in school leadership, spanning international and bilingual schools across multiple countries. Before joining ISA, Mr. Munoz served as the Executive Principal of Primary and Secondary School at an educational institution in Eastern China, where he oversaw the successful establishment of two international schools within just two years.
As an IB graduate himself, Mr. Munoz is not just an advocate but a passionate practitioner of the IB curriculum, which has led him to effectively guide schools through various accreditation processes. His expertise lies in creating, aligning, and evaluating school systems to enhance academic programs and improve student outcomes. Mr. Munoz is known for his genuine passion for education and his commitment to students.
Sean Maj
Athletic Director
Sean is the Athletic Director of ISA Science City, and Chair of the Pearl River Conference’s Green Division. He brings to the school a strong lifetime commitment to sport and and in-depth knowledge of leagues in Guangzhou, the Greater Bay Area, and China as a whole.
In the 2000’s he started the sport program at Utahloy International School of Guangzhou, helping them gain entrance into local leagues and ultimately ACAMIS. He attended the first ACAMIS sport league meetings that divided schools across China into divisions for competitive sport.
Mr. Maj graduated from McGill University of Montreal, (ranked 29th in the world) where he earned a 4-year Bachelor of Education with a major in teaching Physical Education and a minor in teaching English Literature. This balanced background makes him a holistic role model for our student athletes. The McGill program featured intensive coaching certifications in a range of sports coupled with student-teaching assignments in Montreal’s top schools.
At McGill Mr. Maj was selected for their American football team which competed on the national stage against the country’s top universities. This experience has helped him understand what it takes for our athletes to reach their aspirations for university or even professional sport; this year he is proud to witness the first ever signing of an ISASC Lions’ athlete by an NCAA team.
Sean is passionate about sport and building community through participation in league play. He believes that sport help students build resilience, understand commitment and develop relationships that last a lifetime. He looks forward to the continued success and growth of the ISASC Sports Program. Go Lions!
Leonah Arroyo
Library Manager
Leonah Arroyo is joining ISA as the Library Manager. She has served as a professional librarian for over a decade. She brings with her experience in library collection management, outreaching programing, and literacy curriculum development. Leonah holds a Master of Library and Information Science, Graduate Certificates in Education and in Museum Studies, and B.A in Humanities. Leonah has had the opportunity to work in diverse international school communities across four countries as well as libraries in the United States. She has a passion for interdisciplinary project-based learning and believes that libraries should be lively places where students can foster a lifelong love of learning.
Ms. Katie Cummins is a British Australian Dual citizen, originating from Nottingham in the UK. After achieving a Master of Science degree in the Biological Sciences field in the UK, Katie travelled to Australia to complete a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Melbourne, and has for the past 18 years, dedicated herself to supporting her students to fulfill their potential.
As a teacher of the Sciences, specialising in both Biology and Psychology at senior level, she has taught in the various programmes of the IB for the last 14 years. She has maintained various leadership roles across that time including Head of Sciences and has for the last 5 years held the role MYP Coordinator and Personal Project coordinator, guiding many students through the Middle Years Programme and school through its in depth IB Evaluation.
She holds strong relationships within the IB organisation and continues to be sought out by the IB directly, to contribute to the direction and development of the Middle Years Framework.
Coco Chen
Activities Coordinator
Coco is an enthusiastic experiential educator, a facilitator of community and social-emotional learning, and a student leadership coach. She has been working in education innovation and international education since 2014, leading experiential and social-emotional learning programs in China and Southeast Asia. Among the programs offered are adventure expeditions, nature and culture explorations, leadership workshops, Global Citizenship conferences, and social innovation projects. Coco is also passionate about promoting education equality. Her work in China, Thailand, and Nepal has been focused on empowering under-resourced youths to make a change in their local communities. Coco has conducted many Social Emotional Learning & Experiential Education Workshops for international educators in addition to serving as an educational consultant and trainer.
Adina Ondere
Learning Support Teacher
With 20 years of dedicated experience in special education, Adina have spent 15 years in the USA and the last 5 years in China, working with students from Early Childhood Education to Year 13. For the past four years, Adina served as the Head of Student Support and Safeguarding Lead at an international school in Beijing, where she implemented TIERD levels of support to foster inclusive learning environments.
Adina hold a BA and a Master's in Counseling and Exceptional Education, as well as a Master's in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. Her work involves close collaboration with parents, students, and teachers to create supportive environments that empower students to reach their full potential.
Adina is particularly interested in mental health and well-being, and she have pursued additional learning about English learners. Currently, Adina us also working towards ICF certification with the International Coaching Federation, enhancing her ability to guide students, parents, and educators in their developmental journeys.
William Burnside
Learning Support Teacher
William is a member of the Student Support Team and provides learning support services in the Primary and Middle Years Programs. He has over 15 years of experience in education, including leadership experiences in the United States, Kuwait, and China. In previous posts, William served as an Assistant Director, Lead Math and Science Teacher, and Accreditation Committee Chair. William has been recognized as an educator of distinction by the Golden Apple Foundation of Illinois and the Haidian District Foreign Talent Office in Beijing, China. William earned a Master of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from National-Louis University in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Additionally, he attained a Professional Educator License with the Illinois State Board of Education. William also holds a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School and Harvard Graduate School of Education. William is a life-long learner and continually seeks new professional development opportunities. He is a member of several international education councils and associations in areas including school leadership, curriculum development, and special education. He is preparing to begin the next step in his educational journey by undertaking advanced post-graduate studies in educational leadership.
Cherish Danekas
Teacher Librarian
Cherish works as the Inquiry Teacher in the library at ISA Science City where she oversees the library’s teaching and learning as well as the academic collections. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Oregon. Where she helped develop new courses and choose course material. She has worked as a teacher since graduating and has worked with students from Early Years up to Secondary Years. She has a strong passion for all things book and writing related and strives to impart this to everyone who visits the library whether they are staff, student, or parent.
Kelly McCarron
Psychologist
Kelly is a licensed clinical psychologist from the United States. She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Columbia University (Barnard College) and a Doctor of Psychology degree from The Wright Institute, followed by a two-year neuropsychology postdoctoral fellowship, with a total of 17 years of clinical practice prior to joining ISA. She has extensive experience in neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy and has published original research on social cognition, integrative health, and institutional courage. After first arriving in China, she enjoyed teaching and contributing to intercultural communication projects in the Department of English at Sun Yat-sen University. As an ISC Science City psychologist, Kelly is grateful to contribute to the communal goal of helping each student feel safe, seen, valued and successful. She also strives to promote educator, leadership, and family wellness to build a flourishing community that loves learning.
Katrina Liu
School Counsellor
Katrina holds a Bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology and a Master's degree in Social Science Counseling from Hong Kong Baptist University. With two years of experience in a vocational college setting, she actively engages with students, promoting their academic, career, and social-emotional development. Katrina excels in individual counseling, employing narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She has received training from the Chinese Psychological Society, including crisis intervention, ethical practices, and certified supervision. As a teacher, she delivers key courses like "Psychological Education for College Students" and "Social Psychology," accumulating 682 teaching hours. She creates a supportive learning environment that fosters student growth. With her compassionate approach and professional expertise, Katrina is committed to supporting individuals in overcoming challenges, developing resilience, and achieving personal growth. She empowers students to navigate their academic and personal journeys successfully.
Shirley Zong
School Counsellor
Shirley has a Master of Counselling from Monash University and a Bachelor of Applied Psychology from South China Normal University. She has almost 2 years of experience in mental health centre as a psychotherapist for children and adolescents. In the hospital, she provides ethical and professional therapy and collaborates with psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to prevent individuals from risk and foster their wellness. She has a great passion for working with children and adolescents with the goal of helping young people enhance their resilience and achieve their full potential. In ISASC, she will establish rapport with students, their families and teachers to be the part of the support network.
Ana Liang
Library Assistant
Ana works in ISA Science City as a Library Assistant. She graduated from Zhujiang College of South China Agriculture university in 2015.During her university, she majored in the research on English culture. As she really loved Kids, she devoted herself into to English Pre-school Education after graduation from university. She had more than 5-year working experience on younger kid’s English teaching. Before she joined ISA, she worked in My GYM School and Giraffe American English as teacher assistant to be key communication bridge between school and parents, therefore she was professional in Kid’s and parent’s communication. When Ana is not at work, she enjoys doing yoga and traveling. She is joining IELTS. She enjoys challenge and hopes to offer most professional assistance for her students.
Leanne Chen
Associate Teacher
Leanne was born and raised in Guangzhou. Prior to joining ISA Science City, she has successfully worked at international schools in China in Learning Support, including leading a team for 4 years. With over 12 years of experience working in various international schools in Guangzhou, she is passionate about supporting students who have particular needs in order to develop their learning. She strongly believes that every child is unique with their different learning styles and capabilities. She is also known by the children with the nickname “Gamer”. This is because she often plays board games to build the rapport with students before she starts their interventions.
Leanne provides individual and group sessions to meet the specific needs of each learner. She collaborates regularly with other teachers and families to help students access the learning opportunities in their classroom. Furthermore, she helps her students to feel increased confidence in themselves, and in their social development, behavior management as well as their learning progress. She feels a great sense of achievement when she witnesses students’ progress, and receives genuine compliments from class teachers and parents. Her calm and patient nature is a valuable asset that allows her to deal with students of all ages. Her professional aim is to use her knowledge, languages and experiences to nurture students who need support in terms of learning.
Nan Jiang
Associate Teacher
Nan is an Associate Teacher at ISA Science City International School. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2017. Nan worked in the library for several years, during which she participated in a large number of children's reading promotion activities. During that period, Nan met many children. She believes that students are independent individuals. She respects the independence of students and encourages them to face difficulties, continue to learn, and grow to be a lifelong learner. Nan believes that education is a happy encounter. Becoming a good teacher with a lifelong learning and a benevolent heart is her goal. She believes that in her teaching, children can feel the warmth of family and the joy of learning, and grow to be outstanding talents.
Fern Liu
Data Impact Analyst
Fern hails from Yichang, Hubei, a city celebrated for its iconic Three Gorges. She completed her undergraduate studies in Applied Statistics at the Central South University for Nationalities, where she honed her analytical skills. Following graduation, she embarked on a three-year journey with a Contract Research Organization (CRO), where she specialized in clinical data analysis. Her role involved leveraging analytical software to manage and interpret vast datasets, with proficiency in tools such as SAS and SQL. This experience has not only sharpened her data sensitivity but also instilled in her a meticulous approach to work and the ability to effectively coordinate and schedule tasks. She is confident that these skills, coupled with her professional experience, will enable her to play her role in the education sector, where she aims to delve deeply and contribute meaningfully.
