how we teach

Deirdre began her career in Ireland, where she taught for four years. She then moved overseas, teaching in Kuwait, South Korea, and Malaysia, before moving to Vietnam in 2014.

Deirdre has also held a variety of leadership roles, including Key Stage 2 Leader, Head of Curriculum and Deputy Headteacher. Passionate about the benefits of a truly international education, Deirdre champions innovative and exciting ways to enhance learning, including the use of interactive technology in the classroom.

Deirdre has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and the Nord Anglia Aspiring Principal Leadership Programme (APLP). She’s also a certified BSO Inspector and CIS Accreditation Evaluator, and has taken part in several accreditation team visits to various schools.

Married with two sons, Deirdre loves spending time with her family, as well as travelling to new places. She also loves to bake and read, and enjoys swimming and walking.

Having qualified in 1990, Ian spent three years teaching in England before an eight-year stint in international schools in Sudan and Turkey. After returning to the UK, Ian took on a management position with responsibility for ICT at Ecclesall Junior School in Sheffield. He subsequently joined Greenhill Primary School, also in Sheffield, as Deputy Head Teacher in 2007.

Ian is married with three children and enjoys both watching and taking part in a variety of sports, particularly running, triathlons, and golf. He loves learning and relishes the opportunities that living and working in Vietnam offer.

Sue joined BIS HCMC in August 2023 as Deputy Headteacher, Enrichment – Whole School, having previously been Director of Inclusion and Free Learning at Dulwich College, London. Sue teaches Art and Art History, and is an academic and pastoral leader with a track record for developing educational partnerships.

She is a Chairperson for Gua Africa and a consultant for Windle International, working with survivors of war across East Africa. From early in her career Sue recognised the role creativity has in breaking down barriers, encountering pupils coming from challenging backgrounds, including those fleeing conflict zones. She continues to develop her praxis research in ‘Creative Wellbeing’ through her work in schools and refugee camps and believes every child can be nurtured to become lifelong curious learners.

Sue practices yoga and is a keen runner, this is often when she has her best ideas. 

Sarah started teaching in 1995, gaining her NPQH in 2009. She taught in inner-city schools in London and Bristol, as well as village schools in Norfolk and Wales, before becoming Head Teacher of Rhigos Primary School in 2010. She also spent two years lecturing on ICT in education, and is enthusiastic about the use of modern technology to enhance learning. Sarah is passionate about early years education and helps our students to become confident, creative, and imaginative learners. 

Away from school, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. She also likes sewing, travel, and geocaching.

Chris joined us from the Taipei European School, where he was a Year Group Leader and Key Stage 2 teacher.

His teaching career began in a London school, where he developed a passion for primary education. Chris subsequently spent nine years teaching PE in international schools in Kuwait, where he was also Head of Department, before moving to the British International School of Shanghai.

Chris' interests include travel, eating out in HCMC, and coaching our students on our sport enrichment programme. He has a wife, Nicole, who also teaches at BIS HCMC, as well as two children at the school.

A winner of a British International Teaching Award, Neil studied at the University of Coventry before gaining his PGCE from Birmingham City University.

Before joining BIS HCMC, Neil taught at Dulwich College, Seoul, where he was a Year Leader in Year 2 and Year 6. He also had responsibility for data and assessment, and co-leading maths. Prior to this, Neil taught in Egypt and in the UK, where he held curriculum roles and led Key Stage 1 and 2 science and maths.

Neil won his British International Teaching Award in 2018 for implementing an interleaving strategy into the maths curriculum. Neil’s wife, Victoria, also teaches at our school.

Stephen joined BIS HCMC in August 2023 as the Head of the Secondary Campus having previously worked as the Head of Secondary at the International School Brunei. British by birth and raised in New Zealand, Stephen completed his BSc in Auckland and his teaching diploma in Christchurch, where he met his Canadian wife, Tara. Their international teaching adventures have taken them to the UK, Argentina, Brunei and now to Vietnam. Along the way, Stephen completed his MEd and has two children, one born in England and one in Argentina. 

Stephen appreciates how excellent education can motivate and inspire young people and how international schools provide their communities with a myriad of opportunities to celebrate cultural diversity and develop globally minded, caring young people.  

With his international perspective, Stephen sometimes considers himself an original third culture child and uses his own life experiences to encourage all students to have a strong sense of self-identity, whilst also being open minded and engaged with the culture of their host country. 

In his spare time, Stephen enjoys the outdoors – walking, hiking, swimming and boating. A closet reader, Stephen is somewhat of a secret Pratchett fan. 

Sue joined BIS HCMC in August 2023 as Deputy Headteacher, Enrichment – Whole School, having previously been Director of Inclusion and Free Learning at Dulwich College, London. Sue teaches Art and Art History, and is an academic and pastoral leader with a track record for developing educational partnerships.

She is a Chairperson for Gua Africa and a consultant for Windle International, working with survivors of war across East Africa. From early in her career Sue recognised the role creativity has in breaking down barriers, encountering pupils coming from challenging backgrounds, including those fleeing conflict zones. She continues to develop her praxis research in ‘Creative Wellbeing’ through her work in schools and refugee camps and believes every child can be nurtured to become lifelong curious learners.

Sue practices yoga and is a keen runner, this is often when she has her best ideas. 

Lee started his teaching career with two very different placements: one in central London, the other in Sherbrooke, Québec. Despite the difference in temperature, he enjoyed the experience of the Canadian education system, as well as teaching French and English to first and second language learners.

Lee subsequently joined Bromsgrove School, where he taught French and German, before assuming the role of CAS Coordinator. A dream to teach overseas led him to Kellett School, Hong Kong, where, as Head of Faculty, he developed a broad languages curriculum. Lee also completed his NPQSL qualification, where he focused on raising teaching and learning standards.

A passionate linguist, Lee also enjoys hiking, kayaking, traveling, and keeping fit. He has completed a two-week trek to Everest basecamp, and plans to take on a 1,200km cycling tour of Taiwan and a 6,000m altitude hike in the Himalayas.

Gareth joined us in 2020, having previously taught at an international school in Hong Kong.

With more than 15 years of experience in pastoral care and wellbeing, Gareth has led the development of many highly successful wellbeing programmes. In recent years, Gareth has enhanced his expertise in this area through training with the University of Liverpool. Gareth is also a highly experienced and passionate history and humanities teacher. 

As a senior leader, Gareth is focused on providing carefully designed wellbeing programmes that equip our students with the correct tools, nurture their development, maximise their academic performance, and enable them to flourish.

Outside of school, Gareth is married with two children, one of whom is part of the BIS HCMC community. Gareth enjoys reading, coaching rugby, and writing children’s books.

Morgan joined BIS HCMC in August 2024 having previously gained extensive teaching and leadership experience across 15 years in the UK and British Curriculum schools in the UAE. 

Originally from Canada, Morgan gained a BA (Hons) in International Development from the University of Guelph, where she was a President’s Scholar and then a BA (Hons) in Education from Queen’s University.  Morgan also holds a National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL).  Her international teaching career began in the UK with the last 12 years being in British based curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi, where she has taken on such roles as Director of Teaching and Learning, Head of Sixth Form, Head of Humanities and Head of Scholars.  

Morgan is a passionate advocate for equity in education. Her book “Gifted? The Shift to Enrichment, Challenge and Equity” was published in early 2024. She frequently presents to fellow teachers at conferences and hosts a podcast on Teachers Talk Radio. Morgan comes from a family of dynamic educators and is happy to continue the tradition.  

Morgan has three little children who keep her busy! She enjoys reading in any quiet moments and playing board games with anyone who puts up with her overly competitive spirit. She is a typical geographer who loves to travel.