OUR STAFF
Matilde Vavassori
Oak Tree Homeroom Educator
Italian
I began my work experience in the educational field at the children’s museum in Milan. I had the opportunity to dedicate myself to the Remida workshops and the play-exhibitions which created this need to have continuity with children and therefore enter the educational field. I started with a nursery experience at nidoscuola eni06, a Reggio Approach school, and then moved to Monza before the school was a GIS school and never left! I now teach the 2-3 year-olds section!
“A creative child is a happy child.” – Bruno Munari
At GIS Monza since August 2020.
Claire Wroe
Oak Tree Co-Educator & Librarian
British
Over 25 years of experience of teaching English to students of all ages in Italy. Part-time Professor of English Didactic Workshops for future Primary School teachers attending the Scienze della Formazione Department at the University of Bicocca, Milan, since 2015.
“Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.” Jane Austen, Persuasion
At GIS Monza since October 2020.
Kasia Krohn
Oak Tree Part-Time Educator & IB Consultant for GIS Monza
Polish/British
Over thirty years of experience of working as a teacher, leader and a counsellor/therapist for children at IB schools in countries such as the United Kingdom, Russia, Norway, Poland, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. I strongly believe in the holistic development of the child. Children learn in many different ways, express their inner worlds in many unique ways and develop individually.
“Play is the work of childhood.” Jean Piaget
At GIS Monza since 2020.
Alice Zardoni
Maple Tree Homeroom Educator
Italian
Over 10 years’ experience in education in Italy, England and the United States. After graduating in Italy and having gained experience in bilingual schools in Italy and private schools in England, I moved to Miami where I obtained my qualifications and worked as a teacher and director in Florida. When I returned to Italy, I deepened my knowledge of the Reggio Emilia Approach through experience with direct consultancy from Reggio Children and started the IB training course.
“Creativity becomes more visible when adults try to be more attentive to the cognitive processes of children than to the results they achieve in various fields of doing and understanding.” Loris Malaguzzi
At GIS Monza since August 2020.
Leon Hutchison
Maple Tree Co-Educator & Librarian
British
8 years’ experience in varying assistant roles in IB schools: classroom/teaching assistant, Learning Support assistant, library assistant. I am also a sound engineer and ran GIGGED – a Nottingham based music magazine and live events company.
“Ask ‘How will they learn best?’ not ‘Can they learn?’” Jaime Escalante
At GIS Monza since July 2021.
Simon Bamping
Ash Tree Homeroom Educator & Forest School Specialist
British
Over 15 years’ experience teaching in the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Italy as well as experience as an outdoor instructor, Forest School practitioner and children’s rock-climbing instructor. Moved to Italy in December 2018 to work in the Primary Years Programme of the IB.
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” Socrates
At GIS Monza since 2021.
Francesca Biancat
Atelierista & Visual Arts and Drama Educator
Italian
Since my graduation in Performing Arts, I started teaching Theatre Arts to children and teenagers, running a small theatre in Rome, directing performances, and working as a head teacher for Gymboree Play & Music. I moved to Monza in 2017.
“Tree
the very slow explosion
of a seed ”
Bruno Munari
At GIS Monza since August 2020.
Alessandra Chiesura
Music Specialist Educator
Italian
I am a professional singer and an early years and primary years music teacher for children in several schools. I graduated the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan. I believe being able to combine my musical activity as a singer and as a teacher is a great privilege for me because it allows me to experience multiple facets that make up the world of music, and to be able to view it through the eyes of children. Music can also be a game and this is a very important aspect of our lessons. I also think that children’s musical culture should be nurtured, cared for, and enriched and that is why together we explore various musical genres and discover the great bands of history.
“I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside”
Whitney Houston
At GIS Monza since 2020.
Giulia Brianzi
Physical Education & Dance Educator
British/Italian
Since 1990 I have been a modern, hip hop, tap teacher in the dancing Association founded by my mother in 1980 (ASD The Rose Dance Cermenate/Mirabello di Cantù), who grew up at London’s Royal Ballet.
“Imparare a camminare ti rende libero.
Imparare a danzare ti dà la libertà più grande di tutte:
Esprimere con tutto il tuo essere la persona che sei.”
Melissa Hayden
At GIS Monza since 2021.
Renee Chia Ling Chiang
Yoga & Mandarin Educator
Taiwanese/Italian
Following my studies in 2002, I arrived in Italy and have been living here since then. I worked as an interpreter in a multinational manufacturer and as a Gemologist in a boutique in Milan. I have been a yogi since I was little and started to hold yoga private lessons for children 2 years ago. I am trained to be a qualified Children’s Yoga and Mandarin for second language teacher.
“Money comes from Giving
Happiness comes from being Kind
Beauty comes from Patience
Leadership comes from Enjoying your Work
Peace comes from Meditation
Freedom comes from Wisdom
And Love accomplishes all these Goals ”
Arya Nagarjuna
At GIS Monza since September 2021.
Valentina Meschi
Italian Specialist Educator
Italian
Pedagogist with 5 years’ teaching experience in Italy promoting educational projects in primary and secondary schools.
“Ci sono altezze che si vedono
solo dal basso”
A. Casiraghy
At GIS Monza since 2020.
Jane Whittle
Principal & PYP Coordinator
British
Educator in England and Italy for 17 years teaching in UK primary schools and IB schools in the PYP and MYP in Italy. Author of a number of books for teachers such as Back2Front the Americas and Everyday Guide to Primary Geography:Story. Passionate about outdoor learning and research in the geography field. Member of the Editorial Collective for the Primary Geography Journal editing editions on play, the concept of change and the value of talk.
“The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn’t need to be reformed — it needs to be transformed. The key to this transformation is not to standardize education, but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions.” Sir Ken Robinson
At GIS Monza since July 2021.
Federica Costantino
Front Office Manager
Italian
13 years’ experience in education, from nursery all the way to primary school. I started as an educator, moved up to coordinator and finally as owner of a nursery school. I now work in education as Front Office Manager and Operations.
“Tutti i grandi sono stati piccoli, ma pochi di essi se ne ricordano.” Il Piccolo Principe
At GIS Monza since August 2020.
Francesca Consonni
Admissions and Marketing Manager
British/Italian
I graduated Regents University London with a degree in International Business Management & French. I have 4 years of experience in marketing and social media management and am an IB graduate myself, so I am very passionate about the programmes and familiar with the IB experience from a student’s perspective.
“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” C.S. Lewis
At GIS Monza since August 2020.
Maria Bondì
Caretaker
Italian
Mother of four! Thanks to my work experience in nurseries and preschools as a school worker and canteen assistant over the past 10 years, I have acquired the skills to manage the relationships and needs of children in various non-educational areas. I continue to cultivate my interests in psychology, and physical and mental well-being, thanks to which I continue to develop a strong empathic capacity with children, colleagues and parents.
“Non si vede bene che col cuore, l’essenziale è invisibile agli occhi.” Il Piccolo Principe
At GIS Monza since August 2020.
* GIS The International School of Monza is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme and pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high quality programmes of international education that share a powerful vision.
Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate® can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP) or the IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC).
Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
Mission Statement from the IB
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.