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Paul McKenzie

Paul McKenzie

Head of School

I’m originally from Christchurch, New Zealand and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History with a minor in Marketing Research Analysis from the University of Canterbury.

After beginning a career in health industry management, I met Jennie while training ESL teachers in Osaka, Japan. As newlyweds we continued teaching ESL before settling down in rural Ontario, Canada. It was during this time I earned my Bachelor of Education and membership to the Ontario College of Teachers.

With six years of teaching in Ontario behind me, Jennie, our two young children and I continued our global adventures. After teaching in and leading international schools across five continents, Jennie and I (minus our adult children) are excited to be in Zhuhai, China.

I hold a Master’s degree in Education with a focus in Educational Technology and am certified by the Principals’ Training Centre in London. I am an explorer of history, technology, art and astrophysics. Avid painter, art-lover and environmentalist. Eager traveller, futurist and reader of science fiction. But above all, I love moving schools from good to great. 

 
Danielle

Danielle Tucker

Head of Secondary

I hail from the United States, where I pursued my studies in English and Secondary Education (BA.Ed, University of Michigan) as well as Curriculum and Instruction (MA.Ed, Arizona State University). For a span of fourteen years, I dedicated myself to teaching at the high school level in Phoenix, Arizona, following the Common Core Curriculum. Currently, I am embarking on my fifth year in Zhuhai, with this being the third year as the Head of Secondary. Beyond my professional life in education, my passions include reading and exploring new destinations through travel.

Natalie Jensen

Head of Primary & PYP Coordinator

My most recent role was as Head of Primary in Amsterdam and prior to that I was the principal of a K-12 school in Melbourne. I love being an educator and working with children and teachers. I have a deep commitment to learning and teaching as well as the philosophy and vision of the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

I work with the IBO as an IB Educator in the Asia Pacific and Africa, Europe and Middle East regions, qualified as a Workshop Leader, School Visitor Team Member and Reader. I absolutely love this work as I get to work alongside educators and as part of the verification team help schools as they transition to the PYP framework. As PYP teachers we support and foster student agency and as a leader I believe in supporting the agency of teachers and work within a strengths-based approach, recognising and supporting teachers in their roles and creating a culture of mutual respect.

In addition to my teaching qualifications, I hold a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Child and Adolescent Welfare. Over the past 20 years in education, I have been involved in the authorisation in three of the IB (PYP, MYP and DP) programmes, overseeing compliance, creating and implementing IB mandated policies and ensuring that the implementation of the three programmes was respectful, thoughtful and careful to the culture, vision and progressive nature of the school.