As part of the "Who We Are" IB* Unit of Inquiry, our faculty & staff chose some meaningful objects & memories to visually represent their own unique identity & experiences. Each also contributed some thoughts about how they have been shaped by their cultural background, and reflected on what makes them unique.
Flip through this gallery to learn a bit more about how our faculty and staff express "Who We Are."
“I think it is important for students to learn about other cultures and languages because they learn to be inclusive, open minded, respectful and non-judgmental toward differences.” – Maryam Shabani, Dean of Students
“I think it is important for children to be exposed to other cultures so that we understand early on that we live as part of a delicate cultural ecosystem.” – Jacques Rancourt, Middle School Principal
"I was born the son of a mother from North Africa and a father from Europe, and this is why during all my life I have kept a foot on different continents." – Philippe Dietz, Head of School
“Through studying, working, and traveling internationally, my eyes have opened to the massive range of beauty and love that people and cultures around the world have to offer.” – Lauren Christel, Elementary School Principal
“Music is a great way to express ourselves, and it connects people from different backgrounds.” – David Huang, Early Years Principal
“The arts are essential to a well-rounded education and dance especially has a powerful part to play in early childhood education.” – Cécile Roques, PreK French
“I grew up with an understanding of multiculturalism and diversity. I relate a lot to the Muslim saying, ‘A lot of different flowers makes a bouquet.’” – Chu Hsi Tseng, 2nd Grade Chinese
“I grew up in a multi-language environment in Taiwan. In addition to Mandarin Chinese, my grandparents from my father’s side spoke two different Chinese dialects with me.” – Hsiaoyu Chang, PreK Chinese
“I am a Third Culture Kid (Canadian parents, Maui born, Bangkok raised) and I can feel at home in almost any corner of the world.” – Jacqueline Cody, PYP Coordinator
“My mother and father were from different cultures, so seeing things from different perspectives has always been a part of my life.” – Jovi Craig, Director of Communications
“Being in beautiful places helps me to stay grounded by appreciating the grandeur of the natural world, and to breathe deeply.” – Kate Lussen, Assistant Head of School
“I love reading, cooking, boxing, swimming and exploring new places, and I am continuously learning new things. I hope to inspire everybody to want to be life-long learners too!” – Liz Evans, 3rd Grade English
“I belong to the Peace Foundation, an organization devoted to the abolition of nuclear weapons.” – Nicole Taliaferro, Cohn Campus Receptionist
“I believe knowledge is power. Sometimes we need to acquire this knowledge not only through books, but by experience.” – Sofía Mejia, Cohn Campus Extended Care
“I did not attend a traditional High School, but a vocational school for carpentry/cabinetry in France. I went back to more "classic" study later on.” – Syvlie Jannon-Shields, Assistant to the Head of School
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org
*In 2020, the International School of the Peninsula (ISTP) formally changed its name to Silicon Valley International School (INTL) to better reflect its bilingual programs, location, and international values.
