I have been a certified educator for fourteen years, and I have been teaching in international schools for eleven years. My range of certifications have allowed me to teach elementary classroom, elementary ICT, and middle school mathematics.
My teaching experiences have all reinforced the importance of students connecting to their learning and growing as independent learners. Regardless of the grade level or discipline, I weave social-emotional development and technology into my teaching so that students become more aware of themselves and their surroundings and recognize the impact of their choices. Technology becomes a tool for students to experience choice, develop their voice and take action. For example, as a grade four PYP teacher, my students used applications to develop action plans and create advertisements for businesses that they launched at our school. The earned profits from these businesses were donated to local initiatives that they had researched as a class. In every teaching context, I want my students to be critical thinkers who realize that they can create change in their own lives and the world around them.
I recently earned my COETAIL certification to enhance my understanding and use of constantly evolving technology and social media. I have most enjoyed building a diverse and broad professional learning network with teachers and practitioners around the world who are also striving to become conscientious viewers, users and creators of technology and media - and to guide their students in the same endeavor. My current pursuit of the Forest Schools certification and and becoming a Wilderness First Responder reflect a lifelong love of the outdoors that I am passionate about sharing with students.
Living overseas has given me the opportunity to be in a continuous state of learning. Simply living my life day to day in a foreign country allows me to evolve in ways that I didn't know were possible. I have found that no matter where I live or travel, the people I meet all want the same thing - connection and belonging. It has been a pleasure to realize these human desires among people I have met while living abroad. My students want these things as well, and my deepest goal as an educator is helping them connect to one another and develop a sense of belonging within the unique global context in which they find themselves.
His students adore him – in fact just recently the parents of one child made a point of telling me how happy their daughter was in his class. She is a struggling student who has continued to make good progress.” - Karen Crooke, Primary School Principal, American International School of Mozambique
Mr. Kasper has always gone beyond expectations with his professionalism, positive attitude, and high student expectations. He has earned the respect of students, their parents, his colleagues, and the school’s administrative staff.” - James Rumely, Elementary Dean of Students, American International School, Vietnam
Mr. Kasper’s teaching performance is excellent. He teaches to the curriculum but meets the needs of all the different learning modes of the students in his classroom. Mr. Kasper is always willing to take on additional roles or responsibilities for the benefit of the students.” - Douglas Wilson, Principal, Hollingsworth Elementary School