Leader of Learning InSoc Teacher
Jason Brett Petrasanta
Jason is committed to pastoral care and making both his classroom a safe and accommodating place for all students. Jason heartedly believes that a classroom should be a safe, collaborative community that promotes growth and an opportunity to blossom and excel. Jason is of the opinion that an active classroom that is both fun and engaging are keys for children to fulfill their goals. Lessons should be differentiated and customized to meet the needs of each and every student. Classes should incorporate 21st century learning skills that are relevant and challenging.
InSoc Teacher
Annabel Lalonde
InSoc Teacher
Ashwitha Mangesh Uchil
Ashwitha operationalizes an ‘education philosophy statement’ as her purpose in a classroom. Ashwitha’s aims/goals are to cultivate an environment that facilitates respectful dialogue between all members of a classroom and encourage students to apply theoretical knowledge gained in class to real-life circumstances of a student
InSoc Teacher
Brandon Gauthier
Brandon Gauthier teaches DP Geography and MYP Individuals and Societies. Originally from Canada, he has taught DP Geography for more than 15 years and MYP Individuals and Societies for 9, with previous experience in Korea and Hanoi. After 25 years living in Vietnam, Brandon brings a strong interest in current affairs and geopolitics to the classroom. He encourages students to look closely at the world around them, question what they see, and deepen their understanding of issues in Vietnam and beyond.
InSoc Teacher
Burton Chamberlin
Burton brings a wealth of global perspective to the classroom with more than 20 years of international education. Originally from Minnesota, he began his career coaching and playing American football in Europe before transitioning into teaching. He has since taught in Ukraine and Germany, where he spent a combined 20 years, and most recently completed a two-year sabbatical in South Korea. Passionate about economics and student engagement, Burton also has extensive experience coaching basketball and soccer.
InSoc Teacher
Cameron Gensemer
Cameron Gensemer teaches MYP Individuals and Societies, drawing on his interests in sociology, history, and geography. Originally from the United States, he has lived and taught in California, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City over 15 years in education. Cameron believes students learn most deeply when they are active participants. His classroom gives them room to ask questions, test ideas, make mistakes, and challenge their own thinking, with clear structure when they need it. He is especially proud of supporting a student-led food drive for Thien Phuoc Orphanage that grew from a simple idea into meaningful local action.
InSoc Teacher
Dung Nguyen
Dung teaches Vietnamese Geography and History in Grades 6–10 and Vietnamese Studies in Grades 6–7 at ISHCMC. She brings almost ten years of teaching experience and is a graduate of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City. Dung connects lessons with everyday life, helping students understand why their learning matters. She encourages students to ask questions, test ideas, and learn from mistakes. One of her proudest moments is hearing former students say she changed how they feel about learning history.
InSoc Teacher
Justin Beghly
Justin Beghly teaches History and Business Studies. Originally from Minnesota in the United States, he has lived in Vietnam for 14 years and previously worked at ISHCMC American Academy. Justin’s classroom is student-centered and inquiry-based. He encourages students to ask questions, make connections with the world around them, and take an active role in learning, while providing the structure and support that helps each student take on a meaningful challenge. Beyond teaching, Justin enjoys reading, exploring new places, and spending time with his family.
InSoc Teacher
Larry Huynh
Larry Huynh works with Middle School students and teaches DP Economics at ISHCMC. Raised in Brisbane by Vietnamese parents, he chose to return to Vietnam after beginning his career at Brisbane Boys’ College in Australia. For Larry, education was the greatest gift his parents gave him. It shaped his passion for teaching and economics, as well as his belief that learning about different cultures helps people understand one another more deeply. Relationships sit at the heart of Larry’s work. He values seeing students develop a sense of belonging, build confidence and recognize their own progress. He also appreciates working alongside educators who know their students well and care deeply about helping them thrive.
InSoc Teacher
Nisha Raje
InSoc Teacher
Pauline Tran
Pauline Tran works with multilingual learners through ISHCMC’s IELP and currently supports students in Grades 6 and 7. An Australian educator with experience at ISHCMC American Academy Vietnam and BIS, Pauline specializes in English as an Additional Language. Her teaching is inquiry-based and purposeful. She uses different strategies to make learning accessible while maintaining clear expectations, gradually helping students become more independent. Discussion and collaboration are central to her classroom because students have much to learn from one another. Pauline particularly values the range of talents students bring to ISHCMC and enjoys seeing them contribute through the arts, sport, service, leadership, and many other parts of school life.
InSoc Teacher
Robin Paul Klymow
Robin was working in Batam, Indonesia from 2000 and Prior to that he was establishing schools in Vietnam with IB programmes. He has been involved in the IB since 1989 when he moved to Japan, later Malaysia, China, Thailand and Germany. His roles have been quite varied as a teacher first and foremost, but also as an IB Coordinator, Principal, Head of School and Board Member. He guided schools through authorisations and evaluations as well as being a workshop leader, IB consultant and team leader. Most recently he was fortunate to work with staff at Harvard, Project Zero, Turku University Finland and Reggio Emilia. He is married and his wife is also an IB consultant and workshop leader. His daughter is a MYP student currently in Grade 6.
MYP Teacher
Simon Scoones
Simon remains passionate about teaching and learning, both in a classroom setting and beyond. He has a strong belief in the value of student-centred approaches to learning and the international school context to prepare our students as the global citizens of the future. Thanks to his previous role as a PGCE tutor at the Institute of Education/University College London, Simon also enjoys the challenge of supporting colleagues in developing innovative, diverse and engaging learning activities.
InSoc Teacher
