At GAIS, all teachers are credentialed and qualified to teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.

Our Kindergarten/Vorschule and Elementary School Teachers

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Kindergarten/Vorschule Teachers and Assistants

Ina Berenger - Teacher of the Jungle Kindergarten Class

I am a credentialed elementary school teacher with German and Art as my main subjects. Before moving from Hamburg to California in 2002, I worked in an elementary and middle school, teaching 1st through 7th grade. In the States I have worked in several co-ops which my children attended. As my husband is French, our two daughters learn three languages, which makes multilingual education a central theme of my private life as well. In 2006-2007 I studied "German as a second language" at the Goethe-Institut and graduated in 2007. I started working at GAIS in the school year 2007/08 as assistant in the Vorschule and as German teacher for the VS children. I am now the Vorschule teacher of the "Jungle" class and I am excited about helping 5-year olds explore and understand the world.

Natalie Stoe - Teacher of the Aquarium Kindergarten Class

I was born and raised in Bern, Switzerland and studied Preprimary and Primary Education at the Pädagogische Hochschule in Bern.
After graduated from my studies in 2007 I got the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of living and working abroad. For a year I taught German, English and French in two schools in the northeast of Argentina.
Back in my hometown Bern I worked as a primary school teacher for two years before I came to the US. In January I joined my husband, who is American, to live in San Francisco. The first time I visited GAIS in May I was amazed by the compassion and teamwork the teachers show and live and the creative atmosphere of the school.
I am excited to start teaching again in an international environment and am happy to be part of the GAIS community.

Jutta Cottarel - Teacher Assistant Kindergarten

Last year, I joined the Aquarium Kindergarten class at GAIS as an assistant teacher. Our family relocated from the East Coast at the end of December, where I held a position as an assistant teacher in the Kindergarten program at the French International School Boston. I also taught a second grade class at the German Saturday School in Boston. Our family became founding members of the German International School Boston, which our children attended for a few years. Initially a biologist by training, I changed my career path when I had my own children, two sons and one daughter, and found my vocation in the field of teaching and child development. I grew up in Fulda, Germany, pursued my studies in Cologne, and did research work at the University of Giessen, where I met my husband. Both of us decided to come to the US in 1991.

Birgit Schweingruber - Teacher Assistant Kindergarten

Our Elementary School Teachers

Claudia Gruber - Teacher of the First-Grade Class 1G

I was born and raised in Switzerland where I also received my elementary school teacher credentials. After my studies I wanted to travel the world but never made it much further than California. After having been here now for many years, the international flair of the Bay Area still holds attraction for me. I have taught for two years in Switzerland and for four years at GAIS, before I took a break from teaching to start-up a small restaurant with my husband and to start my family. I am excited to take up teaching again and to join the international GAIS community.

Eva Dorner - Teacher of the First-Grade Class 1D

I grew up in Pforzheim, Germany and went to school at the Pädagogische Hochschule in Freiburg where I received my first credentials as a primary and middle school teacher. After finishing at Freiburg, I interned at GAIS for four months assisting with the 1st Grade.
I then returned to Germany where I taught a combined class (in Oberndorf am Neckar) of First and Second graders in PE, Science, Music and Arts and Six graders in Math. In my spare time I enjoy playing the Piano and travelling around the world. I look forward to becoming part of the GAIS team.

Isabelle Heller - Teacher of the Second-Grade Class 2H

I grew up in the Odenwald and received my teaching credential for elementary and middle school from University of Education Heidelberg.
After we moved to the beautiful Bay Area in 2009 I started teaching at German Saturday Schools and in 2010 accepted a Hort position at GAIS. While working in the School Hort I got to appreciate the vibrant GAIS community and the IB spirit and knew I wanted to stay on.
I was happy to get the opportunity to teach second grade and I am looking forward to a great school year!

Janet Roitsch - Teacher of the Second-Grade Class 2R

I was born and raised in Leipzig and I am a credentialed elementary school teacher who graduated from the University "Alma mater lipsiensis" (university of Leipzig). After my studies and one year of internship I received my diploma in Montessori education. I loved teaching children according to Maria Montessori’s ideas at my first job as a classroom and music teacher at a private elementary school in Dresden. I really enjoy music, like to sing and dance and I play the guitar. Above all, I love to make music with children. I am excited to work at GAIS and look forward to combining my interest in music and teaching.

Karin Koele - Teacher of the Third-Grade Class 3K

I was born and raised in the southern part of Austria. I studied Primary Education and Social Education for Elementary School at the Paedagogische Akademie in Graz. I also received a Diploma in Montessori Education and in Challenging Behaviors for Children (Verhaltensauffaelligkeiten bei Kindern) which is one of my main focus in school.
In the past I worked as a teacher for more than 8 years at different schools in Vienna and Graz. I had been a homeroom teacher from Kindergarten to 4th Grade. One year ago I moved with my family to the Bay Area. In the last year I taught German at the South Bay deutscher Schulverein.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, biking, skiing and spending time with my family. I am very excited to work at the GAIS.

Danielle Sharon - Teacher of the Third-Grade Class 3S

Born in Israel and grown up in Switzerland, I speak German and Hebrew fluently. Bilingualism is an important part of my personal life and I love languages. I went to the Pädagogische Hochschule Zürich where I received my credentials in primary education.
After my studies I worked in various substitute teacher positions from grade 1 to 6, teaching German, Mathematics, French, Sports, Music and Arts. Before coming to the US I worked as a 2nd grade class teacher in Zurich, Switzerland.
In my free time I love travelling, singing and playing the piano.
I am very glad to be part of the GAIS team and excited to teach the 3rd grade class and bring my passion for learning to the children.

Christine Burris - Teacher of the Fourth-Grade Class 4B

I received my credentials as a middle and high-school teacher ("Realschul-Lehrer") for English and French after finishing my studies in Göttingen, Germany. In addition, I received my US teaching credentials for German and English as a Second Language for Kindergarten through grade 8. I have been teaching at the German-American International School since 1994 and have teaching experience for Pre-Kindergarten through Junior College.

Erika van Deusen - Teacher of the Fourth-Grade Class 4V

Erika has been teaching at the German-American International School since 1990. Her previous experience includes positions as a teacher in an elementary school as well as a high school in Germany, and a private school in the Bay Area. Erika obtained her German teaching credentials for elementary and high school in Germany, and in addition to her postgraduate studies in German, she has also received her California teaching credentials.

Michala Strasser - Teacher of the Fith-Grade Class 5S

I was born in Munich in 1955. I did my teaching training at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and started teaching in 1980 after having spent a year in Los Altos with an American family to improve my English and widen my horizons. In 1996, I started teaching German at the Bavarian International School where I was introduced to the PYP which, I think, is a more effective and modern way of teaching and learning. From 2000 to 2004, I returned to public school, where I taught German, English, and biology in grades 5 and 6. In 2004, I gained further experience in both the PYP and MYP at the Mercedes-Benz International School in Pune, India. From 2005 to 2007, I moved on to Atlanta International School in Georgia, USA, where I gained further experience in PYP, teaching German in grades 1 and 2. After another year of teaching in Germany, I am now in California, combining all my experiences and happily offering them to GAIS for hopefully the rest of my teaching career. I have an 18-year-old son. He attended all 'my' international schools and just graduated from the United World College in Mahindra, India.

Katharina Taatz - Teacher of the Fifth-Grade Class 5T

I was born and raised in a small village near Leipzig, Germany. I studied German, Mathematics, Geography, Social Science and Physical Education at the Otto-Friedrich-University in Bamberg. After graduating I taught for two years in an elementary school near Bamberg. After that I went back to Leipzig to become the homeroom teacher of a third grade at a Private School that had a focus on creativity. I also taught Literature and Performing Arts. I'm experienced teaching in a variety of grades. In my teaching I have a personal focus on group work and differentiation. In my spare time I love to swim, read, bike and I love Basketball. I am really looking forward to putting all my passion and enthusiasm into my work at GAIS. It's great to be part of the GAIS community.

David Giesen - Teacher of English/Social Studies (Grade 3 & 4)

After first taking my B.A. in English at UC Santa Barbara and then earning both multiple subject (3-8) and single subject (English and Social Studies) teaching credentials from Domincan University in San Rafael, I settled first in Mendocino County on California's north coast before moving to San Francisco in 1996. I've classroom taught grades 4-8 and also served as librarian and theater arts director at two K-8 schools in San Francisco. I enjoy writing plays and children's books, but before the sun sets after school you are welcome to join me bicycling, kayaking or on the walking tour of San Francisco I lead once a week.

Amy Parsons - Teacher of English (Grade 1 & 2)

I grew up in New Mexico, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Languages at the University of New Mexico. During this time, I spent one year as an exchange student at the Karl-Franzens University in Austria. After obtaining my Bachelor's Degree, I went on to earn a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. I obtained my teaching credentials while teaching a second grade classroom in New Mexico. I then went on to teach first grade in a PYP international school in Brussels, Belgium. Before moving to America, my husband and I took a year long bicycle trip from Belgium to China. Happy to now be off of my bike and back in the classroom, I am looking forward to sharing my love of learning with my new students.

Jay Levin - Teacher of English (Grade 5)

I have a profound love of teaching children how to become independent, creative thinkers by assisting them in unlocking their innate curiosity. My background includes writing novels and plays. I have an MA in Fiction and in MFA in Playwriting from San Francisco State University. My teaching career has included teaching for the J.C. Wornick Jewish Day School as a sixth, seventh, and eighth grade English teacher before falling in love with teaching elementary children as a Montessori educator. I recently began a summer camp based around my passion for nature and inquiry based education. I look forward to joining the international GAIS team.

Amy Nathan - Teacher of Music

I grew up in Canada and earned my Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Toronto. My primary instrument is the flute, although I have also enjoyed playing others. I completed my teaching diploma in New Zealand, where I continued to teach Music for three years. I also taught for one year in Canada. I have taught band, orchestra as well as general music throughout my teaching career. I recently completed a course in the Orff Schulwerk approach to music education in San Francisco. I am really looking forward to bringing a new and exciting Music program with me to GAIS!

Janine Weers - Teacher of PE

„Moin Moin“! Here I am the new Head of PE from the north-west of Germany!
I was born and raised in a very small town and moved to Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, to pursue what I always wanted to be: a PE and English teacher! It may sound a little weird but I always loved going to school – the place in my small hometown where all my friends were and all the excitement happened! I graduated from the University of Oldenburg and came to California the first time to work as an AuPair and immediately fell in love with this beautiful place on earth! California ist he perfect place for a person who loves sports: running tracks, race bike tracks, basketball-, soccer-, volleyball- , ... fields, surfing spots, swimming, hiking and even skiing in the mountains! The perfect place to combine all my hobbies and follow my favorite sport: Basketball! I got my first teaching job at two different High Schools in Oldenburg where i have been working for three years before I got the oppurtunity to move to the Bay Area and work at this IB school. Now I am looking forward to taking advantage of these awesome PE facilities and explore it!

After-School Teachers

Zeinab Mukhaiche - After-School (Hort) Teacher

My name is Zeinab Mukhaiche. I was born in Beirut (Lebanon) but was raised in Baden-Wuerttenberg (Germany). I received my Child Development Diploma (Erzieherin) in Stuttgart 2003. I taught in a Preschool for a couple of years in Germany. Between 2006 - 2008 I was an AuPair in the Bay Area and during this time I fell in love with this country. That's when I decided to work as a teacher in an international school here in America. I am glad to be a part of the GAIS and very excited about this opportunity.

Katharina Hromas-Wood - After-School (Hort) Teacher