FACULTY
LEADERSHIP
The leadership at GIS is dedicated to fostering a collaborative, innovative, and creative environment that
empowers both students and educators to reach their full potential.
Lee Dorfling
Principal
Ms. Dorfling holds a B.Eng in Materials Engineering from North West University and a PGCE (Secondary Education, Grades 7–12), completed with distinction. She began her career in project engineering at ISCOR in South Africa, where she led multidisciplinary project teams and designed the division’s ISO quality and environmental management systems. She later founded and ran a private early-childhood centre in South Africa, serving children aged six weeks to six years, before a successful sale. She has taught across primary and secondary levels, including Mathematics, Science, English, and Art, and over twelve years at Summerhill Prep School took on lead responsibility for the Mathematics and Visual Arts curriculum, alongside directing school productions. Most recently, she taught English and STEAM in Korea before joining GIS as Principal.
Jane Kim
Assistant Principal
Ms. Kim enjoys connecting with students and parents, creating an open and supportive environment where everyone feels heard and valued. She sees her role as a bridge between teachers and families, working to ensure that every child receives the care and guidance they need to succeed. With a background in education from the University of Sydney and a teacher’s license from NSW, she brings 10 years of teaching experience and a passion for differentiated learning to her work. Now in her third year of leadership, she is committed to helping the GIS community grow together.
Anna Seung
Academic Counselor
Ms. Anna is an experienced educator and college counselor with over 15 years of teaching experience in the U.S., Canada, and international schools in Korea. She is certified to teach Mathematics and Science in both the U.S. and Canada and has taught Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics, including AP Calculus and IB Mathematics. As a college counselor, she supports students from diverse educational backgrounds with academic planning, university selection, and the college application process.
pRIMARY TEACHERS
Our dedicated primary teacher team is committed to nurturing young minds, creating a supportive learning environment, and inspiring a lifelong love of learning.
Haylee Ha
Grade 2
Ms.Ha brings years of teaching experience from both South Africa and Korea. She values each child as uniquely created, with individual strengths and potential to grow. Her classroom is a place where curiosity is encouraged, learning is purposeful, and kindness is practiced daily. With a nurturing and intentional approach, Ms. Ha seeks to guide students not only in their studies, but also in building character, confidence, and a heart for others—preparing them to make a positive difference in the world.
Olivia Kim
Grade 3
Ms. Olivia is the Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher and brings seven years of teaching experience to her role. This is her first year at GIS. Having attended an international school herself, she looks forward to getting to know every student in her classroom.She is highly skilled in supporting students both academically and personally. In the classroom, she is dedicated to providing warm encouragement and guidance, fostering an environment where students feel motivated and confident. Her goal is for every student to learn happily and enjoy their studies while developing a lifelong love of learning.
Hardy
Grade 4
Ms. Hardy is a licensed teacher with experience teaching elementary students in international schools and holds several IB professional development certificates. One of her strengths as an educator is recognizing each child’s potential and finding ways to bring it out. She believes students grow best when they feel seen, challenged, and confident in who they are, and strives to build a classroom where every student’s voice and individuality matter, curiosity is encouraged, and students feel confident asking questions, sharing ideas, and taking ownership of their learning.
Jean Jeon
Grade 5
Ms. Yoon has over 11 years of teaching experience with elementary school students. Before becoming a teacher, she had the opportunity to work as a student T.A. for a university professor while she was a senior undergraduate student. Teaching has always been her passion, and she is excited to share her love of learning with her students.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
Our secondary teacher team consists of passionate educators who specialize in guiding students through their academic journey,
preparing them for success in higher education and beyond.
Mr. David Reardon
HS ELA
Mr. Reardon is a British national who graduated from London Metropolitan University in 2010 with a degree in Performing Arts. After some time exploring his options, he moved to South Korea, where he’s been teaching for the past 13 years. His passion for education began at a youth centre in the UK, and he’s since developed strong communication and interpersonal skills by teaching students of all ages.
Ms. Jinnie Lee
HS Math
Ms. Lee joins GIS as a High School Mathematics teacher, bringing international teaching experience and a degree from The University of Hong Kong (HKU), where she completed the IB Diploma Programme. She believes success in math begins with confidence, and works to make challenging topics approachable — creating a classroom where no question is too simple, and mistakes are treated as part of learning. Her goal is to build a lively environment where students genuinely enjoy learning math together.
Ms. Esther Snedeker
HS Science
Ms. Snedeker is beginning her 7th year at GIS, bringing 10 years of teaching experience in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Middle School Science. She holds a Bachelor of Science in General Biology and a Secondary Biology Teaching Certificate. Her interest in science began with watching science fiction films as a child, which sparked a curiosity about how the world works that eventually led her to study biology and become a science teacher. She enjoys helping students discover their own curiosity, and works to create a classroom where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring new ideas.
Mr. Michael Hur
HS Social Studies
Mr. Michael Hur has joined GIS as a high school Social Studies teacher. He considers it a great honor to work with such wonderful and valued students. His teaching career began as an assistant teacher, and since then, he has served in several international schools as both a middle and high school Social Studies teacher as well as an administrative assistant officer.
At GIS, Mr. Hur hopes not only to deliver Social Studies content knowledge but also to guide students in becoming relevant, collaborative, and responsible members of society. He is truly honored to contribute to the GIS community as both an educator and mentor.
Mr. Cheolwoo Park
MS Math & Science
With diverse corporate experience, Mr. Park values creativity, critical thinking, and a student-driven classroom environment. Having worked in IT fields with rapidly shifting customer and market demands, he strives to prepare students to be flexible, adaptive, and open-minded for success in modern society. He believes an instructor’s role is to support student understanding rather than enforce information, aligning with GIS’s vision of learning as a lifelong process. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Ankara, Turkey.
Ms. Yeoju Na
MS ELA & Social Studies
Ms. Yeoju Na was born in Korea and raised in South Africa. She holds a degree in English Education and Education of Computer Application Technology. She began her teaching career as a student teacher and teaching assistant in South Africa for two years. Since 2020, Ms. Na has taught at various international schools in Korea, bringing a unique global perspective and a passion for fostering cross-cultural understanding in the classroom.
SPECIALTY TEACHERS
Our specialty teacher team is a group of skilled professionals dedicated to enriching the educational experience
with unique subjects like art, music, physical education, Spanish, and ESL.
Ms. Bea Park
Art
Ms. Park is an innovative art educator with nine years of teaching experience, a proud graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, who believes in the transformative power of art as a medium for self-expression and dialogue. She is dedicated to creating a supportive classroom environment where students can not only develop their artistic abilities but also learn to communicate their ideas and emotions effectively.
Barbara Park
Music
Ms. Barbara is an experienced educator who communicates effectively with students and encourages them to develop positive character and emotional richness through music. She is especially dedicated to building strong foundational musical skills, helping students gain confidence in their performance. She earned her master’s and DMA in Germany and has taught students at a music conservatory in New York, USA.
Mr. Gonzalez
Spanish
Mr. Gonzalez arrived in Korea in 2002 and spent a year volunteering with UNESCO’s Mizy Center and the Gangnam YMCA, immersing himself in Korean culture. He later spent several years running his own business connecting Korea and China, gaining international business experience before discovering his passion for teaching. After returning to Korea in 2017, he began teaching Spanish to high school students at an international academy, building 10 years of language-teaching experience before joining GIS, where he looks forward to sharing his passion for Spanish with younger students.
OFFICE TEACHERS
Our office staff team plays a crucial role in maintaining the smooth operation of the school, providing exceptional support to students, teachers, and parents alike.
