Welcome Aboard – Introducing our new staff
This weeks sees the start of a series of profiles from the ten new members joining the IS Secondary team: five to replace outgoing staff, and five more due to our continued growth. This week we have Hugh Pizzi, Robbie Woodburn and Paul Stanley, all of whom join us from other HK International schools.
Hugh Pizzi
My name is Hugh Pizzi and I will be joining FIS to teach Chemistry and Science in August 2024. I already have friends working at FIS and I am looking forward to joining them as they are very positive about the school. I am currently in my 25th year of teaching and have taught internationally for most of my career.
Initially, I taught English at a high school in Japan for two years and decided that I really enjoy teaching, but that I wanted to teach my own subject, so I returned to the UK to train as a science teacher. Once I was qualified, I taught for one year in the UK and then moved to Costa Rica for two years. After that I took a year out to stay with my parents who had just retired and moved from the UK to a house in the mountains in rural Tuscany in Italy. That winter I worked as a scuba instructor based out of Rangiroa in the Tuamoto Islands in French Polynesia to avoid the severe winter weather in the mountains, leading divers on fast drift dives to see great hammerheads sharks. Next, I moved to a school in Rome for two years and then I came to Hong Kong in 2007 and I have thoroughly enjoyed living here ever since. FIS will be my third school in Hong Kong.
I grew up in the UK, the child of a British mother and an Italian father, and have family in both countries. My parents have returned to live in Nottinghamshire in the UK, feeling that they’re too old to handle life in the mountains any more. We’re a close family and I visit them whenever I get the chance.
My number one passion is scuba diving, especially technical diving that takes me to extreme depths and often into shipwrecks and caves that are sometimes unexplored. The excitement of knowing that you’re the first human being to see a 250 million year old fossil beneath you in the cave floor is quite something. I also love diving to look for sharks and have encountered over 20 species, much to my family’s dismay. The most memorable were the whalesharks in the Galapagos Islands, the scalloped hammerheads of Costa Rica’s Cocos Island and tiger sharks off the Bay Islands of Honduras.
There is a lot that appeals to me about FIS, but perhaps the most important thing is the strong emphasis on learning how to think critically and using this knowledge as a means to help drive social and personal responsibility. Each culture has its own values, but some of those values are common to most: valuing human life, fulfillment, health and growth. Making these things a reality starts with thinking for yourself and knowing how to do this effectively, which is a lot easier if people are actively teaching you how to go about it. See you in August!
Robbie Woodburn
My name is Robbie Woodburn and I am really looking forward to joining the FIS family in August 2024 as a teacher of Geography and Social Studies. My passion for teaching started when working at Western Province Prep School in Cape Town, South Africa, during a GAP year between school and university. I graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Geography and History and a PGCE from the University of Buckingham. My full time teaching career began in 2008 and during that time I have taught at international schools in Kazakhstan, the UK and, for the last three years, in Hong Kong.
I spent two years working in commercial insurance where I passed exams to become a chartered insurer. I am grateful for this experience, in understanding how financial and commercial business operates, but my love of being in the classroom and face-to-face interactions, quickly drew me back to teaching.
I am lucky to have family in Australia, South Africa, Canada and the UK, meaning travel has always been a big part of my life, and I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring various parts of Southeast Asia since moving to Hong Kong.
Ball sports, and being outdoors are where I find the greatest happiness. I play and coach cricket at Hong Kong cricket club and try to fit in a game of tennis once per week, along with golf during the holidays. Hong Kong has opened my eyes to the wonders of hiking, especially when travel was restricted; the ability to be on a hiking trail within 20 minutes of leaving one’s apartment, is something that makes Hong Kong unique, and one of the many reasons I love living in this city.
The FIS mission and vision resonated with my own educational philosophy around creating a safe and inclusive learning environment, where students feel confident to speak their minds, but also aware of the backgrounds and sensitivities of those around them. Fostering this through experiential learning wherever possible, alongside a sense of French culture and global mindedness make me really excited, and I cannot wait to meet you all in August and to get started. Have a wonderful summer!
Paul Stanley
My name is Paul Stanley and I am really excited to join the FIS community in August 2024, as a teacher of Physical Education. I have been teaching PE for 17 years across all age ranges. Initially, I studied and taught in England, before moving to Abu Dhabi, UAE in 2011 where I worked for 5 years. I have now been living and working in Hong Kong for 8 years since moving here in 2016. Hong Kong is one of my favourite places, I love living here.
What are my passions?
Sport plays a big part in my life. I enjoy teaching, playing and being a spectator in a variety of sports. My spare time or holidays are often focused on travelling to various sporting events. I love learning new skills, most recently I gained my Open Water Scuba Diving qualification. I hope to continue diving in the future when travelling to different places.
What are my educational beliefs that I believe will resonate with the FIS vision and mission?
My belief is that student’s should have opportunities to thrive in and to grow their self confidence. Achieving personal goals within a collaborative and supportive environment, where everyone is valued and respected, is very important to me. Offering further opportunities for personal growth and enjoyment through extra curricular activities is also something that I have been heavily involved in throughout my teaching career. I look forward to getting involved in the ECA programme and enjoying working with the students and staff at FIS.
I am really looking forward to meeting you all in August 2024, after what I hope is a restful and enjoyable summer for everyone in the FIS community. Have fantastic summer.
