how we teach

Our teachers combine a wealth of experience, a passion for education and a stimulating and safe environment, to inspire your child to achieve more than they ever imagined possible.

ABOUT OUR TEACHERS

OUTSTANDING TEACHERS MAKE EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOLS

As a Nord Anglia Education school, we attract the world’s best teachers. Through carefully developed programmes, our teachers never stop learning to make sure your child enjoys a world-class education experience.

primary

Senior Leadership
Educational Leadership
Admissions

MEET OUR TEAM

Every Northbridge student is welcomed into our warm and friendly community. It’s our familial environment that leads to great learning.

Christopher Short

Principal

Chris is a highly respected international educator and school leader with more than 30 years of experience across Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe. A longstanding Nord Anglia Education leader, he has served as Principal, Head of Secondary, and Managing Director, leading school improvement, strategic growth, and educational excellence across multiple countries.

Tara Hirshall

Head of Secondary

Tara brings a wealth of international experience to her role, having held various leadership positions in both Scotland and China. She is deeply committed to exploring innovative teaching methodologies, with a particular interest in the integration of artificial intelligence in education.

John Peter McCance

Head of Primary

John Peter McCance is an experienced international education leader with over 15 years’ experience, including senior leadership roles across the Middle East and North Africa. He brings a strong track record in school improvement, safeguarding, accreditation, and building warm, positive school cultures.

Linus Heilpern

Director of Admissions & Marketing

Linus is an accomplished marketing and communications leader with nearly 30 years of experience across leading global agencies and client-side organisations. Originally from the USA, he has led brand, media, public relations, and digital transformation initiatives for some of the world’s most recognised companies, including Lenovo, Nestlé, and more. His expertise spans strategic planning, team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed marketing campaigns.

MEET OUR TEAM

Every member of the Northbridge team contributes to our reputation as Cambodia’s premium school.

Christopher Short

Principal

Chris is an accomplished international education leader with over 30 years’ experience across three continents. Born in London, he has lived and worked across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Educated at Gordonstoun School and St Mary’s College, University of Surrey, Chris is known for his collaborative, people‑focused leadership style, combining high expectations with warmth, trust and professional growth.

Tara Hirshall

Head of Secondary

John Peter McCance

Head of Primary

Jason Berkeley

Deputy Head of Secondary, Academic

Originally from Australia, I studied History and Politics at UNSW, and Secondary Education at Griffith University before becoming a teacher. I previously worked in Australia, Thailand, and Russia before moving to Cambodia in 2022. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, and also have two young children.

Karel van der Linden

Deputy Head of Primary

Karel was born in Thailand, grew up in the UK and is a Dutch national. He has almost 20 years of experience as an educator and has worked in the UK, Thailand and Singapore before coming to Cambodia. With a daughter at school, he was extremely excited to join the team at NISC and his family enjoy what Cambodia has to offer.

Donita Bell

Assistant Head of Primary and PYP Coordinator

Before joining Northbridge, Donita worked in Australia and China as an Early Years and Primary grade leader, and PYP educator. Her values of belonging, compassion and playful inquiry are her guide for action towards the importance of communication, life-long learning and building connections with each other and the environment.

Robert Alexander

Deputy Head of Secondary

Robbie is passionate about the holistic education of young people and helping our students to find the balance between excellent academic outcomes, character development and positive wellbeing. He is also a teacher of Economics and Business and really enjoys teaching topics which engage the students and facilitate critical thinking. Robbie has been in South East Asia for 8 years now and NISC is his third Nord Anglia Education school.

MEET OUR TEAM

Every member of the Northbridge team contributes to our reputation as Cambodia’s premium school.

Linus Heilpern

Director of Admissions & Marketing

Chamnan Heng

Admissions Manager

Before joining Northbridge in 2018, Phnom Penh native Chamnan worked for several of the city’s major international five-star hotels, where she handled various accounts including tour operators and travel agents, government departments, and global airlines.

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR THE FUTURE

TEACHER-LED TECHNOLOGY

At Northbridge, we unlock our students’ potential by bringing the very best in teaching and technology into our classrooms. We use tech to enrich their learning experience, by connecting every child to their Nord Anglia classmates around the world.

explore the virtual school experience

ATTRACTING THE WORLD’S BEST

TEACHER QUALITY

Children learn best when they’re happy, and our teachers bring the highest education standards into the classroom to ensure this is a reality. Their international experience gives them a unique lens to teach from, and our online training and collaborations mean our educators are at the forefront of education globally.

Our teachers:

Learn through world-leading education providers MIT, Apple, The Juilliard School and King’s College London
Access best-in-class training exercises through Nord Anglia University
Collaborate and share resources with their 10,000 peers worldwide

OUR TEACHERS NEVER STOP LEARNING

TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

Our teachers are held to the highest global standards, with ongoing reviews and assessments to ensure your child receives an outstanding international education.

Our global Education team drives success in academics, quality assurance and accreditation, through safeguarding best practice across our school. This means our teaching standards at Northbridge are second to none.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

WORKING WITH US

When it comes to international schools, Northbridge’s reputation is based on our high quality teachers. We shape global citizens – and you can be part of it.

find out more