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how we teach

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Our teachers combine a wealth of experience with a passion for education.  We'll inspire your child to achieve more than they ever imagined possible.
ABOUT OUR TEACHERS

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Being a member of Nord Anglia Education, the global family of premium international schools, means we attract the world’s most sought after international educators. It's one of the many reasons why 95% of parents say their child receives 'a high quality education at BISC - South Loop'.
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  • Senior Leadership Team

Meet our Team

Every member of the South Loop team contributes to our reputation as a world-renowned educational institution.
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Executive Principal
Mike Henderson
Mike spent 20 years working in England before securing his dream job in the US.
Mike Henderson - Principal
Mike hails from a long line of teachers and spent the first 20 years of his career as a math teacher in England. He took on more responsibility with each role, before eventually achieving his childhood dream of becoming a headteacher. He led a secondary school for three years before the opportunity arose for him to take his skills to Washington, D.C. as Head of Secondary at the British International School. Mike is passionate about empowering his teachers to help students master their subject matter, while having fun and making memories along the way.
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Nikki Able
Head of Secondary
Nikki’s dream was to work in the Americas—and it came true at South Loop! 
Nikki Able - Head of Secondary
Nikki was born and raised in Southeast England before attaining a degree in Philosophy and Psychology. She then went on to gain a Master’s in Educational Leadership, before starting her teaching career in the West Midlands. Nikki then relocated to Devon in the southwest to take up a position as Vice-Principal at an outstanding secondary school. It had long been her ambition to work in the Americas—so she was delighted when she joined the Nord Anglia family in beautiful Chicago! 

 
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Jo Gardiner
Head of Primary
Having taught all primary age ranges, Jo has a wealth of knowledge on the subjects and areas that matter most to primary children.
Jo Gardiner - Head of Primary
Jo has a BSc in Sports and Health Sciences from Coventry University and completed her PGCE at the University of Surrey. Most recently she was awarded the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) from the Department of Education in the UK. Jo has been working in the independent sector in the UK, mainly in London and Surrey for the past 22 years.
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Harold Barr
Director of Human Resources

Harold is committed to supporting our school’s diverse cultural mix.

Harold Barr - Director of Human Resources

Harold is committed to supporting our school’s diverse cultural mix.

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Erin Woodhams
Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Communications
A native Chicagoan, Erin grew up in the area around Lincoln Park.
Erin Woodhams - Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Communications

A native Chicagoan, Erin grew up in the area around Lincoln Park. She's been with us since 2015 and is amazed by the passion and care our teachers put into supporting every individual child. She has two children, both students at the school, and is thrilled to see them run into school each day, excited for a day in the classroom.

Universities Attended:

New York University (undergrad) and Manhattan College (graduate school) Degrees Earned: BA Psychology, MS. Ed School Leadership

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Anna Siutkina
Finance and Operations Manager
Anna has over 15 years of experience in finance and management, focusing on international schools.
Anna Siutkina - Finance and Operations Manager
Anna holds a master’s degree in business administration with a specialization in international management. Her journey started in 2006 at Quality Schools International in Ukraine, where she worked as a Business Manager until 2017. After moving to the United States, Anna continued her career with QSI Head Office remotely, overseeing the accounting for multiple schools worldwide. Anna has joined BISC-SL Senior Leadership Team in August 2024. Outside of work, Anna values time with her family and finds rejuvenation in practicing yoga.
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In an increasingly global economy, the IBDP is the gold standard curriculum. IB students experience an extremely rigorous academic program while balancing other life skills.
Mr. Johnson
Teacher Year 12 & Year 13
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TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM AND AT HOME

TEACHER-LED TECHNOLOGY

At BISC - South Loop, we unlock our students' potential by bringing the very best in teaching and technology into our classrooms. We use tech to connect your child to thousands of classmates in Nord Anglia's schools around the world to enrich their learning.
Helping our teachers grow 

TEACHER quality

Teachers at BISC - South Loop bring into the classroom the highest standards, built on Nord Anglia's world-respected professional development program.
At South Loop, we ensure our teachers:
  • Benefit from subject-specific training from leading learning organizations, such as MIT, Juilliard, King's College London.
  • Have access to Nord Anglia University to collaborate with 10,000 other teachers worldwide, share resources and join best-in-class training exercises 
  • Have leadership pathways through our management training courses, to our Executive Masters in International Education from King's College London.
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quality assurance

teaching & learning standards

Globally and locally, Nord Anglia's education teams rigorously assess and assure the quality of BISC - South Loop's international education.


All of our teachers are involved in professional development, and thanks to a global Education Team that drives success in academics, quality assurance, accreditation and safeguarding across our schools, our teacher standards are second to none. 

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BECOME PART OF OUR LOCAL HERITAGE

WORKING AT SOUTH LOOP

When it comes to international schools in Chicago, BISC - South Loop's local reputation is based on our high quality teachers. We shape young lives – and you can be part of it.
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WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU!

Our admissions team would love to hear from you. Why not schedule a Virtual Discovery Meeting with our Director of Admissions to learn more about our program and what makes us special.

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