Meet Our Specialist Instructors

Sue Beeston

I have taught  at the British International School of Houston since 2008. I have been teaching languages for over 25 years in various countries including; England, Venezuela and the US. After obtaining my BA Hons degree in Modern Languages and studying at the universities in Bordeaux, France and Granada, Spain, I completed my PGCE at Swansea University in Wales. During my teaching time in England I was responsible for the teaching and learning of Spanish across the school and for Differentiation throughout the Languages Department.

As well as teaching in the education system I have also taught EAL to business professionals in the Oil and Gas industry here in Houston. While living in Chicago I was very involved in the Home Schooling Programme and played a vital role in the local school district’s Strategic Planning Process.

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Ana Garcia Torres

I am Ana Garcia Torres, born and raised in A Coruña, Spain, joining the World Language Team at the BIS Houston as a Spanish Teacher. I always determined to be a teacher like my mother and grandmother.  Prior to joining the BIS Houston I was at Gems World Academy Chicago as an IB Spanish Teacher and I also taught at Instituto Cervantes of Chicago. I also have experienced teaching in several international schools and IB World Schools in Europe, in Stockholm and in Poland, in different elementary bilingual and trilingual schools, at the British International School of Stockholm and at the Instituto Cervantes of Stockholm. I also have experience as an IB Primary Years Program Lead Teacher at Obradoiro International School in A Coruña, Spain.  I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at the European University of Madrid, Spain. I have three master's degrees in Psycho-pedagogy; upper secondary school, vocational training and language teaching; and educational innovation. I am currently pursuing a doctoral degree in International Education. My last professional achievement was to become a National Geographic Educator!  In my free time, I like to travel locally and globally— to experience new places, cultures, countries, and people. I also enjoy outdoor activities in contact with nature, hanging out with friends and family and reading.  I am very excited to join BIS Houston! I look forward to develop my professional career as an international educator working with WL Team and being part of Nord Anglia Education. I cannot wait to meet my students!  

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Ana Gonzalez Lalin

I have been teaching for more than 20 years, I enjoy the interrelation that I establish with the children, especially the younger ones, where with their spontaneity and creativity and my educational experience the results are wonderful and it is at that moment that I say I LOVE TEACHING . I love doing Zumba, it gives me vitality and relaxes me, I want to continue learning on the path of education to be able to give my best in the teaching process and my greatest achievement is seeing my son happy and graduating, doing something that he loves. Passionate and like it so that working is not an obligation but a pleasure, since that's how I feel.

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Callum Grant

I graduated from Edinburgh University in 2014 with a B Ed in Physical Education. From university I moved straight into teaching and taught in Scotland for three years. I returned to my old school, Wick High School, where I worked as a PE teacher alongside several members of staff who also taught me as a student.

I moved to Malaysia in 2017 and really enjoyed my first two years teaching in an international school. It was an amazing experience which allowed me to visit and discover lots of new countries and cultures within South East Asia. 

I have always been intrigued and excited about working in America and jumped at the opportunity to work at BIS Houston. This is now my third year at the school and unfortunately all three have been impacted by Covid-19. Hopefully everything can return to normal soon and we can make full use of the amazing facilities and staff we have here at the school!

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Victoria Henecka

Having trained as a Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Exeter, I first spent 4 years working in the UK as a languages teacher at Winterbourne International Academy in Bristol, England and then at Alford Academy in Scotland, teaching Spanish in Middle School and French and German to GCSE Level, as well as German A-level/ or Higher and Standard courses. I also really enjoyed running a ‘Mandarin club’ on the side. I specialized in teaching ‘Gifted and Talented’ students, the teaching of literacy and the development of the NVQ (national vocational qualifications) for languages. I then came to BISH from Munich International School in Bavaria (Germany), where I taught German Language Acquisition for the MYP. I love teaching languages to students of all ages and I believe in making learning fun, exciting and challenging. As a Head of Year it is also very important to me to put the students at the center of all learning and teaching and of course care for their wellbeing.

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Jos Kerkhofs

After having finished my teacher training in the Netherlands I worked in Dutch primary schools in both Germany and the Netherlands before I moved to the USA in 2008. Here I started working for a Dutch after-school program in The Woodlands before I transitioned to BISHouston in 2011. In school, I am responsible for the Dutch NTC heritage language program together with my colleague Annet and I am also responsible for supervising the library.

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Nicole Lanier

My passion for the performing arts keeps my heart and calendar full! I hold my Master in Music with an emphasis on Vocal Performance from Western Illinois University.  My passion for international studies has taken me to study abroad at Oxford University with the British American Drama Academy, 20th Century French Theater in Paris, France, Music in Vienna, Austria, Italian Opera & Languages in Urbania, Italy, and a business exchange program in Lagos, Nigeria.  I have successfully taught for 18yrs. ranging from Pre-School to the University level.  Several of my private students (Voice, Violin & Piano) have won lead roles in musicals, solo opportunities and positions in honors choirs and orchestras.  My professional directing credits include over 31 productions. I absolutely love the culture and community here at BISH. I am delighted to share my skills with the amazing community here!

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Natalie Marnoch

I graduated from Exeter University with a Bachelor of science (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science in 2014. I then completed my PGCE also in Exeter and have been teaching for the last year at a large comprehensive school in Walsall. I have completed many coaching courses including, basketball, swimming and tennis and I am looking to add more to this list in the near future. I was myself an IB Graduate from the British International School of Houston and so the opportunity to return, as a teacher, at such an exciting time for the school was an opportunity that I could not turn down.

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