HOW WE TEACH

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At Léman International School Chengdu, our highly qualified teachers deliver personalised instruction –tailored to your child’s goals – and propel your child towards their greatest ambitions.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Our teachers individually tailor their teaching to each student with mentoring programmes and regular progress meetings, where they can adjust the learning plan as needed. By giving our students this level of individual attention, our teachers help build our students’ foundation to grow into confident, kind, and independent learners.
Our teachers’ approach is grounded in:
  • Best practice teaching methods, such as differentiated instruction, higher-order reasoning, the consistent introduction of new vocabulary, and daily lesson refinements.
  • Highly individualized instruction, documented and guided by Personal Learning Plans.
  • Data analytics to track your child’s journey through school so we can personalise their learning plan.
  • College and career guidance from Year 6.
  • Exciting extracurricular activities and international learning opportunities.
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  • SENIOR LEADERSHIP

MEET OUR TEAM

Our passionate team has the right mix of local and international experience to guide your child every step of the way as a global citizen. They’ll bring out your child’s best at school.
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Tracy Connor
Principal

Mrs. Connor graduated with a LLB (Hons) in Law in 2004 and graduated with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Primary Education (3–11) from Bradford University, UK. She has over 20 years of teaching and international leadership experience and a proven track record in leading change.

Tracy Connor

Mrs. Connor graduated with a LLB (Hons) in Law in 2004 and graduated with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Primary Education (3–11) from Bradford University, UK. She has 15 years working in education both in the UK and internationally, having taught in the UK, Egypt, and China. 

Mrs. Connor works very closely with her teaching team to ensure that Léman students are inspired to act and to embed the Global Goals for Sustainable Development within the curriculum. She believes that teachers have a responsibility to create challenging and engaging learning environments, where children can thrive by becoming leaders of their own learning.

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Sarah Donnelly
Assistant Head Secondary- DP Whole School Teaching & Learning Lead English Language and Literature

Sarah holds a Master's degree in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University, New York, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Secondary English) from the University of Hull, and a Bachelor's degree in American Studies and English, also from the University of Hull. She has extensive experience in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) .

Sarah Donnelly

Sarah Donnelly is the Assistant Head of Secondary – DP, Whole School Teaching & Learning Lead, and English Language and Literature teacher at Léman International School Chengdu. With 22 years of teaching experience, including 13 years within the Nord Anglia Education network, Sarah brings extensive expertise in curriculum leadership, academic excellence, and student development.

She holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University, a PGCE in Secondary English from the University of Hull, and a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies and English. An experienced IB educator, Sarah has completed advanced professional training in Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), CAS, English Language and Literature, and Programme Coordination. She is also an IBDP English A Examiner, a Nord Anglia Regional Conference Workshop Leader, and has a proven track record of driving outstanding IBDP results. Passionate about learning, literature, and global education, Sarah is dedicated to helping students become confident, reflective, and successful lifelong learners.

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Patrick Meersman
Assistant Head of Secondary
Patrick holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education, and is a certified teacher and principal in Washington State, USA.
Patrick Meersman

Patrick Meersman serves as Assistant Head of Secondary – MYP and Humanities & Individuals and Societies (I&S) teacher. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education, and is a certified teacher and principal in Washington State, USA.

With 14 years of teaching experience, including 4 years with Nord Anglia Education, Patrick is dedicated to developing students' critical thinking, international mindedness, and understanding of the world through the study of history and the social sciences. As a passionate educational leader, he strives to create engaging learning environments that empower students to become thoughtful, informed, and globally minded individuals.

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Katherine Hwang
Assistant Head of Secondary (Pastoral)
Katherine holds a Bachelor's degree from Kunkuk University in Korea, a postgraduate qualification from Université Paris-Sorbonne in France, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
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Katherine Hwang

Katherine Hwang serves as Assistant Head of Secondary (Pastoral) and Korean Teacher. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Kunkuk University in Korea, a postgraduate qualification from Université Paris-Sorbonne in France, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Liverpool John Moores University, UK.

With 19 years of teaching experience, including 11 years with Nord Anglia Education, Katherine is a highly experienced IB educator. She is an IB Workshop Leader for the MYP and Diploma Programme, an IB Examiner for the MYP Personal Project, and has delivered more than 20 official IB workshops internationally. Recognised for her contributions to school development and educational leadership, she is passionate about supporting students' wellbeing, fostering inclusive school communities, and empowering young people to thrive both academically and personally.

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James McMeekin
Head of Primary
James McMeekin holds an MEd in Education Leadership from The Open University UK, a PGCE in Primary Education from the University of Edinburgh, as well as a Master of Business from the University of Edinburgh Business School.
James McMeekin

James McMeekin serves as the Head of Primary at Léman International School Chengdu. Boasting over 10 years of professional teaching experience, he has spent a full decade working within the Nord Anglia Education global school network.
He holds an MEd in Education Leadership from The Open University UK, a PGCE in Primary Education from the University of Edinburgh, as well as a Master of Business from the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Mr. McMeekin has accumulated abundant leadership credentials throughout his career. He was a featured speaker at the 2024 NAE Leadership Conference, sharing insights on cultivating middle leaders. In 2022, he finished both the NAE Senior Leaders Programme and WASC Visiting Committee Member Training, and completed the NAE Middle Leaders Programme back in 2020.
Outside of school leadership, he enjoys badminton and competitive sports, cooking, exploring new restaurants, hiking and travelling.

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Tina Chen
Director of Admissions and Marketing and Government Liaison
Tina has over 17 years’ experience in international schools, mainly involved in managing administration, government relations, and admissions and marketing. 
Tina Chen

Tina joined LIS as the Human Resource Manager since 2009, overseeing HR, including recruiting, compensation, benefits, training, performance management, employee relations, and the coordination of government affairs. She’s passionate about education and believes good education will make a difference to children’s lives. She has been focusing on admissions, marketing, and governmental liaison since 2017, and she continues to contribute to the development of the school.

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CREATING A global LEARNING NETWORK

SEAMLESS TECH FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES

At LIS Chengdu, we engage with Nord Anglia Education's online learning platform, Global Campus, through challenges, projects, and initiatives as a whole school. We ensure our Early Years, Primary, and Secondary students all participate in developing their global awareness alongside 67,000 other Nord Anglia classmates.

TEACHING QUALITY 

At Léman, we attract and retain the very best educators in the world through Nord Anglia Education – especially since our teachers have special access to world-class trainings and resources through Nord Anglia University that boost their professional development to the highest standards.


We’re proud of the daily efforts of our talented teachers, who all hold UK Qualified Teacher Status, or the equivalent, and many hold a master’s degree. They come equipped with a wealth of UK and overseas experience, ready to motivate your child through personalised instruction.

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QUALITY ASSURANCE

The high quality of our teaching is best demonstrated through the fact that our community is happy and healthy – seen by how many of our teachers and staff remain on our team for an average of six years, with many staying much longer as they continue to build their expertise. 

From the very start of their time at LIS, all our teachers undergo a comprehensive induction programme so they fully understand the expectations, policies, and procedures of our school and adopt the high expectations of the Nord Anglia family of schools. And our parents notice the difference: 96% of Léman parents believe their child has a good relationship with their teachers and 97% say their child is happy at school.

Furthermore, by working closely with Nord Anglia Education, our highly experienced senior leadership team ensures consistency in our teaching, and our Oxford-based education team conducts annual reviews and visits so our school performs at the highest global standards.
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JOIN OUR INTERNATIONAL TEAM

WORKING AT LIS CHENGDU

Children learn best when they're happy, and our teachers are at the heart of ensuring this is a reality at Léman Chengdu. We're delighted to shape young lives – and you can be part of it.
OUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS WILL ENABLE YOUR CHILD’S SUCCESS

Great schools are made up of great teachers. That's why we recruit the world's best. Learn more about our highly qualified teachers, how they teach, and what it feels like to be a student at Léman by getting in touch with our welcoming Admissions team.

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