middle & high school teachers
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SHANE JANKUNAS
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I did most of my growing up in a small town in South Dakota where I attended middle school and most of high school. My senior year was spent back in my native Utah. Somewhere between the humbling prairie sunsets and sage-scented, sandstone deserts, I found God’s hands and the open arms of Christ.
After high school, I went on to get degrees in art education and history education from Montana State University. Recently, I completed a master’s degree in curriculum design from Regent University. Along my meandering walk with Christ, I’ve been so fortunate to have been guided and inspired by so many amazing believers. In that same way, here in my fourth year of serving at GCFS, I get to work with people with such beautiful hearts and ambitions. Every teacher and staff sees each student as an individual with gifts and a God-given potential to go out and make a difference. God is... the Great Revealer. When we pay attention, we can find that reveals Himself in nature, history, and the words spoken in our lives. He also reveals our true selves in spite of all the images we present to the rest of the world. |
natasha song
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Hello! My name is Natasha. I was born in Korea and raised in China. After finishing high school in Shanghai, I went to Hong Kong and graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor's degree in language education. This is my third year at GCFS and I know it will be a fantastic year filled with lots of fun and learning.
God is... a planner because He has great plans for each and every one of us and His plans are always perfect. God has planned even the smallest details of my life and He makes sure that I experience His unending love and grace through them. Every big decision I have made in my life were proof that God was with me every step of the way and that they were a part of God's big plan all along. |
kristin cho
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I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. I graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's degree in English, and I received my Masters in Education from Torch Trinity Graduate University. I had the privilege of being the elementary chaplain at GCFS last semester, and I am so excited to be able to join the secondary department as the high school English teacher this year.
God revealed to me my heart and passion for teaching in Korea, and I've been teaching in Korea for 7 years now. Even through all of the challenges and difficulties, God has blessed me in unimaginable ways. My husband and I are huge foodies and love to travel (to eat), watch movies (to eat popcorn), and play boardgames (to decide who buys food). I believe that sharing a meal is the best way to fellowship, so if you ever need someone to eat with, please don't hesitate to ask! God is... sovereign because He is in control of every aspect of my life, including my suffering and hardships. On countless occasions, I have questioned: God, why did this have to happen? or Why did it have to turn out this way? What good can come out of this? It is only in hindsight that I realize that God has used those times of trial and suffering to mold me into the person I am today. Putting my complete trust in God's sovereignty is still a struggle, especially when things don't go the way I planned or wanted...but I know that in the end, God makes all things work together for my good. |
james kang
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Hello! My name is James Kang, and I was born in Seoul but grew up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan as a child of two missionaries. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Mathematics and earned my teaching license in secondary mathematics in the state of North Carolina.
This is my second year at GCFS, and I have been truly blessed to be a part of such a unique environment built on the love of our Heavenly Father. Apart from being a math teacher, I am a passionate fan of soccer, college basketball, and hiphop music. God is... my father because He has adopted me as His own. He knows me completely yet claims me completely. |
claire hyun
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Hello, I am Claire Hyun. I was born in Korea, raised in California. I studied mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles. After graduating university, I worked abroad at the international schools in China and Korea. I enjoy teaching and spending time with my students. This is my first year at GCFS and I am looking forward to the coming year!
I enjoy traveling and loved my recent trip to Israel this summer. God is... faithful because His love is constant and His presence is always near. God helped me to realize that He has been always with me even at the moment when I thought I was by myself. Knowing that I have God who is faithful and loving makes me wanting to be faithful to God as well. |
stella kim
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Hello! I’m Stella Kim. I was born in Korea but I spent my secondary years in Singapore before moving to the UK for my university degree. I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Biotechnology degree along with my teaching certificate in Secondary Science.
This is my second year at GCFS and I am so amazed to see the beautiful hearts of our students and teachers! When I’m not teaching I enjoy eating exotic foods and doing yoga. I also love learning new things such as French, flute, drum, and jazz dance! God is... “Love” to me. Most of the time I say I love other people when I like certain qualities in them or simply because they make me feel happy. Only through God can I taste the unconditional love with no strings attached. He doesn’t say, “I love Stella because she teaches her lessons well,” nor does He say, “I’ll love you if you love Me.” He not only demonstrates his love for me in the bible, but also gives me continuous affirmation throughout my life. I desire to explore more about his unending love and his goodness this year. |
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I grew up in sunny Southern California, where I was 20 minutes away from Disneyland, 30 minutes from the beach, and 60 minutes from the mountains. I studied marketing at Cal State Long Beach for undergrad, received Master of Arts in physical education at U of South Florida, and now currently working on Master of Divinity at Torch Trinity Graduate University. Along the way, I have been blessed to experience working in a number of different of fields: teaching, warehouse associate, bicycle assembly, restaurant manager/cook, serving in the army including a tour in Afghanistan, farming, and church ministry. And to that list I have added MS/HS chaplain at GCFS, since last September.
Outside of teaching, I have a long laundry list of interests. Because of my "why not" attitude, I have acquired an array of hobbies and experiences so far. My interests cover from sitting in a cafe talking to traveling the world to playing board games to binge watching a tv show or going on a movie marathon to playing sports to enjoying a musical to vegging out at home. God is... my Ctrl+R because in His perfect timing He refreshes me. At times, He refreshes me when I need it the most, and at other times, He refreshes me without me knowing or against my will. However, each time, I am humbled by his awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, never boring, keepin’ it real, character building, riptide-like goodness. And for that, I thank God and proud to call him my Lord and Savior. |
rebecca d'souza
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Hello, I'm Ms. D'Souza. I was born in India, but grew up in Columbus, Ohio. I come from a bicultural family, which has really shaped who I am today. My interest in teaching children about language and culture led me to study Middle Childhood Education at Ohio State University. I went on to pursue a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It was in these years that I met many good friends from around the world. My Korean friends encouraged me to come and visit Korea. A few years later I decided to live here! This is my second year in Korea, but my first at GCFS. In my free time I love traveling around Korea to explore its natural beauty. I also make time to enjoy delicious cuisine along the way.
I am excited to join GCFS in its vision and I am expectant for the amazing ways the Lord will work through the students, teachers, and staff this year! God is... Jehovah Jireh, because he always provides just what I need-comfort, strength, healing, friendship, etc. We may think we know what is best for us, but God cares deeply and knows our needs infinitely better than we do. Our job is asking for discernment in choosing HIS best. Remember that God has so many wonderful gifts to lavish upon His precious children! |
raquel martin
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Hello! My name is Raquel Martin and I grew up in Spain. I graduated from the University of Extremadura in Spain and obtained my teacher's education with a minor in music education. Also, studied special education for disabled children from the Pontifical University of Salamanca. I also obtained a certificate for DELE (Spanish as a foreign language). I have taught for 4 years in Spain and this will be my 5th year teaching in Korea.
I love music and I enjoy playing instruments. I was learning ‘janggu’ before (a Korean traditional instrument). I also like traveling to different countries and getting to know their culture and food. One interesting fact about me is that I like to do arts and crafts. God is... faithful because I've seen how during all my five years in Korea, He has been taking care of me and providing any need that I had. He has given me the opportunity to meet different people to go on in different seasons. I can see God's hands in small details in my daily life and I'm thankful for all His promises. As His Word says, "if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself." |
christine kim
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I was born in California and moved to Seoul when I was four years old. Then I went to England for secondary education and to focus more on art. After finishing A-Levels, I went to the Rhode Island School of Design for my Bachelor’s Degree.
I also learned to speak Chinese in Beijing and had a great time there learning about the culture. I enjoy playing the drums with my worship team. I love watching movies and exercising during my free time. This is my sixth year at GCFS and each year has been a blessing for me. God is... my refuge because there is no situation I will ever face that is out of God's control, so the best place to be, always, is right with Him. |
HAE-EUN SHIN
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Hello! My name is Haeeun Shin. I grew up in Korea and have lived in Boston & Montreal for 16 years. I studied composition (B.A.), Dalcroze Eurhythmics (Licentiate), world music pedagogy (Smithsonian Folkways Certification), and music education (Ph.D. candidate at Université Laval in Canada). I have worked as a music teacher & a Dalcroze specialist over 13 years in Korea, USA, and Canada, and this is my first year at GCFS. I would like to share my all experiences with the GCFS family and to help students develop understanding of world music cultures through mind and body.
I enjoy learning songs, instruments, games, dances, and foods from different cultures. I also like baking, cooking, hiking, walking, and watching movies (I refer to rotten tomatoes score). I love the color green. God is... my counselor. He listens to all my prayers (even the very silent prayer) and gives me wisdom when I humbly seek it. |
