Staff Profiles
Year 3 – Year 4
At St Christopher’s, our dedicated and well-qualified team of staff put your children at the heart of everything we do.
Year 3 – Year 4
Jennifer Finnigan
Year 3 JF
Jen is from the UK and holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Ecotourism. While working in environmental education in Singapore she realised her passion for teaching. Once Jen returned to the UK she completed a PGDE at the University of the Highlands and Islands. When based in Singapore Jen spent a lot of time travelling around Malaysia, exploring the rainforests, snorkelling the coral reefs and trying all the delicious food. That was when she fell in love with Malaysia’s vibrant culture. After teaching in rural Scotland for a couple of years she made the decision to return to Malaysia and join the SCIPS family.
This is Jen’s second year at SCIPS as a Year 6 class teacher. In her free time Jen loves being outside in nature and enjoys water sports, hiking and cooking.
Claire Reeves
Year 3 CR
Claire is originally from Bristol in the United Kingdom and has a BA Honours in Initial Teacher Education. After training at the University of the West of England, Claire was an Early Years teacher for 3 years. Her love of travel and exploration took her to Chengdu in China where she taught Year 1 for 2 years. During her time in China, Claire traveled extensively across South East Asia, including spending 3 weeks in Malaysia.
Outside of school, Claire’s passions include baking, yoga and exploring different cultures. Claire is married to Graham, a fellow teacher at SCIPS and together they have a 2 year old daughter, Florence.
Claire is excited about beginning her 10th year of teaching, at SCIPS, and looks forward to welcoming a class of fun and friendly Year 3 children.
Keep up to date with what is happening at St. Christopher’s by following us on Twitter and Facebook.
Chloe Walker
Year 3 CW
Chloe comes from Kent in the south east of England. After A levels, Chloe went to Bath Spa University to study Business management and media communications but soon realised this was not her dream. She decided to change and completed a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course (TEFL). This led to Chloe spending 6 months in Barcelona, Spain teaching English to Spanish children, being an au pair and volunteering at an International school. This was when she realised her love for teaching and traveling. She returned to the UK and completed a 3 year Primary Education BA hons degree at Canterbury Christchurch University in the historical cathedral city of Canterbury. She spent her free time being a camp monitor in Spanish summer camps, teaching English in Hong Kong and traveling through Asia. Chloe then taught Year 3 in England before relocating in 2015 to Madrid, Spain to teach Year 2 children in an International School. Chloe loves keeping fit, exploring, trying new things and eating! She has now been in Penang for 2 years and is entering her third. Chloe has loved discovering this beautiful country, its people and being part of the SCIPS family.
Alice Morgan
Year 4 AM
Alice is originally from London, England. She trained at the University of Chichester studying Performing Arts before traveling through South East Asia and living in Australia for a year. There she helped run a children’s activity camp on Great Keppel Island. On returning to the UK she completed a PGCE at the University of Roehampton and worked in London teaching for 4 years. Alice fell in love with Malaysia when she spent one of her summer holidays visiting a friend on Tioman Island and seeing various parts of the country.
Alice enjoys exploring, socialising and fitness, and is very much enjoying working at SCIPS and discovering the beauty Penang has to offer.
Dean Isherwood
Year 4 DI
Dean is from New Zealand and has a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury. He has worked at a number of leading primary schools in Christchurch since gaining his Bachelor of Teaching and Learning in 2005. Dean has been a senior team leader, supervising teacher, tutor teacher and school sport director. Before embarking on his teaching career, Dean worked as a surf lifeguard and beach education instructor where he taught primary-aged children about surf safety, the ocean and the role of surf lifeguards. This is where he developed a love of teaching. This is Dean’s third year teaching at SCIPS. Dean has been married to his wife Tamsyn for 10 years and has two children, Flynn and Isla who both attend SCIPS.
Isabella Chakiris
Year 4 IC
Isabella spent her early childhood on the island of Corfu in Greece. She later moved to UK and went on to study for her degree in Classical Civilisation at The University of Leeds. During her degree she spent a year studying at the University of Queensland in Australia. After graduating, Isabella went on to complete a PGCE in Primary Education. She has been teaching in London for the past 5 years and has now decided to return to island life in her move to Penang. Isabella spends most of her holidays travelling and exploring new places, and this is what affirmed her desire to teach abroad. In her free time Isabella enjoys reading, scuba diving, singing and yoga. She is really excited to begin her new adventure teaching at SCIPS!