Tahira Nawaz has over ten years’ extensive educational leadership, school development and teaching experience in UK and overseas educational establishments. She has held several leadership roles including Deputy Head and Vice Principal, and she has BSc. (Hons) and MSc. qualifications from the UK. As a PGCE qualified teacher and a certified careers consultant, Tahira has worked in Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, and the Far East. She is committed to making a positive difference in young peoples’ lives to help them achieve their true potential. Her aim has always been to lead and inspire students by training them to develop the 21st Century skills they need to compete in a diverse global economy. Tahira is looking forward to joining the High Tech Academy community, contributing to the success of the academy, immersing herself in the local community, and exploring the customs and cultures of Kazakhstan.

My name is Elina Myrttinen. I come from Finland, where I have be working as a teacher for 15 years.

This year I will be a part of the primary education team here in HTA. I will teach English, Math and

Science. Looking forward to starting this academic year with you!

My name is Adam Saligman. I am from St. Louis, USA. I studied English Literature and Writing (as well as a brief fling with Environmental Studies and Astronomy) at Washington University in St. Louis and earned my MA in Secondary School Education Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In the past decade I have taught English Literature, Writing, Debate, and Drama at international schools in Japan, Bulgaria, and Kazakhstan. In the past two years I founded a local debate league called Qazaqstan Speech and Debate Association (QSDA) in my efforts to empower Kazakhstani students with strong academic skills and charismatic public speaking. QSDA students are now able to train and compete in both China and USA! I am honored to be part of the extraordinary team at HTA this year. In addition to teaching English Language Arts I will be coaching Public Speaking and Debate. My hobbies include photography, writing, film, and playing Magic: the Gathering. I look forward to working with everyone here!

I am originally from the UK, and have been enjoying teaching abroad for over 8 years, beginning in Thailand, China, Poland, and now Kazakhstan. I am looking forward to learning about Kazakhstan's unique culture and exploring the country. I particularly love being in nature, doing outdoor activities like hiking and cycling. I am passionate about being kind to our planet and strive to take positive action in this direction. I am very proud to become a part of the HTA team, and look forward to meeting my colleagues, HTA families and of course, the students! Here's to a fantastic and fruitful time together!

My name is Panacea Cruden and I'm originally from Scotland where I began my teaching career 4 years ago. I'm moving to Almaty from Ethiopia and look forward to becoming a part of the HTA community.

Dear parents,

Welcome to the 2020-21 Academic Year at High Tech Academy!

As we plan for a beginning like no other we have seen in the past, our focus is to ensure that:

• every child, every day feels connected,
• every child, every day is being challenged by new learning and experiences,
• every child, every day knows they are cared for and safe.

Spring of 2020 has challenged teachers, students and parents to connect in new ways and

reflect upon our values. What we have learned most at HTA through this process is to

appreciate the dedication of our teachers, the sense of belonging of our students and the

support from our parents. We feel proud that even under difficult circumstances HTA continues

growing as a learning and caring community.

As HTA Leadership and the founders were deciding on how to start this academic year, we

focused on our core value, freedom and the well-being and safety of all members of our

community. We are confident that our unique outdoor program will be a positive experience for

all returning and new students and will foster relationships that contribute to a meaningful on-

line learning experience.

High Tech Academy is a school founded upon a vision for the 21st century and committed to

continuous improvement, which is why many of you entrust us with the education of your

children. We thank you for your loyalty and support!

Tatiana Magambetova

Principal of High Tech Academy

Doris Korda founded and currently leads Korda Institute for Teaching, a 501c3 nonprofit whose singular mission is to transform the way teachers teach and learners learn. Korda developed a radically different method of teaching as a 20+ year educator after building a $1B software business. She created a globally acclaimed entrepreneurship education program and was the co-originator of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, an initiative to change the high school transcript to reflect the unique skills, strengths and interests of each learner. Korda has worked with hundreds of educators to change teaching and learning in urban and rural districts, career tech programs and schools of all types.

Мy name is Reese Matthews and I am thrilled to be a part of the High Tech Academy (HTA) team this year. I will be working with the students in the Middle School as the Head of Science, Coordinator of the year 7 & 8’s Project-Based Learning (PBL) and a member of the HTA Leadership Team. I came to Almaty from nearly 30 years of working in Africa at the university and secondary school levels. I am very excited about the potential of HTA, the amazing possibilities that PBL offers to create innovative learning environments for the students and providing them with skills they need to enter the 21st century.