Giáo Dục Đổi Mới – Hành Trang Tương Lai

In his professional career, Mr. Harper will be entering his 20th year in education and taught self-contained, behavior, special education classes, helped develop, design, and implemented behavior programs for self-contained special education students, taught Alternative Education for credit recovery at the high school level, and taught English Language Acquisition to students whose first language is not English. Mr. Harper also was part of a team of educators that helped develop a whole school Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program. He has a passion for SEL in his professional and personal life. He has held teaching certificates/credentials in the states of Washington and Nevada. He also has two years of working for online schools including being a “Success Coach” to help credit deficient students navigate the challenges of getting back on track to graduation. He has coached High School Football, youth baseball, youth soccer and started a mountain bike team at Spanish Springs High School, Sparks, NV, USA. Before entering the world of teaching, Mr. Harper spent many years working in the outdoor retail and recreation industries. He helped open REI’s flagship store in Seattle, WA, worked as a ski and snowboard sales representative for multiple outdoor sporting goods stores, and managed Guest Services for multiple Ski Resorts in Washington state, USA. Mr. Harper also briefly started a Mental Health Case Management company before returning to education. He also spent time "ski-bumming" and working for the Sun Valley Ski Resort in Ketchum, ID. When not at work, Mr. Harper enjoys skiing, mountain biking, travel, food, watching sports, playing racket sports, working out, meditation and spending time with family. His wife, Dana Hamilton, is a School Counselor at TAS and together they have one son who is teaching English as Second language at a language academy in HCMC. It has been a life-long family dream to live and teach abroad. Mr. Harper is thrilled to be part of the TAS team. Mr. Harper holds the following degrees and certifications: BA in Special Education (K-12) from Central Washington University TEFL Certification (K-12) Sierra Nevada University Special Education Generalist Certification (K-12) Alternative Education Certification (7-A) Social Emotional Learning trained (9-12)

Ms. Dana Hamilton was appointed Student Support Services Coordinator and Middle-High Counselor from August 2024 Master of Education – School Counseling (Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA) Bachelor of Arts – Psychology (Central Washington University), Ellensburg, WA) Licensed Certified Professional Counselor, Nevada Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Washington National Board-Certified School Counselor, 2014 National Board-Certified Counselor, 2014 I have been a school counselor since 2002. I’ve worked at the primary and secondary level focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused brief therapy. I believe if one changes the way they think they will change the way they feel. Prior to becoming a school counselor, I worked as a mental health therapist dealing with children and adults in crisis as well as providing brief and intermediate therapy. I believe that dealing with the “whole child” creates a path facilitating the best outcome for the student in their educational pursuit. I am a firm believer in Social-Emotional Learning and believe that the lives of children will be better the more empathic they are. My husband I love to travel – we have been all around the world and plan to continue to do this. I am an avid runner – I just ran my 12th marathon. I am so excited to become a part of the TAS community. I am ready to make a difference.

I am honored to join the TAS community this year as the Middle and High School Vice Principal. With a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Education, I bring both technical expertise and a deep passion for teaching and leadership to the school. I am a licensed teacher and administrator with 19 years of experience in education, including 15 years in East and Southeast Asia. I believe that education is a holistic journey—one that nurtures not just academic excellence, but also social and emotional growth. At the heart of my mission is a commitment to developing confident, creative, and critical thinkers who are prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with students, colleagues, and families. Being part of a dynamic and supportive school environment like TAS is both an honor and an exciting opportunity to grow together.

Ms. Rachel Temple has been named TAS Curriculum Coordinator beginning August 1, 2024. Originally from Seattle, WA, U.S.A., Ms. Temple began her career in education teaching English in Caracas, Venezuela and Seoul, South Korea. After completing a teacher certification program in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., she taught high school Spanish for five years at public schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Moving back to Seattle, Ms. Temple taught Spanish and served as the Assistant Director of a small private school. Most recently, Ms. Temple served as the founding Director of Academic Programs at an independent school in the Seattle Metro Area. Ms. Temple holds the following degrees and certifications: Master of Arts in International Relations, Dublin City University Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Texas Christian University ECAP Teacher Certification Program Texas Educator Certification, Languages Other than English - Spanish (EC - 12), English as a Second Language Supplemental (EC - 12) Ms. Temple is dedicated to helping every learner achieve at their highest level. She is excited to join the TAS team and is looking forward to working with the Mustang faculty, staff, and students!