Our staff at the campus Saggen
The staff at IES consists of qualified and experienced teachers with international teaching experience. All teachers meet regularly to discuss practices in the school and provide support for all teachers. The staff promotes the same common practices inside the classroom.
We follow a bilingual approach to learning, so each class is run by a team of English Native Speaker teachers and Austrian teachers who work together.
The team-teaching model allows for close and individualized attention for students, encourages students to participate, and provides a multi-cultural learning environment for an international student body.
Katharina Höck
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Ms Höck grew up in Kufstein, Tyrol. After school, she spent one year abroad in Charlotte, VT, working as an Au Pair. When she came back and started her studies it was clear to her that she also wanted to implement English in her everyday life as a teacher. As part of the Erasmus program, Ms Höck had the chance to study one semester in Helsinki. Not only did she get to know the Finnish education system, but she also learned a lot about Finnish people and their culture. After teaching in Kufstein for the last five years, Ms Höck is now thrilled to be part of the I.E.S. team.
In her leisure time she likes to meet up with friends, play music with her band, try different urban dancestyles or bike to a nearby lake, where she enjoys reading books - in English of course!
Elizabeth Hollands
Native English Teacher
Lizzy was born in a small town in the UK. Having grown up surrounded by teachers Lizzy soon found herself working with children. This path took her into a wide variety of educational settings both formal and informal. Beginning with running art workshops at festivals to graduating with a Bsc and working in an International IB school in Copenhagen. In Copenhagen she worked supporting children with additional educational needs. Lizzy soon developed a keen interest in early years education and returned to the UK to complete her Postgraduate in Primary Education to become a classroom teacher. After teaching in the uk for some time it was time for her next adventure- having always had a love for the mountains and the outdoors, Innsbruck was a logical choice! She has now been here for some years and is happy to call it home.
Natalie Aschaber
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Natalie grew up in Westendorf, Tyrol. Her mum is from England, so she grew up speaking both German and English which are the perfect tools to work at the Innsbruck Elementary School. She flies to England at least three times a year to visit her grandad in Staffordshire. When she is there, it feels like a second home to her, especially when it involves a lovely Sunday roast. When she left school, she worked as a ski instructor for a couple of seasons and made many international friends that she still keeps in touch with. Ms Aschaber loves to travel, spending four weeks in Bali during the summer break and has a long list of other countries she would like to visit. When she isn’t out and about travelling, she likes to read, climb, play mini golf, watch movies like Minions, cook and eat delicious and exotic food as well as spend time with her family, friends and pets. Having taught in Oberhofen for a while, she is thrilled to have her dream job at the I.E.S. where she gets the chance to speak both German and English.
Victoria Llongo
Native English Teacher
Victoria moved to Innsbruck from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, home of ‘the greatest snow on earth’ and host city for the 2002 Winter Olympics. That’s why Innsbruck quickly felt like home to her. Though she comes from a family of teachers, it was her first teaching year abroad that instilled in Victoria a desire to share her love for languages and culture. Victoria has always been interested in teaching foreign languages, she continued her studies in this area up to her doctorate degree. She worked as an educator in the USA as well as in European countries such as France, Spain, Ireland and the UK. A lover of the outdoors, Victoria enjoys hiking, skiing, biking, canyoneering, ice climbing, volleyball and barbecuing with friends and family. Victoria feels privileged to be part of Innsbruck Elementary and is committed to maximizing individual student performance, inspiring children’s interest for learning and awaken a sense of self-confidence, self-worth and self-discipline among all her students.
Madeleine Schellander
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Ms S comes from a small village in Carinthia, Austria. After finishing her degree, she moved to Innsbruck. Before working as a teacher, she gained some experience with children by being a child carer in a hotel, where she got to know a lot of different cultures. She loves travelling around the world, riding her bike and going out for long walks. Madeleine is very excited to be a part of the team at Innsbruck Elementary.
Carol Jackson , MA
Native English Speaker
Carol is originally from Cape Town, South Africa, but she moved to Canada when she was a teenager. After finishing her degree in Vancouver, she moved to Europe where she taught in London, England and eventually also in Innsbruck, Austria. Her travelling bug had not yet been satisfied so she went off on an adventure and lived and taught in Santiago, Chile and Singapore. She is passionate about teaching and has a lot to offer with her wide range of teaching experience in different cultures. Now, after returning to Innsbruck, and returning to Innsbruck Elementary School, she is thrilled to be back with the old team as well as the new. At the moment, she spends as much time as possible with her family.
Birgit Cap, MA
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Birgit was born in Vienna and lived there until she was a teenager when she moved with her family to Lower Austria. There she studied to be a teacher and started to work after her graduation at a large educational campus situated in Vienna’s 10th district. Additionally to teaching, she continued her studies with additional training courses in Health and Sports. Afterwards she completed her Master’s, specializing in English. Her keen interest and love for winter sports, climbing and hiking spurred her on to move to Innsbruck, where she finally joined the Innsbruck Elementary School. Here she’s thankful to have settled in well and really enjoys the students and her colleagues.
Julie Kistenich, MA
Native English Speaker
Mrs. Kistenich, as she is known to her students, is an American from Minnesota, but Austria is now her second home. Ever since she was a child, she dreamed of being a teacher and working with children. After studying to be an elementary school teacher in the States, she came to Austria to teach English, where she only planned on staying two years. Those two years have turned into twenty years now due to her meeting and marrying her husband, who is an Austrian. Mrs. Kistenich taught first and second grade in one of the Vienna Bi-Lingual schools, helped lead and counsel at English Language Camps in Austria, and has had experience working with children and adults from many different cultures through teaching and working with asylum seekers. Mrs. Kistenich loves reading, traveling, playing piano, being outdoors and spending time with her husband and three daughters. She is excited to be joining the Innsbruck Elementary team and is looking forward to getting to know the students and the staff.
Valentina Weiskopf
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Ms Weiskopf comes from Aldrans, a village on the outskirts of Innsbruck and was therefore basically born and raised in Innsbruck. From an early age on she had a keen interest in languages, which grew even more during high school and university studies. During that time, she ventured on several exchange and work stays in Italy, as well as in England. After graduating as a teacher, Ms Weiskopf took a detour into business by completing her masters in “Public Health”. The happiness she felt when partaking in the development of children and having an impact on their future made her retrace her steps though and led her back into teaching. Through her work as a teaching assistant in Uganda she broadened her teaching experience before starting her teaching career in Austria. For recreation, Ms Weiskopf likes to spend her time in many different ways from winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, ski-touring to other hobbies like hiking, running and baking or enjoying plays or concerts.
Her greatest passion however is travelling. She loves to discover unknown territories, immerse in foreign cultures, and thereby broaden her mind constantly.
Rush Bowers, MA
Native English Speaker
Rush originally comes from Jackson, Michigan (USA). After wrapping up his undergraduate degree in English and German education at Western Michigan University, he began his teaching career working at a boarding school in the Black Forest of Germany. His teaching career now spans many years with stops in Germany, years of highly rewarding experience in Austria and even including two stints in his home state of Michigan. In the professional forefront, Rush greatly enjoys teaching English and German as a second language, but he also embraces time spent outdoors hiking, skiing, and simply being in nature. He holds a Masters of Science in teaching second languages. Helping young people to reach their full potential and to achieve great things in life is the aspect he appreciates the most about the profession. Now in his second stint at the Innsbruck Elementary School, Rush is happy to be a part of the IES team.
Susanne Gillarduzzi
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Born into a family of teachers Susanne grew up in a village near Innsbruck. Before starting her teaching career, she gained international experience while studying in Canterbury, UK, and travelling around the world. Susanne also worked for an association teaching road safety at various kindergartens. Mrs G, as she is known at school, has a keen interest in nature, sports and culture. She loves travelling and seeing new places, discovering great landscapes, hiking, tobogganing, horse riding, swimming, as well as reading, musicals and cooking.
Hannah Wayne
Native English Teacher
Ms. Wayne grew up in the Boston area and attended Boston University. Having loved to travel as a child, she wanted to live abroad and made her way to Austria. She has lived throughout Austria and although she doesn’t enjoy skiing, ended up in Innsbruck. Teaching runs in the Wayne family so it wasn’t a surprise when Ms. Wayne decided to become a teacher. Having grown up bilingual herself, Ms. Wayne knows the importance of supporting students as they develop two languages. For the past couple years, Ms. Wayne has worked with gymnasium and middle school students and is looking forward to working again with elementary aged students as well as the rest of the IES staff.
Monika A. Kilga, MA
Austrian Elementary and Special Needs Teacher
Monika grew up in Innsbruck. She discovered her love for foreign countries and languages as a teenager, while spending her summers in international summer camps. When she was working as a special needs teacher, she gained additional skills as a sports teacher and as a counselling teacher. Monika likes to spend her free time outdoors with her family and friends. Her hobbies include hiking, climbing, sledging and skiing.
Joseph Manning
Native English Teacher
Joe originally comes from Wolverhampton in England. After finishing his degree in Music at Cardiff University, he completed his teaching qualifications in the Welsh Valleys. Since, Joe has had the opportunity of teaching in Herefordshire (UK), Auckland (NZ), Nandi (Kenya) and Devon (UK). Joe thrives working with young people and helping them reach their potential. Outside of work, he enjoys playing piano, saxophone, hiking, skiing, swimming and football. He is a big fan of the English football team Wolves. A highlight about living in Innsbruck for Joe is being able to travel and learn about different cultures while still being able to teach, two of his passions. Joe is excited to be working with the amazing staff and students at IES.
Daniela Witsch, MA
Austrian Elementary and Special Needs Teacher
Daniela is from Innsbruck, Austria. She first started her teaching career in a special needs school where she worked with severely disabled, blind and visually impaired students. In 2002, Daniela combined her passion for travelling and working with children and spent four years abroad, teaching at independent grammar schools in Norway, London and Melbourne, Australia. Ms W, as the students call her, is a huge animal lover and spends most of her free time in the great outdoors. Her hobbies include skiing, hiking, mountain biking, yoga and reading.
Roberto A. Lorenzatto, MA
Native English Teacher
Often referred to as “Mr. L” by his students, Roberto originally hails from Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A.). He has always enjoyed working with youth and helping them to develop into well rounded young adults. Roberto began his teaching career in the Bronx, New York City. His passion for teaching has enabled him to live, teach and work with children in many places throughout the world, such as the United States, England, Spain and Japan. Austria seems to be a perfect fit and allows Roberto to actively partake in many of the hobbies that he enjoys, such as snowboarding, travelling, mountain biking and any other new, exciting sport that he discovers. He also enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, listening to music, surfing, telling jokes and relaxing with friends and family. Roberto is happy to call the Austrian Alps his second home and the students and staff of Innsbruck Elementary his second family.