The Journey
EY German and Lower Primary Maths at CIS Hefei, plus Wellness Committee. Living in one of the world's most geographically rich nations — China as the extended classroom.
A return to Berlin before heading east. IB & IGCSE Geography in Europe's most dynamic capital — the city that started the adventure.
Southeast Asia as a living classroom. Megacity dynamics, monsoon systems, volcanic landscapes on the doorstep.
The longest chapter — seven years. Field studies from the Alps to the Baltic coast. Europe as the extended classroom.
Central Europe's most dramatic city. The Danube, thermal baths, the bridges — geography lived rather than taught.
The first leap abroad. Berlin as first international posting — IB and IGCSE Geography in reunified Europe.
Where it all began. 13 years in Austin — Masters degree earned, place-based pedagogy developed, the foundation of everything.
How Gwen Teaches
Making Geography Relevant
Every lesson connects to real-life decisions, global systems, and local experiences. From coastal processes to globalization, students see how geographic concepts shape the world they live in and the careers they'll have.
GIS & Fieldwork First
ArcGIS and spatial analysis give students a competitive edge for university and beyond. Fieldwork is a cornerstone — from river surveys to urban transects, hands-on inquiry builds skills no textbook can replicate.
The Collegial Classroom
Soft café music, collaborative inquiry, shared achievement. Learning works best when students feel at ease — confident to participate, question, and explore. When learning becomes collective, engagement deepens.
Sustainable Futures
Geography education is ultimately about preparing students for a world changing faster than any curriculum can keep pace with. Gwen builds critical thinkers, not capital-caperers.
"Geography is one of the most powerful tools students can use to understand and engage with the world. It would be my greatest reward if all my students choose to pursue Geography or related disciplines at university — that is the true sign of educational success."
What Gwen Teaches
IB Diploma Geography
Teaching IB Geography at the highest level — developing students who engage with global issues through physical, human, and environmental lenses. Case studies drawn from countries Gwen has actually lived in.
Particular strength in Changing Perspectives and the internal assessment — guiding students from question to fieldwork to finished report.
IGCSE Geography
Cambridge IGCSE Geography delivered with an international perspective — connecting the Cambridge syllabus to environments students are actually living in. Strong focus on fieldwork skills and data interpretation.
MYP Individuals & Societies
Humanities through the MYP lens — geography connected to history, economics, and social studies. Currently teaching at CIS Hefei where China provides an unparalleled case study for every MYP topic.
Field Studies
Geography without fieldwork is theory without evidence. Gwen designs and leads field studies that ground classroom learning in direct observation — river surveys, urban transects, microclimate studies.
What Gwen Brings
Curricula
Geography Specialisms
Pedagogy & Tools
Let's Talk.
Experienced IB & IGCSE Geography educator with a Masters degree, 25+ years across five countries. Open to senior teaching roles at high-demand international schools from August 2026.