Middle School
Our middle school students enjoy a variety of new learning experiences, and receive all the support they need to grow and mature well.
A warm welcome from our Principal

Welcome to our Middle School, a collective where learning, loving, and leading are built into all that we do. Because our passionate and caring educators understand that school should be something done for students, not to students, they create student-centered environments that challenge, encourage and equip students to engage this world with their heart and mind.
We educate to inspire curiosity, empathy, and resilience. Through hands-on experiments, team-building activities, encouraging creativity in arts and music, community service involvement, and individualized academic support, we guide our middle school students to grow in self-awareness and responsibility, nurturing them towards lives of meaning and purpose, lived in connection to the people around them.
For more than ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach internationally, and I am proud to call the International School of Qingdao my home. I hope someday it will be yours too.
Warmly
Justin Crull
Secondary Principal of Teaching and Learning
Bringing the curriculum to life
Transforming leaders from the inside out
Unique to LifePlus schools, students take Character Development classes to learn and explore worldview, identity and leadership which, in turn, cultivate lifelong skills and the ability to learn, love and lead.
Arts
Visual arts, music and drama are a crucial part of learning here at Qingdao. Student life is enriched through artistic expression and learning collaboration, determination and the joy of high performance. Students will have the opportunity to perform on campus during our Drama events and Fine Art Galas.
Chinese language and culture
China is an amazing stage for learning and experiences and our Chinese program is no different. Chinese classes cater to beginner, novice, advanced or native Chinese learners, with small classes to differentiate instruction and meet students at any stage in their Chinese story.
Teacher-student relationships
Research shows that teacher-student relationships have the most significant impact on student learning. Every middle school student belongs to a small advisory group, with an advisor that guides them, where they discuss and solve issues students are facing, explore activities and set goals.
Technology and digital learning
Here at the International School of Qingdao, we’re an Apple school successfully running digital learning programs throughout Middle School. Students develop their digital literacy and skills when connecting to their learning, teachers and peers through school-supported platforms like Canvas LMS and Microsoft Office’s suite of products.
Student experiences
Athletics
Our dedicated Athletics programs crystalized in 2002 when we came together with other international schools in our company and created our first China-wide tournament. Today our athletes have won 50 championship titles and 70 other trophies. Students in middle school can join basketball, ping pong and soccer teams throughout the year to compete locally in Qingdao—and as well as further afield in Yantai and Chengdu.
Excursions
Our students explore China and their place in our world. From the heights of Lao Shan to the ancient temples of Qufu; from developing a global worldview to selfless acts of service for others; our students deeply connect with China and their community. Excursions and trips in middle school include four or five-day Spring Trips exploring Qingdao, Shandong Province or Beijing, and sports tournaments around the country.
Our Secondary teaching team
Julio Morales
Secondary Principal
Julio Morales
Secondary Principal
Masters of Higher Education, University of Panama TEFL certification, DP Teacher
19 years teaching
3rd year at ISQ
Justin Crull
Principal of Teaching and Learning
Justin Crull
Principal of Teaching and Learning
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Calvin University
B.A. Biology, Calvin University
15 years teaching
12th year at ISQ
Jane Wu
Secondary Principals' Assistant
Jane Wu
Secondary Principals' Assistant
Qingdao University of Science and Technology
M.A. Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
6 years in education
6th year at ISQ
Daniel Cassel
Secondary English + Technology Teacher
Daniel Cassel
Secondary English + Technology Teacher
M.A. English, Bob Jones University
TESOL Certified
6 years teaching
4th year at ISQ
Judy Guo
Secondary Character + Ethics and Leadership Teacher
Judy Guo
Secondary Character + Ethics and Leadership Teacher
MEd. Teacher Leadership, Indiana Wesleyan University
B.A. English, Shandong University of Science and Technology
18 years teaching
14th year at ISQ
Anna Igumnova
Secondary Teacher + ELS Teacher
Anna Igumnova
Secondary Teacher + ELS Teacher
M.Ed Educational research, Moreland University Washington DC Teaching License certified in Social studies
7 years in education
5th year at ISQ
Betty Zhou
Secondary Math Teacher
Betty Zhou
Secondary Math Teacher
Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language, Carson-Newman University
Licensed K-12 ESL and 6-12 Math, Tennesee, USA
14 years teaching
7th year at ISQ
Seina Kang
Secondary Math Teacher
Seina Kang
Secondary Math Teacher
BA in Mathematics Education (Honors Program), Anderson University
9 years teaching
3rd year at ISQ
Adrian Thompson
Athletic Director, Secondary Technology Teacher
Adrian Thompson
Athletic Director, Secondary Technology Teacher
M.Ed. Educational Leadership, Temple University
B.Ed. Computer Science Hon.
3rd year teaching
3rd year at ISQ
Dr. James Riggins
Secondary Social Studies Teacher
Dr. James Riggins
Secondary Social Studies Teacher
Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies, Biola University
9 years teaching
2nd year at ISQ
Kevin Yu
Secondary Visual Arts Substitute Teacher
Kevin Yu
Secondary Visual Arts Substitute Teacher
B.F.A Art Design, Qingdao University, Master of Fine Arts, Renmin University of China
13 years in education
13th year at ISQ
Megan Lee
College and Career Counselor
Megan Lee
College and Career Counselor
B.S.Ed. Youth and Social Innovation & Cognitive Science, University of Virginia
2 years teaching
2nd year at ISQ
Angel Luan
Librarian
Liza Wang
Chinese Teacher
Liza Wang
Chinese Teacher
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Regent University
B.A. English, Shandong University of Science and Technology
14 years teaching
14th year at ISQ
Catherine Sun
Chinese Teacher
Catherine Sun
Chinese Teacher
B.A. English, University of Shandong
23 years teaching
22th year at ISQ
Esther Zhang
Chinese Teacher
Esther Zhang
Chinese Teacher
M.Ed., Columbia International University
Bachelor’s degree in Business English, Jiamusi University
19 years teaching
12th year at ISQ
Hope Yang
Chinese Teacher
Hope Yang
Chinese Teacher
B.A. English, Yantai University
17 years teaching
12th year at ISQ
Amy Qi
Chinese Teacher
Amy Qi
Chinese Teacher
International Economics and Trade, Shandong Normal University
16 years teaching
11th year at ISQ
Sarah Hu
ELS Teacher
Sarah Hu
ELS Teacher
B.R.E. Teaching English as a Second Language, Davis College
TESOL Certificate
17 years teaching
3rd year at ISQ
Ilia Mazurin
Secondary English + Journalism + ELS Teacher
Ilia Mazurin
Secondary English + Journalism + ELS Teacher
B.A. English Language and Literature, LCC International University
TESOL Certificate
7 years teaching
5th year at ISQ
Margaret Turauskene
Secondary English + Science Teacher
Margaret Turauskene
Secondary English + Science Teacher
M. A. in English Language and Literature, Kemerovo State University
TESOL Certified, Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) Cambridge
18 years teaching
5th year at ISQ
Eric Kang
PE Teacher
Elise Prater
Music Teacher
Elise Prater
Music Teacher
B.A. Music and Ancient Languages, Asbury University TEFL certification
4 years teaching
3rd year at ISQ
Mia Liu
Specialist Teaching Assistant-Music
Mia Liu
Specialist Teaching Assistant-Music
B.A. Music Education, Qufu Normal University
Bachelor’s degree in Business English, Jiamusi University
7 years teaching
7th year at ISQ
Connie Li
Learning Support Assistant
Sandy Qu
Learning Support Co-Teacher
Sandy Qu
Learning Support Co-Teacher
B.A. Accounting, Business Management, Qingdao University
13th years teaching
13th year at ISQ
Byron Lenehan
Secondary Drama + PE Teacher
Byron Lenehan
Secondary Drama + PE Teacher
Bachelor of Theater Studies and a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning
14 years in education
1st year at ISQ
Melody Lee
Learning Support Coordinator
Dori Linscott
Music Teacher
Dori Linscott
Music Teacher
B.M. Music Education (K-12), Faith Baptist Bible College
1 years teaching
1st year at ISQ
Jacob Huang
Secondary Specialist Teaching Assistant
Jacob Huang
Secondary Specialist Teaching Assistant
Master of Accounting - Holmes Institute, Master of Bussiness Administration - Holmes Institute.
1 years teaching
1st year at ISQ
Mar Muniz
Secondary Physics + Robotics Teacher
Mar Muniz
Secondary Physics + Robotics Teacher
MS in Engineering, Texas A&M
15+ years teaching
1st year at ISQ
Kimberly Pitts
Well-being Counselor
Recognized for excellence

International School of Qingdao is accredited by Cognia, the largest education improvement organization in the world—demonstrating our commitment to learners, teachers, leaders and communities.
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