Secondary
Mr. Valentino Salvato
Director of Teaching & Learning, Secondary Lead & Science Teacher
Mr. Valentino Salvato is a highly experienced educator and school leader from Italy with more than 20 years of experience teaching Mathematics, Science, Business, and Economics. He began his teaching career in the United Kingdom in 2001 and holds UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics.
During his career, Mr. Valentino has taught and held leadership positions in schools across the United Kingdom, United States, Taiwan, Germany, and Albania. His leadership experience includes serving as Head of Mathematics, Numeracy Coordinator, and Assistant Principal with responsibility for Teaching & Learning.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in Financial Economics alongside extensive postgraduate qualifications, including master’s-level study in Leadership and postgraduate qualifications in mentoring, coaching,
and educational research.
As Director of Teaching & Learning at AIS, Mr. Valentino promotes evidence-informed practice and continuous professional development across the school. In his work with students, he places particular emphasis on metacognition, independence, and confidence, helping young people develop into curious and capable lifelong learners.
Ms. Haley Bodner
Secondary English and Social Studies Teacher
Ms. Haley is a Secondary English and Social Studies teacher from the United States with experience teaching in both American and South Korean schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Secondary Education and Italian as a Foreign Language, with additional academic study in History and Political Science.
Ms. Haley has taught middle and high school students across History, Economics, Geography, and Civics and has experience working within a range of international curricula and educational settings. Her teaching emphasises inquiry, differentiation, and meaningful connections between classroom learning and the wider world. She encourages students to think critically, express their ideas confidently, and engage respectfully with different perspectives.
Outside school, Ms. Haley is a certified SCUBA instructor and enjoys an active lifestyle. She is also a proud "mom" to two furry sons, Graham the dog and Henry the cat.
Mr. Mathew Vaughan
Middle School Mathematics and Whole School PE Teacher
Mr. Mathew Vaughan, known to his students throughout his teaching career as "Mr. V", is an experienced educator from Australia. After completing his Bachelor of Education, he began his career teaching in rural and coastal public schools in New South Wales before taking his passion for education and travel overseas.
Mr. Mat’s international experience has included roles in education, outdoor education, summer camps, and leadership across New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He began teaching in South Korea in 2016, first as an ESL educator in Gwangju and later within the Korean public school system in Changwon. He subsequently moved to Geoje, returning to classroom teaching.
At AIS, Mr. Mat teaches Middle School Mathematics and Physical Education across the school. He brings enthusiasm, energy, and a strong sense of connection to his teaching, encouraging students to participate, challenge themselves, and grow in confidence. Central to his approach is the belief that the relationships educators build with students can have a lasting impact.
Ms. Emily Balamut
Secondary English Teacher
Ms. Emily Balamut is a qualified Secondary English Teacher from St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, with around nine years of teaching experience in South Korea. She has taught across elementary and middle school settings in Ulsan and Jeollanam-do, supporting students with a wide range of backgrounds and English language abilities.
Ms. Emily holds a Master of Arts with Distinction in English Language Teaching from the University of Southampton and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She completed her teacher preparation through Moreland University and holds a U.S. teaching licence in ESOL for PreK-12, alongside a TEFL/TESOL certificate. Her extensive experience in language education provides a strong foundation for teaching Secondary English at AIS.
A lifelong reader, Ms. Emily enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for English language and literature with her students. She aims to make learning accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for students of all abilities. Outside school, she enjoys reading, games, exercising, and spending time with friends.
Mr. Jeffrey Blackband
Secondary Science Teacher
Mr. Jeffrey Blackband brings more than 36 years of experience in education, including classroom teaching, educational leadership, and senior management. His extensive international career has included teaching at both school and college level and working with students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds.
For more than two decades, Mr. Jeffrey has worked across Asia, particularly in South Korea and China, delivering both British and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. He has also taught in Washington, D.C., further broadening his international experience. Having previously spent almost ten years teaching in Busan, he is delighted to return to South Korea.
In the classroom, Mr. Jeffrey combines high academic expectations with a positive and inclusive approach, encouraging students to develop confidence, independence, and a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. Outside education, his interests include world history, classic cinema, and leisure cycling.
Ms. Brindha Sethulingam
Cambridge Examinations Officer & Secondary Mathematics and Computing Teacher
Ms. Brindha Sethulingam is an experienced mathematics educator with a strong academic background and extensive experience at AIS. Originally from India, she holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering, both completed with first-class distinction, before later pursuing her career in education.
She holds teaching licenses in Tennessee and Washington, D.C., as well as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the UK. Since joining AIS in 2019, she has taught IGCSE and A Level Mathematics, helping students develop confidence and a deeper understanding of the subject. Since 2024, Ms. Brindha has also served as the school’s Cambridge Examinations Officer, helping to ensure the smooth and effective administration of Cambridge assessments.
In her teaching, Ms. Brindha places particular emphasis on problem-solving, independent thinking, and making mathematics engaging and accessible. Outside school, she enjoys listening to music, cooking a variety of cuisines, and spending time with friends and family.
Mr. Raphael Thomassin
Athletics Director, PE and French Teacher
Mr. Raphael Thomassin is an experienced international educator from France who has been living and teaching in South Korea for the past seven years. His broad educational background reflects his interests in sport, languages, science, and mathematics.
Mr. Raphael has six years of teaching experience within an IB World School, working with students from Primary through Secondary in both English and French. His teaching experience spans Physical Education, French language acquisition, mathematics, and science. He has further strengthened his professional qualifications by completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Sunderland in the United Kingdom.
As Athletics Director at AIS, Mr. Raphael leads the school’s SKAIS sports programme and supports the continued development of competitive and inclusive school sport. Through both PE and classroom teaching, he encourages teamwork, discipline, confidence, and healthy lifestyles while helping students enjoy learning and challenge themselves.