PRIMARY
Ms. Lorna Graham
Primary Coordinator and Year 5 Teacher
Ms. Lorna is a qualified British primary educator who serves as Primary Coordinator and Year 5 Teacher at AIS. She holds UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Primary PGCE from Plymouth Marjon University, as well as a TESOL qualification with Distinction. She also holds a BA in Archaeology from the University of Bristol and an MA in Archaeology from Leiden University.
Ms. Lorna brings extensive international experience, having taught in the United Kingdom, Serbia, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Her primary teaching experience includes the English National Curriculum and Cambridge International Curriculum, alongside curriculum development, assessment, differentiation, and supporting students with EAL and SEND.
As Primary Coordinator, Ms. Lorna supports high-quality teaching and learning across the Primary School while continuing to create engaging and inclusive learning experiences for her own students. Outside school, she enjoys travelling, reading, writing, art, and hiking.
Ms. Yeonju Lee
Year 1 Class Teacher
Ms. Yeonju Lee is a qualified educator with extensive experience supporting young learners across Early Years, Primary education, and English as an Additional Language (EAL). She has been a valued member of the Atherton International School community since 2021, working as both an Early Years Teacher and EAL Teacher before moving into her current role as a Year 1 teacher.
Ms. Yeonju holds a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Education and has completed a professional teacher certification programme. In 2023, she further strengthened her professional qualifications by earning a U.S. Teaching Certificate. Her experience across Early Years and EAL has given her a strong understanding of child development, language acquisition, and the important transition into formal primary education.
In her classroom, Ms. Yeonju places particular importance on ensuring children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. She encourages confidence, independence, and curiosity while building positive relationships that help every child feel valued and encouraged to reach their potential.
Ms. Sasha Naiken
Year 2 Class Teacher
Ms. Sasha Naiken is a qualified educator from South Africa with several years of teaching experience in South Korea, working with students across a range of age groups. She brings a strong academic background to AIS, together with an enthusiasm for engaging, inquiry-based learning.
Ms. Sasha holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Geological Sciences, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), graduating Cum Laude with distinctions. Before entering education, she gained professional experience as a geologist through fieldwork and consulting projects. Her scientific background continues to influence her classroom practice, particularly her emphasis on curiosity, investigation, and connecting learning to the real world.
Ms. Sasha encourages children to explore, ask questions, and feel confident taking on new challenges. She aims to build creativity, resilience, and strong foundations for future learning. Outside school, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, yoga, travelling, and exploring the outdoors.
Ms. Viktoriia Lowe
Year 3 Class Teacher
Ms. Viktoriia is an experienced primary educator from Ukraine with nine years of teaching experience across Key Stages 1 and 2, alongside four years of specialist experience teaching English as an Additional Language (EAL). She graduated from the National Pedagogical University in Kyiv, specialising in English teaching and Primary Education.
Her international teaching career has taken her to Egypt, Brunei, and Tunisia, and she has worked with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), International Primary Curriculum (IPC), and English National Curriculum. Ms. Viktoriia adapts learning to individual needs and works to ensure that every student feels supported, appropriately challenged, and able to succeed.
Outside school, Ms. Viktoriia enjoys spending time with her family and solving crosswords and puzzles. More recently, she has also embraced life as a hockey and figure-skating mum, supporting her children in their sporting activities.
Mr. William Lowe
Year 4 Class Teacher
Mr. William Lowe is a highly experienced international educator from Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, with more than 20 years of teaching experience across a range of countries and educational settings. He has studied at universities in both Canada and the United Kingdom and holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Master of Education (M.Ed.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), and a TEFL certificate.
Throughout his career, Mr. William has developed considerable expertise in classroom management, educational technology, and supporting students with a wide range of learning needs. He works to create a positive classroom where students feel supported and encouraged to achieve their potential. Reading is particularly important to his teaching philosophy, both as a foundation for language development and as a way of nurturing lifelong learners.
Outside school, Mr. William enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. His interests include ice hockey, motorcycling, and boating, and he is an enthusiastic NHL fan.
Ms. Eleanor Patterson
Year 6 Class Teacher
Ms. Eleanor Patterson is an experienced educator from the United States with seven years of experience in education, including more than four years as a Primary homeroom teacher. Her professional background includes literacy instruction, inclusive classroom practice, curriculum development, Spanish language teaching, and social-emotional learning.
Ms. Eleanor creates a supportive and engaging classroom where students are encouraged to recognise their own abilities and take increasing responsibility for their learning. She combines strong academic foundations with opportunities to develop independence, creativity, collaboration, and positive relationships.
She believes strongly in educating the whole child and helping students flourish both academically and personally. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Eleanor enjoys playing with her two cats, baking, dancing, and reading.