“I knew I wanted to be an international teacher, and when I heard there were jobs at ISKL, the idea of coming back to one of my homes was hard to resist! There were still some familiar faces at ISKL, too, so it made for a soft landing when moving overseas.”
Meet Ciara Cheng, a Grade 2 teacher and ISKL alumni student who has experienced living in diverse cultures, including Malaysia, Spain, and Australia. Ciara’s deep connection to ISKL extends through her family, as she is the daughter of two ISKL alumni faculty members and attended the school alongside her brother.
During her leisure time, Ciara indulges in her passions for acting, reading, singing, exploring new destinations, cooking, and spending moments with her loved ones.
Here is Ciara’s story:
Please tell us more about yourself.
I was born in Brisbane, Australia. My father is Chinese but grew up between Canada and Australia. My mother is Irish and grew up in England, so my brother and I traveled a lot when we were younger just to see all of our family.
I’ve lived in Malaysia, Spain, and Australia. I taught in Australia before returning to KL.
We understand you are an alumni student, and your parents are also alumni faculty. What inspired you to return to your alma mater as a teacher?
I knew I wanted to be an international teacher, and when I heard there were jobs at ISKL, the idea of coming back to one of my homes was hard to resist! There were still some familiar faces at ISKL, too, so it made for a soft landing when moving overseas.
Do your experiences as a former student give you a different perspective on your current students’ needs and challenges?
I remember coming to ISKL and feeling so excited by how much ownership students were given for their own learning. This experience reminds me to give students opportunities to investigate topics they are curious about so that they can develop a love of learning beyond the classroom.
Can you tell us more about your ES Grade 2 teacher position? What are your daily activities?
I love teaching Grade 2 because, in addition to our subject areas, we also get to talk a lot about how to be the people we want to be. Throughout our core subjects, we also learn how to be good team members, be proud of ourselves, and persevere through challenges. I love watching the class grow in their skills throughout the year.
Can you tell us something you are working on now that you are excited about?
This year, I am directing the ES Musical! When I first started at ISKL as a Grade 5 student, I was sad that I had to wait a whole year before I could be in a play. I’m so glad that we have an Elementary School performance now so that the Grade 4 and 5 students can have the opportunity to put on a show for the community.
What is the most enjoyable and most challenging part of your job?
I love watching how my students ask questions, learn, and solve problems. They always surprise me with the depth of their thinking.
Being a teacher requires a lot of work outside of school hours. A challenge for me is trying to balance feeling prepared while feeling rested and energized enough for a full day with children!
Can you tell us more about your hobbies and interests? What do you do after work?
I love to act, read, sing, travel, and cook. Spending time with my friends and family is also really important, so I try to make time to be with them on the weekends and holidays.
What is your best memory (or most memorable moment) so far working at ISKL?
A lot of my best work memories revolve around my team. Hearing their ideas makes me a better teacher, and we also get to laugh together a lot. Eating lunch with them is one of my favorite parts of the day.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
We’re so privileged to be a part of the ISKL community. I think we owe it to ourselves and the people who have supported us to be true to ourselves, share kindness with others, and use our skills and talents to make a difference where we can.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.