Panthers of ISKL #291: Marc Hughes - The Science Teacher
My favorite classes are those in which I get to engage in physics with my students, and through that process, we all learn together. I feel that there is so much to learn from each other if we approach learning as a cooperative endeavor.
Having grown up as an international student in Belgium, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, High School Science teacher Marc Hughes brings a lifetime of global perspective and passion for learning to our community. With roots in the IASAS network as a former student of Jakarta Intercultural School, he now shares that same spirit with his own children and students, both in the classroom and on the baseball field.
Read on to learn more about his journey, what inspires him as an educator, and how life at ISKL feels both new and familiar.
Here is Marc’s story:
Please tell us more about yourself.
I was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in the United States. However, I only lived there for four months - my parents took international teaching jobs, thinking they would be there for only two years. A cliche, perhaps, but they would stay overseas for the rest of their careers.
I attended schools in Belgium, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia (at the Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) - in middle and high school). I knew I wanted to live and work overseas. I completed my bachelor's degree in Colorado, got my teaching license, and then Julia and I got our first international teaching jobs in Mozambique. From there to China, the Dominican Republic, Pakistan, and now Malaysia.
When and why did you join ISKL?
2024-2025 was my first year at ISKL. It feels simultaneously new and familiar. It is the largest school I’ve been a part of, but at the same time, it does a good job of holding onto some of the charm of its past. I experienced some of that back in the 90s as an IASAS participant at the old campus.. It feels good to be a part of that world again. A fun part of joining ISKL has been revisiting the IASAS culture and seeing my two children adopt it as part of their own. The opportunities that ISKL provides my family are one of the best reasons that we are here.
Can you tell us more about your position as an HS Science teacher? What are your daily activities?
Most of my daily classroom time is related to teaching physics. After 20 years, I still find aspects of it challenging, and to some extent, that is what keeps me coming back. My favorite classes are those in which I get to engage in physics with my students, and through that process, we all learn together. I feel that there is so much to learn from each other if we approach learning as a cooperative endeavor.
Can you tell us about something you're working on now that you're excited about?
Season 3 is underway, and I’m excited to be one of the coaches of the JV baseball team. There's a tremendous cast of characters involved, both adults and students, and it’s exactly what I want to be doing with my time after school. I am excited to be a part of the program.
What is the most enjoyable and most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part so far has been adjusting to being part of a much larger organization. I’m in the process of trying to make new habits to be more efficient and productive. Just figuring out what to get for lunch took a couple of months to settle on!
The most enjoyable part of the job is interacting with the people. Teaching and being part of a faculty is fundamentally a social interaction, and when those interactions are positive, it can be a real blast.
Can you tell us more about your hobbies and interests? What do you do after work?
In a perfect day I’d have coffee, play the guitar, drop into Vondel (from the Call of Duty game series), go out to brunch, read a book, play a sport, explore with my family, get lost, discover something new, ride my bike, get back on the guitar, have an amazing home cooked meal, watch some TV, and then spend of couple last minutes of the day with my family with a late night snack in the kitchen!
Who or what inspires you?
Lately, it has been my students who have inspired me. They can be such incredibly hard workers, and they are so mature in their management of heavy intellectual academic loads. This effort inspires me. This effort is made so much more inspiring when you allow the students to reflect on how difficult the whole process can be for them. I see small acts of heroism each day.
What is your best memory (or most memorable moment) so far working at ISKL?
I’m a big fan of Stalls Night! I like to be social and have fun with my peers. I identify closely with many of my colleagues, and being a part of that is really fun. Who do we talk to to make that happen twice a year!!
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
I love the way that we present this as one sentence. Doing so implies that they aren’t individual goals but a set of connected outcomes. I see them as part of a positive feedback loop where growth in one fosters consideration in others. Sometimes I feel like I’m still on step 1. But I suppose it isn’t a linear process. It would be hard to create a more powerful sentence with fewer words.
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.