Dr. Michael Fisher - Director Peter Gruber International Academy (mfisher@vimsia.org)
Dr. Michael Fisher serves the VIMSIA team as the PGIA Director.  Michael has more than 20 years of experience in education and has worked in a variety of roles, both in the U.S. and internationally.  His experience includes Deputy Head of School and Director of Teaching and Learning at an international school in South Korea, Middle School Principal at an international school in Colombia as well as public schools in Oregon, Middle and High School Instructional Coach and Program Developer in Oregon, and as middle school math and science teacher in Oregon.  Michael holds a Master’s degree in education, Professional Administrator’s License from Oregon, and a Doctor of Education through George Fox University.  Michael is accompanied by his wife, Jenny, and their son and daughter, who are both students in the PGIA.  In his free time, Michael enjoys cooking, volleyball, and spending time in and under the ocean.

Robert Black - PGIA Individuals and Societies (rblack@vimsia.org)
Mr. Black will be joining the VIMSIA faculty this fall teaching MYP Social Studies and DP Global Politics. Recently retired from Canandaigua Academy in the Finger Lakes region of New York, he has over thirty years of experience in the classroom. During his career, he taught IB History and AP US Government and Politics. A career highlight was being selected to be a Gilder Lehrman fellow and studying the Cold War at Cambridge University during the summer of 2004. He was the Girls Swimming head coach for over twenty years and has been honored with induction into the Canandaigua Academy Athletics and Section V Swimming Halls of Fame. Mr. Black is a graduate of the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio with a B.A. in History. He attended the Institute of European Studies in Vienna, Austria during his junior year. He completed his M.A. in History from SUNY Brockport (NY).

Mr. Black enjoys photography, golfing, and playing the guitar in his free time. A trivia fan, he was a one-time champion on Jeopardy! In 2007. He recently completed a scuba diving certification program and is eager to explore the beautiful waters surrounding St. Thomas.

Faith Boyd - PGIA Spanish (fboyd@vimsia.org)
Ms. Boyd is a Chicago-born Rockford native who will be joining the VIMSIA team as a PGIA Spanish teacher. She is coming from Eisenhower Middle, where she taught English as a Second Language. She graduated from St. Ambrose University in 2020, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science. She also completed a TEFL certificate in 2022.  Ms. Boyd loves to travel and share new experiences, practicing her love for languages in places like Guatemala, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Although she is leaving behind a huge family in the Rockford area, she won’t be alone on her travels. Ms. Boyd will be coming to the island with her 2 cats, Gato and Cumin, and plans to send warm regards home often.  Ms. Boyd is overjoyed to continue her professional journey in such a sunny environment, where she can enjoy all of her favorite hobbies: hiking, writing, and soaking up the sun! 

David Arpasi, Health & Physical Education Teacher, and Athletic Director (darpasi@vimsia.org)

Coach Arpasi is rejoining the VIMSIA family as the instructor for the PGIA Physical Education/Health classes and will also serve as the Athletic Director. He holds a degree in Physical Education/Health from the University of Mount St. Joseph, earned in 1995. David has a strong history with VIMSIA, including volunteering to support PE classes after Hurricane Irma and organizing after-school activities. He previously assisted Adalio Araujo with PGIA PE classes in 2020 and 2021 and served as a movement teacher for Montessori during the winter and spring of 2021. Coach Arpasi is enthusiastic about contributing to a successful year both in the classroom and on the athletic arena.  David has been an integral part of the island community since 2017 where he assisted post-hurricane rebuilding efforts with South Jersey Adjustment Bureau and ProSolar.

Haley Bia, Mathematics (hbia@vimsia.org)

Ms. Bia is a new resident of St. Thomas. She comes from Albuquerque, New Mexico where she lived for 7 years. She recently graduated from the University of New Mexico with her Bachelor’s in Secondary Education Mathematics and Minors in Psychology and Family and Child Studies. Ms. Bia will be joining us as the new algebra and geometry teacher. In her free time Ms. Bia enjoys drawing, playing soccer and traveling. She looks forward to this new step in her teaching journey and is excited to join the vibrant community at VIMSIA.

Rebecca Hoffart – Computer Science Elective, Enrichment, Computer Club (rhoffart@vimsia.org)
Ms. Hoffart has a BA in Literature from Eckerd College, a Masters of Library & Information Science from University of Pittsburgh and a Masters of Education from UVI. She is certified to teach a plethora of computer related technologies and is heavily involved with several STEM related organizations. She is currently working on her PhD at UVI. Ms. Hoffart starting helping out at VIMSIA part-time in 2018 with computer clubs, robotics and computer end session. We are so happy that Ms. Hoffart is willing to add a Wednesday elective offering and provide a computer enrichment program for our PGIA students as we move into the new school year. Ms. Hoffart orchestrates our students with many national competitions, including Cyber Patriots.

William Jordan – Science (wjordan@vimsia.org)
Mr. Jordan believes that learning MUST be fun!  He grew up in Brockport, NY.  Mr. Jordan has a BS in Biology Education and an MS in Special Education.  He is certified to teach science and special education.  He has 35 years teaching experience including upstate New York, Philippines, Norway, Turkey, Hong Kong and Malaysia.  He has taught science, learning support, math, health, marine biology, computer science, robotics, SCUBA, emergency first aid, engineering, design, and leadership.  Mr. Jordan was an emergency medical technician and volunteered on a local ambulance squad while in the continental USA. His hobbies include SCUBA, skiing, paddle boarding, canoeing, biking, hiking, sailing, and camping.  He is being joined by his wife Anne.  His daughter is a teacher in Massachusetts, and his son is working on his PhD in pharmacy and health nutritional sciences.  Lastly Mr. Jordan has recently taken up sailing and is excited to offer sailing programs to students during Volts Wednesdays and End Session.

William McCormick – PGIA Science/Physics (wmccormick@vimsia.org)
Mr. McCormick moved to St. Thomas in 2021 and has been working remotely as the Compliance Manager for an analytical testing laboratory based in Massachusetts. He graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University with a B.S. in Chemistry where he tutored other undergraduates and received an M.A. in Chemistry from Boston University. There, he mentored and taught undergraduate students in Organic Chemistry as a T.A. and participated in research projects aimed at drug synthesis and targeting.

Mr. McCormick lives on the island with his wife and two dogs and has a deep love for both scuba diving and yoga. He and his wife teach scuba part-time and dive for fun when they can. He is also a recent graduate of a 200-Hour yoga teacher training, and is eager to begin teaching yoga as well. Bill loves to share his passions for his interests through teaching and is incredibly excited to join VIMSIA and the community to share his love of and respect for the scientific method.

Heather Onderick, Language and Literature (honderick@vimsia.org)

Ms. Heather Onderick has been teaching and learning around the world for the last 22 years. She will be teaching MYP Lang and Lit and helping to support teaching in learning on the PGIA campus. Heather grew up in various school systems and has had the tremendous opportunity to work across the American, Canadian, Singaporean and CGC curricula. Her undergraduate studies at Hamilton College in art and sociology paved the path towards her first Masters in curriculum, assessment and instruction at Jones International University. In the last five years, she has continued her education, completing a graduate certificate in student centered coaching from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a second Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Endicott College. She is accompanied by her husband, Andres and 7 year old son, Pablo. When she is not in the classroom, you can find her playing volleyball, hand building ceramics, enjoying water sports or curled up with a book. She is excited to be a part of the VIMSIA community.

Maia Newton - PGIA Visual Arts (mnewton@vimsia.org)
Ms. Newton earned her BFA in Textiles from Savannah College of Art and Design and her MFA in Inter-Related Media from Towson University. She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards and has actively served on various committees. Her love of teaching art has taken her from teaching African Art History at Maryland Institute College of Art to teaching Art for Non-Majors at Towson University, as well as various independent middle and upper schools, charter schools, and public schools. Ms. Newton, a lifetime learner, has completed her IB training and hopes to teach Visual  Art at VIMSIA for the rest of her career. 
Outside of school she spends time with friends and family, enjoying nature, snorkeling, beaches, sailing, making art, and working with people in the community to create a more inclusive world. Ms. Newton loves to travel but when she’s off island, she is usually in Florida or Baltimore seeing family. 

Bennett Ott - IB Coordinator (bott@vimsia.org)
Mr. Ott has been on our team since 2018. Bennett currently serves as the IB Coordinator and teaches Global Politics in the PGIA. Bennett’s teaching experience includes teaching locally and in Spain. He has a BA in Latin American Studies Political Science with a minor in History from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Penn State University. His interests include Flamenco and Ragtime Guitar, basketball, writing and reading, cognitive development and mindfulness, and travel.

Diana Price - PGIA Science (dprice@vimsia.org)
Mrs. Diana Price is looking forward to her new role as a science teacher in the PGIA, teaching biology and environmental science. She has been a science teacher in South Carolina for the past 10 years, although this past year she has been a stay-at-home mom, and is excited to get back into the classroom where she belongs. She received her Bachelor’s in Secondary Science Education and Master’s of Biological Sciences, both from Clemson University.  You can always find her on a Saturday watching football and cheering on her alma mater (go Tigers!). She will be accompanied by her husband, daughter, and yellow lab. Her daughter will be attending La Casa.  On the weekends you will be able to find her and her family enjoying the outdoors and exploring the area by boat and by land. 

Lucinda Prosterman - English Department Head, MYP & DP English (lprosterman@vimsia.org)
After twenty-four years teaching Language Arts at Heights High School in Wichita, Kansas, Lucinda Prosterman moved to St. Thomas to join her husband. She graduated from Wichita State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts, in Secondary Education and is certified as a Highly Qualified Teacher of English, Speech, and Theatre. Throughout her career, she has put her certifications to good use teaching a wide variety of courses and developing creative approaches to developing strong reading and writing skills. She is very excited to be joining the VIMSIA staff and working with our PGIA students.

Helen Sidiropoulos - DP Dance, MYP Movement/Arts, Enrichment Coordinator (hsidiropoulos@vimsia.org)
"Ms. Helen" began her dance training before the age of two. Her studies include classical ballet and pointe, tap, jazz, flamenco, Greek Ethnic and Latin dance. She studied classical ballet with David Howard in NYC. She also trained at the SUNY at Albany and performed with Danceworks, Inc. Dance Troupe. She also worked and studied at EBA Dance Company, under the instruction of Maude Baum & Company in New York. She began teaching at Skarla's School of Classical Ballet in Queens, New York in 1990 and has performed with her dance troupe for celebrities and at many festivals, ceremonies and events throughout the tri-state area. She has been an educator at VIMSIA since 2003. Her daughter, Imani, attended VIMSIA starting as a toddler in 2001 and graduated in 2016. In 2011, Ms. Sidiropoulos became the Founding President of Dancing Classrooms, Virgin Islands Chapter. She is trained and certified in Zumba, as well as, trained and certified in Ballroom Dance under the direction of Pierre Dulaine. In addition to teaching Afterschool, MYP and DP Dance, she is also the Arts Department Chair and DP Arts Coordinator. She is always so delighted to share her gifts with the youth, hoping to give them life long skills and creative outlets of expression.

Megan Straube - PGIA Spanish (mstraube@vimsia.org)
Originally from Nebraska, Ms. Straube has a BS from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Education from the University of Arizona. Additionally, she is currently pursuing a degree in Spanish Language and Culture from the Universidad de Salamanca. She has taught Spanish (and Business) in Tucson, Bangkok, and most recently Hong Kong, but first began her teaching career as a Small Business Development volunteer in Peace Corps Nicaragua. Her passion is traveling and she has traveled extensively in South America and Southeast Asia. She also enjoys reading, hiking, and swimming.

Denise Tanner - PGIA Individuals & Societies (dtanner@vimsia.org)
Ms. Denise Tanner is a career educator who still loves to go to school every day. After 15 years of teaching History and German in Houston, Texas, she joined the international teaching community. Over the last 11 years, she has taught in Germany and Malta, teaching English and German in Grades 4-12 in the PYP, MYP and DP, serving as an Instructional Coach and coordinating a variety of programs, such as Service Learning, Interdisciplinary Learning, and The Duke of Edinburgh International Award. Denise has BA’s in History and German, an MEd, an Instructional Leadership Certificate and numerous trainings from the International Baccalaureate and other educational institutions that focus on educating the whole child. She also loves to learn from daily interactions with others, collaboration with colleagues, and discussions and activities with the many young people who fill her life. When not at school, Denise likes to be active outdoors - hiking, swimming, kayaking, sailing, traveling. When it’s dark or the weather is unfriendly, she likes to read, learn new things, play piano and trumpet, and get involved in projects. Denise likes to live life to its fullest and is excited about the next chapter on St. Thomas and at VIMSIA.

Kadeem Thomas, PGIA-MYP Music Teacher (kthomas@vimsia.org)
Kadeem Thomas will be teaching music for the MYP.  He is an International recording and performing artist as well as a songwriter for worldwide renowned artists. He has been teaching music, vocals, percussion, marching band and music theory, for over 15 years. He credits much of his love for music to his CAHS music teacher, Ms. Georgia Francis.

He has performed with and written songs for artists from around the Caribbean and the states. He looks forward to bringing all of his knowledge, energy and experience to the PGIA to create a music program which is exciting and engaging for his students.

Mary Walden, PGIA Theater Teacher (mwalden@vimsia.org)
Mary Catherine Walden comes to VIMSIA from Summit NJ where she taught and directed the High School Theater at Kent Place. Ms. Walden has an MFA in Theater/Acting from the Yale School of Drama, a Masters in English Education and a BA in Drama Literature. She enjoys giving students experiences that draw out their authentic self, and instilling a sense of delight in their own discoveries. Her “happy place” is with students figuring out what occurs to them. She loves the craft of acting and has directed over fifty productions and hopes to direct fifty more! She is indebted to her many, many students(the real teachers)who have helped her to grow, laugh uncontrollably, and have shared such exquisite memories. She is looking forward to meeting her new teachers ooops, I mean students at VIMSIA to continue! Other appointments include Department Chair/Director at Windermere Preparatory School, Middle School Drama Teacher/Director at Legacy Middle in Orlando, and Director at Fieldston Middle in the Bronx. She is forever grateful to have attended The Yale School of Drama for Acting and the many lifelong friendships made and to her son Samuel “who just makes me better!” Looking forward to this new adventure in St. Thomas!

Jacqui Walley - PGIA Maths (jwalley@vimsia.org)
Ms. Walley began her teaching career in 2008 and has since taught 6th-8th grade math, Algebra 1, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, and even College Algebra as an adjunct at the community college level.  Born and raised in Texas, she first fell in love with the ocean when she attended Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi for her undergraduate degree in math education. Ms. Walley is no stranger to island living; from 2012-2014 she taught on a US Missile Defense base in Kwajalein, RMI. After Kwajalein, she returned to Texas and earned a graduate degree in Mathematics Education from Texas Woman’s University. Joining her in St. Thomas is her 8-year-old daughter, who will attend VIMSIA.  Outside of school, Ms. Walley enjoys the beach, crafts, cooking, and hosting friends and family. She is very excited to join the VIMSIA team and to be teaching 6th-8th grade mathematics to the MYP.