The Staff at Innsbruck Elementary School
The staff at IES consists of qualified and experienced teachers with international teaching experience. All the teachers meet regularly to discuss practices in the school and provide support for all the teachers. Staff promotes the same common practices inside the classroom. Each class has one English native speaker teacher and one Austrian teacher who speaks fluent English. Small classes and the team-teaching model allow for close and individualized attention for students, encourage students to participate, and provide a multi-cultural learning environment for an international student body.
The teachers come from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Birgit Cap
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Birgit was born in Vienna and lived there until she was a teenager when she moved with her family to Lower Austria. There she studied to be a teacher and started to work after her graduation at a large educational campus situated in Vienna’s 10th district. Additionally to teaching, she continued her studies with additional training courses in Health and Sports. Afterwards she completed her Master’s, specializing in English. Her keen interest and love for winter sports, climbing and hiking spurred her on to move to Innsbruck, where she finally joined the Innsbruck Elementary School. Here she’s thankful to have settled in well and really enjoys the students and her colleagues.
Victoria Llongo
Native English Teacher
Victoria moved to Innsbruck from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, home of ‘the greatest snow on earth’ and host city for the 2002 Winter Olympics. That’s why Innsbruck quickly felt like home to her. Though she comes from a family of teachers, it was her first teaching year abroad that instilled in Victoria a desire to share her love for languages and culture. Victoria has always been interested in teaching foreign languages, she continued her studies in this area up to her doctorate degree. She worked as an educator in the USA as well as in European countries such as France, Spain, Ireland and the UK. A lover of the outdoors, Victoria enjoys hiking, skiing, biking, canyoneering, ice climbing, volleyball and barbecuing with friends and family. Victoria feels privileged to be part of Innsbruck Elementary and is committed to maximizing individual student performance, inspiring children’s interest for learning and awaken a sense of self-confidence, self-worth and self-discipline among all her students.
Susanne Gillarduzzi
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Born into a family of teachers Susanne grew up in a village near Innsbruck. Before starting her teaching career, she gained international experience while studying in Canterbury, UK, and travelling around the world. Susanne also worked for an association teaching road safety at various kindergartens. Mrs G, as she is known at school, has a keen interest in nature, sports and culture. She loves travelling and seeing new places, discovering great landscapes, hiking, tobogganing, horse riding, swimming, as well as reading, musicals and cooking.
Mrittika Munshi-Wöhrer
Native English Teacher
Miss Wöhrer grew up in Calcutta, India in a family full of teachers! Being surrounded by such great examples, she started her own teaching journey very young. When Miss Wöhrer was in high school, instead of babysitting, she would teach English to the neighbourhood kids. While she was getting her degree in English, she volunteered to teach young children in underprivileged communities. She then decided to go on a little adventure to Hong Kong and instantly fell in love with the international atmosphere there. Even though she knew she wanted to be a teacher, she tried lots of other things for the next 3 years. She got a Master’s degree, managed a small social media/PR company, taught dance fitness to adults, travelled all over Asia to learn about wildlife conservation and fitness, before returning to teaching again. She then worked in an International School for 7 years before she fell in love and moved to Austria in 2021. Her favourite thing about being at IES is getting to know all the children and teachers from all over the world.
Miren Arroyabe
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Miss A grew up in Innsbruck. Since her early years her family has strong bonds to the United States. That’s why English always has been part of her life. During her studies Miss A had the chance to study for one semester in Limerick/Ireland. Before becoming part of Innsbruck Elementary School, she worked for seven years as a youth worker. Miss A spends most of her free time outside together with her little son. Her hobbies include ski touring, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, climbing and swimming.
Carol Jackson
Native English Teacher
Carol is originally from Cape Town, South Africa, but she moved to Canada when she was a teenager. After finishing her degree in Vancouver, she moved to Europe where she taught in London, England and eventually also in Innsbruck, Austria. Her travelling bug had not yet been satisfied so she went off on an adventure and lived and taught in Santiago, Chile and Singapore. She is passionate about teaching and has a lot to offer with her wide range of teaching experience in different cultures. Now, after returning to Innsbruck, and returning to Innsbruck Elementary School, she is thrilled to be back with the old team as well as the new. At the moment, she spends as much time as possible with her family.
Natalie Aschaber
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Natalie grew up in Westendorf, Tyrol. Her mum is from England, so she grew up speaking both German and English which are the perfect tools to work at the Innsbruck Elementary School. She flies to England at least three times a year to visit her grandad in Staffordshire. When she is there, it feels like a second home to her, especially when it involves a lovely Sunday roast. When she left school, she worked as a ski instructor for a couple of seasons and made many international friends that she still keeps in touch with. Miss Aschaber loves to travel, spending four weeks in Bali during the summer break and has a long list of other countries she would like to visit. When she isn’t out and about travelling, she likes to read, climb, play mini golf, watch movies like Minions, cook and eat delicious and exotic food as well as spend time with her family, friends and pets. Having taught in Oberhofen for a while she is thrilled to have got her dream job at the I.E.S. where she gets the chance to speak both German and English.
Julie Kistenich
Native English Teacher
Mrs. Kistenich, as she is known to her students, is an American from Minnesota, but Austria is now her second home. Ever since she was a child, she dreamed of being a teacher and working with children. After studying to be an elementary school teacher in the States, she came to Austria to teach English, where she only planned on staying two years. Those two years have turned into twenty years now due to her meeting and marrying her husband, who is an Austrian. Mrs. Kistenich taught first and second grade in one of the Vienna Bi-Lingual schools, helped lead and counsel at English Language Camps in Austria, and has had experience working with children and adults from many different cultures through teaching and working with asylum seekers. Mrs. Kistenich loves reading, traveling, playing piano, being outdoors and spending time with her husband and three daughters. She is excited to be joining the Innsbruck Elementary team and is looking forward to getting to know the students and the staff.
Katharina Höck
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Ms Höck grew up in Kufstein, Tyrol. After school, she spent one year abroad in Charlotte, VT, working as an Au Pair. When she came back and started her studies it was clear to her that she also wanted to implement English in her everyday life as a teacher. As part of the Erasmus program, Ms Höck had the chance to study one semester in Helsinki. Not only did she get to know the Finnish education system, but she also learned a lot about Finnish people and their culture. After teaching in Kufstein for the last five years, Ms Höck is now thrilled to be part of the I.E.S. team.
In her leisure time she likes to meet up with friends, play music with her band, try different urban dancestyles or bike to a nearby lake, where she enjoys reading books - in English of course!
Hannah Wayne
Native English Teacher
Ms. Wayne grew up in the Boston area and attended Boston University. Having loved to travel as a child, she wanted to live abroad and made her way to Austria. She has lived throughout Austria and although she doesn’t enjoy skiing, ended up in Innsbruck. Teaching runs in the Wayne family so it wasn’t a surprise when Ms. Wayne decided to become a teacher. Having grown up bilingual herself, Ms. Wayne knows the importance of supporting students as they develop two languages. For the past couple years, Ms. Wayne has worked with gymnasium and middle school students and is looking forward to working again with elementary aged students as well as the rest of the IES staff.
Valentina Weiskopf
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Ms Weiskopf comes from Aldrans, a village on the outskirts of Innsbruck and was therefore basically born and raised in Innsbruck. From an early age on she had a keen interest in languages, which grew even more during high school and university studies. During that time, she ventured on several exchange and work stays in Italy, as well as in England. After graduating as a teacher, Ms Weiskopf took a detour into business by completing her masters in “Public Health”. The happiness she felt when partaking in the development of children and having an impact on their future made her retrace her steps though and led her back into teaching. Through her work as a teaching assistant in Uganda she broadened her teaching experience before starting her teaching career in Austria. For recreation, Ms Weiskopf likes to spend her time in many different ways from winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, ski-touring to other hobbies like hiking, running and baking or enjoying plays or concerts.
Her greatest passion however is travelling. She loves to discover unknown territories, immerse in foreign cultures, and thereby broaden her mind constantly.
Rush Bowers
Native English Teacher
Rush originally comes from Jackson, Michigan (USA). After wrapping up his undergraduate degree in English and German education at Western Michigan University, he began his teaching career working at a boarding school in the Black Forest of Germany. His teaching career now spans many years with stops in Germany, years of highly rewarding experience in Austria and even including two stints in his home state of Michigan. In the professional forefront, Rush greatly enjoys teaching English and German as a second language, but he also embraces time spent outdoors hiking, skiing, and simply being in nature. He holds a Masters of Science in teaching second languages. Helping young people to reach their full potential and to achieve great things in life is the aspect he appreciates the most about the profession. Now in his second stint at the Innsbruck Elementary School, Rush is happy to be a part of the IES team.
Monika A. Kilga
Austrian Elementary and Special Needs Teacher
Monika grew up in Innsbruck. She discovered her love for foreign countries and languages as a teenager, while spending her summers in international summer camps. When she was working as a special needs teacher, she gained additional skills as a sports teacher and as a counselling teacher. Monika likes to spend her free time outdoors with her family and friends. Her hobbies include hiking, climbing, sledging and skiing.
Joseph Manning
Native English Teacher
Joe originally comes from Wolverhampton in England. After finishing his degree in Music at Cardiff University, he completed his teaching qualifications in the Welsh Valleys. Since, Joe has had the opportunity of teaching in Herefordshire (UK), Auckland (NZ), Nandi (Kenya) and Devon (UK). Joe thrives working with young people and helping them reach their potential. Outside of work, he enjoys playing piano, saxophone, hiking, skiing, swimming and football. He is a big fan of the English football team Wolves. A highlight about living in Innsbruck for Joe is being able to travel and learn about different cultures while still being able to teach, two of his passions. Joe is excited to be working with the amazing staff and students at IES.
Anna Maria Huber
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Miss H grew up in Tyrol and completed her teaching degree in Innsbruck. While still at school, she took every opportunity to learn new languages and gain experience abroad. She worked in England and spent time as an AuPair in Spain. During her studies, she spent one semester in Aarhus, Denmark, where she specialized in nature education.
After completing her studies, she wanted to stay true to her interest in languages and at the same time not leave the Tyrolean mountains - after all, that's where she spends most of her free time running, climbing and paragliding. She is therefore happy to now be part of the IES community and to accompany the students on their way in the best possible way.
Roberto A. Lorenzatto
Native English Teacher
Often referred to as “Mr. L” by his students, Roberto originally hails from Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A.). He has always enjoyed working with youth and helping them to develop into well rounded young adults. Roberto began his teaching career in the Bronx, New York City. His passion for teaching has enabled him to live, teach and work with children in many places throughout the world, such as the United States, England, Spain and Japan. Austria seems to be a perfect fit and allows Roberto to actively partake in many of the hobbies that he enjoys, such as snowboarding, travelling, mountain biking and any other new, exciting sport that he discovers. He also enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, listening to music, surfing, telling jokes and relaxing with friends and family. Roberto is happy to call the Austrian Alps his second home and the students and staff of Innsbruck Elementary his second family.
Daniela Witsch
Coordinator, Austrian Elementary and Special Needs Teacher
Daniela is from Innsbruck, Austria. She first started her teaching career in a special needs school where she worked with severely disabled, blind and visually impaired students. In 2002, Daniela combined her passion for travelling and working with children and spent four years abroad, teaching at independent grammar schools in Norway, London and Melbourne, Australia. Ms W, as the students call her, is a huge animal lover and spends most of her free time in the great outdoors. Her hobbies include skiing, hiking, mountain biking, yoga and reading.
Florian Jäger
Austrian Elementary Teacher
Florian was born in Innsbruck and discovered his passion for the outdoors and nature at an early age. He gained valuable experience in competitive sports, particularly in speed skating, which he was later able to pass on to young skaters as a coach. He further broadened his horizons during his time coaching where he made a new friendships and international contacts. During his teacher training, he focused on German as a second language, and was particularly interested in the potential of multilingualism. Both his bachelor's and master's thesis dealt with language support and the opportunities that multilingual education offers to children.
Today Florian is part of the AES team and finds working in this international environment to be enriching and an exciting challenge.
Jennifer Shannon
Native English Teacher
Jenny grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and was inspired to become a teacher after spending a year volunteering in a primary school in Malawi after she finished her final school exams. She trained in a Froebelian College which prioritizes play and student agency, something she remains very passionate about in her teaching. She went on to work in English language teaching, Special Education, Democratic Education and Yoga teaching. Doing her Master's in Inquiry-based Learning turned her head towards International Schooling and years of scouting had her dreaming of living in the Alps. Jenny really enjoys the community in IES and is so happy to be working in a place where the students are so happy, too! When she isn't teaching, she is reading, running, hiking and getting to know her beautiful new home of Innsbruck!