Kerry Girod

Elementary EAL

This is my fourth year of teaching elementary English as Additional Language (EAL) at ICS. I am delighted to be working with students from around the world and to be a part of the ICS Student Support Team. I enjoy the challenge of helping students increase their English language acquisition and confidence as a learner while maintaining a strong mother tongue and home cultural identity.

This year I will also continue coordinating the ICS Mother Tongue Maintenance Program, which was started last school year.

My 25 years of teaching experience include elementary classroom teaching, EAL instruction, and working as a learning support specialist. I have taught in Kansas City as well as in international schools in Genoa, Rome, and Johannesburg.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages, and a Master’s degree in special education with an emphasis in learning disabilities. My special interest at this time is working with EAL students in the international school setting.

I love international teaching, and I thoroughly enjoy life here in Addis Ababa. My husband George, as well as my two daughters Elsie and Ashley, who are both in high school here at ICS, love being here as well. We are excited to have this opportunity to live and work in Ethiopia and to get to know this beautiful country and its people.