As we watch our new building progress and the specialist facilities it will be providing the school, we consider the opportunities this expansion provides us to further develop our program. We are happy to share with you three of our new hires for the 2022/23 school year. All three teachers will be part of our specialist team and will be collaborating with teachers to develop our program for the PYP and middle school in performing arts, visual arts and technology.
Caitlin Neiderlander: Performing Arts Coordinator
Caitlin Neiderlander is a third culture kid, a US citizen that was born and raised in Germany. She graduated from Frankfurt International School in 2009 with her IB Diploma, then moved to the US to pursue her undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Upon graduating, Caitlin received her level I certification in both Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly methodologies. She spent the first five years of teaching in smaller school districts in Illinois, first teaching general music to grades 1-3, then choir to grades 5-12. During that time, she also worked on her master’s degree in music education from Eastern Illinois University. In 2018, she moved to the Washington DC area and taught general music to pre-K – grade 5. In 2020, Caitlin and her husband Ben returned overseas to teach at Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia. Caitlin is passionate about creating lifelong learners of music, and to provide fun and joyful experiences that inspire a love and passion for music. Outside of the classroom, Caitlin and her husband enjoy diving and snorkeling. They also love animals, and have 4 pets at home – 2 dogs, 2 cats! Caitlin is excited to join Magic Years next year, because it is a community that encourages risk taking, trying new things, and learning together in a safe environment.
Fatimah White: Head of Fine Arts
Fatimah White is an African American Interdisciplinary Artist, educator and Art historian from Brooklyn New York. As a Visual Artist, Educator and historian, her creative practice has taken her to over 25 different countries and 60 museums around the world. Her understanding of Visual Arts is a Global understanding and that it is something she shares with each one of her students.
She has exhibited her artwork and given lectures in museums and galleries in; Ethiopia, China, India, Germany, Brazil and the USA. Fatimah White has an MFA in Creative Practice from UK Plymouth and a BFA in Art Education & Advanced Painting from Hofstra University NY. She has 15 years of experience in Arts Education, Teaching in Colleges, Museums, and International schools. Her previous employment includes; Studio Art Coordinator at the Brooklyn Museum and Art Drama & Music Department Chair at Basis International School in Hangzhou China. She believes it’s important for Arts Educators to love what they do, inside and outside of the classroom. She is passionate about storytelling, painting, fashion design and technology. She continues to keep her own creative practice as well as be an advocate for global Arts education. Ms. White considers herself to be a “Magical Art Teacher,” and she is excited about meeting all of the wonderful students and joining the diverse team of educators at Magic Years.
Uma Krishnan: Technology Integrator
Uma was born and brought up in New Delhi, India. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and is currently pursuing a Masters in Educational Technology. In 2017, she moved to South Africa where she got her first exposure to international education. Her dream of becoming an Elementary educator motivated her to pursue a formal teaching qualification from Washington D.C. As a student teacher she had the opportunity to intern at the American International School of Johannesburg, a school attended by students from more than 100 nationalities. When she is not teaching, she is passionate about cooking and traveling. She is looking forward to being a part of MYIS’s exciting journey of growth and expansion and is hoping to make a positive contribution by leveraging her expertise in educational technology.