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Meet Our Team!
Agnar & Heidi Jo Hannisdal
Founders
Hello! We are Agnar and Heidi Jo Hannisdal, the founders of Discovery International School. Agnar is the Chairman of the Board and Heidi is the Managing Director and acting principal. We have two young daughters, Madelene and Kate, two older children, and a puppy named Watson. Recently, we also became grandparents and feel a bit older (and hopefully wiser)!!!
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Our backgrounds are very different from one another, but that is part of what makes us a good team. Agnar is from the west coast of Norway, so he is able to switch easily between Nynorsk and Bokmål (much to his wife's dismay). He became part of the Norwegian Military at an early age, and has spent most of his civilian career in the defense industry. Recently, he officially retired from the military and has been consulting on defense projects using tools like Lean and Six Sigma, for which he has a black belt.
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Heidi is from the USA, has dual-citizenship with Germany and her Great Grandmother is actually from Sandnes, so she feels really "back to her roots" here in Norway. She holds several degrees, has a business degree in process management and consulting, and also has a specialty in international finance. Since taking an active role leading the school, she has also embarked on a Master's degree in Education. Heidi is an entrepreneur and is
always coming up with new ideas (which, much to her hubby's dismay, are excitedly forged at about 11 pm when he is ready to sleep). She also has a love for making sweet treats and owns Heidi's Cakery. The school has kept her rather busy, so the sweet treats have had to be put on the shelf for a bit. Outside of business, she loves to sing, read, write, draw, paint, and enjoy the outdoors.
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We also bucked the tradition of dressing up for Christmas this year, and instead wore Christmas pajamas! It was so much fun and nice and laid back--exactly what we needed (even Tarkus was happy)!
Hello! I’m Jonas Sørli Essaih, a musician/music producer and Teacher. I started playing classical guitar when I was seven, and over the years progressed to playing the piano, taking vocal lessons and band rehersal at Kulturskolen for 10 years.
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I kept on studying music at Ringerike videregående (Music, dance & drama). Then I went to the University in Agder where I got my bachelor in rhythmic music production, specialized in electronic music. I also have a degree to teach music from USN. I have a deep passion for music, and loves to share it with whoever wants to learn. I’ve both worked as a private teacher and at Hov ungdomsskole earlier.
Now I have a music production company, where I both produce for myself and other artist, as well as teaching music at Discovery. Beside music, I’m passionate about fitness, especially calisthenics, the outdoors, traveling and photography.
Music & PE Teacher
Tanya Yatel
Norwegian, English &Homeroom Teacher
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Hello everyone! My name is Tanya Yatel. I am originally from Ukraine, from the beautiful city of Dnipro. I studied at the Pedagogical College with a specialization in Primary education and a focus on teaching English.
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In Ukraine, I worked as an English teacher for four years. I also earned a degree from a Pedagogical University — also specializing in English. I came to Norway in 2005 through the Au-Pair program. Two years later, I studied at the USN University, where I completed a bachelor’s degree in English and Norwegian language and literature. From 2013 to 2017, I worked as a teacher of all subjects in a small private Norwegian school (1st-10th grade). From 2017 to 2025, I was teaching Norwegian to adult immigrants from all over the world.
In my spare time, I enjoy:
• traveling (I have visited more than 40 countries. Traveling enriches my life and helps me to see the beauty of different cultures and people)
• photography of people and nature
• singing in a choir (have been doing that for 30 years) both in Ukraine and in Norway
• reading books on pedagogy and psychology, understanding the challenges different people face, and having the opportunity to help them where I can
• spending time with my child
• being outdoors — hiking in the mountains, skiing, skating, swimming, cycling, going on camping trips, and sleeping in a tent
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Starting in August 2025, I will begin working at Discovery International School. I am looking forward to joining the team!
Igor Hollemans
Hei! My name is Igor Hollemans and I am from the Netherlands. I have an educational bachelor's degree in history and I had the opportunity to study in Belfast, Northern Ireland as part of my minor.
In the past I was a professional track cyclist. To this day my passion for cycling still lives on. I try to watch every big event in cycling and really enjoy talking about it.
In the Netherlands I worked for seven years at secondary schools as a history teacher. I am very passionate about history and how societies evolved over time. Every day I try to learn something new, which makes history so much fun.
In my free time I like to spend time with my family. Especially in nature or during fun activities. A museum counts as a fun activity too! And of course cycling or participating in any other sports!
Homeroom Teacher
Christine Hammerlund
IB Programs Coordinator
Food and Health Teacher
Hello! My name is Christine Hammerlund. I am a qualified vocational teacher in the area of health
and childhood development, and I have several years of experience working in primary
school, including teaching with sign language. I’m currently studying Norwegian as part of
my further education.
I’m passionate about nutrition, health, growing food, and caring for nature and the
environment. I enjoy cooking and baking with fresh ingredients, and I want my students to
learn about nutrition, develop a love for food, and understand how this connects to important
life skills. Cooking together and sharing meals is also a great way to build strong
relationships. I like to involve students in the entire journey of how we get our food – from
farm to table.
I enjoy bringing the classroom outdoors and working across subjects, helping students see
how everything is connected. Music and theatre are close to my heart, and I play the piano
and sing. I truly enjoy supporting my students' development and creating a safe, supportive
space where they can explore, play, and learn.
Hello! I’m Hannah Mills! I was born to British parents here in Norway and actually went to this school – then Åsbygda Skole- in my last two years of primary education. I love art and acting and I have been doing both since childhood.
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I studied art at Hønefoss Videregående before going on to studying acting at Danvik Folkehøyskole. I did my Bachelor of Arts in Animation at the University of Glamorgan - now the University of South Wales. I have worked with acrylics, graphite, charcoal, and pastels as well as creating models and my own jewellery. I work on commission, have had an exhibition, and sold internationally.
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In addition to art and acting, I’ve enjoyed singing in productions at school and in the choir “Vox”.
After my degree, I studied acting in New York for one summer, and then professionally at ACS in Glasgow, Scotland, appearing at The Edinburgh Fringe. I have also spent three years in Australia.
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I was a voluntary assistant at Discovery International this spring, before now starting as an assistant and teacher. I work part time at Kunstpalett in Hønefoss, and very much still enjoy creating art in my spare time.
Hannah Mills
Art & Language Arts
Drama Teacher & Assistant
Darius Kanapeckas
Homeroom &
Sports Teacher
Hi! My name is Darius Kanapeckas and I am from Lithuania. I have a bachelor’s degree
as a sports teacher, and I taught for fifteen wonderful years in Lithuania.
I am a teacher who enjoys not only teaching children, but I also like to be playing the sports with them during the class. Personally, I am still playing basketball and volleyball, and I like to participating in other sports and fun activities, when I have time.
I like spending my free time with my family and friends, especially being in the nature, hiking and
fishing. I like playing board games and solving different puzzles. I also like singing and not so long ago started playing the cajon. I am not a professional in that, but I have a desire to learn more.
I can only say, that learning never stops and there are no limits to learning. You can always find something new and interesting every day.
Would you like to discover more together with us? We'd be so happy to have you join us!