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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 of the school. 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)!
I'm Aman Camitan, a highly experienced and dedicated teacher with 20 years of teaching experience in various countries around the world. I have taught in China, Thailand, Indonesia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and have had the opportunity to work with students from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Education, a Master's degree in Special Education, and I'm currently a graduating student of Doctoral in Administration and Supervision. I'm a licensed professional teacher and is also certified as a PYP (Primary Years Programme) and MYP (Middle Years Programme) teacher.
Throughout my career, I have shown a deep passion for teaching and helping students reach their full potential. I have a unique approach to teaching and believe in creating a supportive and engaging learning environment that encourages students to be curious and creative.
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We are very excited to welcome Aman to our school! He will be heading up the Lego Robotics program and his interest in theater will also make him a unique leader based on this year's theme: Master Piece!
Aman Camitan
PYP & MYP Teacher
Science, Design Technology & Mathematics
Tom Marcote
English and PYP Teacher
Tom Marcote is the English Teacher at Discovery International School. Tom is a certified Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a Master's of Science in Education. He is an American from Long Island, New York, just outside New York City.
Tom has served as an educator for 4 years, most recently working with English Language Learner (ELL) students based in the Queens borough of New York City. Tom is fluent in English and Spanish, and he's in the process of learning Norwegian. He is very excited to make the transition from New York to Norway!
Tom enjoys all sports, and he loves to snowboard. Additionally, Tom is a passionate musician who loves playing drums and creating music. With regards to teaching, Tom enjoys working through difficult topics, situations, and questions. He is a firm believer that contributing to language learning and development is its own reward, and one of the great joys of education in general.
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We are thrilled that Mr. Tom will be joining us at Discovery! We are certain that it will be a bit of a change from Queens NY, to having sheep across the street on one side and on the other, mountains that provide a new postcard daily.
Hello! I’m Jonas Sørli Essaih, a musician/music producer. 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.
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 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, traveling and photography.
Music & PE Teacher
