Hello! My name is Kayla Gann and I am a first-year teacher at Cornel this year. I am ecstatic to be joining the Cornel team! I grew up on a small farm in Buffalo, Missouri. I attended Missouri State University located in Springfield, Missouri where I completed my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. I have always dreamed about teaching abroad and cannot wait to see what this year in Taiwan has in store for me! 

I believe that each student is unique and learns in their own way. It is my responsibility to ensure that each and every student is provided with the tools to be successful in and outside of the classroom. My goal as a teacher is to create an environment where each student feels safe to explore and learn. I believe that building a strong relationship with my students will help create a classroom community that, in return, will help each student succeed and grow.  

As a community, we will determine the expectations of our classroom and build a routine that is satisfactory for everyone. I will provide various opportunities for students to engage with and be active in their learning through different materials and activities. Learning will not only be fun and engaging, but students will be able to make connections to their everyday lives. I am very excited to be teaching and cannot wait to learn from my students as much as they will learn from me.

I plan to do as much exploring and learning in Taiwan as I can! I want to immerse myself in Taiwan’s culture and venture out into nature. I cannot wait to experience some of the festivals that take place and taste the market foods. My goal is to take what I learn on my adventures and bring them back to the classroom to help me better teach my students.