Introduce yourself in one sentence, please
 
I’m Mr. Gary and I love my job as a teacher here at AAS.
 
How long have you been at AAS?
 
This is my 9th year at AAS and my family and I are so happy to be here.
 
Share something we do not expect to hear from you?
 
Becoming a teacher was something I’d never considered, but then I was given the opportunity to teach English to kids in South Korea. I thought it would be a great experience and a chance to travel in Asia but unexpectedly, I discovered a real passion for teaching. Back in the UK, I retrained as a teacher and more than 20 years later, I still love my job teaching international kids. 
 
What do you love most about your job?
 
I love witnessing the breakthroughs and discoveries the children make every day.
 
What would you be if you weren’t a teacher?
 
I would be a stay-at-home dad. I’d coach my kids’ soccer team, I’d play in a rock band on Saturday nights and I’d design a cool mini-golf course (because Sofia really needs one). 🙂
 
What is the most important thing one has to learn at school?
 
I think that the most important thing you can learn at school is how to contribute positively to society and live a balanced, healthy and fulfilling life.
 
What would you say to your 13 year old self?
 
I would say always keep an open mind, be principled and thoughtful. I would also urge my 13 year old self to take it easy, take it slowly and reassure him that he will get to where he needs to be in the end. As Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
 
Please recommend a book to read
 
I rarely have the time to read for pleasure but my kids, Abigail and Tyler, love to read and bedtime story time is definitely my favorite part of the day. At the moment, we are reading a set of Star Wars stories and I love sharing my fixation with ‘the force’ with my kids.