Meet our
Faculty Members
Welcome to our School
Ad Astra! To the Stars
Director Emeritus
David Miller
Working together with students, clubs, parents, teachers, and others each year we seem to set the standard higher each time. We are quite honored to have in our midst such resourceful and sensitive teachers working in close collaboration with our polite, collaborative, and creative students. All this planning and action coheres into a very special family-oriented environment that makes Yangon Academy; an extraordinary place to study.
School Director
Mike Gordon
With heartfelt gratitude, profound humility, and deep excitement, I am proud to return next year to my second family – the Yangon Academy community – Home of the Wolves!
For new students and parents, please allow me to emphasize the words family and community. Entering my 8th year at Yangon Academy, I know well this is a special school because of its people: From the amazing, talented staff to the dedicated, professional teachers, we are on a mission to serve our parents and to empower our students “today, toward making a better world tomorrow.”
For returning students and parents – thank you! Your support and loyalty have inspired us and driven us to continual school improvement. Together, we have made a real difference in the lives of our children.
For all students and parents, please know I am always available to you:I look forward to meeting our new students and parents during our orientation meetings in August, and I plan to meet with all parents throughout the 2024-25 school year. I am eager to listen closely and learn much from the Yangon Academy community – your second home!
Secondary School Principal
Dr. Blake Rodabaugh
Originally from Idaho in the United States, I have been working in international schools for the past twenty-nine years. That journey has led to life and work adventures in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Qatar, Kuwait, Cambodia, China, Nigeria, back to China, Jordan, Pakistan, and now for the upcoming year Yangon Academy. In terms of philosophy, I believe the successful administrator recognizes and understands that there is no single correct way in which to handle administrative issues. Just as students learn in a variety of learning modalities, requiring that course materials and concepts be presented in an equally wide variety of teaching/learning styles, so too do the support needs of students, staff members and parents vary widely. Ultimately, I resonate with two analogies of leadership, the shepherd, and the tour guide. In both analogies there is a time to be in front marking the path forward, a time to behind ensuring no one gets lost or left behind, and a time to stand back and watch as they discover. At each step of the journey, you are ever watchful for the needs of your charges.
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My educational background includes a B.A in Education (Idaho State University), M.A. in Educational Administration (Michigan State University), and all coursework completed (except dissertation) for an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership (Nova Southeastern University).
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I have been blessed with five children and five grandchildren. As with my career, my family is a bit far-flung with one daughter and three grandchildren in Idaho, one son and two grandchildren in Washington, one son in college in Pakistan and a son and daughter still at home with my wife and I. I am a bit of a motor-head and get excited about just about anything with wheels and an engine, particularly street rods, and custom bikes. Given the opportunity I am on an open road seeing what lies around the next bend. I am a movie junkie and an avid reader with a preference for Sci-fi, fantasy and dystopian themes.
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I am looking forward to the upcoming school year and discovering what we will learn from each other as we continue our journey.
Assistant Secondary School Principal
Michael T. Schneller
I’m honored to continue my service to Yangon Academy International School this year as the assistant secondary principal. I received my Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering in 2000 from the University of Scranton in Scranton Pennsylvania and a Master's in Education in 2006 from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, the state where I earned both my teaching and administrative licenses. I bring with me eighteen years of physics teaching and seven years of international administrative experience in secondary education. I directed secondary international schools in China where I focused on integrating traditional Chinese culture into contemporary pedagogical and curricular programs with a focus on competitive matriculation. I believe that involving the support of an entire community of stakeholders in a child’s education is essential and I look forward to continuing our mission.
Elementary School Principal
Johannes Jacobus Dippenaar
Embarking on my second year at Yangon Academy, I'm honored to step into the role of Elementary School Principal again for the Academic year 2024-2025. Hailing from South Africa, I've dedicated my career to education, primarily as a Math and Science teacher. Serving as a beacon for parents, teachers, and students alike fills me with pride. My journey in education has seen me evolve into management roles across various schools since 2009, culminating in my international tenure at SABIS Sun Interntional School in Baku, Azerbaijan, where I served as the Academic Quality Controller from 2021. Bringing a diverse skill set to Yangon Academy International School, I'm deeply passionate about fostering student growth and collaborating with parents and staff. My approachability and sense of humor have endeared me to communities throughout my career.
While my administrative duties have grown, I've maintained a hands-on approach, continuing to teach Science and Math, which remains a profound joy for me. Back in South Africa, I not only led academic pursuits but also spearheaded a range of extracurricular activities, from coaching cricket, tennis, and rugby to organizing events that enriched student life.
Supported by my wife, we're committed to making a meaningful impact in the Yangon community. I eagerly anticipate immersing myself in the vibrant environment of Yangon Academy and contributing to the growth and success of all its stakeholders.
ECC Coordinator
Tr. Khin Khin
I always love the first day of school better than the last day of school. The firsts are the best because they are beginnings. “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults.” Frederick Douglas perhaps understood the value and relevance of early childhood education.
Early childhood education is focused on the critical developmental milestones, skills, and concepts that children attain during this period of their lives, from social-emotional skills to the beginnings of literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking. More research shows that young children’s emotional, social, cognitive, & physical development greatly affects their overall development as an adult.
On behalf of the teachers and myself, we extend a warm welcome to all our preschool families. I believe your child’s first school experience is critical in determining his or her desire to learn; therefore, impacting their academic success later in life. We work diligently and passionately to create a positive learning environment that sets a strong foundation for the future.
