Teachers

Our teachers are experienced professionals who are are committed to their students and have as much face-to-face contact with students as possible. At SJC students are respected, motivated and provided with encouragement and professional guidance in their important final years at school. Caring teachers support students who learn in an open and friendly atmosphere.

See below for a photograph and biography of some St James College teachers:

Marion Nassim

Deputy Principal / ESL English

Hi, my name is Marion and I have been teaching at St James College since 2003. I graduated from high school in 1998 and went to the University of New South Wales in 1999. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education majoring in Linguistics and French and a minor in Educational psychology. My teaching subjects are English, ESL and French. I have experience in HSC marking and development of programs for various subjects.

I come from a large family and they have taught me to be caring, patient and understanding. I have to admit that I have an obsession with shopping and travelling, moreover I love to read and write poetry.

Rajitha Jayaratna - Physics and Chemistry

My name is Rajitha Jayaratna and I teach Physics at St James College. I like experimental Physics most. My greatest interest is to understand the nature of the Universe and our world as much as possible in terms of Physics, and share that knowledge with my students.

I like to play cricket as an out-door game and chess as an in-door game.

Shelley Xie - Chinese (Background Speakers)

I am a Chinese teacher at St James College. I began my teaching career at a high school in China in 1982. After four years experience in high school teaching, I returned to Uni. to study my Master Degree. From 1990, I taught Chinese Literature and Writing at university until I moved to Sydney in 1995. Since then, I have been exploring several areas for life experiences, including extended teaching at UTS for Chinese Beginners and at high schools for Chinese Background Speakers. My professional qualifications are a Grad Dip in Education (Macq.), a BA in Chinese Language and Literature (Nanjing) and an MA in Chinese Modern Literature (Sichuan). In my leisure time, I love cooking and traveling.

Doug Coates - Science, Physics

I am an Honours Graduate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney with many years’ experience as a technologist and manager in the chemical industry. I also have more than a decade of experience consulting to the telecommunications, broadcasting, electricity and transportation (railways, roads and ports) industries. In 2004, I completed a Diploma in Education at the University of New South Wales and now teach Physics, Chemistry and Science.

I have a wide range of interests including current affairs, contract bridge and opera. I’m also an active golfer.

Anita Chandra - PDHPE and Sport

Hi, I was born in Sydney and I have lived here all my life. I have completed at B.A in Human Movement Studies and a Graduate Diploma of Education at UTS. This is my first year teaching PDHPE and Sport at St James College and I look forward to bringing to my students a range of new and exciting sporting opportunities. I also work as a Personal Trainer at a ladies fitness centre in Sydney. I love motivating people and helping them to achieve their health goals.

I love the seasons of Australia - being able to enjoy the beaches in summer and snowboarding in winter! I look forward to riding the slopes in Japan and Canada in the years to come.

Nicholas Sharpe - Business Studies, Commerce, Economics

My name is Nick Sharpe, I teach Economics, Business Studies and Commerce at the college. I have been teaching for 8 years after graduating with an economics degree and a post graduate certificate in education from London University. I have taught in the UK and Australia and have enjoyed teaching students from many different backgrounds. I enjoy sports and currently coach the college soccer team. I also enjoy travelling, reading and obviously current affairs.

Linda Robbie - Mathematics

Hi, my name is Linda Robbie and I teach mathematics at St James College. I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. I graduated from Sydney University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in biochemistry and mathematics. After this I travelled the world and returned to Australia. I worked as a scientist for many years doing medical and surgical research before completing a Diploma in Education at the University of New South Wales. I chose to teach mathematics because it is my favourite subject and is the Queen of the sciences. In my spare time I enjoy my two children, reading and bird keeping.

Michelle White - ESL English and History

Hi, my name is Michelle White and I am an English/History teacher. I am originally from Queensland and I completed my Bachelor of Arts Hons. degree at the University of Tasmania in 1998. I taught ESL in Japan for a number of years and explored parts of Asia and Western Europe. I returned to live in Sydney after spending two years in the United Kingdom. In 2006 I completed a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education at Monash University. I enjoy teaching and meeting new people, and in my spare time I am studying Arabic and the clarinet.

Beth Mireskandari - ESL English and History

Hi, my name is Elizabeth Mireskandari and I teach English and History at St. James College. I was born and raised in San Francisco, CA USA. I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Fine Arts. I lived in London, England for 4 years where I studied History and Art History. I have lived in Sydney since 2000. I have a Postgraduate Degree in Secondary Education in English and History from the University of New South Wales. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, travelling and cooking.

Melissa Morabito - Business Studies, Economics and Commerce

My name is Melissa Morabito, I teach Business Studies, Economics and Commerce at the college. I have completed a Bachelor degree in Commerce (Management and Marketing) and a Bachelor of Teaching. I was born in Sydney and have lived here all my life. When I am not teaching I like to listen to music, travel, spend time with family and friends, relax at the beach and play soccer.

Renee Fountas - ESL English

Hello everyone! My name is Renee Fountas and I am an English/History teacher. I completed a Bachelor of Arts/Education degree at the University of New South Wales. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl and I absolutely LOVE my job. I believe that teaching is a privilege and it is the duty of a teacher to help students realise their dreams. I became a teacher because I have always enjoyed helping young people and I enjoy directing them to achieve their goals.  I enjoy listening to music and I really, really, really love reading especially Jane Austen Novels and I also enjoy reading biographies. I also enjoy travelling and my favourite city in the world is Paris. Coffee is an important part of my life so if I’m not in the staffroom, I will probably be in the staffroom kitchen making coffee or down at the local cafe ordering coffee.

Ayumi Nakamura - Japanese Beginners

Hi, My name is Ayumi Nakamura and I teach Japanese at St James College. I am Japanese and I was born and raised in Nagoya, which is the fourth largest city in Japan. After completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Japanese Literature in Japan, I came to Sydney and graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Languages Teaching from UTS.

Nagoya is quite close to Nagano, which held the Winter Olympics in 1998, as a result, I have been there many times over the years and have become an experienced skier.

I also enjoy photography and karaoke.

Rebecca Holstein- ESL English and Japanese Beginners

I was born in country NSW and moved to Sydney when I was 18 to attend Sydney University where I studied a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese and Art History and Theory. After I finished this degree I went on to study a Masters of Teaching degree in Secondary Teaching, Japanese and TESOL. I worked at Metro College in 2001, 2002 but then decided to travel around Europe. I lived and worked in London as a Special Needs teacher and as an English teacher. As I loved travelling so much I stayed in Europe for 4 years, travelling to interesting countries like Iceland, Greece and Poland just to name a few. In my spare time I enjoy watching sports, in particular football and cricket and I also enjoy listening to various kinds of music.

James Broe-  Commerce and Geography

I graduated from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University Of London in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography. After working for an actuarial firm for two years, I completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University Of Bristol in 2002. I moved to Australia in 2006 and have been teaching at St. James' College since January 2008.

I have taught many different subjects in both England and Australia, including Business Studies, Economics, Geography, History and Information & Software Technology.

Yat-Ho Lai - Mathematics

Mr Yat-Ho, Lai, was born and educated in Hong Kong.   He started studying Bachelor of Education(Secondary) major in Mathematics and minor in Chinese at the University of Sydney in 1998, and graduated in 2002.  After he graduated, he taught in numerous state high school in NSW including Arthur Philips High School in Parramatta and Strathfield South High School in  Strathfield.  In 2003, he started teaching at the Northern Beaches Secondary College – Cromer Campus for 5 years.  Within his teaching career, he has involved in many roles such as an ARCO (Anti-Racism Counselling Officer),  a refugee ambassador, an organiser for the Harmony Week and a multicultural officer.  These roles have enable him to further understand the students’ needs especially the ethnic students. 

In his spare time, he likes to keep himself very active by going for a run in the park, exercising in the gym, and playing squash and tennis.  He also enjoys travelling, he has been to Singapore, China, Japan and Germany.  He likes to explore more of the beautiful country sides of China in the near future.

Julian Lawson - Mathematics Extension II

Rebecca Wood - IPT and Design and Techonology