Peter Muir CAS/Community Engagement Coordinator Originally from Victoria, Australia, Peter Muir has been living in Asia for a third of his life. Lured by surf and the sun, Peter moved to Bali where he lived and worked for 12 years. He was awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) for his efforts in helping out in the morgue in the days following the Bali Bombing in 2002.
To many, tackling global issues might seem like a behemoth task, but Peter sees it as a moral responsibility for schools to develop those who can deal with the situation that current and previous generations have created. He hopes to guide students in getting involved in activities that can really challenge them to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. It comes as no surprise that Peter got involved in discussions with other CAS coordinators from various IB regions when they realised there was a need for more resources to support students in their CAS programme.
book towards not only students but also have it as a worthwhile resource for IB educators. Peter found the experience of co-authoring the book with other writers scattered around the globe interesting but challenging. “We used Google Docs and Skype to collaborate,” he explains. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) for the IB Diploma: An Essential Guide for Students is the only published resource for the thousands of students who are engaged in CAS programmes around the world.
After some discussions with the publisher, the team of CAS coordinators decided to direct the S taff P rofile
The Bold Adventures of Dasher and Faye was a story I had been carrying around in my head since a visit to a beach in Wales where the seagulls are quite large and very keen on chips. I simply just put the story down in prose and then the illustrations.
Paul Renie Mathematics Teacher
Before joining DC, Paul worked at I-Shou International School, an IB school in Taiwan, for four years. While working at I-Show International School, Paul got a sneak peek of life at DC while on a
Grow. Discover. Dream.
According to Paul, the students at DC have proven to be much more enthusiastic than at his previous job. It’s not uncommon for his learning team to arrive at around 8am to squeeze in extra time to do mathematics for fun. He was most pleasantly surprised to see 20 students who were so excited, having woken up at 5am, to attend a Mathematics competition in Tuen Mun.
2017
On rare occasions when Paul substitutes Mandarin language classes, he’ll bust out his fluent Mandarin. “…I teach the class in Mandarin...with a southern Taiwan accent and my food related vocabulary is fantastic.”
Currently, Paul is working on developing a Python language CCA in hopes of getting students interested in the basics of computer programming. “It’s inspiring to see the students make Paul teaches a wide range of classes, from connections and transfer what they Year 9 in the Middle Years Programme to learn in programming to their content in Higher Level Mathematics in the Diploma Programme. In between classes, he can often other classes.” be found helping with Extended Essays and, teaching computer programming.
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Paul grew up in the state of Maryland and attended the University of Maryland. He majored in Mathematics and Secondary Education, with a perfect major related GPA.
visit during a professional development course. “After attending an IB workshop at Discovery College and hearing teachers speak positively of their experience at the school, I decided to apply and was hired at the job fair in Bangkok.”
SHI JIE MAGAZINE – SPRING
Though being a full-time math teacher comes with its own set of unique challenges and fame, Paul Renie isn’t one to shy away when the cards are stacked against him. Paul has competed in various strategy games internationally throughout his life. While in high school, he was ranked No.1 in the world in Versus System and eventually went on to win a team world championship in a different game called Magic the Gathering.