Dr. Kim has been an educator for 20 years. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University. He began his educational career at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego, where he taught four years as an assistant professor of economics. He then moved to Korea to teach at the Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University. As a tenured professor, he taught at Yonsei for 15 years. In 2015, Dr. Kim resigned from the university to devote himself completely to his role as the founding director of both the APIS Seoul and Hawai'i campuses. Having been an international educator all his professional life, Dr. Kim is a strong proponent of the role that international education plays in nurturing future leaders of the New Pacific Century. APIS’ unique educational philosophy and mission reflect Dr. Kim’s conviction that international education should not simply teach about issues that are global but also provide authentic global learning experiences and contexts. Following this belief, Dr. Kim founded APIS Seoul as the campus of the East and APIS Hawai'i as the campus of the West, allowing our students to move freely between two campuses to take advantage of APIS’s global learning environment.

Mr. Stapleton graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. While living in Colorado Springs, Mr. Stapleton taught 6th grade at a charter school and 5th grade at an international baccalaureate (IB) school. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado teaching educational technology courses. Mr. Stapleton then moved with his wife to teach middle school humanities and lead the EdTech department at APIS Seoul. During that time he pioneered the middle school speech competition and coached the boys varsity volleyball team. In 2015, Mr. Stapleton moved with his family to Hau'ula to found APIS Hawaii. In 2017, Mr. Stapleton was appointed the Dean of Students and head of the Christian Life Department, proceeding to become Principal in 2018. Mr. Stapleton believes that student learning is best when it is authentic and integrated. He is a strong advocate for incorporating appropriate technology to give students the most opportunities for their future. Even with all of this, he believes that his faith is the most important part of who he is as an educator, and he tries to live out loving God and loving others daily.

Dr. Kasmarick completed a bachelor's degree in music education at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and a master's degree in educational leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. She earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Wisconsin Madison with a specific emphasis in cultivating systems for equity and excellence. Dr. Kasmarick taught music at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels in Wisconsin and New York City before serving as an elementary principal for 16 years in three high performing Wisconsin school districts. With a strong commitment to authentic and engaging learning for all students, her work has always centered around building a strong and connected learning community with empowered and values-driven students at the center. Dr. Kasmarick’s dissertation topic of system-wide coherence and alignment remains a guiding force in her leadership approach, and she is honored to now serve the mission of APIS. Dr. Kasmarick enjoys music, reading, fitness, and travel and exploration of all kinds.

Mr. Peeler received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Biola University where he specialized in instrumental music and studied piano with Dr. Li-Shan Hung. Following the awarding of his degree at Biola, he completed his student teaching at Hutchinson Middle School and California High School working with band directors Craig Jordan and Doug Nordquist. During his time at Biola University, Mr. Peeler participated in symphonic winds, chorus, piano accompanying, and percussion ensemble. While with the chorus, he toured South Korea performing concerts in schools, churches, and concert halls around the country. Outside of the music building, Mr. Peeler was heavily involved in the international community aiding students with papers and spoken English; he also participated in the campus homeless ministry delivering meals and the gospel to people in Long Beach. In his spare time, Mr. Peeler enjoys playing the piano and guitar, exercising, reading, playing sports, studying Korean, and speaking with his family. He has been at the APIS Hawaii campus since its start.

Mrs. Peeler grew up in a small town in Iowa. She received her master's degree in science education and a bachelor's degree in materials engineering with an emphasis on metals and polymers, both at Iowa State University. In engineering, she explored research and development, design, and quality assurance. Throughout college, she organized and led service spring break trips across the United States, leading students in volunteer projects and leadership activities to promote self-growth and diversity awareness. She realized after her service trips, some coaching experience, and a couple of engineering internships that her passion is in education and working with students. She believes learning is a lifelong journey; there is so much to learn about in the world and from each other, and it would be a shame not to explore it! In her free time, Mrs. Peeler enjoys exploring new places, hiking, baseball, tennis, reading books, painting, and spending time with family and friends.

With over 20 years of experience in the education field, Mrs. Chang has taught preschool through college at various places around the United States, including Hale Kula Elementary, Christa McAuliffe Academy, Maui Ocean Academy, Brigham Young University–Hawai'i, and Bright Beginning Learning Center. She enjoys the academic pursuit of helping students build important lifelong skills in reading and writing as well as the fitness pursuit of training athletes in competitive swimming. As a coach, she has trained hundreds of swimmers in the Ko‘olauloa area of O‘ahu. She believes that building a strong foundation is important for success in both academics and athletics. In her free time, Mrs. Chang loves swimming in the aqua blue ocean, wandering around planet earth on a sailboat, and reading books that encourage her deep belief in God. She is excited to work with many of APIS’s students.

Ms. Everett graduated from the University of Houston at Houston with bachelor’s degrees in political science, early childhood education, and a minor in women studies. She also holds a degree as a Certified Professional Nanny, from the English Nanny and Governess School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Ms. Everett has over ten years of teaching experience in grades pre-kindergarten through third grade. In those ten years as a teacher, she has worked in public schools, Montessori schools, as well as Reggio Emilia schools. Ms. Everett has taught in her home state of Texas, on the North Slope of Alaska in a native village, as well as at an international school in Cambodia. Her hobbies include traveling the world, meeting new people, swimming, going to the beach, and trying unique foods.

Ms. Furusawa earned her Bachelor of Arts from Massey University, New Zealand, as well as a Master of Education and Postgraduate Diploma of Teaching from the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is certified to teach both Japanese and Chinese languages. Ms. Furusawa taught Japanese in Taiwan for seven years and was also a writer for a monthly Japanese magazine published nationally in Taiwan. She has been with APIS since 2011 and moved to APIS Hawai'i campus after serving in Seoul campus for 8 years. Always fascinated by languages and new cultures, Ms. Furusawa enjoys teaching and researching various aspects of language acquisition and usage. Her other interests include traveling, cooking traditional Japanese food, photography, and reading.

Mr. Heffernan has nearly a decade of aquatic coaching experience, teaching both private and group swim lessons to all ages and abilities as well as serving as an assistant swim coach for the Greater Nebraska Swim Team for six years. Mr. Heffernan has coached several Nebraska state champions and qualifiers at both the age group and high school levels, as well as served as a Midwestern Swimming All-Stars and Central Zones USA swimming coach. As a competitive swimmer since the age of six, whose parents owned and operated a USA Swim Club in Nebraska since before Mr. Heffernan was born, the pool has been a part of his life since day one. He has been a certified lifeguard for over five years, serving as a head guard at a large municipal outdoor pool. Mr. Heffernan is currently completing his bachelor's degree in education with an endorsement in coaching. He grew up with a variety of academic models, including homeschool, parochial, and public (both onsite and fully online models), and has wide range of teaching experience, including elementary assistant at a Nebraska school and student-teacher in grades kindergarten through 12. In addition to swimming, his hobbies include watching sports, with his favorites being Lakers basketball and Raiders football. As an avid sports fan, Mr. Heffernan has experience hosting several podcasts, a YouTube channel, and other social media content platforms with sports-related themes.

Mr. Jacobsen graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from San Francisco State University and began his career in education first as a general music teacher followed by many years in both lower and upper elementary homeroom positions before receiving a master's degree in instructional technology from East Carolina University. Mr. Jacobsen has since taught technology integration and most recently STEM for the past five years at Korea International School in South Korea. In 2021, Mr. Jacobsen was recognized as International Teacher of the Year by KORCOS. Mr. Jacobsen enjoys seeing his students become passionate about their learning through creating a fun and engaging environment that promotes curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. In his spare time, Mr. Jacobsen enjoys traveling, cooking and exploring with his wife Jessica and daughters Cadence and Aria.