Co-Founder - Director of Employer Relations
I was born and raised in Maine, USA, the state where earmuffs were invented. At age seventeen with a pair of earmuffs in one hand and a scholarship to a liberal arts college in the other I left Maine for Portland, Oregon. Four years later I graduated with a degree in comparative religious studies. Finding the job prospects for novice oracles exceedingly dim I entered the not so exciting field of college fundraising. My boss and I found out simultaneously that asking rich people for money wasn't my calling and came to the mutual conclusion that I should move to another country as soon as possible.
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Korea General Manager and Placement Coordinator Footprints Recruiting Korean Representative Scott Kim has 5 years of management experience as the Director of Foreign teachers at one of the largest language schools in Korea.
Scott is available to support Footprints teachers for all manners of problems and is working with Footprints to ensure we represent the best schools in the industry.
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Director of Advertising and Marketing & Intern Coordinator Hesitantly, I begin this- the bio that is! I say hesitantly because unlike everyone else at the office, I apparently lack that bit of altruism and quest for betterment that has led everyone else into the field of teaching.
I know, I know, looking at that sweet smile, and inviting face you question my meaning, but let me tell you I certainly didn’t begin my life as an E.S.L. tutor thinking that I could enrich the lives of children by bringing the wonders of the English language into their lives...
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China, Taiwan and Hong Kong Placement Coordinator
After Dr. Sun Yanshan kicked the butt of the last Chinese feudal emperor “Puyi” out of the Forbidden City in Beijing in 1912 and ended the Qing Dynasty, all the half-shaved headed and long pony tailed “Manchu” people had to cut their hair very short and move all the way to the north of China. To add insult to injury, they also had to learn to speak Mandarin instead of their native Manchu language. My great grandfather was one of these unfortunate Manchurian people.
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Private Language School Placement CoordinatorRose comes to Footprints with 7 years teaching experience in Korea at School of Tomorrow and Topia. She has also been working for two years in Canada recruiting ESL students for schools here and working with students, schools and clients. Rose is fluent in both English and Korean and her skills and inherent knowledge of Korea, Korean culture, and private language schools in South Korea are a tremendous asset to Footprints Teachers in South Korea. Welcome aboard Rose!
Public School Placement Coordinator As a Footprints Alumni, I taught for 2 years in Korea at a private school. I was able to to teach all ages from Kindergarten through to adults. As a certified teacher in Alberta and BC I had only taught elementary students previously. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to work with a diverse group of students. I taught students who were just beginning to learn English to returnee students who had studied abroad. I also worked on curriculum development and teacher training in my role as Head Teacher at my school. I really enjoyed my time in Korea, experiencing everything from the terrific food, to the many cultural aspects, to working with some really great teachers and students. When I came back to Canada, unfortunately the education system here was suffering from budget cuts and lowered enrollment, so I decided to look elsewhere for a job. For the last two years, I have been working for the Korean Consulate in Vancouver. As well as working with the consulate in a political and economic capacity, I worked directly with EPIK applicants, was on the panel interviewing teachers applying for their E-2 visas, and I developed the system of remote interviews for teachers living far distances from their local consulate or embassy. Now I'm working as a Public School Placement Coordinator with Footprints. I enjoy working and talking with teachers about why they enjoy teaching and helping them to begin a wonderful journey of teaching and traveling overseas.
In House Legal Counsel  My path to Footprints was indirect, full of zigs and zags. I have worked, studied and traveled on five continents, making new friends and enjoying myself every step of the way.
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Co-Founder - Managing Director My inspiration to become an English teacher came from my father. No, dad isn't an English teacher or a lover of literature, and he isn't much of a speller either. Pops mis-spelled my name when he filled out my birth certificate and the constant teasing I received led me to my calling in life - spelling. At least I am luckier than my brother Danny, in a big Freudian slip dad filled out the name on his birth certificate as 'Danial.' I'm just happy dad didn't want to name me Humperdink.
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Placement Department Manager and Public School Coordinator - Footprints Alumni I started at Footprints in February of 2007, and am currently the manager of the Placement Department.
Well, where to begin. I was born in Halifax, grew up in the 'burbs of Toronto (Brampton), spent summers in beautiful Charlevoix, Quebec, and then off to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
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Screening Department Manager and Human Resources Specialist - Footprints Alumni Recent graduate and would be teacher needs a job.
Has student loans.
"Will" travel.
That is how it all began, and there wasn’t really much more to it than that. A friend recommended that I apply to Footprints, and after being interviewed by Kara, Ben found me a job in Ulsan, South Korea, where I taught for a year and then extended my contract for another eight months.
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Public School Placement Coordinator
I was born and raised in the wonderful state of Colorado. Not being a fan of the cold weather, skiing or snowboarding, I moved to the desert for University. While I was at ASU, I decided to become a teacher, heard the pay was fantastic. I entered the education program thinking that in a few short years I would have my own classroom. The thing I didn't realize was just how much I didn't want to grow up after graduation. I figured, there would come a time where I would have to grow up, so I should probably live in a bunch of different places first. That's when I found the job position on Monster.com to teach English in South Korea.
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Private Language School Placement CoordinatorLuna is a highly motivated young woman who offers Footprints teachers insights into Korea and teaching that are both informative and honest. She is an enthusiastic placement coordinator who is committed to placing our ESL teachers in great teaching locations around South Korea.
Private Language School Placement Coordinator
In 2000, frustrated with all the studying I would have had to do on top of regular schooling (What are the four years for then?!), not to mention the horror of wearing a tie to work, and my pathetic math skills, I ditched my goal to be an investment analyst in favor of an area where I saw a wealth of opportunity and considerably less stress: English Language Education. At the time, I could see the world was changing fast and I soon realized not only was an ability to communicate in English becoming increasingly desirable, but those who knew English and could teach it effectively were becoming increasingly important, as well. When I started noticing more and more Korean, Mexican, Brazilian, and Japanese students outside of English institutes in downtown Vancouver, I saw the potential of this business. I wanted to be a part of it.
In March 2004, straight out of university, I packed my bags and moved to Seoul for reasons that included but were not limited to: professional development, the adventure factor, an affordable and extensive subway system, my curiosity about a country and a people I knew little about, the hallyu (한류) phenomenon, and a securities market with some incredible opportunities.
Six years later, including countless classes taught, rubrics analyzed, methodologies researched, training sessions conducted, complaints managed, hwesiks enjoyed, and accounts opened, I felt I had achieved my goals and just thought it time to move on. It has, so far, been the greatest period of my life. When people ask me where I grew up, I hesitate to say Canada. In the conventional sense, I could say I did grow up here. However, in Korea, it was the first time I lived on my own, the first time I had an annual income, the first time I felt truly independent. Really, I grew up there, too.
Now, to be specific about the country, the biggest surprise I experienced in my six years was the amount of diversity of the region both geographically and culturally. Although Korea is a small country in terms of land, it offers a wide variety of landscapes you can access conveniently with buses and trains running up, down, and across the land at all times of the day and night.
In terms of culture, what you typically see in travel magazines indeed exists: kimchi, hanbok, Buddha statues. However, as much as people say that Korea is a homogenous nation, this is true only to an extent. In recent years, Korea has witnessed a surge in the number of foreigners living in the country and I expect this number to increase, just one reason being its 2009 signing of a free-trade agreement with India. These days, residents from not just India, but France, Uzbekistan, China, Pakistan, Japan, Canada, Italy, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, the US and many more countries now live in Korea for myriad reasons like business, education, or travel. In addition to the commonly known areas of Hongik University and Itaewon, places such as the Central Asian village near Dongdaemun Stadium; the Chinese communities near Seoul's Daerim, Konkuk University, and Incheon stations; the French enclave in Seoul’s Bangbae-dong; Little Germany in Namhae; and the Borderless Village of Ansan are all excellent ways to see the richness of this land.
I have come back to Canada having learned a great deal about myself and the world. I am proud to now be a part of this close knit group of individuals who strive day in and day out to make each teacher and school's experience a rewarding one. I look forward to working with you. Please do not hesitate to contact me anytime with your comments or queries.
Gavin
South America Business Development SpecialistBorn in Buenos Aires Argentina, I landed in Chile when I was 9. As time passed by, I got my professional degree in Architecture and curiosity. That is how, along with my life-time partner, I began a search for those things that we have always felt passion for individually and collectively. For us, travels were the path to discovery. After quitting the comfort of the big city, and while on our way back to Chile from another long, long trip, Vancouver Canada became the last stop before returning to a more settled kind of life in Chile. That return was everything but such, and found us packing again as soon as we arrived in Chile and we were heading back to Vancouver, where a masters in sustainable design and great friends were awaiting.
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“I loved my teaching experience through Footprints and would highly recommend the process to anyone. Footprints really works hard to screen for the best, most reputable schools and you can always feel safe accepting a position through them.”
