SIS welcomes two new teachers

Saipan International School welcomes two new teachers to its faculty in 2019.

LeaAnne Eaton will be teaching Grade 3 this year at SIS, while Derek Culp will be teaching Social Studies in Grades 6, 9, and 10, plus AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics.

In an SIS statement, headmaster Ron Snyder said he is “very excited to have Mr. Culp, Ms. Eaton and their families as our newest Geckos and believe that they will be wonderful additions to an amazing faculty!”

The statement said that the addition of Eaton means SIS has opened up all of its elementary grades. Culp, meanwhile, will bring decades of Economics experience to the school’s AP Economics curriculum.

LeaAnne Eaton is joined on Saipan by her daughter, Rebecca “Becca,” and their dog, Koda. (Contributed Photo)

Eaton is joined on Saipan by her daughter, Rebecca “Becca,” and their dog, Koda. She has been a classroom teacher for 11 years (grades 2-12 in schools ranging in size from 54-2,000 students) and Becca will be going into Grade 7. She has taught in the United States, Belarus, China, and Kazakhstan.

Eaton graduated with a BA in English and Women’s Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2008 and earned her initial teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University in California. She is currently working on an MS in Educational Leadership online through the Western Governor’s University. 

Meanwhile, Culp graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Economics and has over 18 years of experience in the banking and finance industry, most recently working as a consultant in the commercial real estate sector. Culp has also pursued post-graduate work in Counseling and Psychology in addition to coaching soccer and lacrosse for many years.

Derek Culp

He is joined on Saipan by his family: Elizabeth, son Sam (15), and daughters Mimi (12), and Eliza (8). The Culps moved here this summer from Macon, Georgia and his wife, Elizabeth, works as an Emergency Room Physician at the Commonwealth Health Center.

“We are truly blessed to be living [on] Saipan and especially excited to be a part of the Saipan International School community,” said Culp. “We love traveling and being outdoors with our two dogs, Jake and Bear, and plan to take advantage of all of the wondrous opportunities the island has to offer. In addition to teaching I look forward to being a home room advisor to the 10th grade class and supporting our students, faculty, and community this coming year and beyond.” (PR)