Daniel Latham - Our Team

Matthew Gibbs was born and raised in Queensland, Australia, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science at Bond University. After gaining his TESOL Accreditation at the American TESOL Institute in Thailand he went on to obtain his Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Sunderland in England.

Matt began as an educator at Thewphaingarm Canadian Bilingual School in Bangkok, where he taught English and Social Studies in addition to Drama, Health and Art to Grades 7-12 students. Through teaching there and in Spain, he acquired a genuine understanding of the particular needs and expectations of students in multicultural schools.

It was while leading classroom learning at the Canadian International School after moving to Hong Kong that Matt developed his focus on physical training and the health sciences. As sports coach in rugby, football, and basketball, he led numerous ISSFHK sports teams in Hong Kong, and was heavily involved with Senior rugby and the National Age Group in the Hong Kong Rugby Union. He later served as Head of Physical Education at The Harbour School and also their After-School Activity Director where he taught skill acquisition and organized school-wide event planning and sports coaching.

Matt is a firm believer in a PE curriculum based on the tenets of physical literacy – mens sana in corpore sano (a sound body in a sound mind). He cultivates an enthusiasm for learning, trusting, and trying that helps young minds to search for true value in their personal development and well-being. His curriculum planning and trans-disciplinary teaching methods nurture resilience, compassion, sportsmanship, and collaboration. He succeeds by challenging and making physical health fun ... he’s even a licensed AntiGravity Fitness Instructor!

At Bloom KKCA Academy, Matt will help lay the foundations of a robust P.E. Program and build our inter-school sports teams.

Cara is from mainland China and Mandarin is her first language. She has a genuine passion for teaching Chinese, after she obtained her degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from Tianjin University of Science and Technology, she continued to study at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and received her Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. This was followed by a PGDE in ECE from The Education University of Hong Kong.

Cara has been teaching Chinese for seven years and helps students to customize their Mandarin studies in both motive and method. Cara really enjoys teaching and taking care of children. Helping them to achieve their own milestones is one of her personal motivations. She is also able to encourage and guide her students to explore their daily life and cultivate positive values during their learning opportunities and interaction with peers and adults, which she believes is essential for children's development.

Cara likes sports, arts and music, playing drums and learning different instruments is one of her passions, and she goes to the gym everyday!

Ashley graduated from University of Waterloo, Canada with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and later obtained her Degree in Education at Nipissing University, Canada. She moved to Hong Kong over 7 years ago and cultivated her love for teaching young bilingual learners.

Ashley’s background in both education and psychology not only gave her knowledge in her teaching subjects and pedagogy, but also a better understanding of how others think and how their mindsets develop. Her students benefit doubly from her strengths.

Ashley is passionate about inspiring and educating young learners, particularly in foundational phonics, reading, and writing. She strongly believes in and practises hands-on learning and seamlessly integrates STEM education into her teaching. She loves to foster a nurturing and supportive classroom environment and has excellent relationships with her students and their families. Ashley’s gradual teaching approach -- from observations and basic value exploration to student engagement and real-life application -- empower her students with a positive attitude towards learning. Through differentiation and accommodation, Ashley acts as the guiding light of great flexibility and patience throughout her students’ learning journeys. This process encourages her students to seek answers on their own and eventually achieve Ashley’s goal for them to develop greater independence.

The primary attraction of being an educator to Ashley aligns fully with what Bloom also values: the curiosity, innovation, and openness of the children she is entrusted to guide in their learning journeys. Naturally, she constantly strives to better herself in teaching.