Meet Our Teachers

David is thrilled to be a part of students' journey at Dynamic Kids.  He believes that every student is unique, and teachers have a tremendous opportunity to impact students' lives through a combination of innovative, interactive teaching methods and individualized attention and care for each student.

Originally from the United States, he and his wife ran a language training centre in India for eight years before moving to Penang.  Outside of teaching, David enjoys being in nature and hiking on Penang's beautiful trails, going to the gym, sports, enjoying tasty food, and spending time with family and friends.

Nikki has a deep appreciation for the way language creates connections across cultures, which comes from being a "third culture kid".  Born in the Philippines and raised in Hong Kong and Europe with a North American education, she received her English Education degree in Hong Kong, where she taught for over four years.  She has been teaching in Malaysia for over three years, where she enjoys food, exploring, and building communities.

Another thing Nikki loves about learning languages is that it allows us to understand our world and gives us a voice to express ourselves.  She is excited to provide these opportunities in the classroom, where she hopes students grow in curiosity, compassion, and confidence as lifelong learners.

John has been a teacher for over thirty years.  Six of those years have been in Penang.  He earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts from East Carolina University and a Masters of Fine Arts from Arizona State University.  In preparation for teaching English, he earned a TEFL certification from the University of Toronto.  He continues to enjoy coaching and playing soccer.  John is very excited to bring his education and experience to bear as he encourages students to become more proficient in their English skills.

Jessica has been teaching at Dynamic Kids here in Penang for over six years!  Originally a preschool and kindergarten teacher in the U.S., Jessica holds a degree in Early Childhood Education as well as TEFL certification.  She brings her many years of teaching experience and love for children to the DK classroom, where students learn English through various hands-on activities.  Students practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in fun and developmentally appropriate ways.

Dustin is from the United States, and he has a Master of Communications degree from the college of Southeastern, a CELTA degree, and a TKT certification in classroom management.  He has taught in the U.S., Indonesia, and now Malaysia.

Dustin is super excited to live in Penang because it has some of the best food in the world.  Besides food and teaching, he also enjoys movies and playing sports.

Jenny is from the United States, where she graduated and was certified in TESOL.  She taught in an English Centre for seven years, and she previously taught in Asia.  Jenny loves getting to know her students and is thrilled to be starting her second year of teaching at Dynamic Kids.  Jenny also likes to travel, make new friends, and learn about different cultures.  In her free time, Jenny likes to explore Penang, hike, and try new foods.  Jenny is excited to help students grow in English while learning through fun games and activities.

Melinda is very excited to continue teaching at Dynamic Kids for a brand new year!  She is looking forward to getting to know her Upper Primary 3 and Upper Primary 4 students, as well as keeping up with Upper Primary 5.  She has taught both Special Education and English students for over 25 years.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech/Theatre/Dance as well as a Post Baccalaureate degree, and Certificates for Teacher of the Handicapped and Teacher of English from Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey.  Melinda received her TEFL certification from Gateway House/Love TEFL.  She is thrilled to be teaching in the Pearl of the Orient!

Coming from New York City, James has been teaching English in Southeast Asia since 2010.  He arrived in Penang in 2022 and has been enjoying his time on the island.  Prior to becoming a teacher, James had a varied career path while working in America, from music to business.  He is very passionate about coffee, documentary films, ice hockey, and beaches.