Jessica O’Shea, a dedicated elementary educator, has recently made her way to St. Mary’s as a 4th-grade teacher. Before she arrived in St.Mary’s, she taught in an all-girls elementary school back in Cork, Ireland, her hometown. When asked about her reason for moving to Japan, she replied, “The Pandemic made the city feel too small. I wanted to experience something new.” Ms. O’Shea described her life in Japan as “convenient” and “different from what I’m used to.” She particularly liked the metro system, calling it a much better way than Ireland’s.
In applying for a new position overseas, Ms. O’Shea was particularly drawn to Asia, which she had always longed to visit at least once. Besides St. Mary’s, multiple International Schools were interested in her, including schools in Taiwan and Korea. However, her ultimate decision was St. Mary’s. Ms. O’Shea has spent her elementary and high school years in an all-girls school, which she states is “familiar to the system” of St. Mary’s all-boys curriculum. Ms. O’Shea’s background has brought her to prioritize active learning and learning about global citizenship. Her unique teaching style is helping students greatly to understand their place in the world and their role in protecting the planet.
Ms. O’Shea’s hobbies include walking, reading, gardening, and playing the violin. Back in Ireland, she was an amateur orchestra concertmaster and participated in the National Youth Orchestra. Her interest in music also propelled her to get a music education degree.
