About Fairmont International School

As a division of Fairmont Education Group, Fairmont International School (FIS) offers a course of study in the US, as well as partners with schools and educational providers around the world, to help students realize their academic goals. They do this through curriculum that emphasizes language acquisition, independent thinking, critical inquiry, and student creativity. FIS offers the following programs: Joint Diploma, Short Term Immersion, Educator Training, eLearning, the Language and Leadership Institute, School Consultation, and Study Abroad at Fairmont Private Schools. FIS also offers customized programs to meet specific school needs. Through its programs, FIS connects schools and students throughout the world with resources from Fairmont Private Schools and opportunities to come to Fairmont Private Schools in the US. FIS programs are individually approved by the Ministry of Education in China. Fairmont International School and our programs are accredited through June 2022 via AdvancED, by the NCA Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the Northwest Accreditation Commission and the SACS Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.

Fairmont International School Leadership Bios

Click on pictures to read bios.

John Barrier

Director of Global Operations

Rebecca Wood, PhD

Director of International Education

Ming Liao

Program Coordinator

Kenny Zhou

Business Development Manager

Lisa Lucas

Program Manager

Lucy Yang

Program Manager

Heather Lopez

Elementary Curriculum Coordinator

Nicola Jefferson

Head Teacher

Jonathan Dunn

FIS Dean and College Counselor

John Barrier

Following a successful career in hotel sales and management, Mr. John Barrier joined Fairmont Private Schools in 2001. He has been instrumental in the growth and development of Fairmont’s International Academy, founded in 2002, and now works to foster partnerships with educational institutions throughout the globe. Prior to Fairmont, Mr. Barrier worked in various management positions for Marriott and Hilton hotels—including spending a year in Warsaw, Poland, conducting a hotel management study. Mr. Barrier holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton.

Mr Barrier began his work with Fairmont as Fairmont Preparatory Academy’s Junior High Director. From there, he was promoted to Campus Director of the International Academy (FIA). Under his guidance, FIA has grown to become an internationally-recognized language learning program that has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 2009.

Mr. Barrier’s position has expanded to include overseeing the many programs offered by Fairmont International School, including: Joint Diploma Programs, Short Term Immersion, and Teacher Training. His strategic leadership of Fairmont International School has led to a number of milestones including the establishment of Fairmont’s first Joint Diploma Program (JDP) in 2010.

Dr. Rebecca Wood

Dr. Wood focuses on building and developing partnerships with Fairmont’s Joint Diploma schools and Language and Leadership Institutes throughout China. She helps schools blend the best of Chinese education with Fairmont’s time-tested methods of preparing students for quality colleges. A proud Fairmont graduate herself, Dr. Wood seeks to provide Fairmont’s international students with the same excellence in education she received from Fairmont Private Schools.

Dr. Wood joined Fairmont Education Group in 2002, following the completion of her studies at Wellesley College and her doctoral studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After teaching English for several years at UCSB and at Fairmont, Dr. Wood moved from serving as English department chair to Dean of Advanced Studies, leading the school’s Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Medical Magnet and Engineering Magnet programs. Under her leadership, Fairmont was repeatedly recognized by The College Board as having “one of the highest student success rates in the state of California in math, science, and technology.”

Ming Liao

Coming soon!

Kenny Zhou

Mr. Kenny Zhou brings eight years of educational marketing and sales experience to his role with Fairmont International Education. A graduate of Sichuan International Studies University with bachelor’s degrees in English and French, he has worked in the US, UK, and China developing, supporting, and growing international programs. His past sales and marketing experience includes serving as Senior Marketing Manager for the Institute of Online Education, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Sales and Business Development Manager for EF Education, the world’s largest language training company. He also brings a keen understanding of language education, having designed courses to prepare Chinese students for entrance to university in France.

Lisa Lucas

Lisa Lucas works with Fairmont partner schools in Chengdu, Changsha and Shenzhen. She has rich experience in teaching English as a second language, as well as in international school leadership. Ms. Lucas has taught and served as a school principal and administrator in Poland, Qatar, and India. She holds her MA in Teaching from the esteemed School for International Training in Vermont and her BS in Developmental Psychology from Eastern Washington University. She also earned a certificate for International School Leadership, as well as being a credentialed teacher in the US. International education is a way of life for Ms. Lucas, as she has not only worked all over the world, she has also been educated in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

Lucy Yang

Lucy Yang brings over 20 years of second language teaching and school leadership experience to Fairmont International. Ms. Yang is based at the Affiliated High School to Hangzhou Normal University and also works with Linyi Number 4 High School and Nanjing Allen International School. Her commitment to international education is deep. She has been educated both in China and abroad, and she has taught and served as a supervisor in Beijing and in the United States. Ms. Yang has a wide range of teaching experience from working with IB students in North Carolina to training teachers in both China and the U.S. She has also served as a coordinator for the Confucius Institute Online, and in American schools. Ms. Yang holds her MA in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from Beijing Language and Culture University and her BA from Capital Normal University in English Education, as well as a certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the Australian TESOL Training Centre.

Heather Lopez

Heather Lopez joined Fairmont in 2007, after graduating from Chapman University and earning her CLAD multiple subject teaching credential. Ms. Lopez has coordinated school accreditation efforts for Fairmont’s Anaheim Hills Campus for WASC and AdvancED and has served as Fairmont’s BTSA Coordinator for years as well. In her role as BTSA Coordinator, Ms. Lopez mentors and guides new teachers. The Teaching Channel has also featured Ms. Lopez’s lessons and guidance for teachers.

Nicola Jefferson

Nicola Jefferson is a gifted language educator as well as an experienced school administrator. In over 20 years working in education, Ms Jefferson has taught English as a second language, Spanish, French, as well as history. Having studied abroad at the Sorbonne, Ms Jefferson brings a rich background to teaching international students and guiding international programs. Ms Jefferson has taught in a number of schools, including International Baccalaureate schools, in and around Philadelphia. A passion for serving young people drove Ms Jefferson to found and serve as executive director of The Achievement Project (TAP), a non-profit dedicated to serving the youth of Chester, PA. Ms Jefferson came to education after a successful career as an attorney, lobbyist and researcher in Washington DC and New York City. Ms Jefferson earned her JD from Columbia University, her Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a teaching certification from Swarthmore College and a BA from Smith College.

Jonathan Dunn

Mr. Jonathan Dunn has been instrumental in the building of Fairmont's college counseling program. He has worked with Fairmont’s partner schools in China since 2012. Mr. Dunn has years of experience in counseling and teaching in private schools throughout California. He is a member of both the National and the Overseas Association for College Admission Counseling. He serves as an AP grader with the College Board for AP U.S. History. Mr. Dunn graduated from Oberlin College, earned his teaching credential from University of California, Los Angeles, his Master of Arts in history from University of Southern California, and his certification in guidance counseling from the University of California, San Diego.