About Us

Founder

PAUL YANG

Paul Yang, graduate of Eaglebrook School ‘85, founded the Global Leadership Program in 2016 with Andy Chase, envisioning a program that exposed students to wider perspectives from around the world. Paul himself had left his home country, Japan, at age 12 to embark on an education full of unknowns at Eaglebrook School. Here he encountered students from all corners of the United States and the world, opening his eyes to the arrays of people, cultures and perspectives that existed beyond his local community in Japan. He continued his education at Phillips Exeter Academy, renowned for its Harkness classes, where students discuss the subject at hand with limited instructor involvement. Paul integrates this teaching style into the Global Leadership Program, facilitating the discussions, while encouraging students to speak up and obtain confidence in public speaking. He pursued his college education at Cornell University (BSc, MEng) and Boston College (MBA, MSc). Since then he has lived in Japan, Finland, Germany, Spain and has experienced the workplace in a global setting. Paul’s hopes are to share some of his anecdotes at the program in guiding the conversation and to establish close relationships with each and every student.

ANDY CHASE

Andy Chase, current headmaster of Eaglebrook School, has been part of the Eaglebrook community his entire life. Both his grandfather and father were headmasters of the boarding school, and Andy grew up on campus. He spent five years as a student in the class of ‘73, and proceeded to the nearby Deerfield Academy and Williams College. He later returned to Eaglebrook as the Director of Development and became headmaster almost 20 years ago. Throughout his tenure, he has been passionate about providing a rich and diverse curriculum for students in their important middle school years as they begin their adolescent years. He founded the Global Leadership Program with Paul in hopes of giving students a taste of the boarding school experience. Taking place in the summer for two weeks, the program would attract a more international array of participants, and students would be exposed to a more global environment. Andy resides on campus and has three kids, all who have attended Eaglebrook. Having experienced the school as a student, parent, faculty and now headmaster, he has a great understanding for the students, and will foster a welcoming environment for Global Leadership Program attendees.

Advisor

Shaun iwasawa

Shaun Iwasawa grew up on Vancouver Island, Canada. He developed an interest in Japan after visiting his father’s home prefecture of Saitama when he was in elementary school. From a young age, he regularly attended summer camp, where he gained his passion for leading and teaching. While attaining a B.A. in psychology and a minor in history at Vancouver Island University, he studied abroad in the Reconnaissance Japan Program at Oberlin University, Japan for a year. In 2004, he returned to Japan through the Japan Exchange Teaching Program and taught at a public high school for four years. While working there, he also attained his M.A. in Asia Pacific Studies through the University of Leeds, England. Most of Shaun’s teaching career has been spent working at both public and private schools in Saitama Prefecture teaching grades one through to twelve. More recently he has worked at universities in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. He is currently a full-time teacher at Kaisei Academy where he teaches English classes, advises students about summer school programs, and assists students with their foreign university applications.

TOMIO YAMAMOTO

Tomio Yamamoto was born in Osaka, but moved to London and New York, where he spent most of his upbringing up until he graduated Keio Academy of New York, a direct affiliate of Keio University, located in Purchase, New York. After graduating high school, he returned to Japan and entered the Faculty of Letters at Keio, majoring in Ethics while obtaining teaching licenses as an ESL/English teacher for both junior high schools and high schools in Japan. He has been a full-time teacher his whole professional career while holding positions in a variety of departments. The most prominent role he has held is as an International Affairs Officer spearheading multiple programs and partnerships with schools, mainly in the United States. Currently, he is an ESL/English teacher at Keio Senior High School and his passion is to invigorate students to become his/her best self, inside and outside of the classroom. He lives near the ocean with his wife, three daughters, and a German Pinscher named Will. He enjoys his free time reading books, engaging in conversations, and watching basketball games at all levels.

Kadeine Peterson

Kadeine Peterson devoted most of her life to science. At Marist College she received her bachelor degree in biology, as well as recieving her master degree in genetics at Cornell University. She attended several prestigious schools in her teaching career at Packer Collegiate (Brooklyn, NY), The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville, CT), Philips Exter Academy (Exeter, NH) and is currently teaching at Cate School (Carpinteria, CA). She is a researcher as well as a biology teacher, who strives to make science more familiar to her students. As a member of the Citizen Science -based programs, she spends her summer studying the effects of climate change on organisms living in subarctic regions.

Emily luker

Ms. Luker received her Master of Music in Piano Performance & Pedagogy from Florida State University, and previously taught private and group piano in a private liberal arts college in Wisconsin. At Eaglebrook School, she teaches all levels of piano students. She especially loves working with beginning pianists who are starting to learn how to play for the first time. Another highlight is accompanying the annual spring musical production. In addition to her work in piano, Ms. Luker has been teaching Public Speaking to a variety of summer program students. She finds great joy in implementing games and exercises that allows a student to naturally find their voice and comfort in their speeches. As Dorm Head of one of the residential communities at Eaglebrook School, Ms. Luker's philosophy is to create a home away from home where every student feels like a valued member of the community. Her free time is spent loving her beloved cat, Duncan, as well as travel planning, discovering beautiful historical libraries, and exploring the best restaurants for pancakes.

Robert Trimback-Rios

Mr. Trimbach-Rios (TR) was born in Ohio, USA. While attending West Virginia University as a soccer player, he completed a B.S. in Economics and a B.S. in Business Administration. He later coached soccer at the same university and completed a Master of Science in Industrial Labor Relations. After working for some of the largest home building companies in the United States, Mr. TR and his family had the opportunity to live/ teach/work at The Eaglebrook School. For the last fifteen years has taught a broad variety of courses at EBS. His first few years involved work in the English as a Second Language department, teaching Science, History, and Grammar and Writing. Presently, Mr. TR acts as a Dormitory Head in Taylor House at Eaglebrook. He now teaches in the Art and Innovation Departments with most courses involving Design, Digital Photography, and Audio Speaker Building. As a hobby, Mr. TR enjoys following collegiate athletics and international soccer.

Yuan-Hsiu Lien

Ms. Lien was born and educated in the busy city of Taipei. After graduating from Tamkang University, she worked as an e editor for an educational magazine and a part-time ESL teacher before she earned her EdM in Curriculum & Teaching from Boston University in1998. She taught Chinese as a second language in both public and private schools in the US before arriving on campus at Eaglebrook School in 2006. Ms. Lien loves horseback riding, classical music,cooking, and travel. Besides teaching Mandarin Chinese, Chinese chess, and cooking, Ms. Lien served as a Director of the Chinese Program, World Language Department Chair, and Director of the International Program, and recently became one of the coordinators of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program. Aside from her work on campus as a teacher and advisor, Ms. Lien enjoys her annual trip to Asia as an Eaglebrook ambassador during March break and during the summer.

Angela Trimback-Rios

Ms. Trimbach-Rios graduated Occidental College with a BA in political science and government and then proceeded to recieve a MA in teaching English as a second or foreign languge instructor in West Virginia University. Ms. Trimbach-Riosis a member of the World Languages department in Eaglebrook school where she teaches Spanish and is also a dorm parent. Ms. Trimbach-Rios lives in Taylor House with her husband Rob and their two daughters, Sophie and Isabella. In her free time she loves getting creative with her hands by crafting, knitting, and doing embroidery.

Colby Runk

Mr. Runk graduated Elmira College in New York and completed a B.S. in foreign language and Adolescence Education. Mr. Runk joined the Eaglebrook faculty in the summer of 2018 as a teacher, coach, and advisor. He teaches Spanish to all levels. He coaches soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. He serves as an advisor and dorm parent in Eagle’s Nest. Away from Eaglebrook, Mr. Runk spends time hiking and exploring outdoors, and playing games with friends and family.

Miles Harlow

Miles Harlow is the mathematics department chair and lives on campus with his girlfriend Jordan Eckstein, and dog Ruby. Miles joined the Eaglebrook faculty in 2018 as a teacher, advisor, and coach after graduating from Smith College that same year with his Master of Arts in Teaching. Miles entered the private school world when he joined the faculty here after initially teaching mathematics at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Northampton, MA, and completing his graduate fellowship through Project Coach at Gerena Community School in Springfield, MA. Miles’ graduate training merged with Eaglebrook’s core philosophy when it comes to relationship teaching, emotional growth, and youth development, making Eaglebrook a logical home. Miles is one of the leaders of the Chinese Affinity Group and also coaches soccer, recreational skiing, and baseball while serving as an advisor and dorm parent in Mayer House.