About Hokkaido International School

Nick & Kate Holywell
Nick Holywell is an experienced teacher of Middle School having taught Middle School in Burkina Faso, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.   He has also lived and worked in Australia, Canada, England and Scotland.  He looks forward to teaching Grade 6 students at HIS as well as interacting with students across the whole school in his role as the librarian.  Prior to qualifying as a teacher, Mr Holywell had a career with the Australian Government working in Public Health, Indigenous Health and Cultural, Social and Business Development.  Attracted here by his love of the natural world, he looks forward to exploring the region;  skiing, SCUBA, fishing and cycling are long-held recreational activities.

Kate's teaching career began in Australia, spans 28 years and includes Canada, China,Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Burkina Faso (West Africa). She has enjoyed a variety of roles – teacher of English and French, Head of Upper School, and Secondary Principal. After 9 years of teaching in South East Asia, she was ready for a totally new experience in West Africa. Keen to be in Japan, she is thrilled to be living in Sapporo. Her international postings include schools that ranged from 200 to 2000 students, and she states with a good deal of confidence that she prefers smaller schools. A person who exemplifies lifelong learning, she has recently completed a qualification in Positive Psychology, which has enhanced her interactions with students and whole school communities. She brings to HIS a wealth of experience, and a fresh and open attitude.

Seth & Mic Beatty

Mic holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Brigham Young University in Utah.  She also holds five teaching licenses from the states of New Jersey and Utah.  She was a dorm parent in a boarding school in Pennsylvania for five years.  She spent last 13 years in New Jersey public schools as a specialist for reading, writing, Basic Skills Math, ESL and Japanese/English Bilingual education.  She really enjoys dancing, swimming and having fun with kids.

Seth grew up in Canada, China, Japan, and Utah. After earning his undergraduate degrees in history and TESOL from the University of Utah, he lived in Sapporo for two years teaching EFL. He attended graduate school at the University of Utah studying history, and then taught for several years in a boarding school in Pennsylvania, as well as a public school in Philadelphia. After earning a M.Ed. degree from Holy Family University in Philadelphia, he worked for 10 years creating material for the TOEFL and TOEIC exams at Educational Testing Service and writing ESL textbooks at Pearson. He enjoys long-distance backpacking, winter sports, and other outdoor activities. He is very excited to be coming back to Sapporo!