





‘SALAM FROM PAPUA’
MZS
A SCHOOL WHERE EVERYONE IS:
- LEARNING
- INCLUDED
- CHALLENGED

Our Vision
Our Vision

Our Mission
Our Mission

Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Risk Taker
OUR STORY
Mt. Zaagkam is a remote intercultural school educating children of the employees of Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, Indonesia. We have 2 sites: Kuala Kencana in the lowland jungles and Tembagapura in the highland mountains and cloud forest.
We believe in providing a broad based education founded on the tenets of inquiry and international mindedness. We see students as individuals defined by their talents and aspirations. We define learning as conceptual, strengthened by universal competencies and fundamental human values. We embrace our small community and celebrate our diversity.
Our story is one of shared leadership to a vision of learning which is personalized and enriched by the unique environment of Papua, Indonesia.
OUR PROGRAM
MZS provides a Pre-K – Grade 8 program. We offer a strong academic focus aligned with US, UK and Australian academic standards. We offer the IB – Primary Years Program [PYP] in the Elementary and an inquiry focused program in the Middle School. All students study Indonesian Language and Culture and engage in a rich Creative Arts program. MZS has a commitment to technology integration and we support a 1:1 program with laptops and iPads. STEAM, robotics, yoga and spanish are offered as part of the extra-curricular program.
Our programs are internationally accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), and the IB-PYP.
OUR STUDENTS
Small in number and big in character, our students come from over 12 countries. Our small school of less than one hundred is diverse, talented and united by core values. Tembagapura has a student population of 70 students. Kuala Kencana has a student population of 20 students.
OUR FACULTY
Our faculty is composed of experienced and qualified international educators. The faculty are committed to contemporary learning. Our shared leadership model promotes a strong collaborative culture and community.
OUR COMMITMENT
We are committed to a student-centered program that is inquiry-based, concept-driven, constructivist (building on what students already know), and dedicated to personalization. We believe that personalization allows each student to be included, appropriately challenged and engaged in learning.
Our School-wide Learner Outcomes are a commitment to develop students as: Thinkers, Communicators, Social Agents, Self-Managers and Researchers.
OUR UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT
High mountains, tropical rainforests, a world-class gold and copper mine, technical scientists and a colorful, rich host country community means opportunity.
At MZS we embrace these opportunities through service learning programs, engagement with the Kamoro Culture, and involvement in Indonesian national days. Our inquiries are enriched with the technical expertise of geologists, medical practitioners working in community and public health and community guests. Our Service Projects see students as social agents directly engaged with Tujuh Suku – Seven Tribes, the Timika Community through English Language Radio broadcasts or the broader community by the making of Nokens [traditional bags] to reduce plastic consumption.
If you would like to know more about our unique school, would like to enroll your child as a student, or would like to apply for a teaching position, please reach us through the ‘contact us’ tab. We look forward to hearing from you.
Leadership Team
Directo Freeport Schools: Indonesia
Home Country: Australia
Experience: 25 years. Australia, Indonesia
A ‘learning focused’ leader energized by possibilities and compelling ideas. An Aquarian with a passion for water adventures, travel, fine fare, and ‘chillhouse’ music [preferably on the beach!]
Raquel Acedo Rubio
Head of Learning
Home country: Spain
Degree: BA Education (Primary), Dip. Early Years Ed.
Experience: 13 years - Spain, UK, Singapore, Indonesia.
Statement: An enthusiastic teacher and curriculum leader passionate about innovative education. Enjoys contemporary art, literature and independent cinema. Love spending time with family and friends, as well as travelling and new experiences.
Principal: Tempagapura Campus
Home country: USA
Degree: Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Students – California State University
Experience: 18 years – USA; United Arab Emirates; Qatar, Democratic Republic Congo, Indonesia
Statement: I have three children, a commercial pilot’s license, scuba diver, lover of live music though I have zero musical talent – I have been with FCX going on 11 years.Andrew Ienuso
Principal
Mt. Zaagkam School - Kuala Kencana Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor's Degree: EducationMasters of Educational Leadership
Statement:
This is my 13th year teacher, and my 5th at Mount Zaagkam. I enjoy physical activity such as basketball, fitness, hiking, and running. I live here in Papua with my wife and our two children, McKinley (3 years old) and Walker (8 months old). We love traveling the world and experience culture and history as we travel.
Years Experience:
13 YearsAtlanta
Savannah
Singapore
Kuala KencanaAnita Fraser
Student Services
Degrees:
B.A. Psychology, Special Education, Elementary Education
Metropolitan State University of Denver
M.A. Special Education
Certificate: Literacy
University of Colorado at Denver
I have taught for over twenty years in grades kindergarten through high school. My favorite grade level is always the one I am currently teaching. I am passionate about education and using it as a means to promote equality and social justice. I also love traveling, hiking, volunteering, diving, reading and good conversations. I have two grown children back in Colorado.
Years Experience:Experience 22 years
U.S., Ghana (West Africa), Indonesia
Russell Downs
Technology Coordinator
My passionate about and professionally committed to optimizing a student’s learning potential by instilling teaching and learning dispositions that support the development of lifelong learners; learners that can productively adapt and contribute to our ever-evolving global community.
I have a healthy mindset, therefore making time for fitness activities and outdoor play is very important to me. I enjoy the ocean, golf, and various aspects of making/tinkering. I am currently into reading sci-fi fantasy and related subgenre.
Years Experience:
+20 Years: International Education
Dominican Republic / Myanmar / Jakarta / Dubai
Faculty
- Kelly RuschElementary Teacher / Teaching & Learning Coach
Tim Brooks
Technology/ Art Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Kuala Kencana Campus
Degrees:
BA Hons in the Visual Arts
Qualified Teacher StatusStatement:
This is my fifth year working here at MZS. I am lucky to be teaching the two passions in my life, technology and art. https://www.instagram.com/mr.b.artroom/
Years Experience:
24 years Experience
Middle East
Russia
Japan
Brasil
Indonesia- Anastasia Widya KinantiBahasa Indonesia / Music Teacher
Anastasia Widya Kinanti
Bahasa Indonesia Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Kuala Kencana Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor degree of English Language Education
Statement:
Never stop trying, never stop believing
Years Experience:
MZS KK Bahasa Indonesia Teacher (2016 - present)
Elementary piano teacher ( 2017 - present)
- Beth LindsayElementary Teacher
Beth Lindsay
Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Elementary Education teaching degree
Masters of EducationStatement:
I have lived and worked in both South Korea and Indonesia for the last 9 years as a teacher. My husband and our families love traveling the world and cooking from various cultures throughout the world!
Years Experience:
15 years
- Mary BigwoodElementary Teacher
- Shaun RussellLibrary
- Jonathan RuschPSHPE
- Maryonover NunuelaICT Technician & Support
Maryonover Nunuela
ICT Support
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor of Computer Science, focus in Management Information System and Multimedia
Statement:
If you don't go, you'll never know.
Years Experience:
5 Years (Indonesia - Yogyakarta & Tembagapura)
- Gary HulagrockiMS Maths / MS Science Teacher
Gary Hulagrocki
Middle School Math & Science
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Education
Masters of EducationStatement:
I have recently completed my Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
Years Experience:
10+ years
- William Scott WhitelyElementary Teacher
William Scott Whitely
Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor of Arts (History/English)
Masters (Educational Leadership)
Statement:
I am a Canadian who has been teaching internationally since 2003. Outside of Canada, I have worked in Japan, Germany, Qatar, China and now Indonesia.
Years Experience:
17 years
- Pia JoynerArt Teacher
Pia Joyner
Art Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Master of Fine Arts - Art, Film and Media Studies - University of California Santa BarbaraBachelor of Arts - Art - University of California Santa BarbaraVisual Arts PreK-12 Educator License MA, USAStatement:
I am an artist-educator and have previously taught in California, Turkey, Israel-Palestine, India and Myanmar. Deeply inspired by Indonesia's rich culture and its beautiful nature, I am very excited to be a part of MZS students' learning journey in the mountains of Papua.
www.elcinpiajoyner.com
Years Experience:
10 years
- Gladys CrawfordElementary Teacher
Gladys Crawford
Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Masters of Education- Special Education
Statement:
I enjoy teaching elementary students and being a part of their growth and development. I also see teaching as a process where I learn from my students, colleagues, parents, and the community. Every year I see a change in myself and my teaching from the previous year, and that just means that I have grown and learned new things.
Years Experience:
10 years
- Dan TaylorElementary Teacher
Dan Taylor
Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Diploma of Teaching Primary
Bachelor of Education
Statement:
Started teaching in 1990. Spent the next 18 years years teaching in various Queensland schools, from urban to remote, and then suburban areas. The next 7 years I spent in a tiny city in China, Beijing. I taught Kindergarten and three year old's there. For the last 3 years I have been teaching all grades from Kindergarten to Grade 6 back in Queensland. My wife and I arrived here in Tembagapura less than 2 months ago. I hope we get to stay here for many years.
Years Experience:
Scary as it sounds I am closing in on 30 years of teaching. I feel old just saying that.
- Maureen IenusoElementary Teacher / Teaching & Learning Coach
Maureen Ienuso
Humanities Teacher, Curriculum Learning Specialist
Mt. Zaagkam School - Kuala Kencana Campus
Degrees:
BA, English;
Masters, Education
Statement:
I believe the excitement of the classroom rests in it’s ability to take on it’s own definition - to develop and grow in both predictable and unpredictable directions. This is essential in order to prepare students for a world of accelerating change and complexity. I love to travel and spend time with my wonderful husband, Andrew, and my beautifully curious children, McKinley and Walker.
Years Experience:
16 years - New York, Boston, Taipei, Singapore, Indonesia
- Sandy HansonElementary Teacher
Sandy Hanson
Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor Education
(Language and Reading Majors)
Master EducationStatement:
Teaching is my passion. Each year, my ultimate goal is to encourage each student to become a self-managed inquirer who is empowered by risk-taking and thinking towards becoming open-minded, knowledgeable, and caring humans.
Years Experience:
30 Plus years teaching as a Homeroom generalist Grade 2 through Grade 6. Also Art teacher Grades KG through Grade 8.
- Amy RichieMS Humanities / MS Literacy / Teaching & Learning Coach
Amy Richie
Middle School Humanities and Literacy Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor degree of English with an emphasis in Elementary Education
Master of Arts in Curriculum and InstructionStatement:
I am a Colorado native who is passionate about teaching and learning.
Years Experience:10 years teaching experience
- Karl HilhorstElementary Teacher
Karl Hilhorst
Grade 1-4 Homeroom Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Kuala Kencana Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning
Master of ScienceStatement:
Newbie to Papua & MZS and very excited to embark on my first year in the jungle. I love my work and the opportunities teaching internationally provides. New Zealand is home and when there you'll find me diving and fishing in the Marlborough Sounds, or hiking the South Island's National Parks.
Years Experience:
14 years
New Zealand - Nelson,
China - Shanghai,
Kenya - Nairobi,
Indonesia - Jakarta - Nugroho Ariwibowo (Pak Nugi)Indonesian Studies / Music Teacher
Nugroho Ariwibowo (Pak Nugi)
Indonesian Studies and Music Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Bachelor Degree of English Letters
Statement:
I am from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. I am married and have three children and love music very much. I have been teaching at International schools for more than 16 Years with various roles as Indonesian Studies and Music Teacher, activity coordinator, community service coordinator and PYP Associate Coordinator. I am delighted to be part of the MZS team and looking forward to working collaboratively with school management, staff and school community.
Years Experience:
+16 Years
- Giang Thi Huong NguyenMusic Teacher
Giang Thi Huong Nguyen
Music Teacher
Mt. Zaagkam School - Tembagapura Campus
Degrees:
Master of Educational Administration
Bachelor of Music Education and PerformanceStatement:
My goal as a teacher is to inspire the goodness of human qualities. I do this by teaching music.
Years Experience:
19 years
Picture Gallery
Contact Us

Kuala Kencana (Lowlands)
Jl. Irian Jaya Barat No. 1
PO Box 7051 Kuala Kucana
Papua, Indonesia 99920

Tembagapura (Highlands)
Jl. Tembagapura Raya No. 605
PO Box 14 Tembagapura
Papua, Indonesia 99967
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Modeling our SLOs, we are committed to lessen our environmental footprint. Therefore, all information about teaching & learning at MZS is being published electronically via our school website and campus communication platforms.
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