Staff

Miss Annmarie Lewis

PYP Coordinator 

Born and raised in Canada, I began my university career in the United States on an Ice Hockey scholarship. After graduating with a Master’s of Science in Elementary Education, I taught internationally before arriving to Grand Bahama.

I bring my international experience and a passion for the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme (PYP). I firmly believe in empowering my students to find their voices, make choices, and take ownership of their learning journeys. Together, we create an environment where curiosity thrives and students flourish at their own pace.

I was born in England and immigrated to Canada with my family at three years old. I was raised in Ontario, just outside of Toronto. I entered university knowing that I wanted to, not only teach, but teach in the early years. I completed Teachers College with a focus on Ontario’s Kindergarten program (Year 1). Over my two decades of teaching, at home and internationally, I have become passionate about creating meaningful provocations that engage our youngest students in the richest learning experiences possible.

I recognize the Primary Years Program as an exceptional framework for achieving this best practice and I embrace it wholeheartedly. I love spending my days documenting my students’ growth and successes, knowing that these early experiences create the foundation of their academic careers. I have specialist qualifications in Kindergarten and Special Education and am certified by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). 

I am joined by my two daughters and husband, Mr. Heyes and love spending my free time exploring the island with them. I feel deeply privileged to be part of the incredible faculty and community here at Lucaya International School.

After graduating with a BA Hons Degree and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Hull University, I began my teaching journey in the UK. It wasn't long before my career path took me all over the world!

I have worked in Asia (where I received my TEFL Certificate), Europe, New Zealand, U.S.A. and South America. In 2004, I decided to hang up my rucksack and settle at LIS - where the world now comes to me! 

My biggest aim in the classroom is to encourage my children to feel comfortable, secure and happy in their working environment. Once this is achieved, then their potential knows no bounds! I expect my students to work and play hard - after all, ‘play is the work of children’ is it not?

At the end of the day, if my students have had an opportunity to learn, inquire, create, imagine, construct and at the same time have fun, then I can go home feeling satisfied. I love the Primary Years Program for not only encouraging all the above, but for allowing the students to be responsible for their own learning, and to follow their bliss. Moreover, I am most passionate about the 'action' component of the Program, which inspires the children to make their world a better place. LIS is a melting pot of nationalities and therefore, I believe, the perfect breeding ground for such world changing action! 

I consider myself to be both Bahamian and British as I am from the Bahamas but was educated in boarding schools in the UK from aged 8 onwards.

Home is most definitely Grand Bahama and although storms come and go and the economy has changed here over the years I still wouldn’t trade it for the world. I spent my life wanting to be a movie star and went to performing arts school in London but decided the acting life wasn’t for me so I moved home and was offered a 2 week job supporting a special needs child at LIS…. the rest is history.

I loved the school, the children and the wonderful world of teaching so I decided to go back to school myself and I achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from the University of Concordia St. Paul and then an IPGCE from the University of Sheffield. I am passionate about developmentally appropriate practices in education, especially in Early Childhood.

I have 2 boys who have been at LIS since Pre-K and are now in Year 11 and Year 7 and a husband that I’ve known since childhood. I love spending time with my family and friends (who are like family) and my interests are traveling and anything related to boating and the water.

 Miss Annmarie Lewis

Years 5 & 6 Homeroom Teacher

I began my teaching journey in the UK. After an incredible two years in the UK, teaching took me all the way to Asia where I worked in South Korea, Thailand, and China.

After teaching through the pandemic, I realized the importance of being closer to family, which has luckily brought me to LIS, just a short flight from home. 

In my current roles teaching Years 5 & 6, and PYP Coordinator, I bring in my international experience and a passion for the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme (PYP). I firmly believe in empowering my students to find their voices, make choices, and take ownership of their learning journeys.

Together, we create an environment where curiosity thrives and students flourish at their own pace.

I am passionate about the art of teaching and learning. With a background in teaching upper primary and middle school students, I have dedicated myself to fostering a growth mindset, curiosity, and critical thinking in my students, especially in the area of mathematics.

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to teach across the spectrum of public, independent, IB, and international schools since graduating with my Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Windsor in 2000. LIS will be my second international experience after previously teaching at the Canadian International School in Singapore.

I am part of a teaching couple, my wife Laura Heyes, will be teaching Year 1. We are joined at LIS by our two lovely daughters, Olivia and Sadie, who will be in the Primary School this year. We are looking forward to all that life at LIS and Grand Bahama has to offer!

I'm a Venezuelan teacher with a background in human development and languages, graduating with a Licentiate degree in Psychology from Universidad Central de Venezuela and then with a Teaching Diploma from Colegio Universitario Jean Piaget, both in my beloved city of Caracas.

After teaching for several years in private institutions, I taught as a local in two international schools in my home country before going abroad. I came to LIS for the first time in 2018, went away to teach at another international school in Quito, Ecuador, and came back to LIS in 2022.

Happy to be here at the home of the Buccaneers!

Primary Performing Arts Specialist

I am a native of Grand Bahama Island. I embarked on my educational journey at Walter Parker Primary School before achieving honors and graduating from St. George's High School. I continued my academic pursuit at South Plains Junior College and later at Texas Tech University, where my fervor for sports and Psychology flourished.

In my post-college life, I represented The Bahamas and Adidas in professional track and field, where I garnered a multitude of international medals, including qualifying for The Olympics.

Transitioning from my athletic career, I dedicated myself to mentoring young students and athletes at Bishop Michael Eldon School, nurturing their growth not only in sports but also in academics and careers. My unwavering commitment to youth sports development on Grand Bahama Island continues through active participation in local associations.

Today, as the School Counselor at Lucaya International School, I am a dedicated international school and university counselor with a passion for guiding students toward academic and personal success. Leveraging a wealth of experience in higher education and cross-cultural understanding, I foster a supportive environment where students can thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and mentally.

My legacy is to continue to embody excellence, perseverance, and dedication, leaving an indelible mark on all those I touch mentally in the same way my mentors did with me.

Born and raised on the beautiful island of New Providence, The Bahamas.

I attended Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh North Carolina where I received my Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts.

I then attended North Carolina Central University and received my Master's degree in Special Education.

I believe that all students are unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically to be successful.

All students have different learning styles and are capable of learning once they have support and necessary resources.

In my free time I enjoy painting, creating, and spending time with my family and friends.

I come from the Czech Republic, a country located in the heart of Europe that is surrounded by medieval towns, castles, and fields that have witnessed major wars. It was in this place that I developed my love for history. And it is my pleasure to bring it to my classroom.

I have always loved traveling and have had a sense of adventure and independence. That's why I chose to become an international school educator. I began my journey in a small school in Denmark and then moved for a short while to the south of France before joining a school on an island in the Middle East. Bahrain was my home for six years, where I had the privilege of becoming an IB Coordinator and Head of Humanities. I truly value the IB vision and its holistic educational approach.

I feel honored to continue my journey on another island (with way nicer beaches), in a school with a long tradition of IBDP. I am excited to be part of such a vibrant team of educators at LIS. 

I was brought up in rural England, where I gained by qualifications in Biological sciences. I then moved to Jamaica to instruct Gliding and soon returned to the classroom. After 15 years teaching in Jamaica I moved to the Bahamas.  I am now in my 5th year at LIS and enjoy teaching and contributing to the development of our young students.

I strongly believe that students should be exposed to the outdoors and encourage them to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (Governor General’s Youth Award).

I am known for my determination never to bring a car to school and to cycle everywhere.  I participate in local triathlons and am also a keen scuba diver instructor.

I was born and raised in Canada; however, I have lived and taught in Freeport, Grand Bahama since 2015.

I received all my education in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where I attended Laurentian University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. I then attended Teachers College and received my Bachelor of Education.

I began my teaching career at a secondary school in Bonnyville, Alberta Canada, where I was a double department head for Fine Arts and English. I also taught French, Home Economics, and Religious Studies.

After four years under my belt in the cold north, I decided to follow my heart to the beautiful and tropical island of Grand Bahama! I met my husband here, got married, and we are now raising our own family! Teaching at LIS has been an absolute blessing and I am always looking forward to learning and growing with my students and colleagues. In my free time, I adore drawing/painting, journaling, reading, photography, writing, going for beach walks, boating, spearfishing, and golfing. 

 I have been working at LIS since 2009. I teach in Middle School as well as teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School. I am originally from Jamaica and am an alumna of The Mico University and The University of The West Indies where I acquired my teaching qualification. I have been a teacher for over 25 years yet I am still humbled by the privilege I have been afforded to help mold young lives. I miss performing and travelling with the world renowned Carifolk Singers of Jamaica but I enjoy singing with The Apple Elliot Band while in The Bahamas. I also channel some of that creative energy by assisting with directing LIS high school productions, singing with other local groups and occasionally being involved in theatre productions. I enjoy walking and painting. It is my aspiration to one day master playing the guitar. I also love watching a good movie, laughing, listening to music, relaxing with my family on the pristine beaches and playing with my daughter who attends LIS.

Born and raised on the beautiful island of New Providence, The Bahamas.

I attended Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh North Carolina where I received my Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts.

I then attended North Carolina Central University and received my Master's degree in Special Education.

I believe that all students are unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically to be successful.

All students have different learning styles and are capable of learning once they have support and necessary resources.

In my free time I enjoy painting, creating, and spending time with my family and friends.

I was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada where I spent the first 10 years of my teaching career before I began to wander. I took a year off and sailed my boat from Canada to the Bahamas and on to Panama. I went back to Canada for a year then started my international career with four years in Korea. Then I took another year off and sailed my boat from Panama to Florida. After that, I spent two years teaching in Uzbekistan and four years teaching in China. When I got my job at LIS, I sailed my boat from Florida to Freeport so I could live aboard her. That makes me the only teacher who brought his whole house to Freeport with him! I love pretty much anything outdoors: sailing, scuba diving, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, and camping in my Volkswagen camper van. I’m looking forward to re-establishing the sailing school at the Grand Bahama Sailing Club and helping out with the Governor General’s Award. At my last school, I ran our program for the Chinese version of the Award. My bike is not as fast as Sylvia’s, but it gets me to school happily from the sailing club every morning.

I am passionate about the art of teaching and learning. With a background in teaching upper primary and middle school students, I have dedicated myself to fostering a growth mindset, curiosity, and critical thinking in my students, especially in the area of mathematics.

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to teach across the spectrum of public, independent, IB, and international schools since graduating with my Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Windsor in 2000. LIS will be my second international experience after previously teaching at the Canadian International School in Singapore.

I am part of a teaching couple, my wife Laura Heyes, will be teaching Year 1. We are joined at LIS by our two lovely daughters, Olivia and Sadie, who will be in the Primary School this year. We are looking forward to all that life at LIS and Grand Bahama has to offer!

I am Irish but studied in the UK which is where I started my teaching career. I have been working internationally for a number of years in Asia, Europe, Middle East and New Zealand.

I enjoy interacting with people from different cultures and finding out more about where they are from. Travelling and exploring the local area and surrounding countries where I have lived is definitely one of the benefits of living abroad as well as sampling local food.

I am very passionate about biology and enjoy teaching the IB as I believe it helps the students to develop as lifelong learners. I love animals and many holidays have involved travelling to see animals in their natural environment. Be it finding gorillas in the forests of Uganda or trekking to above 5000m to see snow leopards in northern India, I really like the challenge and the adventure. I enjoy being outdoors and active and look forward to exploring the beaches and environment of Grand Bahama.

Originally born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, I have spent most of my life, and my entire teaching career, on different islands around the world. I earned both my Bachelor degrees from Colorado State University: one in English with a concentration in Education and the other in General History. It is my belief that without literature you cannot have history, and without history you cannot have literature. After graduating I moved to the Kingdom of Bahrain where I taught for five years at an international high school. During my time there I served as an  English teacher, IB English Literature teacher, Extended Essay Supervisor, Head of Department, and co-ran the theater program and high school activities. In my free time I enjoy being in and around the ocean as much as possible, cooking, and of course reading a good book. I look forward to continuing my journey here at LIS teaching IGCSE Literature and IB Language & Literature!

I am a native of Grand Bahama Island. I embarked on my educational journey at Walter Parker Primary School before achieving honors and graduating from St. George's High School. I continued my academic pursuit at South Plains Junior College and later at Texas Tech University, where my fervor for sports and Psychology flourished.

In my post-college life, I represented The Bahamas and Adidas in professional track and field, where I garnered a multitude of international medals, including qualifying for The Olympics.

Transitioning from my athletic career, I dedicated myself to mentoring young students and athletes at Bishop Michael Eldon School, nurturing their growth not only in sports but also in academics and careers. My unwavering commitment to youth sports development on Grand Bahama Island continues through active participation in local associations.

Today, as the School Counselor at Lucaya International School, I am a dedicated international school and university counselor with a passion for guiding students toward academic and personal success. Leveraging a wealth of experience in higher education and cross-cultural understanding, I foster a supportive environment where students can thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and mentally.

My legacy is to continue to embody excellence, perseverance, and dedication, leaving an indelible mark on all those I touch mentally in the same way my mentors did with me

I was born in Nassau, New Providence and moved to Freeport, Grand Bahama at the age of 12 where I graduated from Sunland Baptist Academy and was awarded the opportunity to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange’s year abroad in Italy at the age of 17.

Following my year abroad I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business Administration. By then Italy had won over my heart and I got married and lived there for several years with my husband before returning to Grand Bahama.

I have now been in Grand Bahama for the last seven years and it is a great place to raise a family with an exceptional International School.  I am excited to be a part of the LIS team and embark on this new journey. I have two daughters, Giada, who is 2 ½ years and Sophia who is 8 years old and attends LIS.

I was born in the quiet settlement of West End, Grand Bahama.  Prior to joining LIS, I spent most of my years working as a Fitness Instructor and then went on to become a certified Massage Therapist.  I have also had the honor of representing the great country of The Bahamas for many years in the sport of Powerlifting, where I currently hold a national record in the sport. 

I have had the pleasure of working at LIS for the past 15 years.  I love LIS because it is filled with diversity, and I continue to learn new and exciting things.  I have two lovely daughters, Alexa who is a LIS alumni, Class of 2023 and Janna attends LIS and loves learning here.

Born and raised on Grand Bahama, I left the island to obtain an Associate’s Degree from Broward College and a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida Atlantic University. My career path started in the hospitality industry with 21 years at the Bahamas Princess Resort, most of those years in the Regional Finance department. Experience in a couple other jobs eventually led me to join my children at Lucaya International School in 2005. My children are alumni of LIS; Sabrina Class of 2009 and Kevin, Class of 2011.
I enjoy the small family friendly atmosphere of LIS and I am blessed to have had the good fortune to have worked with dedicated individuals and to witness the development of the little darlings who are entrusted to the faculty and staff of LIS, into successful and productive members of our global society.

Originally born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas I am the last of five siblings. I received my formal education at St. Johns College high school where I graduated in 1996. I moved to Freeport in 2004 after living in in Tampa, Florida for 6 years where I was able to obtain an associate’s degree in electronics and computer engineering and completed my bachelors of education degree in operations management technology both from Tampa Technical Institute in Tampa Florida. While living in Florida I had the pleasure of working with America Online for one year and then as a technical support agent for General Electric. In 2015 I received a CCNA certificate for computer networking. Here in Freeport I’ve been employed at the Grand Lucayan Resort for 13 years as a System Administrator in the I.T. department. In 2009 took on the added responsibility of working part time at Lucaya International School also as I.T. System Administrator. I have had one or two nick names given to me but the one that seems to follow me the most is MacGyver. That being said, my hobbies vary.  I can truly say that being at L.I.S has been an adventure that I look forward in continuing for many more years to come.

My son is currently in Year 1 and he enjoys the inquiry based learning through the Primary Years Programme that LIS offers.