Elementary Program Coordinator
jfisher@vimsia.org

Mrs. Fisher started her career teaching public school in Oregon.  During that time, she received her masters in curriculum and instruction with an endorsement in ESOL. After 16 years in Oregon she and her family decided to take the jump to international teaching and left for Colombia, South America, where she taught elementary school for 3 years and was an instructional coach for science. Jenny and her family then moved to an international school on Jeju Island, South Korea where she worked as a student-centered instructional coach for two years in grades preK-8.

She also completed her administrator’s license in 2021. Jenny is passionate about uniting teams around a common vision and helping them move their work to new levels.  She joined the VIMSIA community with her two children Ellie, who is in the PGIA, and Kaden, who graduated from VIMSIA with the Class of 2025.

Upper Elementary Virgin Islands and U.S. History Teacher
bhenderson@vimsia.org

Barbara Henderson, a proud Virgin Islander, is excited to return to St. Thomas to teach grades 4 and 5 at VIMSIA, where she gets to share her passion for education within a community she cherishes. With a BA in Anthropology from Adelphi University and 25 years of experience in both independent and public schools, Barbara brings a wealth of knowledge to her classroom. She is committed to igniting a love for learning and encouraging exploration and critical thinking among her students.

As she guides them through these vital transition years from Montessori to the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, she aims to foster a supportive environment that equips her students with the skills and confidence they need for future success.

Upper Elementary Grades 4/5 Literacy Teacher and Montessori Learning Support Specialist
sspencer@vimsia.org

Sherry Spencer is incredibly excited to join the school team this year and looks forward to partnering with families to support each child’s academic journey. She brings a diverse professional and educational background to the classroom, holding a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Hunter College in New York City, as well as a Juris Doctor (JD) from Seton Hall Law School.

Over the past 15 years, her career in education has spanned multiple transformative roles, including classroom teacher, reading interventionist, and learning support specialist. She has had the
privilege of working with diverse student populations across several communities, including New York City, Miami, San Francisco, and most recently, Annapolis, Maryland.

Additionally, her work and life have taken her internationally to the Caribbean, where she lived and worked in the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, and Barbados.

Professionally, Ms. Spencer’s deepest passion is closing reading gaps. She aligns her instruction with the Science of Reading, utilizing explicit, evidence-based practices to target specific literacy needs. By focusing on foundational decoding, encoding, and word recognition skills alongside robust comprehension strategies, she ensures every student builds a strong, reliable path to fluent reading.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys a variety of hobbies, including pottery, snorkeling, theater, reading, and travel. Sherry loves traveling and spending time with her daughter, Brontë, who is married and living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ms. Spencer is looking forward to an enriching and productive school year ahead.

Upper Elementary Literacy Teacher
kmason@vimsia.org

Kellie Mason has more than 12 years of teaching experience and is excited to start at VIMSIA this upcoming school year! With degrees in Middle Childhood Education (grades 4-8) and a Masters of Education, Kellie started her teaching career in 2015 in Virginia where she taught Middle School English for six years.

In 2021, she moved back to her home state, Rhode Island, where she taught English and Geography at an independent school.

After moving to St. Thomas in the summer of 2025, she most recently taught fifth grade. Kellie is passionate about connecting with students, building their confidence, and making learning enjoyable. 

Upper Elementary Math & Science Teacher
thayes@vimsia.org

Tetyana Hayes is looking forward to awakening young mathematicians, scientists, and problem solvers here at VIMSIA!

Ms. Hayes has lived on St. Thomas with her family since 2014, where she has worked as an ESOL teacher for the VI Department of Education. Her teaching career began in Ukraine, where she received her Master's Degree in Education with a specialization in Ukrainian Language and Literature, World Literature, and Anthropology from Uman State Pedagogical University.

She then moved to New Jersey, where, during her ten years in Union City, Ms. Hayes worked as a 5th-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, completed an ESL/Bilingual/Bicultural Certification at New Jersey City University, and passed the Praxis II exam for teaching Middle School Science.

Her family has been a part of VIMSIA since 2018. Her two oldest sons graduated successfully from PGIA, and two more are currently attending VIMSIA in Middle and High School. Ms. Hayes has also been a dedicated VIMSIA parent, volunteering as a teacher for Anthropological Cuisine courses and the Cash Flow for Kids course, and she enjoys presenting Ukrainian home cooking each year at Taste of the Nations.

Her passion for STEAM education was inspired by her husband and children's interests in engineering and innovation, and she is a huge fan of NASA. Ms. Hayes also enjoys theatre, singing, learning new languages, cooking, and traveling.