Our Team

John Stadler

Stadler is an accomplished educator, businessman, and start-up entrepreneur with an extensive background in China. He has personally founded or co-founded several companies and nonprofits. Clearpoint Research Corporation, a manufacturer of add-in hardware and software for minicomputers in the 1980s and 90s, grew from nothing to $70M in revenue and over 300 employees, all of whom reported to Stadler. The Francis Parker Charter Essential School was one of the first Charter Schools in Massachusetts, and still the most successful. Stadler wrote the original Charter application, raised the capital, hired the faculty and leadership team, and was the first CEO and Chairman. As the school
became more established, Stadler focused on teaching, where he was awarded certification as a Master Teacher of High School Mathematics by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Stadler went on to found several more companies and schools, many in China between 2002 and 2020. Stadler has also trained teachers for Teach for China, written two books on International Education in China, and is now CEO of PlanetLabs.Earth.

Harvard College, ’76; magna cum laude (Economics); Harvard Kennedy School, Masters in Public Policy, ’79. PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant, Kennedy School, ’80-81 (ABD).

Shojeh Liu

Shojeh Liu, a Harvard College graduate with a diverse academic background in the social sciences, brings a wealth of experience to our international summer camp. He first fell in love with camp life as an
eleven year old Chinese-American in Estonia at the Kiidi location of Luethi Peterson Camps. He returned to Luethi Peterson Camps over the years as both a camper and a counselor. Looking back on these experiences, he appreciates the many opportunities for leadership, communication, collaboration, and problem solving.

As a National Merit Scholar and former President of the San Francisco Unified School District’s student council, Shojeh has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to improving educational outcomes. His efforts have directly impacted policies to enhance the educational well-being of over 55,000 students. Additionally, Shojeh is proud of his extensive tutoring work with under-resourced students in San Francisco as well as his work to contribute to local governments, having led initiatives to
establish mental health centers in Chicago, contributed to process and transit improvements in Birmingham, and developed AI tools for advocacy and governance in Boston.

Shojeh’s blend of academic excellence, hands-on educational experience, and dedication to community improvement makes him a valuable asset to our team, and he is ecstatic to be bringing transformative summer camp experiences to a new generation of campers!

Harvard College, ‘23, High Honors (Social Studies)

Amber Chen

Amber Chen, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializes in youth development and intercultural communication. With her broad academic training in English Literature, East Asian Studies, and Education, as well as her extensive international teaching and program leadership experience, Amber embodies the spirit of cross-cultural understanding.

During her six years teaching Chinese at Harvard, Amber has been awarded multiple Certificates of Distinction in Teaching. Prior to that, she worked in China as an English immersion teacher, program
founder, and teacher trainer for three years. Throughout her career, Amber has curated for students of all ages learning experiences that transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Outside the classroom, Amber is deeply committed to youth development within the camp community. She has led social study trips across cities in China, guided museum tours in multiple states in the U.S., and served as a counselor in an international summer camp. Amber’s genuine amiability, positive mindset, adept problem-solving skills, and dedication to student growth make her a trusted mentor and role model for youth seeking to navigate the complexities of a multicultural world. 

David Pérez

David Pérez has taught physical and health education for more than 7 years in distinguished schools around the world. He has developed his knowledge through meaningful experiences as a professional swimmer and swimming coach. David evolved his lessons approach to fostering lifelong body listeners, self-knowledge inquirers and confident students through engagement in a wide range of sports, physical activities and games. He has been trained at the University of La Coruña and participated in numerous professional and personal growth workshops (IB PD course, Vipassana meditation). He has also volunteered in Ecuador with Ecuadorian high school students as a PE and English teacher, preparing them for the working world. David was born in Spain and has a Bachelor of Sports and Physical Education degree with a major in Swimming and a Master in Secondary Education.

Riabinin Gleb

Gleb is a 4th year student at the Moscow Finance University, specializing in global finance. He plans to continue pursuing his studies in finance with a masters in China. He started studying Chinese and English from a young age and became deeply imbued with the culture and customs of these countries. 

Over the past few years Gleb has worked as a camp counselor in various countries for both PlanetLabs.Earth and YouMei. His previous experiences have helped him develop a passion in helping children of all ages from all over the world thrive. This passion led him to the XII International camping congress in Tarragona, where he took part in translations. Through his experiences, Gleb hopes to use his understanding of the processes and principles of a children’s camp to help make children’s holidays as interesting and educational as possible. He looks forward to this new opportunity with the Global Commons camps in creating an environment where campers can grow and thrive!

Maxim Schiaroli

Maxim was born in the picturesque landscapes of Italy, spent the formative 11 years of his life immersing himself in the vibrant Italian culture. His roots in Italy laid the foundation for a lifelong love with the country and its diverse traditions. 

After graduating from school with an emphasis on English, currently he is in his third year at the Moscow Industrial University “Synergy”. Maxim is majoring in Economics. Despite being away from his Italian roots, he remains deeply connected to his heritage and has ambitious plans to return to Italy for his Master’s degree at the prestigious Sapienza University. 

Having learned both Italian and Russian in early childhood, he channels his language proficiency into teaching Italian to children in Russia. Adding to it Maxim has worked part time jobs as a translator of Italian, English and Russian. 

All these experiences has equipped him with valuable knowledge in areas such as leadership, communication, and child development and developed such qualities as diligence. responsibility and a highly developed ability to empathize. Learning foreign languages in a community of children will help not only to replenish their linguistic knowledge, but also to enrich their culture with the traditions of other peoples

Peshkova Anastasia

Peshkova Anastasia is a soon-to-be graduate at Tula State Pedagogical University, on track to receive her bachelor’s degree in English and French language teaching by the end of June 2024. Anastasia brings three years of experience working as a camp counselor to her role, where she excelled at both event organization and working directly with children of various ages and backgrounds. Anastasia’s passion for languages began at a young age, and she started tutoring English at the age of sixteen. Currently, Anastasia uses her language skills to teach both English and French to her students, and she also works at a gymnasium. After graduation, Anastasia plans to continue her education and development in the field of pedagogy.

Arsenii Kuvshinnikov

Arsenii is a 4th-year student at the International Economic Relations Faculty of Moscow Financial University. He intends to continue his academic journey in China. 

Arsenii is deeply interested in different cultures and intercultural communication. A fervent language enthusiast, Arsenii is on a mission to become a polyglot. Fluent in Russian, English, and Spanish, he is currently learning German and Chinese, with an insatiable appetite for mastering new languages. Arsenii’s linguistic prowess has enabled him to work a tutor and a translator. 

Beyond his academic pursuits, Arsenii has always been fond of sports, attending different training camps both in Russia and Spain. Over the past 4 years, Arsenii has been a part of multiple volunteer programs. Since joining “Blagovest” Charity Foundation in 2022, he also accumulated a lot of experience working with children: organizing different events and accompanying them during bus rides and flights to camps.

Martianova Lidiia

Martianova Lidiia is a dedicated student at Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University, pursuing a degree in foreign languages. Her passion for languages and diverse cultures fuels her studies in English and German. Lidiia’s interest in teaching led her to previous experiences as a camp counselor, where she demonstrated her ability to connect with children and organize engaging activities. She aspires to continue her growth as an educator, broadening her knowledge of languages and teaching methods.

Sherwin Wong

Sherwin Wong, a highly motivated student with demonstrated academic excellence in linguistics, brings a global perspective and a passion for education to our international summer camp. Having first discovered the joy of international learning as a camper in 2019, Sherwin is eager to share his experience and enthusiasm with others. Fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese, he exemplifies the cross-cultural understanding fostered at our camp. 

An incoming student at Cambridge University, Sherwin has exhibited outstanding initiative in both his academic and extracurricular pursuits. His independent study of theoretical linguistics and language construction highlights his intellectual curiosity. His work as an English language tutor in China demonstrates his dedication to sharing knowledge. Additionally, his proficiency in technical tools such as Microsoft Office, Python, SQL, and LaTeX indicates his adaptability and readiness to contribute in a variety of settings. 

Sherwin’s commitment to leadership and his potential to effect positive change align perfectly with the values of our camp. We are confident that his background, abilities, and enthusiasm will inspire campers and enhance the enriching experiences we create!

Jiayi(Kerry) Zhao

Kerry is a freshman at Brandeis University. She has taken diverse courses in psychology, sociology, anthropology, computer science, and math due to her broad academic interests. Besides academic studies, she has joined the Brandeis Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team and dance club, and she plays the piano as her extracurricular hobby. 

Kerry goes to Shanghai Pinghe School, a domestic international high school. As an advocate for educational equity and a change-maker, she founded a ‘Vocational School Students’ Life’ interview platform in grade 11, speaking up for marginalized vocational students and challenging stereotypes about them. She created and organized another interview column with HOPE School, offering career development advice for vocational students. Next year, she participated in Brown University’s Leadership and Social Change program, conducting many different social change case studies on educational equality, environmental sustainability, etc. 

In 2018, Kerry attended an international camp as a camper in Maine led by John Stadler. She engaged in intellectual communication, built a sense of community responsibility, and volunteered to help translate. In 2019, she served as a CIT in PLE’s DEX ONE camp, assisting counselors with course teaching and taking care of campers’ lifes. Based on her experience in other roles for this type of camp, she looks forward to creating an unforgettable and engaging experience for campers as a counselor this time.

Kiki Ouyang

Kiki Ouyang’s passion for art ignited at the age of eleven. By fourteen, she established an art club within her school and continued it for four years. During this time, Kiki gained valuable experience in creating course curriculums and teaching club members. Beyond school walls, Kiki also taught art to children between the ages of seven and eleven during her summer breaks and weekends. These experiences not only inspired her teaching in the art club but also instilled a passion for sharing her love of art with others. 

During the year 2019, she also participated in the LPC camp Kiidi, where she made a lot of friends and created memories that were important to me for my whole life.

Jerry Zhengyuan

Jerry Zhengyuan Shen is a dynamic grade 10 student at the International Community School of Addis Ababa (ICS), boasting fluency in both Mandarin and English. Having traversed multiple countries including China, the USA, Austria, Suriname, and Ethiopia, Jerry has garnered a wealth of cross-cultural communication experience. His academic pursuits primarily revolve around STEM subjects, with a particular focus on mathematics and physics. 

Notably, Jerry has made significant contributions to his school’s STEM team, culminating in the team’s victory and his recognition as the best contributor. Outside the classroom, Jerry’s involvement with Planetslab summer camps showcases his leadership and dedication. Starting as a camper at the age of 10, he swiftly ascended to the role of Counselor in Training (CIT) at the Beidaihe camp, demonstrating exceptional professionalism and leadership skills. Within ICS, Jerry has left an indelible mark by founding the math club, aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts among students. 

Additionally, he holds a leadership position in the school’s largest service club (FOS), where he spearheads fundraising initiatives to support the local community. Jerry’s commitment to education extends to teaching oral English and math to Chinese children online for the past two years, underscoring his passion for empowering others through education. With his diverse experiences in summer camps, teaching, and leadership, Jerry is poised to offer campers an engaging and transformative journey, enriched by his unique perspective as a student.

Tintin Ouyang

Tintin Ouyang is a fourteen-year-old boy with a boundless energy for outdoor sports. Rock climbing, snowboarding, and land surfing are just a few of his favorite activities. Last July, Tintin’s determination was on display when he summited a 17,300-foot mountain in Sichuan. Two months prior, Tintin’s spirit of adventure and teamwork shone through when he completed a 110-kilometer road cycling expedition near Beijing with another young rider, even on a challenging icy day. Tintin is also known for his helpfulness, empathy, and consideration of others. With the right opportunity, Tintin’s potential and enthusiasm can truly flourish.

Susan Schwaab

Susan has worked with PlanetLabs.Earth since 2019, as a curriculum designer and trainer. Certified in Maine with a specialty in Special Education, Susan has extensive experience in addressing the needs of children with unusual backgrounds and disorders. 

She is also an American version of a classic “Tiger Mom,” having raised her daughter to enroll at Yale University on a scholarship. In Susan’s words: “Summer camp should offer a balance between challenging academic expectations and great recreational experiences that stimulate and motivate. Equally important, it should be a time for kids to try out activities and relationships in a low-risk setting. She has tried to achieve this balance with my own students and daughter, and in training exercises for PlanetLabs counselors. She firmly believes that all children are capable and it is our responsibility to guide them to a sense of self and personal accomplishment.”