PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME

In addition to our rigorous academic core, our Middle School offers a dynamic co-curricular program that includes sports, arts, robotics, community service, student government, and much more.

Welcome to the Middle School at TAS. It is here that we help kids become independent, resilient and adaptable learners as well as supporting them to be caring, thoughtful, and kind people.

The Middle School serves over 609 students from an array of nationalities in Grades 6, 7, and 8. Keeping best practice at the forefront of our middle school decisions, we offer a broad range of exploratory, language, and music courses in addition to a rigorous academic core. The co-curricular program includes a variety of sports, fine and performing arts, clubs, service organizations, Model United Nations, robotics, student government, and more. Each grade level also attends a week long outdoor education program to begin the school year – Camp Taiwan – establishing relationships between and among adults and students that advances both academic and effective student development, quality teaching, and a supportive school environment.

Principal's Background
Associate Principals' Backgrounds

Principal's Background

This is Josh Budde's first year at TAS. Prior to moving to Taiwan he was the Head of the Boys Middle School for 12 years at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Josh has taught math for the entirety of his 30-year career as well as nine of those years coaching varsity boys soccer. He earned his bachelors degree from Davidson College and his masters in education from Pepperdine University. Josh's wife works in the Communications Office and his three kids are in all three divisions at TAS.

Associate Principals' Backgrounds

Gary Pettigrew has worked at Taipei American School since 1995. He has served as the Dean of Students in the Upper School and chaired the K-12 Physical Education Department. He has taught physical education and health in both the Middle and Upper Schools. Gary has completed undergraduate and post graduate qualifications from Otago University in New Zealand, and received a Masters of Education from Deakin University in Australia. His wife Megan is also an associate principal in the middle school.

Megan Pettigrew joined the TAS middle school faculty in 1996. Born and raised in New Zealand, she earned her bachelors in education from Massey University, NZ and her Master in Education specializing in International Counseling from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Before coming to TAS, she taught high school English, social studies, and middle school humanities in New Zealand and at The International School of Beijing. At TAS, Megan has taught 5th grade homeroom, as well as 6th and 7th grade English and History. Starting in 2011, she became a Middle School counselor, working with students, teachers, and parents. In 2011, she was awarded the Joanna Nichols Award for Excellence in Teaching and Professional Development. Megan and her husband Gary enjoy the beach and love to take coastal vacations. They feel very privileged to be living in Taiwan.