School Board Members

Joanne Effa

School Board Member (Elementary School Principal)

Joanne Effa has been in the education sector for over 30 years with experience in both public and private institutions in Canada and internationally.  She has worked as a classroom teacher in elementary education and taught English Language Arts in secondary education. Ms Effa has served as a school leader in Canada in First Nations Education as well as a Collegiate for International students. She also has experience working in adult education, training teachers in English Language Learning Instruction through Oxford Seminars.

Ms Effa received her Bachelor in Education at the University of Saskatchewan and has participated in a Principal’s leadership program through the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation. She has teacher certification for the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada.

The 2023 - 2024 school year is Ms Effa’s 12th year at the American School of Ulaanbaatar.

Tom Kaualoku

School Board Member (Secondary School Principal)

Tom Kaualoku has served in several capacities during his tenure at ASU which include elementary homeroom teacher, middle school ELA and Social Studies teacher, Middle School Coordinator, and Secondary School Coordinator. He has also served in several leadership roles outside of the classroom which include Destination Imagination Coordinator, MAP Coordinator, World Scholar’s Cup Coordinator, and he currently represents the first Scouts BSA troop in Mongolia as the Charter Organization Chair representative for which ASU is the proud charter of. Most recently, Mr. Kaualoku led the Western Association of School and Colleges (WASC) re-accreditation process. Along with his accreditation team and their diligent work, ASU has successfully accomplished another 6 years of international accreditation under his leadership.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Mr. Kaualoku received his Bachelor’s in Education from Kansas Wesleyan University, earning his initial teaching license in Early-Late Childhood Generalist Grades K-6. He then received his Masters in Science Education in Educational Administration from the University of Kansas, earning his building leadership license in Pre-K-Grade 12.

This will be Mr. Kaualoku’s 11th year in Mongolia, initially coming here as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in 2013 where he served as a Teacher Trainer for English Teachers at School No. 7 in Erdenet, Mongolia from 2013 to 2015. This will be his 8th year with ASU and his inaugural year as the Secondary School’s Principal. He is joined by his beautiful family, his wife, Ariunzaya Enebish, and his daughter, Nandin Aliinani (Nani) Kaualoku.

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Oyunsuren Dugarjav

School Board Member (Managing Director, School Founder)

Mrs. Oyunsuren has been appointed as the Managing Director of ASU in 2006. She holds a bachelor degree in economics from Moscow Technological University. Before joining private sector, she worked in public service for 17 years including Ministry of Social Services, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since 1998, Mrs. Oyunsuren has worked as CEO of multiple private enterprises and Chair of the board of a publicly listed company. She has completed professional development courses in United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.