At the end of the year, amidst the departure of seniors and several faculty members, a beloved couple will also be leaving. Mikayla and Sean Patella-Buckley are both leaving UPrep after 19 and five years, respectively. 

The couple is relocating with their two children and their cats to Taipei, Taiwan.

“We signed contracts to go teach for two years at the Taipei American School,” Mikayla said. “We hope to return back to UPrep when we’re done.”

The Patella-Buckleys lived in Finland for the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year while Mikayla was teaching.

“We realized this was an adventure we wanted to have again with our kids,” Mikayla said. “It kind of revolved around our son, Atticus, who will be going into ninth grade next year. We knew if we wanted to do this, then this is the time to do it.”

Both Sean and Mikayla will make a lateral jump when it comes to the subjects they teach.

“Right now at UPrep, I teach ninth grade English and I teach a twelfth grade elective. Over at the Taipei American School, I’ll be teaching ninth grade English and a twelfth grade elective,” Sean said. “Ms. PB is going from teaching chemistry and forensics to teaching chemistry, so it’ll be a pretty smooth transition.”

In Taiwan, the culture is very different from the United States. Night markets are a big deal in Taiwan.

“Oh my gosh, I’m super excited for that,” Sean said. “I hate to say something so surface level as the food but absolutely I can’t wait.”

Moving abroad is a big transition that comes with a lot of new experiences.

“I’m excited to have another adventure, both for myself professionally, and as a family,” Mikayla said.

Leaving UPrep will be difficult for the PB’s who have spent a combined 24 years at the school.

“I’m going to miss the people 100 percent,” Mikayla said. “That’s why I’ve been here for 19 years. I love the people I work with, and I love the students that I teach, and so I’m going to miss that.”