Our Administration Team and Coordinators give valuable support to our Executive Leadership Team through their commitment to the school’s mission and values.
Michel Thibeault (Kru Michel)
Mindfulness Director
Kru Michel holds a Bachelor of Education from McGill University and a Master’s of Education from University of Montreal, Canada. Michel has more than 30 years of experience as an educator. He has worked with young people in different capacities – as a classroom teacher with students from nursery to Year 13 for many years and as a school principal and Outdoor Leadership CEO in Canada for 12 years before coming to Thailand. Kru Michel’s main role has been to oversee the implementation of the curriculum and to supervise and train teachers. This includes facilitating the integration of the Buddhist approach of the school.
Marisa Visuthakul (Kru Tualek)
Quality Assurance Manager
Kru Tualek is one of the Panyaden Pioneer Team since 2011, she brings over 7 years’ experience of client project management in the advertising and communications sectors. As a Quality Assurance Manager, her role is to coordinate, oversee and implement plans to ensure the successful achievement of all organisational outcomes relative to accreditation and standards of educational organisation in Thailand. Kru Tualek graduated with a Bachelor degree in Mass Communication from Kasetsart University and a Master’s of Strategic Marketing Communications from the University of Greenwich, UK.
“I believe kids should be at the centre of learning and have a lead role in directing their own education, guided and supported by professional teachers. Trying and sometimes getting things wrong is not failing – in fact it is the best way to develop and progress. This culture of learning at school is what inspires me to build and maintain our quality at Panyaden.”
Panee Assawaprapa (Kru Peach)
Admissions & Parent Relations Manager
Kru Peach joined Panyaden in 2017 after over 10 years working in the marketing, customer relations and admission fields for various corporations and educational institutions. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (Japan) and a Master’s in Business Administration (International Programme) from Payap University. As Panyaden’s Admissions and Parent Relations Manager, Kru Peach says that her favourite part of the day is talking with families about Panyaden’s unique approach to education and helping families join our school community.
“Panyaden’s vibrant and welcoming community, its vision to create lifelong learners, and its dedication to providing a holistic education is what ensures it is successful, both academically and as the basis for a peaceful and fulfilling way of life.”
Dr. Rachael Stevens (Kru Rachael)
Vice Principal (Early Years and Year 1)
Kru Rachael holds a PGCE (Lower Primary) where she specialised in Early Years education. Her passion for Lower Primary education is rooted in her belief that providing play-based learning opportunities for our youngest students, both indoors and out, allows them to learn more about themselves, explore their own interests and achieve their next steps, setting them up develop their love of learning for life. Kru Rachael is dedicated to incorporating mindfulness and a Buddhist approach into her classrooms and holds a Doctorate in Tibetan Buddhism from the University of Oxford and a Masters in Buddhist Studies from SOAS.
She has found her home at Panyaden as believes strongly in the benefits of an international, bilingual education where children are greeted with compassion and kindness, paired with academic rigour and high expectations. In her free time she enjoys travelling, cooking, reading and trying to learn Thai!
Ellisa Schlotzhauer (Kru Ellisa)
Primary Vice Principal (Primary Year 2- Year 6)
Kru Ellisa began her career in education in 2006. She has experience working in a variety of teaching roles with students of all ages ranging from six years old to the university level. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Science from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor Degree in Education, and a Master’s Degree in Leadership and School Administration. Kru Ellisa joined the Panyaden team in 2017 as a Year 4 homeroom teacher and Maths coordinator, following 8 years teaching in South Korea.
“I moved to Chiang Mai specifically because I wanted to work at Panyaden. The school's approach to learning aligns with my own philosophy of education on nurturing the whole child; I value the emphasis on bilingualism and academics, the 12 Wise Habits, physical challenges, and learning in a natural and sustainable environment. I love seeing how happy the students are to come to school each day and to witness their passion for learning. I have never before worked in a school where the students were so excited to know what would be happening in each lesson that day. Panyaden is a truly special community of parents, educators, and students working together for the benefit of our kids.”
Podchanart Manipuntee (Kru R)
Thai Head Teacher
Kru R recently joined Panyaden as Thai Head Teacher. She brings over ten years of experience working as a Middle & High School Thai Teacher and as Thai Department Leader in one of the best known international schools in Chiang Mai. Her previous roles have focused on mentoring and; coaching Thai teachers to improve their teaching skills to create a positive learning experience and fostering a love of learning in children.
Kru R has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Thai Language from Payap University, Chiang Mai, and a Master's of Education degree in Educational Administration from Chiang Mai University.
Kru R highly enjoys working with students, especially encouraging their creative expression. Her goal is to create a classroom atmosphere that is positive, enjoyable and encourages the students’ diverse learning styles. During school breaks, she often works as a teaching volunteer for rural schools in Lamphun.
Dr. Meaghan Wilson (Kru Meaghan)
Athletics Director, WASC Coordinator, Sustainability Coordinator, CAS Coordinator
Kru Meaghan is from Minnesota, USA. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Northwest Missouri State University where she was a heptathlete and a middle blocker on the volleyball team. She received her Master’s in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University, and her Doctorate in Education with concentrations in Organizational Leadership and Curriculum and Teaching from Nova Southeastern University. This is her second overseas position. She arrived with her three rescue dogs and is very much looking forward to being part of the Panyaden family for her second year.
She believes that sports are an important part of the overall curriculum as students continue to learn about themselves, others, and the world through individual challenges, teamwork, and problem solving. In addition to a love of animals and athletics, she enjoys hiking, cooking, cycling, and reading Stephen King novels.
Christine Vithayathil (Kru Christine )
Student Support Coordinator & Middle School Coordinator
Kru Christine originally comes from a small and beautiful village in the Austrian Alps. She holds teaching qualifications from Austria, as well as the UK. In addition to this, she holds a Master’s Degree in English Literature and various certificates in English language teaching. After several years of teaching in Austria and the UK, she ventured into the big wide world of teaching in international schools.
As an English language learner herself, she feels very passionately about being an advocate for them. This passion she has shared with students, parents and staff at international schools in India, Japan, China, the Philippines now at Panyaden International School. At Panyaden, Kru Christine serves as the Student Support Coordinator and Middle School Coordinator. She also teaches English Acquisition in the high school and supports students with their academic English language development throughout the secondary school.
Paul Sebastian (Kru Paul)
High School and IBDP Coordinator
Kru Paul was born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada. He has a BA in Economics (University of Regina, Saskatchewan), an MA in Curriculum; Int’l Teaching (Michigan State, USA), and a certificate in International School Leadership from the Principal’s Training Centre. He started his career in private business development and international trade with the Canadian government before beginning his teaching career at AISB (Hungary) in 1994. He has taught IBDP and IBMYP (Economics, ToK, Individuals & Societies, and various electives) and, for the past 17 years, has also been a principal and head of school.
He met his wife Ildiko in Hungary, and they have since lived and worked in eight countries around the world. Kru Paul loves to explore philosophy and cultures of any variety, play any sport, and discover great foods of the world with Ildiko.
Piti-An Jamoosri (Kru Thoey)
Thai Coordinator (Primary)
Kru Toey has a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Thai Language, and a Master’s degree in Education with a specialisation in teaching Thai language, both from Chiang Mai University. This year will be her fourth year at Panyaden. She loves teaching and enjoys learning from her students. Prior to working here, she taught at an international school for 10 years and was also a Thai lecturer at Chiang Mai University for 4 years. In her free time, Kru Toey loves listening to music, reading books, spending time drinking coffee with friends, and travelling.
Sriwimon Wongchomphu (Kru Mon)
Integrated Learning Coordinator
Kru Mon holds a Bachelor of Education (Science- Chemistry) from Thaksin University and a Master of Education (Teaching English) from Chiang Mai University. She used to be a medical scientist in a medical sScience center and was a visiting scholar at the University of Vermont, USA for teaching Thai culture to American students. Kru Mon has 15 years of experience teaching Science and Thai language in a private school, 5 years of experience teaching at an International school in Chiang Mai and has also worked as the Head of Primary in a Thai private school.
Adam Lewis (Kru Adam)
Integrated Learning Coordinator
Kru Adam is from Sheffield, England and holds a MSci in International Relations from the University of Nottingham. During an internship for a children’s rights charity in Ghana, Kru Adam’s boss told him a local school was in need of an English teacher and asked if he could help out. Having never taught before, Adam was initially apprehensive, but he quickly, and rather unexpectedly, fell in love with teaching. Upon his return to the UK, he was inspired to enrol in the Teach First Leadership Development Programme, completing his PGCE at University College London.
Lindsey Snellgrove (Kru Lindsey)
English Coordinator (Primary)
Kru Lindsey grew up in north west England where she studied for a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education, specialising in Religious Studies. She has spent the last 10 years in east London, at an outstanding, multicultural primary school, teaching across the school and leading RE, mindfulness and Personal, Social, Health, Economic education. Lindsey is passionate about helping children find success and happiness everyday, whilst developing their emotional intelligence, curiosity and aspirations.
Kru Lindsey is thoroughly excited to begin teaching here at Panyaden in the beautiful outdoor environment that she believes is so beneficial to well being. As well as developing her teaching practice, Lindsey looks forward to improving herself through the Buddhist principles and being immersed in Thai culture.
Phatcharaphorn Kwanthong (Kru Pond)
Buddhist Education Coordinator
Kru Pond has over 20 years teaching experience in Thailand and internationally at kindergarten, primary, vocational education and university levels. She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Chiang Mai University. Kru Pond strongly believes in the importance of developing the social and emotional abilities of children in order to build their self-confidence, self-discipline and capacity to care for themselves, others and the environment. She found that Buddhist Education goes hand-in-hand with her personal interests in baking and painting as a way to experience inner peace and enjoy life.
Denison Lane (Kru Denny)
Buddhist Education Coordinator
Kru Denny is originally from Sonoma, California, where he taught English literature and composition at the high school level. He received his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and teaching degree from Sonoma State University, where he focused on literacy for English Learners. This is Kru Denny’s fifth year teaching at Panyaden. Outside of work, his hobbies include reading, hiking, swimming, cycling, and playing games with friends and family.
Aumporn Panthong (Kru Ta)
Sustainability Coordinator
Kru Ta has been teaching kindergarten and primary students for more than 17 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Primary Education Management, majoring in sports, from Srinakharinwirot University. Kru Ta is passionate about exploring different teaching methods and integrating a Buddhist approach. He believes this will improve both himself and his students. His goal is to help his students enjoy learning. Kru Ta moved his family from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to work at Panyaden.
Bongkot Theppiman (Kru Ying)
Thai Culture Coordinator
Kru Ying has worked as a Thai language and culture teacher at an international school in Chiang Mai and as an English teacher at a secondary school in her hometown, Kamphaeng Phet. This is Kru Ying’s ninth year at Panyaden.In her free time, she likes to read books, both in English and in Thai. She has an interest in foreign films and art films. Kru Ying is passionate about working with children and believes that the focus of education should be to teach children a sense of responsibility towards themselves, their community and the environment.
Todd Aydelott (Kru Todd)
Maths Coordinator
Kru Todd is originally from Eugene, Oregon, Kru Todd holds a B.A. in Education from Western Oregon University, as well as a Master of Education with a specialization in reading instruction. He has taught internationally since joining the Peace Corps in 2003 and has worked at international schools in both Thailand and Vietnam before joining Panyaden. Kru Todd particularly likes teaching hands-on science activities. In his free time, Kru Todd enjoys running, rock climbing, writing, and playing with his baby daughter.