Meet our talented Early Years teachers.
We read over 250 applications each year before carefully selecting candidates for any new teaching positions. All teachers receive 2 weeks of rigorous training before they start and benefit from around 70 hours of ongoing professional development support throughout the school year.
Teachers must be qualified and experienced, but most of all they must be ready to be role models to our students. We know we ultimately teach through modelling and expect all teachers to fully embrace the values of the school and develop personal attributes in line with the school’s 12 Wise Habits.
At Panyaden, we value passion, personality, commitment.
Vanessa Amor Marcos (Kru Vanessa)
Butterflies Homeroom Teacher
Kru Vanessa graduated from the University of the Philippines with a B.A. in Elementary Education with a focus on Special Education. After four years working as a Montessori teacher in the Philippines, she accepted an international teaching position in Myanmar and then in Vietnam before moving to Panyaden. Kru Vanessa has taught kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 during her career. Her favourite level is preschool because she finds the little kids naturally curious and fun. Whenever she can, she loves to travel, swim and play the ukulele.
Wanlaya Loetphornphisit (Kru Mint)
Butterflies Homeroom Teacher
Kru Mint has been teaching for over 14 years now. She holds a Bachelor of Education, from Chiang Mai Rajabhat University. In her free time, she likes travelling with her family and photography. She also loves cooking, painting and gardening. Kru Mint joined Panyaden because of the environment, which she believes will provide the best education for children.
Nittaya Thongrat (Kru Nit)
Butterflies Teaching Assistant
Kru Nit graduated with a Bachelor of Public Administration from Sukhothai Thammathirat University. She has over 16 years experience working in various kindergarten schools throughout Thailand. She loves being with children, supporting their learning, and seeing them progress developmentally through creative ways of play. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, listening to music and spending time with her family.
Kevin Charles Lewis
(Kru Kevin)
Caterpillars Homeroom Teacher
Kru Kevin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and a Master’s Degree in International Education. He began his teaching career in Chiang Mai over 15 years ago. His most recent position was as Deputy Head of Kindergarten at an international school in Bangkok. He is a kind and caring teacher who is dedicated to creating a safe, fun and engaging learning environment for his students. Outside of school, Kru Kevin enjoys being in nature and much of his free time is spent hiking, cycling or camping.
Jeerawan Panma (Kru Aae)
Caterpillars Homeroom Teacher
Kru Aae has been teaching at Panyaden for the past eight years. This will be her tenth year as a Homeroom teacher for Kindergarten 1 and she love it! She graduated from Maejo University with a major in Ecotourism and has since discovered her passion for early childhood education. She is always mindful and cheerful when working with children. Kru Aae loves to be outdoors doing fun activities.
Sureerat Prayoonwong (Kru Tookta)
Caterpillars Teaching Assistant
Kru Tookta holds a Bachelor of Science from Chiang Mai University and a Bachelor of Education, majoring in Education and Communication Technology from Sukhothai Thammathirat University. She loves singing, reading, teaching and being happy with children.
Laura Lucia Puga Kurucz (Kru Laura)
Kindergarten 2 (Busy Ants) Homeroom Teacher
Kru Laura was born in Hungary, but spent the majority of her life in Ecuador. She has a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Universidad de la Rioja, in Spain. She first worked as a Primary Teaching Assistant in the American School of Quito, and later became an Early Years Teacher at the same school. Kru Laura is looking forward to her eighth year of teaching, this time across the world at Panyaden! She is excited by the culture both at school and in Thailand, and aims to expand her knowledge of Buddhism by experiencing it firsthand.
Tassanee Naksin (Kru Jeab)
Kindergarten 2 (Busy Ants) Homeroom Teacher
Kru Jeab has over ten years of experience working with kindergarten children. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Ramkhamhaeng University. She has been with Panyaden since we opened in 2011. For Kru Jeab, the most important thing is to enjoy working and to spread happiness to people everywhere, especially children.
Kanokporn Yuyen (Kru Gifreen)
Kindergarten 2 (Busy Ants) Teaching Assistant
Kru Gifreen graduated from Chiang Mai University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism. After graduating, whilst working as an administrator in a private company she also tutored children privately which led to her passion for teaching. Afterwards, she decided to become a Teaching Assistant full time. In her free time, she enjoys exercise such as tennis, badminton and hiking. She believes children are little seeds that are waiting to grow up beautifully every single day.
Garam Kim (Kru Garam)
Kindergarten 2 (Honey Bees) Homeroom Teacher
Kru Garam holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Primary English Language Teaching. She has been teaching for 10 years in London, South Korea and Thailand. She worked as a children’s book editor for 4 years and published ELT books and picture books. She loves being in nature and helping children feel inspired and at home. Kru Garam is a life-long learner who enjoys reading and learning about different cultures.
Naranya Tanakulparat (Kru Neung)
Kindergarten 2 (Honey Bees) Homeroom Teacher
Kru Neung has been teaching for the past 15 years, both in the US and in Bangkok. She is very excited to join the PYD community where we focus on developing the academic and spiritual pathways.Kru Neung believes that all of the important values that we share with our children will help them become healthy, happy, and responsible people. These values begin to develop at a very young age. Kru Neung is very committed to supporting our children’s overall well being. This is why she chose to be a teacher in the Early Years.
Nanticha Chutikul (Kru Gift)
Kindergarten 2 (Honey Bees) Teaching Assistant
Kru Gift is originally from Chiang Rai. She graduated from Maejo University, majoring in Food Sciences and technology in her Bachelor’s Degree. Afterwards she moved to Sydney, Australia to complete a Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting. She used to be a volunteer in the local library where she read stories to young children which made her realise that she really loves being and working with young children. She joined Panyaden because she likes the environment and architecture of our school and she is very happy to be here.