Meet our talented Specialist 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.
Krystal Waltho ( Kru Krystal)
Performing Arts Teacher
Kru Krystal graduated with a Drama honours degree from Aberystwyth University, UK. She has been an innovation leader in London schools for 5 years and is currently studying a master’s degree in education and leadership. She believes that the performing arts are integral to developing the individual, as well as building a cohesive and happy community. She is looking forward to directing many performances at Panyaden. In her spare time, she likes to play football, watch documentaries and visit the theatre.
Alysa Lueondee (Kru Alysa)
EAL Teacher
Kru Alysa is from Chicago, Iillinois. She has a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on teaching students with English as a second language. She has over 12 years of teaching experience which includes two years as a volunteer and ten years teaching in the United States. She moved to Chiang Mai with her husband and two children in order to give her children an authentic learning experience at Panyaden. Her interest includes music, hiking, and spending time with her children.
Vang Mong Xiong ( Kru Vang)
EAL Teacher
Kru Vang is a Hmong American, who received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from St. Cloud States University and his master’s degree in teaching from Hamline University. His family is originally from Laos, but he was born in Thailand and grew up in the United States. This school year will be Kru Vang’s fifth year of teaching. Kru Vang looks forward to sharing his talents and being a part of the Panyaden community.
Susan Kim (Kru Susan)
EAL Teacher
Kru Susan has a bachelor’s degree in English from Temple University and a master’s degree in Childhood Education from Hunter College. She is Korean-American and grew up near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She began her teaching career in 2001, teaching conversational English to students in South Korea. Kru Susan later moved to New York with her husband Kru Charles to study for her master’s degree and teach Year 5 at a Brooklyn public school.
Afterward, they moved to Caracas, Venezuela where Kru Susan taught Year 6. She has spent the past seven years teaching Year 5 and 6 as both a homeroom teacher and an EAL teacher in Shenzhen, China. Her experience includes teaching students from the age of 4 in preschool to teaching English to adult international students.
Dr. Nanthawan Watthanawa (Kru Dear)
TAL Teacher
Kru Dear has a certification in teaching Thai as an additional language and earned her Ph.D. in Multicultural Education from Chiang Mai University. Before joining the Panyaden team, she taught at an international school for two years. She was also a lecturer in the German department at Payap University for eight years and in the Faculty of Education at Chiang Mai University for five years.
Patthawan Assawaprapa (Kru Pat)
TAL Teacher
Kru Pat graduated from Chulalongkorn University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts (major in Speech Communication). She was born in Bangkok, studied and worked there before joining our team at Panyaden. This is her fourth year teaching at Panyaden International School. To expand her knowledge in teaching, she started her Graduate Diploma Program in the Teaching Profession at Chiang Mai Rajabhat university last year. In her free time, she likes cooking with her family and reading. Kru Pat believes a teacher’s role is to create an environment that makes children curious to learn.
Pensri Boonnithee (Kru Pia)
TAL Teacher
Kru Pia has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ramkhamhaeng University. She worked as a Teacher Assistant at an international school in Bangkok for 7 years before joining Panyaden. She loves working with children and believes in their natural curiosity and abilities to learn new things. Guiding and supporting children in their learning journey is an extremely rewarding job for Kru Pia
Tiwaporn Yeamyuttapoom (Kru Namphung)
TAL Teacher
Kru Namphung graduated with honours from Chiang mai University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology. She has worked at Research Institute for Health Sciences Chiang Mai University. Kru Namphung believes that each child can learn in an environment that is engaging and supportive.
Jodi Chee (Kru Jodi)
Primary School Counselor
Kru Jodi brings a lifetime of cross-cultural experience to Panyaden. She was born and raised in Indonesia, completed schooling in North America, and worked in China and Cambodia as both an elementary teacher and counselor. She has worked with students and parents from a multitude of nationalities and backgrounds, and has led training and workshops on issues that are particularly relevant to international students. She loves to see children develop their whole selves, and provides a safe and welcoming space for them.
Premkiran Chawla (Kru Prem)
Primary Learning Support Teacher
Kru Prem began her career as an English teacher before finding her passion for working in learning support. She obtained a master’s degree from Flinders University, Australia. Since then she has taught in a variety of educational settings in Thailand and Australia. She believes children learn best when they are secure, confident, and supported. She strives to build meaningful relationships with students and tries to make their learning experience meaningful both within and outside of school.
Parimol Chutimakorn ( Kru Nora)
Primary Learning Support Teacher Assistant
Kru Nora studied Industrial Design at KMITL in Bangkok, Thailand. After graduating she moved to the United States to study Psychology. She is highly experienced in working with adults with intellectual disabilities. She is fluent in both Thai and English and also studied American Sign Language at a pre-intermediate level. In her free time, she likes making pottery and listening to music.
Karuna Ruamthammarak (Kru Or)
Arts /Visual Arts Teacher
Kru Or graduated with honours in Fine Arts from Chiang Mai University and has earned a Teaching Diploma from Far Eastern University. Kru Or has been a Visual Arts teacher at Panyaden for the last ten years. She is lively and funny and every day you will see groups of children enjoying art classes. Kru Or is an experienced art teacher and a passionate artist in every facet of her life.
Pattarasin Chuppava (Kru Pat)
Arts/Visual Arts Teacher Assistant
Kru Pat holds a BA in Fine Arts from Chiang Mai University, with a major in Painting as well as a Master’s Degree in Art and Culture Management from Chiang Mai University. She loves being in nature, adventure, travelling and experiencing new cultures. She also enjoys drawing and painting. She is excited to share her art experience with students.
Teeraphan Naksin (Kru Tee)
Performing Arts/Music Teacher
Kru Tee finished his studies at the Faculty of Political Science, Ramkhamhaeng University. He likes to play the guitar and has loved music since his youth. He gained his experience in music from his performances in the school orchestra, at university and on various other stages. He is trained in the Kodaly and Orff-Schulwerk methods. He has 20 years of teaching experience and his focus has always been using music to help develop children’s physical and spiritual health. By using Buddhism as a foundation and incorporating it into his musical teaching, he aims to reach the hearts of the children, and in doing so enable them to become good adults in the future.
Sasipa Nuntasomboon (Kru Grace)
Performing Arts/Music Teacher
Kru Grace graduated from Silpakorn University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance (Violin) and graduated from Chulalongkorn University with a Master’s Degree in Music Education. After her graduation, she wanted to go back to her hometown to work and give back to the people of Chiang Mai. She has a passion for sharing knowledge and inspiring students in learning music.
Kru Grace enjoys participating in workshops and seminars to become a better teacher. Some of the courses she has recently participated in include: “Where Love Is Deep” seminar with Ms. Wan Tsai Chen Suzuki Teacher Trainer, Dalcroze Inspired Movement and International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg.
Sathaporn Sriphet (Kru Noy)
PE and Life Skills Teacher
Kru Noy is head of PE and Life Skills. He joined us from an international school in Bangkok where he worked for 10 years as a primary level PE teacher. He has both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physical Education. In his free time he enjoys gardening, photography and cycling.
Chitsanupong Sukyossri (Kru Champ)
Physical Education Teacher
Kru Champ graduated from Thailand National Sports University, Chiang Mai campus with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. He was a futsal player on the Chiang Mai team from 2015 to 2019 and remains very active. In his free time, he enjoys playing football, reading about sports to improve his skills and knowledge, and listening to sports news.
Supattra Pinnarat (Kru Whan)
PE and Life Skills Teacher Assistant
Kru Whan graduated from the Institute of Physical Education in Lampang. After that, she was a physical education teacher at a bilingual school for one year. She is now a PE and Life Skills teacher assistant at Panyaden International School. Kru Whan is fond of all kinds of sports such as football, table tennis, archery. She considers sports to be a physical activity that helps children relax from their classroom studies.
Nicole Thornton (Kru Nicole)
Librarian
Kru Nicole has a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies as well as a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physics, a Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She brings to Panyaden ten years of experience in Australian libraries and a love of all things science and nature. Having lived with her family, including her two girls, in Chiang Mai for four years, Kru Nicole is excited to continue to share her passion for libraries at Panyaden.
Teeraporn Arunkanjanaroj (Kru Tee)
Librarian
Kru Tee graduated from Sukkhothai Thammathiraj Open University in General Management. She received her Teaching Professional Certificate from Rajabhat Suan Dusit University and Chinese Language Proficiency Certificate from Beijing Language and Culture University. She worked as a school secretary and as a Chinese language teacher at St. Stephen’s International School in Bangkok for seven years before joining the Panyaden team.
David Arthurs (Kru Dave)
Events and Activities Coordinator, Community and Service Coordinator
After trying his hand at several different professions, Kru Dave became an EAL teacher as a way of living abroad. Teaching speaking and listening to classes of 60 in a Thai high school, he had finally discovered the thing he was passionate about. Kru Dave got properly qualified and then taught English Language and Literature in a Chiang Mai international school for the next 12 years.
His other passion is being outdoors in nature. He has always found ways to lead adventurous experiences in the natural world with students. When the opportunity arose to develop a Community and Service and Activities programme, he knew it was the job for him! He is a Thai speaker and considers Chiang Mai his home for life.