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.
Kara Krystin Spore(Kru Kara)
Primary EAL Teacher
Kara has been teaching primary students from Year 2-6 for over eleven years in Seattle, Washington, Cambodia, China, and Jordan. Kara graduated with a Bachelors of Elementary Education from Whitworth University. After teaching English language learners for a number of years, Kara grew interested in learning more strategies to support students learning English who speak multiple languages. Kara pursued a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from The College of New Jersey in 2018.
Kara and her family are grateful to experience the beauty of Chiang Mai and are looking forward to learning Thai, as well as exploring Thailand.
Sebastian Stahl (Kru Sebastian)
Primary EAL Teacher
Kru Sebastian first travelled to Thailand more than ten years ago. He immediately fell in love with the country , the culture and its people, prompting him to start teaching at a small public school in the heart of Bangkok. Experiencing the warmth of the students and the joy of teaching abroad led him to pursue a Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Over the past decade, Kru Sebastian has taught a variety of grade levels, all the way from kindergarten up to secondary, at several private and international schools in Thailand and Myanmar.
He loves working in international environments, being exposed to and learning from people with different cultural backgrounds. In his role as a Primary EAL Teacher at Panyaden, Kru Sebastian will support students to achieve their full personal, social and academic potential
Vang Mong Xiong ( Kru Vang)
Primary 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.
Donald Johnson (Kru Don)
Primary EAL Teacher
Kru Don is from San Jose, California, and he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at San Jose State University. After graduation, Kru Don joined the US Peace Corps and served as a health volunteer in Niger, West Africa. This adventure opened Don to a life as an educator in many cultures. Kru Don has lived in five West African countries, plus South Korea, and Thailand now for the second time.
He has eight years of experience as a 3rd and 4th grade homeroom teacher. Don holds a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on English language development, and he is a US State Department English Language Fellowship alumnus. Kru Don connected with Panyaden’s values-based approach to life and prized the occasion to serve the school community as an EAL teacher. He also looks forward to sharing his love of books, curiosity about nature, and joy for conversation.
Illya Syahirah Razif (Kru Illya)
Primary Performing Arts Teacher
Kru Illya has taught drama in Malaysia, Nepal, Cambodia, Germany, Senegal, and China. She is an artist-in-residence of the International School Theater Association (ISTA), specialising in Southeast Asian shadow puppetry. An author of one academic book and two graphic novels, she has a Master’s Degree in Education and is now pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership with Wilkes University, Pennsylvania.
She is also the founder of Empathy For Youth Academy, a virtual school that teaches emotional literacy and empathy. Kru Illya used to be an insect farmer and during her free time, she likes baking and working out. In her performing arts class, you will learn that failure is important and that having an open-mind will take you very far.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Parimol Chutimakorn ( Kru Nora)
Primary Learning Support Teacher
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.
Teeraphan Naksin (Kru Tee)
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.
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 Teaching 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.
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 Teaching 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.
Thidamas Vuttipanya ( Khun Kwang)
Athletics and Activities Coordinator
Khun Kwang has been a volunteer in an NGO working with children. This inspired her to join Panyaden International School as the Athletics and Activities Coordinator to have a new experience in a school supporting children. Outside of school, she keeps herself busy by doing so many hobbies such as hiking, running, painting, DIY, and travellin around to communicate with the local people to exchange life experiences.
Suriyamon Thongkam (Khun Chinjung)
Athletics and Activities Assistant
Khun Chinjung was an English teacher for two years before joining Panyaden International School. She also has experience organising events. She has been organising events since her university days when she was part of the student association and a trainee in an event organising company. CJ is excited to join the Athletics and Activities Team, where she can work with children and organise fun and exciting activities for them.
Besides teaching English and creating events, her interests are singing and playing the guitar. Also, if she has some time, she enjoys travelling.