Our Administration Team and Coordinators give valuable support to our Executive Leadership Team through their commitment to the school’s mission and values.
Pak Luanpreda (Khun Bank)
Admissions and Marketing Director
Khun Bank joined the Panyaden community in 2021, bringing with him over 17 years of experience in the educational profession. Throughout his career, he has inspired, recruited, and supported numerous families in international schools both in Thailand and overseas. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Psychology, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Counselling Psychology. With his children currently studying at Panyaden, he is able to provide invaluable insight and assistance to families, ensuring a seamless and supportive experience
His extensive background as an Educational Consultant and School Counsellor has brought positive change to the Panyaden Admissions and Marketing team and also enhanced the support and services provided to our parents and students.
Panee Assawaprapa (KhunPeach)
Admissions Manager
Khun Peach joined Panyaden in 2017 and had over 17 years of experience in marketing, customer relations, and admissions for various corporations and educational institutions. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (International Programme) from Payap University. As Panyaden’s Admissions Manager, the favourite part of the day is talking with families about Panyaden’s unique approach to education and helping them join our school community.
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.”
John-Earle Spence (Kru John-Earle)
Activities and Athletics Director
Kru John-Earle is from Kingston, Jamaica, and he holds a Master Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Denver (USA). He also has a postgraduate certificate in Sports Administration from Leipzig University (Germany) and previously managed the Jamaican National Rugby Union Youth programme.Kru John-Earle is an advocate for youth welfare and development through the use of play and athletics. He worked as Lead Psychologist for five years on a UNICEF-funded project focused on using sports to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Before joining the Panyaden community, he was in Myanmar, where he served simultaneously as both Middle School Counsellor and Athletic Director, integrating a more development-focused approach to the athletics and activities programme. His goal is to enhance the welfare and development of our students through various activities, including sports, clubs, and out-of-the-classroom experiences.
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!
Jacqueline Rendina (Kru Jackie)
Primary Vice Principal (Year 2- 6)
Kru Jackie is an international educator, leader and mother of two, who is dedicated to finding the intersection of learning and well-being. She believes in the transformational power of connection to build confident and agentic life-long learners who follow their passions to create a better future. Jackie helps children connect with one another, with nature and with themselves to find purpose, uncover motivation and spark joy. Kru Jackie is a citizen of the world, originating from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has called many places home, including England, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Indonesia, China, Canada and now Thailand. Kru Jackie holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education as well as a Graduate Certificate in Special Education.
She comes to Panyaden with a wide variety of professional experience including curriculum consultant, workshop leader for EAL and literacy, philosophy for children facilitator, forest school leader, mindfulness teacher, pastoral care counsellor and teacher-blogger. Kru Jackie is a bilingual English/Italian speaker who is learning French and Thai. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, baking and setting off on a wide variety of outdoor adventures with family and friends.
Phatcharaphorn Kwanthong (Kru Pond)
Buddhist Education Coordinator
Kru Pond brings over twenty years of teaching experience to both Thailand and international settings, encompassing kindergarten, primary, vocational education, and university levels. She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Chiang Mai University. Kru Pond firmly believes in nurturing the social and emotional development of children to cultivate their self-confidence, self-discipline, and their ability to care for themselves, others, and the environment. She has discovered that Buddhist Education aligns harmoniously with her personal interests in baking and painting, offering pathways to experience inner peace and relish in life.
Christine Vithayathil (Kru Christine )
Secondary School Vice Principal and Secondary Student Support 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, she has a Master’s Degree in English Literature and various certificates in English language teaching. Kru Christine also holds a Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principal’s Training Centre. She is also an IB DP Examiner for English B. After several years of teaching in Austria and the UK, she ventured into the world of teaching in international schools. As an English language learner, Kru Christine feels very passionately about advocating for multilingual learners.
She has shared this passion with students, parents and staff at international schools in India, Japan, China, and the Philippines. She is excited to start her sixth year at Panyaden International School. At Panyaden, Kru Christine serves as the Secondary School Vice Principal and the Student Support Coordinator. Outside of school, she keeps herself busy by reading books about education. She enjoys spending time in the kitchen baking bread, sweet treats and making jams. She also enjoys knitting and drinking cups of tea in her rocking chair. Most of all, she loves spending time with her family.
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 18 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.
Robert MacConnon (Kru Robert)
Middle School Coordinator
Kru Robert has been teaching Science (specialising in Chemistry) for the past 19 years. He studied Environmental Chemistry and Science Education at the University of Melbourne. He has taught Science in Singapore, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Oman and Australia. He has been at Panyaden since 2022 and teaches DP Chemistry in the High School and Science to his Middle School students. Kru Robert has a young and energetic family which keep him busy outside of school. His other interests include long distance trail running, listening to podcasts and drinking too much coffee.
Max Werner (Kru Max)
Buddhist Education Coordinator
Kru Max was born and raised in Denmark. His academic expertise lies in the fields of social science and the humanities, and he holds a BA in English from Copenhagen University, an MA in History from McGill University, as well as a Master’s degree in Education from McGill University. With many years teaching experience in- and outside of classrooms in both Denmark and Canada, Kru Max has taught students of all ages in a variety of subjects.
This is Kru Max’s second year at Panyaden and he is delighted to take on the role and responsibility of Buddhist Education Coordinator and be part of developing this vital part of our beautiful school. Indeed, Kru Max highly values the Buddhist approach to teaching and learning – the development of not only intellectual faculties but also emotional intelligence and ethical values. He recognizes that nurturing students' inner qualities, such as empathy, kindness, and self-awareness, is just as, or perhaps even more, important as imparting academic knowledge.
Beyond meditating, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing music with friends, and he is a passionate basketball player who spends as much time as he can on basketball courts wherever he is in the world.
Owen Haywood (Kru Owen)
Service Learning Coordinator
Kru Owen hails from Durham, England. He has a BSc in Mathematics from Leeds University and a Master’s in Education for Sustainability from London South Bank University. After gaining his university degree, he started teaching EAL in South Korea for one year, then travelled around Asia with his twin brother for a year. He settled in Bangkok for two years, teaching Mathematics, then went to Laos to build and set up a restaurant in Vang Vieng, where he stayed for five years. Keen to get back into the world of education, he moved back to England to gain his teaching certificate.
Since then, he has taught in Myanmar, China, Qatar and Cambodia and now at Panyaden International School. He enjoys learning languages and speaks some Thai and Laos. His hobbies include running marathons, cycling, swimming, yoga, sports, and gardening. He relishes learning about all things sustainable. He is married to Alexandra (Alex), has two young children called Isla and Isabella and is in his element when hiking in nature with his family. This year he will facilitate Year 7 Mathematics, Service Learning in Middle School, as well as Pre-CAS and CAS in High School. Also, he is thrilled to be an educator at Panyaden as the Service Learning Coordinator to help make Panyaden a beacon for service learning in Thailand and the rest of the world.
Bongkot Theppiman (Kru Ying)
Secondary Thai Language Coordinator
Kru Ying is from Kamphaeng Phet, a province in the middle between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, or next to Sukhothai. Since she graduated from Chiang Mai University, she has taught Thai language and culture at international schools in Chiang Mai for over 13 years. She has been at Panyaden since 2013 and continues to learn and grow in this warm and loving community. Kru Ying is passionate about teaching and believes that education should focus on teaching students a sense of responsibility towards themselves, their community and the environment.
The two things that Kru Ying loves the most are eating and exercising! She enjoys discovering new restaurants and cafes around Chiang Mai as much as working out. Dancing is one of her favourite activities, particularly dancing with different rhythms. She has shared her passion for dancing in Zumba class, where she teaches at a few gyms in the city.