I have been very privileged in my career to have worked in both the UK and Internationally. During my career, I have held a number of different roles as a teacher, school leader and teacher trainer. Most recently, I was the Deputy Head of Primary in a large International School in Shanghai.

I firmly believe that all children have a right to learn in a positive, supportive and caring environment that enables them to challenge themselves to feel and be successful. I also believe this is only possible if teachers continue to develop their skills throughout their careers. As part of the team here, I am really excited about the opportunities that we will have to continue to use our collective experience, expertise and curiosity to grow as a school team and deliver the very best learning opportunities for all our students. I am also delighted that I will be teaching Year 7 English!

I love travelling and have been lucky enough to explore Thailand and other parts of Asia, South America and Europe with my family over the years. These trips have also given me the opportunity to learn to ski and scuba dive – both of which I love but I do with more passion than skill! I am also an avid reader who enjoys cooking and going to the gym.

My own education and my career in education have provided opportunities that I never dreamed of when I was growing up in Liverpool, England. For the last five years, I have been the principal of international schools in Yangon, Myanmar after holding similar roles in Kuwait and Bahrain in the middle east. Prior to that, I was the Headteacher of two secondary schools in the north of England My specialist subject is English Language and Literature and I am looking forward to teaching A Level English at Bloomsbury. Outside school I enjoy running, swimming, cycling, and playing the drums, all of which I do with great enthusiasm and very little talent. My aim is always to help young people develop the knowledge, skills, understanding, and values they need to thrive in and make sense of their rapidly changing world.

I began my teaching career as a primary class teacher in London and have since worked throughout the UK, Vietnam, China, and now Thailand. I have been lucky enough to work in various senior roles and have most recently focussed on developing the pastoral elements of schools. This is incredibly important to me as I have a strong belief that if a child is in an environment where they are happy and comfortable, both at home and at school, then it will act as a solid foundation and driver for their learning. I believe parental involvement is a key factor of this, creating a communication circle for parents to be informed and for children to feel and know we are all working together. I was drawn to Bloomsbury International School’s inclusive, caring and welcoming atmosphere, something I have instantly noticed since starting at the school.

I have moved to Hatyai with my wife and we are both very excited to be able to continue our lifelong love of travel, exploring Thailand and beyond. I am especially excited to continue my culinary adventures, hopefully finding new exciting food I have never tried before.

My name is Ms. Tabitha Melodias Rodriguez. I’m a Filipino and am currently working as a Learning Support Staff at Bloomsbury International School Hatyai. I have a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, majoring in General Science from Divine Mercy College, Philippines. I have worked with different learners for the past 8 years. I’ve been living in Thailand for more than 6 years and I used to be a Primary Science and Health teacher in a Thai government school. Being an educator for me is not just something that I am truly passionate about it is my first love. I enjoy talking with children and helping them to discover and develop their own abilities and skills and encouraging them to give their best in everything they do. In my free time, I enjoy reading, travelling, listening to music, doing different types of thrilling activities, singing and dancing. Working with young learners has taught me to be more patient, understanding, and to enjoy every minute of the learning process.

Hello, my name is Kate and I am from Bristol in the UK. I have over ten years of teaching experience across early years and primary school education. I have a PGCE International diploma and a Master’s in Education from the University of Nottingham. I am currently the Nursery teacher at Bloomsbury International School, Hat Yai, teaching children from 3 to 4 years old. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is focused on developing the whole child. As inquiry is a key component of effective learning, I advocate an inquiry-based approach to learning guided by children's interests because it provides the children with opportunities for emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development.

My name is Chelsea Brindley and I’m beyond excited for my newest venture as the Reception Teacher (EYFS) at Bloomsbury International here in Hat Yai! I’m a Canadian Certified teacher from Ontario, Canada but I’ve been living here in southern Thailand for over 3 years now.

My past three years were spent in a small, rural village in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where I had a very unique experience learning about life in Thailand while teaching at a public Thai high school. Teaching EFL at a high school level was a new and interesting experience for me, but my true passion and professional background is almost entirely with pre-school and primary levels, so it feels great to be able to work with young learners again!

I have been working with children between the ages of toddler up to about 12 years old for more than fifteen years now in a variety of different roles. As a child I grew up witnessing open-ended childcare firsthand as my mother operated a home daycare; and as a teenager, I worked in various summer-camp leadership positions, and eventually decided to follow my passion into university, studying Childhood and Social Institutions, graduating with an Honors Specialization from Western University (King’s College) in the field of child-led research. Upon graduating from this 4-year degree I took an opportunity to go abroad for my first time, teaching for 1 year in Busan, South Korea. After completing one year and gaining some ‘real life’ teaching experience, I returned to Canada to finish my 1-year Bachelor’s of Education degree in Primary/Junior from the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor. Since graduating and holding a teaching certificate, I have worked in organizations such as the YMCA after-school programs with diverse groups of children and in both Montessori and Reggio Emilia learning centers as both a Kindergarten and pre-school teacher.

My personal philosophy of learning for EYFS is greatly influenced by my formal education that considers children of all ages to be active change-making agents, which presumes that children are very capable beings who constantly assess their role within the world around them. This perspective leads my classroom teaching in a way that is generally student-led and allows me to teach based on the ever-changing interests of the students. Incorporating play-based learning and encouraging the use of English in real life situations, along with unique age-appropriate assessments to ensure we are on the right track will all be utilized in order to grow and develop the students in EYFS towards a lifelong journey of learning and opening a world of opportunity to connect and communicate with others.

Hello, I am from Cape Town, South Africa. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, reading, swimming and the outdoors. I look forward to learning about Thai culture and traditions. This is my ninth year of teaching in a British curriculum school internationally. I taught in Kuwait for five years, before going to Myanmar. It was at the Cambridge English School in Kuwait, where I was employed as a kindergarten teacher, where I was introduced to EYFS teaching and the English National Curriculum. We used a largely play based approach that was natural for me after my Waldorf teacher training, which wholeheartedly focuses on children being educated holistically.My teaching is all about children learning actively, creatively, finding meaning in their learning and also enjoying the process. I strive to work with each child as a unique individual and to accommodate him/her accordingly.We have been teaching exclusively online since March last year and I have been able to make this the focus of my Masters research programme. Learning from birth to five years, is one of the most critical periods in a child’s development. Young children thrive in a learning environment which allow them to grow, explore and discover the world. I believe that this can be enhanced by giving children lots of opportunities to learn through play facilitated by the teacher to encourage language-rich play. Storytelling not only develop children’s early literacy skills, it also develops their brains, ability to focus, concentration, social skills and their communication skills. Therefore, it is important to read aloud to children everyday so that they become readers before they learn to read. Young children develop at a rapid pace and I am always amazed at how much they grow and develop within an academic year. I look forward to bringing out the best in each of my young learners as well as being part of the Bloomsbury International School community. “We are not, ‘JUST TEACHERS.’ We are the managers of the world’s greatest resource: “CHILDREN!” – R.J. Meehan

Hello I’m Lizz, and I come from a little village by the sea called Kessingland, in the UK. I completed a BA in English in 2010. After taking sometime to explore the working world, I completed a TEFL and moved to China in 2013 where I taught English as a second language and was lucky enough to meet my husband. We are both teachers, and taught in Vietnam for a year before being lead by our stomachs back to Sichuan, China and their delicious spicy food. After teaching English as a second language for 5 years, I completed my PGCEi from the University of Nottingham in 2018. I believe my experience in Additional language teaching gives me a value insight into teaching non native speakers. Teaching is my passion, and I enjoy seeing how children interpret information to further their learning, it’s a magical process to be a part of. Outside of teaching, I enjoy reading and doing my best to lead an active lifestyle. I enjoy cycling around and exploring with my husband, and enjoy finding some time to practice yoga and mindfulness. I’m looking forward to settling in Thailand after many visits which have made me fall in love with the country and the people.

My name is Charlotte Hunter and I come from a small Somerset town in the South-West of England. I am thoroughly excited to be joining Bloomsbury school and community as well as making the most of traveling to the beautiful country of Thailand. I have been a teacher for the past 7 years working in both Somerset – England for the first 5 years after I graduated. I have then recently spent the last 2 years teaching in Arusha – Tanzania. I have always been very passionate about working with children and knew at a very young age that teaching was for me! This led me to do a B.Ed. in Primary Education with a specialism in PE, at the University of St Mark and St John in Plymouth. I have experience teaching across the key stages both inside the classroom and on the sports pitches (EYFS, KS1, KS2, and KS3). During my time as a teacher, I have learnt and highly value the importance of building up a positive relationship with the children and creating an active, inclusive, and hands-on learning environment. I feel it is vital that all children have an opportunity to learn and develop through a wealth of challenges, new experiences, and having fun. It is vital that children learn the importance and value of mistakes as they grow and develop. I am extremely passionate about being in the outdoors, exploring different places, and being adventurous. Finally, I love to meet new people and to travel. I am a very active person taking part in many sporting opportunities in the local community. I personally love to play; field hockey, netball, and volleyball.

Graduated with a Psychology degree from City University London in 2015, and completed my teacher training qualifications in 2017 at UCL (University College London). I was born and raised in London and have taught in three different primary schools. The year groups I have previously taught are Year 3, 4 and 6. I have always wanted to teach in an international school and experience a different country, which is why I moved to Hat Yai and joined Bloomsbury in August 2022.

My name is Dianne Irving and I am so happy to have the opportunity to be joining the Bloomsbury family. I am from Australia and grew up in an outer suburb of Melbourne in a beautiful area called The Dandenong Ranges. For the last seven years I have lived in the small country of Brunei with my husband and two children. My children have now finished their secondary schooling and are both studying at university. I studied teaching at Deakin University in Melbourne and began my teaching career in special education, teaching students with special needs. I then taught in a local primary school as both a teacher in KS1 and a literacy specialist. I had some time away from teaching when my children were young. During this time we lived in different parts of Australia as well as Singapore. I worked as a writer and have over 60 published books. My most recent teaching position was in Brunei where I taught KS2. I am passionate about teaching a my goal is to ensure all my students feel valued and are able to reach their potential. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to live and work in Thailand, a country I have travelled to many times as a tourist and have a deep respect for. In my spare time I love to explore, swim, dive, travel, spend time with family, try new things and eat Thai food!

Hi! My Name is Ellen Ferguson and I am very excited to be joining Bloomsbury International School in Hatyai. I am from Australia, in fact almost the very centre of Australia, a small town called Alice Springs. After completing my Bachelor of Arts, Design and Communication from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2010, I did some volunteer teaching in the Solomon Islands. This experience developed my passion in education and so I returned to Australia and complete my Graduate Diploma of Education in 2011. I have been teaching in central Australia for over 5 years and also 2 years in Queensland. This is my first time teaching internationally and I am eager to learn and gain new skills. I am very dedicated to making a learning environment challenging but with added fun and interest. I particularly like getting to know my student’s skills and personalities and use this to make their learning more enjoyable. I am thrilled to be teaching in Thailand and look forward to learning more about the culture and eating amazing food!

Hi, Hallo and Ni Hao. My name is Tom and I am super happy to be a part of the Bloomsbury academic team. I graduated in 2002, from Canterbury University, South Africa, were I gained a BCOM Business Management degree. I started my teaching career as an ESL teacher in China in 2004, working in a key government school in ChongQing. In 2008, I took a senior teaching position with EF English First, furthering my education with the company and later becoming a valuable member and the senior director of studies for Sichuan province. In 2010, I then switched to the private sector and started at an IB kindergarten, where I became a certified IB educator. Since then I have been focusing on Kindergarten and Primary schools, working for Etonhouse International School in Chengdu, China. I enjoy learning languages, and can speak German, Chinese and Afrikaans. I’m looking forward to the new challenge of learning Thai. I have a passion for history and culture, I enjoy traveling to historical places across the world. I hope to pass this passion on to the students, guiding them to be the best they can be. I am an enthusiastic outdoor person and enjoy traveling by motorcycle, flying my drone and water sports. According to Confucius, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”, I feel this reflects my approach to education, as well as my own continuing education.

Hi! My name is Saranya Panturat (Kru Goy). I have a Bachelor of Arts from Walailak University and three years teaching experience. I am really happy to be a part of the Bloomsbury team and thank you so much for allowing me to work here. I believe that using play for learning will make my students happy and fun. And then, they will want to learn Thai better.

My name is Nuttananun Nonthisit (Kru Nid). I graduated from the Faculty of Humanities at Srinakarindwirot University, Songkhla in 1995. My major is Thai studies and I have been teaching Thai for almost 20 years. I am very happy to work here at Bloomsbury. Thank you for trusting us to teach your children.

My name is Andy Anderson and I am delighted to be joining the team at Bloomsbury International School. I am a Physics specialist but will also be teaching science. Originally I am from Northern Ireland and after completing a degree in Physics at Queens University Belfast, and subsequently my P.G.C.E, I first started teaching in a sixth form college in England. After seven enjoyable years teaching in England I returned to Northern Ireland and took up a position in a further education College followed by a position in a local Grammar School. In 2015 I decided to join the international circuit and since then taught in a variety of schools in Spain, UAE, Qatar, Thailand. In my last position, I taught in a school Yangon in Myanmar but unfortunately due to covid19 restrictions I never actually made it into Myanmar and instead taught the entire academic year online! For over 20 years I was an A-level Physics examiner for an examination board. I love teaching in the international arena, not only does it allow me to see different parts of the world but it also allows me to experience other cultures and customs and gain a better global perspective. In international schools, I also enjoy the vibrancy that there is with staff and students from all parts of the world. Teaching throughout the world also allows me to see how my subject is contextualised in different environments. Outside school my big passion is rugby (union). After playing for a number of years I hung up my boots continued my interest in the sport by coaching at my local club. I also enjoy soccer and love everything to do with motorbikes.

My name is Sebastiaan Leber. I am from a town called Frome in the southwest of England. I graduated with a BA (Hons) in English Literature from Middlesex University in London, U.K., and then went on to study for my PGCE at the University of Bath. I began my teaching career in the U.K. as an English and drama teacher. I have and an insatiable curiosity about different people, places, and cultures. It was this curiosity and a sense of adventure that led me to apply at Bloomsbury and I am so happy and honored to have been given the opportunity to teach here in Hatyai. I am amazed and inspired by the people and the culture here every day. I have always loved learning and that is why I became a teacher and why I still have thirst for knowledge and still have so many questions about the world we live in. I firmly believe that learning itself is a skill that can be learned and practiced and that learning is the key to a more fulfilling life. I see it as my duty to help every student I teach to develop a lifelong love of learning that will enrich and improve their quality of life and keep them asking questions!

Hello, my name is Sandra Duncan. I come from a small coastal town in Ireland called Donegal. I have always had a passion for the arts so after my gap year travelling around Europe, I moved to Sheffield, England where I completed a BA Hons in Creative Art Practice. This course allowed me to explore many aspects of the visual arts in both the fine art and craft based disciplines. During my degree I worked in a local school delivering art workshops. It is thanks to this that I decided to pursue a career in teaching and completed my PGCE in Secondary Art in Bangor University in Wales. Since then I have worked in schools across the UK delivering exciting and engaging art lessons in many specialisms, including photography, textiles, graphic design and fine art. In addition to my love of art and travel, I enjoy spending as much of my free time as possible in the water, whether it be swimming, surfing or paddle boarding. I look forward to joining the Bloomsbury team where I hope to provide lessons that will inspire a love and appreciation of art in my pupils.

My name is Chris, originally from a small town on the outskirts of Manchester, England. Having completed my undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, I subsequently fulfilled my desire to teach through completion of a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics. I believe completely, that Mathematics is a fundamental tool for understanding the world around us and I can recognise the importance of linking education to the physical world. My teaching experiences have varied considerably, from teaching in a challenging secondary school in Hull, to teaching in bilingual secondary school in Amersfoort, Netherlands. I have always been interested in sport, with a passion for football and golf. I have a fondness for travel and enjoy immersing myself in different cultures, thus cementing my excitement to become a part of the Bloomsbury school community.

Hello! My name is Ola Hall, and I am delighted for the opportunity to be joining such a progressive and prestigious school as Bloomsbury. I was born and raised in London, England where I studied for a Human Biology Bachelor of Science Honours degree at Oxford Brookes University and obtained a PGCE in Science Education from the University of Nottingham. I have a lifelong interest in public health issues and epidemiology, and how these affect the next generation – our pupils. It is thrilling to see how excited children are when they realize we have the resources at our fingertips for promoting optimum health and preventing disease. Simple educational tools like adequate exercise, water, nutrition, sunlight, rest, moderation, and fresh air are easily understood by my pupils. In particular, I am motivated to guide children and adolescents to recognize that the human body will heal itself given the right conditions. I taught in England, America, and Taiwan, before spending the last two years teaching in Thailand. In classrooms across the age range from primary up to college level, I have been inspired by my pupils as they make discoveries and ask questions about the world in which they live. I have learned that true education is like an infinity loop of teaching and learning the two being inextricably one. It is built on pillars of physical, intellectual, and spiritual truths, and as such all students can learn progressively, and will realize their full potential when they are taught in this way. Music lessons and practical skills such as agriculture, woodwork, and sewing, are essential to ensure that the excellence in academics is shaped into a balanced package for student lifelong success and peace of mind. Simply put, true education trains the head, hand, and heart equally to produce balanced, innovative, compassionate members of our communities. When I am not working, I enjoy being with my family as well as gardening, walking, camping, badminton and introducing plant-based meals to people who are seeking to improve their health. I look forward to being a part of the Bloomsbury family.

My name is Ryan and I was born and raised in Saskatchewan Canada. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Geography I was eager to get out and explore the world. I came to Hatyai in 2007 and fell in love with the weather, the culture and the lovely people. I have been happily teaching here ever since. I find the world to be a fascinating place filled with interesting people, wonderful stories and breathtaking experiences. My goal in teaching is to encourage my students to be just as inspired by our shared human experience as I am. Together we can better understand our past and look brightly towards our future. I feel both excited and fortunate to begin my sixth year at Bloomsbury International School Hatyai and I am eager to start my new role as Secondary Coordinator. In closing, I would like to ask everyone to always remember these two things: 1) Our world is amazing and 2) Never stop exploring!

Hi all! My name is Chase Noonan. I am from Australia. I grew up in the southwest area of Sydney and have spent most of my life living and working in Australia. In 2013, I completed a Bachelor of Music at Western Sydney University and then went on to complete a Master of Teaching as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of other languages. Upon completing my Master of Teaching degree, I began teaching in Australian schools and other educational institutes. I also have experience teaching in Thai schools, and for the past year I have been working as a lecturer at Walailak University. I have a real passion for music and enjoy sharing that passion with my students while helping them to reach their full potential. I am excited to begin the next chapter of my career at Bloomsbury and share all my knowledge and experience with the students and community.

My name is Ruth and I am from England. I grew up in Leicester, a very diverse city with a fantastic mix of languages and cultures. I have a BA Honors degree in History from the University of Leicester and a PostGraduate Certificate of Education from the University of East Anglia. I began my career teaching in Leicester, and the majority of my students were English as an additional language. I have taught English in Poland and spent 2 years teaching IGCSE Humanities subjects in China. I taught in Myanmar for 3 years and unfortunately my time there was cut short due to the pandemic. After a brief return to England, I could not wait to come back to South East Asia and I am absolutely delighted to be teaching at Bloomsbury this year. I have a passionate love of travel and other cultures and love to train Muay Thai. I am dedicated to ensuring that students leave my classroom with a sense of achievement and value. Being surrounded by a new language can be a challenge, however with a positive approach and a willingness to try it should be an enjoyable challenge with achievable goals of which every student can feel the reward. I am excited by the prospect of what I can bring to the Bloomsbury team this year.

Hi, my name is Evie Powell, I’m 25 years old and I’m from England. I grew up on a farm in a small town called Selby in North Yorkshire. In 2018 I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University achieving a 2:1 in BSc Physical Education and School Sport then continued to complete my PGCE with QTS in secondary PE with Geography. I have worked in multiple schools in the UK as well as coaching volleyball in the USA for 3 summers and living in Australia for a year. Sport is my passion especially volleyball and netball both of which I have played at a high standard, I also love the outdoors camping and snorkeling as well as traveling and meeting new people. I can’t wait to share my passion for sport with the students of Bloomsbury. I am thoroughly excited to begin the next chapter of my career at Bloomsbury and I can't wait to see what the future brings.

My name is Rudy Ceccato, I have an extensive background and a deep, passionate interest in computing and audio-visual arts and sciences, both from a theoretical and practical standpoint. This interest is fueled by rigorous research and studies that keep me up to date with the newest applications and innovations. Throughout the years and the diverse work opportunities I experienced, I developed a keen sense of duty and a willingness to always do my best and to always strive to improve myself. I am very perceptive and can adapt quickly to any situation. With my teaching, I aim to equip the pupils with the tools to succeed in their academic and life endeavors and to help them to become modern digital citizens and the best persons that they can be.

My name is Joseph Chang. I am from Los Angeles, California. I went to Calpoly San Luis Obispo and got a BS in Graphic Communication. I love interacting with children to young adults because of their energy and vitality. The last school I worked for was in Taiwan called Yuteh Bilingual School and I was the Head of Science. I also doubled as a college advisor and was the SAT testing supervisor. Before that, I was the KS4 EAL instructor at Bromsgrove International School in Bangkok. I've also taught in Erbil, Phnom Penh, and Mandalay. In my free time I love to travel and dabble in the stock market. I am also an avid NBA fan, especially the LA Lakers. I hope I can make solid contributions here at Bloomsbury and help our pupils get into tertiary schools in UK, Australia or USA.

My name is Hazwani Chobngam (Kru Ya). I moved from Rayong. I hold a B.Ed. (2nd Hons) in Thai Language from Thaksin University. I have had experience in teaching Thai for 20 years. I always enjoy learning new things to improve myself and I also love cooking and creating new dishes.

Hello, my name is Yang Dongyan. I am from Yunnan province in China. I have been working as a Mandarin teacher for more than ten years. I started my teaching career in 2008 and came to Thailand in 2009. I will never forget that feeling when I heard the kids saying “hello, teacher” in Chinese, and I was melt into their lovely faces. I told myself that I would do my best to teach them. For the past decade, I have kept learning and improving. I joined many training programs for teaching foreigners Chinese including kids and adults as well as other conferences about education, even now as long as time is allowed, I will join any meeting about teaching. Students need to learn, and so does a teacher.

I graduated from Beijing Forestry University, majoring in English in 2004, and got a diploma in teacher education from Philippine Christian University in 2020. Now I am studying a Master's course in Education at Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University on weekends. It will be my third term in July. I love kids and teaching, just as I mentioned, I will try my best to teach each kid. I am not a perfect person, so any comment or advice about teaching is welcome.

I had worked at Srithammarat Suksa School for 8 years (2009 to 2014 and 2019 to 2022）, so I speak some Thai language. I went to South Korea in 2014 and had been working for 4 and a half years there as a Mandarin teacher. I also speak some Korean.

I love teaching also love learning. It is so grateful to leaning with your kids. I like to hang out with friends but recently just stayed at home and stay with my kittens. I have three kittens, they are very adorable.