Rachael Engel

Greetings! My name is Rachael Engel, and I am from Dayton, Ohio, USA. I moved to Thailand in 2016 as a volunteer in the United States Peace Corps. During my service, I experienced my new role as a “Teacher collaborator and Community Service Facilitator” (TCCS) at a lovely village in Angthong, Thailand. Integrating into the community played a major role in the quality of my service, and it was this wonderful, wholesome experience that fueled my decision to stay in Thailand permanently. Following my service, I enjoyed 4 wonderful years teaching kindergarten just outside Bangkok, and now I have the amazing opportunity to join the HeadStart Phuket team as the new reception teacher. I am beyond thrilled to begin this new chapter in my life, and cannot wait to develop strong, meaningful relationships with my colleagues, the parents, and especially the children. Teaching young children inspired me to continue my own professional development. Soon, I will be finishing my Masters in Early Childhood Education with the University of Toledo. My pedagogy is fueled by creativity, exciting exploration, meaningful discourse between teachers and peers, and rich environments through purposeful play-based learning. Culturally responsive teaching also drives my instructional approach, as it has been my primary focus throughout my Masters program and the subject of my Masters thesis. Personally, I love art, music, reading, scuba diving, backpacking, and learning about other cultures and languages. I have 2 adorable dogs that go everywhere with me, and amazing friends from all over the world. Most of all, I love Thailand and how it provides countless opportunities for meaningful experiences, relationships, and personal growth. I look forward to continuing my growth as a new team member at this school, and most importantly, as a teacher to your lovely children.