Staff

Management Foundation Primary Secondary PE & Sport Languages Student Support Recruitment

Primary

Our Academic Staff members are at the very heart of our School. It is their enthusiasm and commitment in providing learning to our students that inspires our high standards and continued success.

HeadStart’s over 90 specialist teachers have British, Australian, US or similar internationally recognised qualifications which include Bachelor and Master Degrees and Doctorates. They bring with them a wealth of current experience from their home countries and from other international schools. Teachers in Foundation and Primary School are supported by a team of qualified teaching assistants.

The dedication and commitment of our Operational Staff in supporting the day-to-day running of HeadStart ensures that our students receive the very best in learning and extra-curricular activities.

‘Throughout the school, teachers’ subject knowledge and understanding of how students learn are strong. Relationships between students and teachers are positive. The ratio of qualified teachers to students, especially in the early years and lower primary classes, is high. ‘Deputy’ teachers, who are fully qualified teachers in their home countries, support class teachers. Due to their expertise, they make a significant difference to the rates of progress that students make. Teachers know students well and assess them accurately. This enables teachers to plan work that matches the ability of individual students and caters well for their varying needs.’ Education Development Trust (EDT) Accreditation Report, June 2017

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Sam Young

Year 1 Blue

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My name is Sam Young and I started teaching at HeadStart in 2020. I am the Homeroom Teacher for Year 1 Blue. Over the past year, I have loved living and working in Thailand; eating amazing food, meeting wonderful people and visiting the most beautiful places. I love to explore and am a big lover of animals. I enjoy diving in beautiful dive sites where there are thousands of sea creatures as well as exploring jungles, looking for the most wonderful wildlife. I was born in a town called Burton-On-Trent in the UK but moved to Cheltenham where I gained my Undergraduate Degree in Primary Education. Since completing my degree, I have spent 5 years teaching in Bristol. For the first 4 years, I taught in Reception and have spent the most recent academic year teaching Year 1. I truly feel blessed to be a teacher as it is such a rewarding profession. It is so satisfying seeing children get excited about learning and watching them grow into confident, independent learners. “Teamwork makes the dream work” is a phrase I often use in my class. Successful teams support each other, have positive relationships and respect everyone. I want my team to believe they are the best and can do anything that they set their minds to. I cannot wait to meet my new class and help them become the best that they can be – we are going to have a brilliant year! If there is anything you wish to talk to me about please come to see me.

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Yieneves Durana

Year 1 Blue

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Mabuhay! Hello, my name is Yieneves, but you can call me Yien. I am from Visayas in the Philippines, from Iloilo City, the city of love. From a young age I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and always helped my brothers, sisters and cousins with their school work. I see teaching as a noble profession, making a difference to each child, and touching young lives. When I was in high school I used to go in an outreach program to help one of the indigenous tribes in our country to help them know how to read and write. After high school I studied at West Visayas State University, and gained my Bachelor in Education, specializing in Elementary Education, and gaining my teaching license. My other passion is music. In high school, I was in the school choir and performed in concerts across many areas of Iloilo City. I do believe music helps the body and the mind work together and I do apply it to my teaching with the children. Exposing children to music during early development helps them learn the sounds and meaning of the words. Dancing to music helps the children to build their motor skills. I have taught in private schools in the Philippines for many years and taught children across all grades of Primary and Foundation. I came to Thailand to further my knowledge of the world and work with children from all nationalities and cultures, which I find very interesting. This is my seventh year working at HeadStart International School and I am excited as I’m teaching in Foundation this year, it’s a great team and place to teach. I am very excited to meet the children and do lots of fun!

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Martina Tomic

Year 1 White

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Hello everyone! My name is Martina Tomic and I am the Homeroom Teacher for Year 1 White. I am thrilled to be joining such an exciting class and to be a part of this passionate learning community. Working abroad has always intrigued me as I love learning and broadening my teaching experiences. Five years ago, I decided to seek out teaching internationally so I moved to China, where I taught in Early Years and Primary. For ten years prior to that, I taught within the New Zealand education sector where I undertook various roles. I started as a teacher where I also lead the cultural committee, then stepped up to a Head Teacher for one of the largest centres in New Zealand and worked as a Centre Manager for over 4 years before moving abroad. During this time, I have completed Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching and undergone a tremendous amount of Professional Development and Future Leaders Courses. I believe that each pupil is unique and so are their needs. Each pupil needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which they can grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. My vision for the children is to become resilient lifelong learners who will have the necessary tools to tackle life in our diverse and ever-changing World. I am an outgoing, positive person that loves exploring the unknown and building new knowledge through experiences. I advocate for innovative, creative, and socially-just communities where individual differences are valued. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, fitness, and the great outdoors. I am looking forward to teaching Year 1 White pupils, and getting to know you all.

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Ivy Carlos

Year 1 White

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My name is Ivy B. Carlos, Deputy Teacher of Year 1 White. I am from the Philippines and gained my Bachelor’s degree in Education majoring in Early Childhood Education (ECE) from the University of Northern Philippines at Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. I have experience teaching Year 1 and Year 3 in my home country. I have been working at HeadStart since 2013 and I can say that I am enjoying my stay here. For the past years, I had been assigned different age levels. I love working with children and aim to support them in order to enhance their learning abilities the best that I can. I believe in the saying “Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning.” I am looking forward to another great and fun year teaching Year 1 White.

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Mark Blacklee

Year 1 Yellow

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Hello, it is fantastic to meet you. My name is Mark and I was born in East Grinstead; however, I spent most of my home life in sunny Worthing, on the South coast of England. I have an undergraduate degree from the Open University, UK. My core units were childhood/ youth, language and social science. To complement this qualification, I continued to obtain my Postgraduate Certificate in Education from UPHSD. Additionally, I also have a M.Ed. with a specialisation in English to Speakers of Other Languages, from Fort Hays State University. I have lived in Thailand for over eight years and love the lifestyle, also the people. I formerly lived and worked in Bangkok for three years, teaching the five core subjects: reading, listening, GMS, FMS and free ex, to KG1 students. After this, I moved away from the bustle of the city to rural Phetchaburi. Here, I taught kindergarten classes all the way to Year 6 language and phonics. It was amazing as the only English spoken in the area was at school and it really helped me learn Thai. The lure of Phuket was too much and I have now been here working here on the island as a Primary homeroom teacher for four years. I joined HeadStart in 2020 and feel privileged to continue working at such an amazing school. I am a very hands-on teacher and strongly believe TPR with lots of encouragement is very important for young learners. I always provide lessons with plenty of enthusiasm, professionalism and knowledge. I also believe in giving my students confidence and supporting them in every way through their academic journey. Hobby wise, I am a keen surfer and kite boarder, also being a registered UK instructor for both BKSA and BSUPA. If I have any spare time I like gardening, restoring old two stroke motorcycles, and not forgetting my lovely eleven rescue cats to keep me busy. I try to promote a healthy, fun, active lifestyle and believe a positive learning environment is the key to a fantastic year ahead. Welcome to Year 1 Yellow!

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Jaysel Dollolasa

Year 1 Yellow

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Hello! I am Jaysel Anne, Year 1 Yellow Deputy Teacher. I’ve been working at HeadStart since 2011 and I am very excited for another year of exploring new knowledge, enjoying activities and experiencing great adventures that I will be spending together with amazing kids in this institution. I am from the Philippines and I graduated a four-year degree of Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEED) at University of Antique in 2009. I am currently studying my Master’s Degree in education major in Early Childhood Education. I had worked for a year as a Public School Teacher in our country until I got an opportunity to work abroad. In 2010, I worked in a Bilingual School in Chalong before joining HeadStart. My experiences throughout these years made me aim to support children enhance their learning capabilities as well as unlock their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. Being a professional educator, I know that every child is special in different ways and it is important to discover a child’s abilities, assets and areas for improvement in order for a teacher to determine what methods and practices should be used to provide a suited learning experience that encourages children to pursue academic excellence. As well as this, I want to give children a safe and motivating environment to discover and involve themselves in every situation wherein they can learn and acquire desirable performances and achievements. I am looking forward to a year full of fun activities and great learnings. See you all.

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Laura Seabourne

Year 2 Blue

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Hello and Sawadee ka! My name is Laura Seabourne and I come from Swindon, a large town in England. I trained to teach at The University of Gloucestershire where I completed a BA (Hons) degree in Primary Education in 2010. Since then, I have enjoyed teaching across the primary phase ranging from Nursery to Year 6! I was lucky enough to take a career break to travel a few years ago, during which time I travelled to some of the USA, numerous countries in South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand; Thailand, of course, was one of my favourite places and I am so pleased to now be living here! My classroom is a happy, friendly and warm environment where children are all treated as individuals- because they are! I strongly believe that children need to feel that they are understood, valued and supported in order to approach learning confidently. I have high aspirations for all children in my care and I am committed to helping them achieve their full potential. At times, my classroom will be very quiet and focussed and at others, it will be quite busy and noisy! I am also very passionate about children’s literature and love delving into a good book with my class. Outside of school, I enjoy hiking, yoga and spending time with friends. As a beach lover, I spend lots of my free time exploring Phuket’s beautiful beaches! I am also interested in History and love to visit new places and learn about their past. I am really looking forward to working with Year 2 Blue class this year!

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Lyndel Recto

Year 2 Blue

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Hello, my name is Lyndel Recto and I am glad to start my fifth year as a Deputy Teacher, this year in Year 2 Blue, at HeadStart International School. I enjoyed working before in Year 4, where I spent two years. I was able to acquire great experience and learning during this time. I am from Sibuyan Island, Romblon, Philippines. I graduated from the Adventist University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Music, and a Major in Music Education. Previously, I worked in one of my home country’s government ministries. I helped abused young people and adults through counselling and motivated them to make in order to make their future better. I love being a teacher and hope to be an inspiration to my students. I hope they grow up to be capable and to do what they want in life, to persevere and stand up and move forward if they fail. I am looking forward to building a wonderful relationship with our students, parents, as well as the teachers, in this school and am so thrilled to be here and to work with everyone in the HeadStart team.

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Jessica Ford

Year 2 White

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Hello! My name is Jessica Ford and I am very excited to be joining the Headstart community and to be teaching in Year 2 White. I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and completed my BA degree in Early Childhood Education in 2014. In 2015, I moved to Bangkok where I have been teaching the British Curriculum for the past seven years. I started teaching Year 1. I also have four years of experience teaching Year 2 before I taught Year 6 last year. Phuket was always one of my favourite places to visit and I am beyond thrilled to be living here and being your child’s teacher. My classroom is a happy, friendly and warm environment where children are all treated as individuals- because they are! I strongly believe that children need to feel that they are understood, valued and supported in order to approach learning confidently. In all lessons, I teach with the energy and enthusiasm that I wish to see in the children. I have high aspirations for all children in my care and I am committed to helping them achieve their full potential. I practice a holistic approach to learning by supporting and nurturing the whole child emotionally and socially as well as academics. I plan opportunities for children to develop independence in their learning, as well as skills to work collaboratively. At times, my classroom will be very quiet and focussed and at others, it will be quite busy and noisy! I am also very passionate about reading and love delving into a good book with my class. Outside of school, I enjoy surfing, exercising and spending time with friends. As a beach lover, I am also looking forward to exploring Phuket’s beautiful beaches! I am really looking forward to working with Year 2 White class this year!

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Rey Quemado

Year 2 White

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Hello! I am Rey Michael Escalante Quemado, but most prefer to call me Rey. This is my second year at HeadStart and as a Deputy Teacher. I am excited as I embark on a new journey this year and still hopeful at the same time to be able to continue working well with the amazing HeadStart Team. I obtained my Bachelor of Elementary Education – General Education at the University of Antique, Philippines in 2015 and passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers in the same year. Currently, I am pursuing my Master of Arts in Education major in Educational Management at Pangasinan State University – Open University System. My three years of teaching experience both in public and private schools in the Philippines and another three years as a Homeroom Teacher here in Thailand prior to working at HeadStart, has been a great opportunity for me to work with administrators, colleagues, students and parents across cultures. I always believe in the potential of each student to learn things their own way and such uniqueness makes them special. I teach not only for knowledge but also for life-long lessons. As a Deputy Teacher, I am now ready to extend assistance to the students in discovering and constructing learning their own way, expressing themselves and accepting differences, either in views or understandings, weighing opinions, learning to regard and disregard, and coming up to a better resolution. I ensure my commitment to this role, with sincerity and dedication, to be a part of a learning community that aims to hone holistic growth of the students. Let’s go!

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Megan Meck

Year 2 Yellow

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Hello! My name is Megan Meck and I am extremely excited to be back on the HeadStart team, and to be teaching in Year 2 Yellow. I grew up in a town just outside of London, in England, where I completed my BA (Hons) degree in Primary Education in a local university in 2017. I have taught in several schools across East London, and Essex, within a range of year groups from KS1 and KS2. As well as teaching, I like to keep my weekends and holidays busy, where I have spent lots of time managing children’s holiday camps, and hosting various children’s parties. I am a keen dancer, having trained and performed with E.P. Star Twirlers since the age of three. This has taught me dedication, perseverance, determination, and taught me how to maintain a work-life balance. I have competed at a national level, and have enjoyed coordinating after school dance classes at all my schools, and choreographing a biannual display demonstrating the children’s hard work, and new skills. My absolute favourite thing, aside from working, is to spend my time travelling and going on adventures with my friends and family. I love to go hiking in the mountains and wild camping. I am looking forward to exploring the island, and experience the beautiful sights and taste lots of amazing food. I find teaching extremely rewarding and have learnt a great deal over the years. The most rewarding aspect is the positive effect I can have on a child’s education and wellbeing. I am a passionate, hard-working, and dedicated individual who strives to provide the best learning experience for my pupils. I am super excited to meet the pupils of Year 2 Yellow, and cannot wait to see what adventures we will get up to throughout the year. If you have any queries, my door is always open so please do not hesitate to pop in and say Hello!

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Cynthia Lo-Manipol

Year 2 Yellow

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My name is Cynthia Lo Manipol, Deputy Teacher of Year 2 Yellow. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I am married and blessed with a son. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Secondary Education in 2010 from the Adventist University of the Philippines at Silang, Cavite. I taught Foundation and Primary level for two years in my home country before coming here to Thailand. I started working at HeadStart in 2012 as a Deputy Teacher. I have passion for teaching children and watching them grow and progress in every aspect of their lives. Teaching is full of challenges but also very rewarding experiences. I believe that it is important for parents and teachers to work together to create a positive learning environment for each student to achieve their goals and dreams in life. I am excited and looking forward to fun learning experiences in this new academic year 2022 – 2023.

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Immy Page

Year 3 Blue

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Hello! My name is Immy Page and I am the homeroom teacher for Year 3 Blue. This will be my first year teaching at HeadStart. It is also my first time teaching in Phuket, however, I remember from previous visits how stunning the landscape is. I attended the University of Brighton (UK) and studied Journalism. Following this, I sought out working with and educating children. I taught sports to children in the USA, then when I returned to London I worked for a year as a teaching assistant in many different schools to gain valuable experience in the education sector. During 2016 in London, I completed my training as a qualified teacher and taught across Key Stage 1 and Year 3. I then embarked on the journey of teaching internationally. I have now taught across all year groups within Primary and have also taught in Egypt and China. What I love about my job is that I get to directly impact a pupil’s academic journey, it fills me with pride to see happy and motivated pupils! What I also love is that I am constantly learning new things from my pupils. It is wonderful that we all get to work within an environment where we get to share our cultures and passions. In class, I like to encourage plenty of partner and group work as it is essential to teach and learn from one another. I love playing games and setting challenges, sometimes I will even challenge the class in a ‘Teacher vs The Class’ competition. In my spare time, I love keeping active and love encouraging others to do so. I like to set myself challenges, which is why I love running because I have clear times I can aim to beat. Football is a huge passion of mine and I used to play a lot (recent ACL surgeries have sadly impacted that). Luckily, I support the greatest football in the World; Liverpool FC. I have also become very mindful about sustainability, and am constantly seeking out new information on the subject. Finally, I love movies and books, and love taking on quiz questions based on movies.

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Mency Regalado

Year 3 Blue

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Hello! My name is Mency Grace Regalado Sosa. I studied at the Adventist University of the Philippines and achieved a Bachelor Degree of Science in Nursing. My first teaching job was in Chumphon in Primary to Secondary, and then I became an English Homeroom Teacher for a Kindergarten 1 English Programme for 3 years. That was the time I realised that I wanted to pursue my teaching career, so I studied for a Diploma in Teacher Education and graduated in August 2017. I am currently studying for my Master’s Degree in Education with a major in Early Childhood. I really enjoy teaching young children. This is my fifth year at HeadStart and what makes this school so special to me is how clever everyone is. I hope that I can share what I have learnt from my own education and share it with the students at HeadStart. Providing a fun, loving and learning environment is what I dream of, so I am looking forward to having many more years at HeadStart International School.

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Zoe Harvey-Graham

Year 3 White

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Hello everyone! My name is Zoë Harvey-Graham and I am a homeroom teacher for Year 3 White. I joined HeadStart in 2020 and love working at such a great school. I come from Dublin, Ireland and have a Bachelor of Education with a minor degree in History. I have taught in a number of countries including Ireland, the U.K., Switzerland and Luxembourg. I have mostly taught Year 3 and Year 4. I love every minute of being a teacher and meeting children from all over the world, learning about their cultures and traditions and sharing my own in return. In my classroom, noise is good! I love to hear my pupils chatting and engaging with each other, learning in groups and from each other. In every lesson I teach I aim to make it as fun and engaging as possible. I like to have children learning by doing; therefore we will be completing lots of projects, investigations and enquiries this year. I encourage all my pupils to bring their unique cultures and experiences into the classroom so that we can all learn from each other and grow into multicultural global citizens. I cannot wait to begin the next academic year and get to know all of my students. If there is anything you would like to know or if you have any questions please do not hesitate to come and talk to me. Thank you!

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Shea Sagpaey

Year 3 White

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Hello! My name is Shea C. Sagpaey, you can call me Miss Shea. I am from Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines. I am a Registered Medical Technologist by profession but have furthered my career by taking up teaching units and have been teaching here in Thailand for the past few years. I was an ESL teacher in Kajonkiet Pattana School here in Phuket and a homeroom teacher in Anuban Phangnga School, Phangnga province wherein I taught English, Science and Health to kindergarten and primary students. These experiences have made me better as a teacher and it is a privilege to be a Deputy Teacher here at HeadStart. I love teaching children and supporting them in every way I can. In return, I get to learn from them as well. In my free time, I read books, go camping, travel and go to the beach. I am looking forward to working here at HeadStart to further my profession as a teacher and to keep encouraging young children to love learning. Looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

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Donna Wintersgill

Year 3 Yellow

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Hello and Sawadee ka! My name is Donna Wintersgill and I am the Homeroom Teacher for Year 3 Yellow. This will be my fourth year of teaching at HeadStart and my second year working as Phase Leader and English co-ordinator. At University I originally studied Zoology and upon completing my degree I spent a few years conducting research expeditions. It was an amazing experience and I got to visit some incredible countries such as Madagascar and the Virgin Islands. In 2015 I decided to train as a teacher and share my knowledge and passions with others. I taught in the UK for a few years and also completed my Masters in Education, where I was privileged to be in a position where I could bring students into a dementia care setting and watch as incredible friendships developed. For me, relationships are the foundation of a good education and this at the core of my teaching practice. In the classroom, I like to make lessons fun and engaging using drama and role play to really bring learning to life! Books also play a vital part in my practice, I love engrossing children in a story and capturing their imagination, opening them up a world of possibilities and witnessing the layers of learning that occur. When I am not working I love to run, so far I have completed 6 half marathons and 2 full marathons and have used these events as a platform to raise money for various charities! Diving and snorkelling are also huge passions of mine and I love spending my weekends exploring Phuket’s marine life. I am also very passionate about the environment and love getting involved in beach clean ups around the island, I feel so privileged to be living in such a beautiful place, I want to do my bit to look after it!

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Clyde Carlos

Year 3 Yellow

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My name is Clyde B. Carlos from the Northern part of the Philippines -the Ilocos Region. I finished my studies at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) Mid-La union Campus in 2009 with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education majoring in Home Economics (HELE). I successfully passed the Professional Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in the same year. I had been teaching primary children at Tirad View Academy in my hometown before moving to Thailand in the year 2010. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with different levels of children which makes me understand more about my profession and passion. I am an enthusiastic and committed educator who thoroughly enjoys working with children. I am looking forward to another exciting year in Year 3 Yellow.

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Jamie Robertson

Year 4 Blue

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Sawadee khap! My name is Jamie Robertson and I am thrilled to be the new homeroom teacher for Year 4 Blue. I was born in Lancashire, England, and I moved to the USA in 2007 to complete a football scholarship (soccer) while completing my undergraduate Bachelor's Degree in Organisational Communications. In 2013, I went back to university to complete a Masters Degree (MBA). After nearly 10 years in the USA, I briefly moved back to the UK, before taking a job in a government high school in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. My role as an EAL teacher made me fall in love with teaching, and I knew right away that it was a dream job for me to be able to work with and learn with such inspirational young people. I moved back to the UK to complete my PGCE course and subsequently moved to Doha, Qatar to work at an international school. In my classroom, I'm a big believer in installing a growth mind set approach for both the children and myself. I strongly encourage a never give up attitude and that if we’re not making mistakes, then we’re not learning! I love to have children taking an active approach to their learning, as well as incorporating learning outside the classroom as much as possible. I truly feel that positivity is contagious and I aim to foster a safe, accessible and welcoming environment in my classroom. Outside of the classroom, I’m a keen football fan and support the mighty Liverpool FC! I also like to get out on the course for a round of golf (sadly, my enthusiasm for golf strongly outweighs my talent). I love to travel and have been lucky enough to visit over 35 countries and I can honestly say that Thailand is right up there with the best. I can’t wait to meet all the children and parents this year and please feel free to email if you have any questions at: [email protected]

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Josephine Taypoc

Year 4 Blue

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Hi! My name is Josephine Paulino Taypoc. I feel so grateful and excited to be part of HeadStart as the Year 4 Blue Deputy Teacher. In fact, this will be my fourth year in this amazing school. I am from the Northern part of the Philippines and studied at Benguet State University, gaining my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education majoring in General Education. Currently, I am finishing my master’s degree in Education major in Educational Management. My combined years of experience as an ESL and regular school teacher provide me with an avenue for enabling myself to become a more effective and efficient teacher whilst conveying enthusiasm and interest in promoting a dynamic, conducive, exciting, and positive learning environment that empowers both the teacher and students to pursue learning. I believe passionately in knowing the students’ personalities, strengths and weaknesses allowing them to explore, unleash and enhance their potential, ignite imagination and instil a love of learning. May this be a year full of memories and learning. I am so excited to teach and get to know all of you!

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Jen Rapkins

Year 4 White

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My name is Jen Rapkins. I joined HeadStart in August 2018 as the Year 4 White Homeroom Teacher after teaching for five years in an international school in Bangkok. My move from the city to the island means I can still indulge my love of travel and scuba diving by continuing to explore the wonders of Thailand, Asia and beyond. Before moving to Thailand in 2013, I was teaching for many years in a middle school in Poole, Dorset in the UK. Despite originally specialising in teaching Key Stage 1, the majority of my teaching experience since then has been in Key Stage 2 and even Year 7 French! My passion for teaching has grown with each year and it is my privilege to work with each and every child and guide them along their journey as lifelong learners. I believe that by capturing their interest and imagination through engaging and innovative lessons in a safe and stimulating environment, children will strive to remain resilient, show consideration and be the best they can. In turn, they will effectively develop their abilities to communicate, to collaborate and to think both creatively and critically. As the new academic year starts, I am looking forward to getting to know all the children in my class, along with their families, throughout this year.

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Johanna Pon-an

Year 4 White

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Hello! My name is Johanna and I’ve been teaching at HeadStart since 2017. I spent 2 years as a shadow teacher and this will be my fourth year as a deputy teacher. I am extremely excited to meet you all and begin teaching children at our fantastic school. As a special educator, teaching exceptional children is my passion and I can't imagine doing anything else. We will find exciting ways to learn and grow together every day! Looking forward to a year of fun-filled learning adventures. I am from the Philippines but I have been living in Phuket for six years now. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Special Education focused on children with Intellectual Disabilities as well as the Gifted & Talented. Currently, I am finishing my master’s degree in Education major in Educational Management. I am a licensed professional teacher and have experience with organising learning activities tailored to students with special needs, learning capacities, standards, and Intellectual Disabilities. I’ve been a Homeroom Teacher in a Bilingual School here in Phuket and my two-year broad experiences exposed me to many different teaching philosophies that have ultimately helped to shape my own personal philosophies for teaching and education. I love learning new things and always try to stay up to date on the latest teaching practices. As a special education teacher, I believe that every child is special, unique and has the ability to learn in distinct ways. Every student can learn best when he/she is engaged and having fun. It is the responsibility of the teacher to discover each child's strengths and weaknesses and use this information to promote learning and development. I believe that parents and teachers should work together as partners to help provide an education that encourages students to pursue academic excellence to the best of their abilities. In addition, it is important to provide children with a warm, safe, and inviting learning environment where they can play, discover, and grow. With an appropriate classroom and the proper guidance and instruction, I believe young children will develop a positive attitude towards education, along with the self-confidence and independence necessary to become successful adults in the future.

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Ben Stephenson

Year 4 Yellow

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Sawadee khap! My name is Ben Stephenson and I am the Homeroom Teacher for Year 4 Yellow. Having arrived in August 2020, my first year at HeadStart was a fantastic, enriching experience and I cannot wait to start my second year here. In 2011, I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and then trained as a teacher and completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Education. This upcoming year will be my eighth year as a teacher and my second year working outside of the UK. I have been lucky enough to teach in all four years of Key Stage 2 and I thoroughly enjoy working within the Primary phase. My primary focus whilst teaching is to ensure that all of the children in my care feel happy, safe and encouraged. It is my job as their teacher to help them progress and reach their full potential. My classroom ethos is focused around teamwork, challenge and resilience and I do my best to ensure that all of my lessons are creative and fun for all. Teaching is a collaborative process and I am excited to learn from the children as well. I have travelled extensively around the world to explore and to raise money for charity and I cannot wait to continue exploring Thailand and its rich, diverse culture. If there is anything you wish to discuss with me, please feel free to email me to arrange a meeting. Khob khun khap.

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Joseth Pon-an

Year 4 Yellow

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Hi! I am Joseth Paulene Graellos Pon-an but most prefer to call me Joseth. I am excited as I embark on a new journey as the newest Deputy Teacher of the school and hopeful at the same time to be able to work well with amazing HeadStart Team. As a background, I obtained my first degree as a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy graduate at St. Anthony’s College, San Jose Antique in 2017 and passed the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Licensure Examination in 2018. And I got my second degree as a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education at Inter Asian International Education (IAIE), Bangkok, Thailand last May 2021. I worked at a private school in Bangkok as a Math Teacher for 2 years so I can say one of my greatest strengths as an educator is meeting each student’s unique needs by developing a personal understanding of each of them. I achieve this by seeing and assessing the students as individuals and tailoring lesson plans to accommodate multiple intelligence. Furthermore, my goal is to increase students’ motivation, awareness and understanding. As a Deputy Teacher, I am now ready to extend assistance to the students in discovering and constructing learning their own way, expressing themselves and accepting differences either in views or understandings, weighing opinions, learning to regard and disregard, and coming up to a better resolution.

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Alex Bell

Year 5 Blue

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Hi! My name is Alex Bell and I am the homeroom teacher for Year 5 Blue for this academic year. After a brief time back teaching in my home country of the UK in 2019-20, I joined HeadStart in August 2020 and felt right at home from day one! I am passionate about contributing to the education and development of all the children at HeadStart and take great pride and pleasure in being an integral member of the school community. I actually moved to Phuket for the first time way back in 2001 as a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor, and returned to live on this magical island for the first time in 15 years! In the intervening years, I lived and taught in two far flung corners of Thailand – Sisaket in the north-east and Chiang Mai in the north. I completed my PGCE in the UK in 2011 and worked as a Year 5 and 6 teacher at a British International School in Chiang Mai until the summer of 2019. My more than twenty years in Thailand has enabled to me pursue my great passions of exploration and experience, something I hope to share with everyone in the HeadStart community, especially the children. I strongly believe that children learn best when they can make connections to their everyday experiences. I make every effort to ensure that learning both in and out of the classroom is holistic, creating lifelong learners who value the world they live in and the people around them. I trust that we will all work hard, make great memories and have a lot of laughs on our learning journey together!

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Divine Gogo

Year 5 Blue

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Mabuhay! I am Divine Wyne Gogo, from the Queen City of the South, Cebu, Philippines. I am a Licensed Professional Teacher with experience in teaching ESL, basic engineering for children as well as conducting full-time classes to a large number of students. I graduated from Cebu Normal University in 2019 obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education-Major in General Education. I took this program because I love being with children; it is very heart warming and it makes me feel youthful. More so, it is wonderful to see the children learning new concepts and filling their young minds with knowledge that will stay with them forever. I used to do Arnis, a Filipino sport. I started learning it at the age of eight for self-defence and was an athlete during college days. I was also a choral member from elementary to high school. Even though I am used to performing, I still have stage fright but I am constantly working to conquer it. I also love swimming. In fact, going to the beach is one of my leisure activities. Although still young, I know that I am capable of inspiring and motivating young learners. I am enthusiastic, positive and passionate about my profession. I will be your helping hand whenever you need it; just feel free to approach me and I will be glad to do so!

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Kathryn Parkin

Year 5 White

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Hello and Sawadee ka! My name is Kathryn Parkin. I am originally from England and grew up in Windsor, Berkshire. At the age of eight, my family immigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa, and after finishing my high school education, I studied Business Science at the University of Cape Town majoring in Organisational Psychology. I started my teaching journey after arriving in Thailand in 2013. I have worked in several schools in Phuket, mainly working as an upper primary homeroom teacher and completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Education (International) through the University of Nottingham in 2016. In my classroom, I strive to create a positive, safe and supportive learning environment that not only helps students grow but also encourages them to flourish both academically and holistically. I believe this is best achieved by establishing, at the outset, positive relationships with each child and using this to tailor lessons that are relatable, engaging, and meet their individual learning needs. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, running, and spending time with my family exploring all that Phuket has to offer. I am really looking forward to the year ahead and am excited to get to know all of my students in Year 5 and their families.

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Deborah Langcao

Year 5 White

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Hello! I am Deborah but most prefer to call me Deb. This is my fifth year in this amazing school and it excites me to be here for another potentially great academic year. Prior to HeadStart, I studied at the University of the Cordilleras, gaining a degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English. After graduation, I was able to pass my board exam and get my Philippine teaching license in the same year. Additionally, I also graduated my Master’s Degree in Education last year. I was given the chance to gain experiences in teaching, both in a Philippine and Thai setting. Those experiences gave me opportunities to work with a variety of administrators, co-teachers and students. I believe that all children are unique and have something special that they can bring to their own education. I will assist my students to express themselves and accept themselves for who they are, as well as embrace the differences of others. Every classroom has their own unique community, and my role as the Deputy Teacher will be to assist each child in developing their own potential and learning styles. With utmost effort, I will be a guide in each child’s path to the future.

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Dan Nicholson

Year 5 Yellow

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My name is Dan Nicholson and I am originally from Grimsby, in the North East of England. I have lived in Thailand since 1999 and so I now consider it to be my second home. I began my International school teaching career as an Early Years teacher in Bangkok. After 5 years in the capital, I moved to Pattaya, where I lived for a total of 12 years; working as an Early Years teacher and then as a Primary Year 2 teacher. I completed a BSc with the Open University and then earned a PGCE (International) from the University of Nottingham while working as a full time teacher. I thoroughly enjoy the challenge and rewards of teaching pupils from diverse cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds. I believe in setting high expectations for attainment and behaviour and that a positive attitude to learning is a key component of success. I try to engage students with a combination of individual and collaborative learning opportunities, which allow them to build on their existing knowledge and skills. I think that providing tasks with the right balance of challenge and reward is the key to motivating students and fostering a love of learning. I’m a keen amateur cricketer and spent 5 years as a player and committee member at Pattaya Cricket Club, which included several playing trips to Phuket. I enjoy hiking, cycling and playing the bass guitar; which I do with more enthusiasm than skill. I’ve been with HeadStart since 2017 and I’m pleased to be part of the school’s continuing growth. I look forward to getting to know both students and parents in the coming weeks.

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Jo Ann Capalihan

Year 5 Yellow

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Hi, my name is Jo Ann and I am the Year 5 Yellow Deputy Teacher. This is my 9th year at HeadStart and I am very excited about continuing to work with the children here. I am from the city of love that is known for its Spanish Colonial churches and old houses, Iloilo City, Philippines. I graduated from the University of San Agustin in 2004 with the degree of Bachelor of Elementary Education, and started teaching in 2005 in my home country and came to Thailand. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to educate students with a variety of educational needs. This has given me a fantastic range of experience and I am very passionate about the importance of education. I believe that teachers are life-long educators and we never stop learning ourselves. The more teachers can learn, the more they can impact others. I’m eager to inspire, uplift and share the joy with my students by emphasizing the fun in education and fostering a love of learning. I am sincerely looking forward to our educational journey through the new academic year!

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Edward Moseley

Year 6 Blue

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Hello and sawasdee krab everyone! My name is Edward Moseley (Mr. Edd) and I am the Homeroom Teacher for Year 6 Blue. I am very excited to be joining the HeadStart team, and meeting all my new pupils. I really enjoy teaching and I’ve spent the last 15 years teaching in international schools in Spain, Mexico, the Middle East and most recently Abu Dhabi. I have a passion for teaching pupils English as a Second Language, and in 2017 I completed my Master’s Degree in ESL. This has allowed me to adapt my classroom into an environment that is accessible to all pupils. I started my career as a teaching assistant with the British Council in Madrid, and I have since taught in secondary schools, universities and primary schools. My experience of different pupils with different abilities means that I always consider the learner’s needs first, and adapt what is being taught to suit them. I believe passionately in happy, motivated pupils. My classroom is full of kind, independent learners that question everything around them. They benefit from a well-rounded curriculum that values the arts, humanities and sciences. I am a big believer in the impact of technology and how this can be used in an engaging way by the pupils. I love being outdoors, and always pushing myself to complete new challenges. When I’m not teaching I’m normally rock climbing, which I may be a little obsessed about! I have found it a truly thrilling sport which demands complete focus. I also enjoy golf, which means I`m always practising. I have also taken part in triathlons before and this is something I would like to do again in the future. I`m looking forward to joining the HeadStart team and meeting all of Year 6 Blue.

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Hydie Tuldague

Year 6 Blue

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You may call me Hydie. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education at Saint Louis University in the Philippines. I joined HeadStart in 2018 and it has been a wonderful journey so far. I have taught in both private and public schools in the Philippines. I also had the opportunity to teach English as an additional language to students of various nationalities including Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese and Koreans. I have gained valuable insights on how we could get along well with others despite differences in culture, language and age. Moreover, I have also spent some of my weekends and summer breaks teaching children in an NGO in various places. Joining HeadStart in 2018 made me see how all my experiences became very helpful in effectively fulfilling my role here. I still continue to learn a lot every day from everyone I encounter--from every student and every teaching partner that I get to work with. Every term presents new challenges and excitement which also bring me a sense of satisfaction when I succeed in accomplishing my tasks and find ways to figure things out. I can only promise to do my best because I know my students are equally working hard. I am looking forward to having new experiences while contributing to the growth of HeadStart.

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Carla Whitehead

Year 6 White

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Hello and Sawadee ka! My name is Carla Whitehead and I come from a small city in the South West of England called Gloucester. I started teaching at HeadStart International School in 2019 and have taught in Year 5 for the past three years; I am very excited to continue my journey here this year as the Year 6 White Homeroom Teacher. My teaching career began in 2010 at The University of Gloucestershire where I completed a BA (Hons) degree in Primary Education. I then went on to teach in a local primary school for six years before deciding to seek an international job to enable me to combine my passions of teaching and travel. I absolutely love living in Phuket and I am extremely thankful for this opportunity in my life. I am an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher with a strong belief that children should be given a wide range of opportunities in order to promote a life-long love of learning. I enjoy looking for ways to encourage self-identity and individuality in the classroom by teaching creatively and I also like to provide as many opportunities as I can to endorse empathy and respect for others and the environment. I love children’s literature and I take great pleasure in sharing books and stories with my class to enhance their imagination. My classroom is a happy and safe environment where children are inspired to have fun while learning. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy exploring new places, hiking and keeping fit, photography and spending time at the beach. After such a brilliant and rewarding few years at HeadStart, I am really looking forward to this year and getting to know the children and parents of my new class while facilitating a learning environment where all students can fulfil their potential in a fun and engaging environment.

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Hannah Soriba

Year 6 White

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My name is Hannah, and I come from the city of smiles, Bacolod in the Island of Negros Occidental known as the “Sugarbowl of the Philippines,” producing more than half of the country’s sugar. I completed my Bachelor in Elementary Education and then passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers in the year 2005. I am currently taking up a Masters of Arts in Education Major in Educational Management. This is my fifth year working at HeadStart and will remain as a deputy teacher in Year 6 White. I’ve been living in Thailand for fifteen years and have had the opportunity to teach various subjects to all levels from kindergarten to college students. My exposure to different educational settings has made me flexible and easy to adapt to new situations and faculty concepts. Throughout my career, I have followed the philosophy of motivating and developing an urge of learning amongst my students as I want them to be excited about coming to school, engaged purposely in their learning and be aware of their potential. I am a very active person. Outside of the classroom, I love to be outdoors running and swimming. I do Yoga and Muay Thai weekly and I also have a passion for street photography, travelling, reading and writing.

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Sean Clarke

Year 6 Yellow

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Hello and sawasdee krap! My name is Sean Clarke and I am originally from Yorkshire in the North of England, starting my third year as homeroom teacher of Year 6 Yellow, after two years in Year 4 at HeadStart. Prior to embarking on my teaching adventure in Thailand, I worked as a videographer for a media company after completing an undergraduate degree in Film and Television production. I enjoyed my time in the media industry; however I missed working with children. I then completed a PGCE in Primary Education and began my teaching career near my home town in Leeds, England. During my four years in Phuket I have really enjoyed immersing myself in the local culture and island life. Along with football, rugby, swimming, yoga and fitness, I have taken up surfing; a sport that I am immensely enjoying on the island’s beautiful beaches. As the leader of the Primary Student Council, I really look to make a positive impact on the overall school experience for the children. We work as a team to address the issues and concerns at the heart of the school as well as running school wide events and initiatives. For one of our projects, we designed and painted a ‘buddy bench’ to help children make relationships and feel safe at break times. Look out for it in the school’s primary playground! In my classroom you will find a fun environment where hard work and laughter go hand in hand, as well as an environment where children are supported, encouraged, challenged and engaged in their learning. I am very excited to teach Year 6 this year and all of the added challenges; I am looking forward to make sure that all of the children are prepared for life after Primary school.

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Ayce Rico

Year 6 Yellow

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Mabuhay! My name is Ayce Rico and I am from the island of Romblon known as the Marble Capital of the Philippines for its lucrative production over the country. I have been living in Phuket since 2010. I am very excited about this academic year as I remain a Deputy Teacher of Year 6 Yellow. I am looking forward to my twelfth year at HeadStart International School. I graduated in 2010 from Romblon State University with the degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management and I successfully completed my Diploma in Teaching Education at Ifugao State University in 2016. Working at HeadStart for almost eleven years, I learned the importance of relationship with students; taking the time to know them, what they stand for, and what they like. I have had the opportunities to educate my students, where I aim to be flexible and efficient when performing my duties. I continue to develop my passion, helping students to engage in a creative and fun learning experience. I hope to encourage the children to develop and also inspire them to have a lifelong love of learning. Outside school, I love to do running, cooking and singing with friends.

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Maripet Porte

Music Teacher

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Hello! I am Maripet Victoria from The Philippines. I studied at Benguet State University with a degree in Education and took English as my field of specialisation. Previously, I worked as an Online English Tutor for 4 years after graduating. After that, I worked as a Violin and Basic Piano Teacher at a music school. At church, I was part of directing musical productions and managing music tutorials. I also worked as a private tutor, teaching music instruments and English for about 5 years before having the opportunity to work at HeadStart International in 2017. My experience in teaching English Language, instruments and directing musical productions, gave me an opportunity to work with different age groups from ages 3 to 49 years old. Those experiences made me understand the true meaning of teaching and learning and that is, “age does not matter in learning and in teaching, as long as we have the passion for it, we are able to accomplish so much.” As a teacher, I have learned and gained more understanding on the value of time given to each of the students’ learning. I am excited to be able to share what I have learned over the years and be a part of the learning journey of the students.

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Airl Mindaro

Art Teacher

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Hello, my name is Airl. I was born on one of the islands in the southern Philippines named Zamboanga del Sur but I grew up in the northern part -Baguio City. I graduated from Benguet State University with a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Biological Sciences. I have been working at HeadStart International School since 2015 as a deputy teacher. This year, I teach Foundation and Primary Art and I hope to continue working as an Art Teacher. I am passionate about motivating young people to make a change and inspire them to be creative and resourceful students. I want them to dream big, do extraordinary things and keep moving even how many times they fail. I establish good relationships with students and parents and love them despite their unique differences. I believe that every child needs a hand to care and touch their hearts and I am here to be part of their journey. Every time the children come into the classroom, I will do my best to provide a happy, loving and friendly environment for everyone that the children can call it home. I am looking forward to an exciting year.

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Jo Costello

Cover Deputy Teacher

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Vernette Ann Montemayor

EAL Teacher

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My name is Vernette and I come from Lucena City, which is a city south of Manila, Philippines. I studied Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology at the University of the Philippines, Los Banos (UPLB), and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Enverga University, Lucena City, Philippines. I am a passionate teacher with many years of experience in an ESL program for Korean and Japanese students at the University of the Philippines, and recently in a government school in Thailand. I have also worked in educational settings in the UK and the Middle East. My journey at HeadStart International School started as a Learning Support volunteer and although it was a brief experience, the challenge in that time was an uplifting experience for me. It is my absolute pleasure to work as a Deputy Teacher at HeadStart. Being with our HeadStart children makes me look forward to coming to work every day, and I enjoy being part of a team that is committed to making sure our HeadStart pupils are happy and learning at school.

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