Rachael Engel

Greetings! My name is Miss Rachael, 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 fuelled my decision to stay in Thailand permanently. Following my service, I enjoyed 4 wonderful years teaching kindergarten in Bangkok before moving to Phuket and joining the HeadStart team. I am beyond thrilled to begin another school year as the Reception Yellow teacher, and cannot wait to develop strong, meaningful relationships with my new students! I have been teaching for 10 years in the United States and Thailand and have experience in multiple curricula and pedagogical strategies. This past year, I completed my Master’s in Early Childhood Education with the University of Toledo. My pedagogy is driven by creativity, exciting exploration, meaningful discourse between teachers and peers, and purposeful play-based learning through the use of enriching environments. Culturally responsive teaching also drives my instructional approach, as it has been my primary focus throughout my master’s program and the subject of my 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 at this wonderful school, and most importantly, as a teacher to your lovely children.