Who We Are

I was born in America and moved to Thailand when I was young. I have always wanted to be a teacher, helping my Mother in her class, preparing resources and playing with the children every holiday. When the time was right, I decided to pursue my dream and completed my teaching degree in the UK. I came back to Thailand and worked in the St Andrews Group of schools for a few years before returning to the UK to complete my Master’s Degree in Special Educational Needs. I worked as a special educational needs teacher, supporting children individually both in class and in one-to-one sessions for a couple of years before moving to St Andrews Samakee. 

I believe that children have a desire to learn with a natural curiosity and that as practitioners, we need to provide opportunities for our children to discover the wonders around them; the opportunity to explore, experiment, solve problems and find out more about themselves, other people and the world around them. I am so lucky to have a great team of people working with me to make Samakee the best it can be.

I graduated with a PGCE from the University of Hull, with a specialism in Early Years education. I have been teaching in Early years for 10 years, firstly for 5 years in London, UK and then for 5 years at St Andrews Samakee. I am very happy to be a part of the strong Early Years Team. At Samakee I am always challenged to look at new research, books and articles which constantly change how I approach my teaching practice. I am looking forward to another exciting year of teaching and learning at Samakee!

I graduated from Cambridge University with a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in 2009 and Completed my Master of Education also at Cambridge in 2012. I have over 9 years’ experience teaching in three London schools and recently moved to Thailand with my husband and three young children in September 2020. I am proud to be a part of the inspirational EYFS team at St Andrews Samakee where each child is nurtured as individuals and where learning is a meaningful and exciting experience. 

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Year 2 teacher at St. Andrews Samakee International School. My name is Anushka, and I am truly excited to embark on this educational journey with your children.
A bit about me: I have a diverse educational background, having studied Psychology at both the University of Queensland in Australia and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. I furthered my teaching credentials with a PGCE and QTS from UCL London and completed a Master’s in Special and Inclusive Education. These experiences have equipped me with a deep understanding of how to create a supportive and engaging learning environment.

I’m Alyssa and this my 8th year teaching at Samakee. This year I will be the Year 3 teacher and I am excited for our new topics ahead. I am particularly excited to find out more about the Greeks and our fascinating oceans and what lives there. I am also the Inclusion Leader at Samakee, I love that this role allows me to work with children of all ages across our Samakee community, which is great as I learn so much about all of our wonderful students. 

Outside of school, I enjoy horse riding and photography, alongside travelling to new places and learning about new cultures.

Hi, I’m Hannah Ridd, the Middle School Phase Leader and Y4/5 Class Teacher. In 2014, I graduated from the University of Cumbria with a degree in Primary and Physical Education. I started my teaching career in Manchester, where I taught for four years, and then for one year at a school in the USA. I have been teaching in Thailand since August 2019 and love working at Samakee. We are a caring community where children flourish. In my classroom, I enjoy bringing the curriculum to life in a safe, creative and purposeful environment so that children feel valued and inspired.

in my spare time, I enjoy playing sports – I currently play for a netball team in Bangkok. I love travelling and taking photos along the way.

Hi, I’m Nicky Page, the Upper School Phase leader. I graduated from Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education and taught for 10 years in the UK before moving to Thailand. I have been at Samakee for 7 years and teach PE and Swimming across the full age range as well as History to KS3. It has been exciting to be a part of the school’s journey, now well into its 21st year and accredited as outstanding. I love the reflective and forward-thinking nature of this small school that never stands still in trying to give the children the best start in their educational journey.

Having graduated from Exeter University with a PE KS2/3 PGCE I taught in the UK, Leeds. From there, I went to teach in Athens who was holding the Olympic games at the time, then to Kuala Lumpur. As well as PE, I have also taught Geography and primary school classes from ages 3-11 and Secondary school including GCSE. After Malaysia I went to teach in Cairo, Egypt during interesting times then in Shenzhen, China before here!

From different schools, I have had the experience and qualifications of different curriculums from the UK National Curriculum, IPC, PYP, MYP, IB, CAS.

I have enjoyed teaching whole school PE at St Andrews Samakee and look forward to developing students sports, physical education and healthy lifestyles.

I am the science specialist at St Andrews Samakee, teaching the three core sciences to our upper school students. I am originally from Liverpool in the United Kingdom and have been teaching for about nine years. I I hold a Bachelor’s degree in the Biological Sciences (from the University of Wales at Bangor) a Masters Degree in Education, and completed Qualified Teacher Status with the University of Buckingham.

I was originally recruited from teaching in the UK, but also have international teaching experience, including several successful years teaching IBDP Biology at an international school in Bangkok. My mission is to create young scientists, who appreciate how the scientific method is used to evaluate objective truth, and understand why evidence-based science is important in our daily lives.

With close to two decades under my belt as an educator, I’m thrilled to continue my journey at the Outstanding St Andrew’s Samakee. Earning my PGCE from Leeds University and working as a middle and senior leader in three secondary schools across the UK has given me a front-row seat to the amazing things that happen when we connect with our students and spark their passion for learning.

Throughout my teaching career, I’ve made it my mission to create a classroom culture that’s both warm and enthusiastic, where students feel comfortable exploring their intellectual curiosity and pushing themselves to reach their full potential. I believe that fostering a supportive and inclusive environment is key to nurturing self-motivated computer scientists who have the skills and confidence to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world.

I’m proud to be part of the vibrant and supportive community at St Andrews Samakee, where diversity is celebrated and every student feels valued and respected. I’m excited to continue my commitment to creating a succinct digital learning journey that empowers students to become self-motivated and responsible digital citizens, ready to make a positive impact on the world around them.

In 2002, I completed my undergraduate studies at Derby University, earning a First-Class BA Hons degree in Textiles Design. Subsequently, I pursued my PGCE at Leeds University and have been dedicated to the field of teaching ever since. Over the past two decades, I have taken on leadership roles in Design & Technology within a UK school, concurrently instructing Art up to GCSE level. This experience has equipped me with extensive knowledge in delivering top-notch lessons that captivate students’ interest.

Throughout my career, I have been committed to motivating students to achieve their utmost potential by establishing high expectations and fostering a conducive learning environment, resulting in the success of every child. My teaching approach revolves around cultivating a creative, safe, and welcoming atmosphere in the classroom, leading to a positive and enjoyable learning experience for students.

Being part of the Samakee family is a privilege I deeply appreciate. St Andrews, with its unique focus on students and inclusive ethos, excites me. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to engage students in the Arts within this vibrant educational community.

I graduated from The University of Nottingham with both my undergraduate and Masters degrees in Pharmacy. I then worked as a clinical pharmacist for 9 years in UK hospitals and studied at post-graduate level in hospital pharmacy. It was when I began lecturing at Nottingham University, teaching prescribing to medical and pharmacy students, that I found my passion for teaching.
Upon moving to Cambodia with my husband and kids, I decided to retrain as a teacher and undertook my PGCE via the University of Derby. I worked for 3 years in an international school in Cambodia teaching maths before moving to Samakee. I am so glad to be part of this nurturing, happy and inspiring community. I have a drive to unlock the mathematician within every child and am focused on using the latest research findings in maths education to transform the way that students see and learn mathematics – which is actually a beautiful and creative subject!

With a Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education, I serve as an Inclusion Specialist committed to creating a classroom environment that honours each student’s unique learning journey. I work closely with learning support specialists, educators, and families to develop inclusive strategies that empower every student. My practice is rooted in a blend of evidence-based methods and a deep commitment to educational equity. Together, we strive to build a supportive and dynamic learning community where all students can flourish academically and personally.

I graduated from the Dagestan State University of Pedagogical study in  Russia, with a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood and as a Music specialist. I have been living in Thailand since 2002 and have been teaching at St. Andrews Samakee from 2008. Throughout my teaching journey, I have been fortunate enough to share my passion for music with children of all ages. I love being part of the teaching team at Samakee, where children are happy and free to artistically express themselves in a safe and caring environment.

My name is Dontra Kunkhetpai and I am the new Music teacher, teaching Year 5 all the way up to Year 9. I love everything about music; listening, practicing, playing or teaching- I love it all. I play Saxophone. The Baritone Saxophone is my favorite. Its low voice soothes me somehow. I also play Piano, and I love singing too!

As well as enjoying playing these instruments as a musician, I have enjoyed working with young musicians of all ages. I really love to see my students help each other and make music together. I’m thrilled to meet and work with students at St. Andrews Samakee. I’m sure that I will have a good time here.

I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education majoring Thai Language and Social Studies with 1st class honours from Chulalongkorn University. I was a student teacher at Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School and Kasetsart University Laboratory School. I am currently a Thai teacher at St.Andrews Samakee and have been teaching here more than ten years. I truly believe that children can learn best when their brain is ready to learn; therefore in my Thai class, students will learn through many activities and enjoy the lessons so they are able to learn many new things about Thai language and culture. I am waiting to see you and have fun in Thai class!

I graduated from Chulalongkorn University with 1st Class Honors and Bachelor Degree in Education and a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).  I have been teaching Thai language and Thai culture for over 20 years, working with students of different age groups and teaching a wide range of curriculum. I am happy to play a part in allowing students to explore and embrace the country they are living in. My main mission is to build a strong foundation for the students in every aspect of the Thai language, including reading, writing, listening and speaking. Moreover, to make learning Thai more enjoyable and interesting.