Our Faculty

This will be my 16th year teaching first grade at Nakornpayap International School.  I graduated from Trent University, Peterborough, Canada with a Bachelor of Arts (honors) in Native Studies and Psychology and later obtained a Bachelor of Education degree (Primary/Junior divisions) from Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada.  I have a passion for teaching and love watching students reach their fullest potential by engaging them in high-energy and hands-on lessons.

This is my second year at NIS and I am proud to be teaching at such an exceptional school that emphasizes diversity and community. I am from the USA and have taught elementary for many years in Seattle, Washington. I graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education with a reading endorsement. I also earned a Masters in teaching at Miami University with an emphasis on science education. I believe in providing students with an environment that celebrates diversity while engaging and appropriately challenging students through hands-on activities and interactive lessons.

This is my ninth year teaching grade two at NIS. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, with a second major in Psychology, from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the United States. I also have a Master’s Degree in Education from the same university. I believe that all children are unique, creative, and have an inborn desire to learn. My classroom is a happy, lively community of eager learners! I sincerely enjoy creating lasting relationships with the students and families of NIS.

I am thrilled to start my second year at such an exceptional school as Nakornpayap International School. Prior to NIS, I was a Grade 1 elementary teacher for five years at Montfort Primary Section in Chiang Mai as well as EFL instructor at EFL Language School. I have a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Cumbria, United Kingdom. I also hold Master of Arts degree in Law. I have a great passion for teaching. I find joy in witnessing a child learn something new, knowing I was a main influence in their doing so. I look forward to continuing to have a positive impact on my students' growth with an amazing team here at NIS.

This will be my second year teaching Grade 3 here at NIS.  I grew up in the Green Mountains of Vermont, USA and graduated from The University of Vermont in 2009 with a BA in International Studies and a minor in Fine Art.  I attended the Upper Valley Educators Institute and received my certification in both Elementary and Art Education. 

I began my teaching career in Grade 4 at Walt Disney Elementary, one of Chicago’s most prominent magnet schools, before transitioning to the art room at the Frances C. Richmond Middle School in Hanover, NH. Over my six years at Richmond, I was the lead art teacher and spearheaded their digital arts and 3D printing program. 

In addition to teaching, I am an active illustrator and I also spent several years as a magazine editor and graphic designer.  In addition to teaching Grade 3, I also produce the school’s newsletter, Voices, as well as the yearbook.

Last year I was delighted to offer an after school 3D Design Club and this year I hope to introduce even more digital arts opportunities for our students.

I'm very happily entering my fifth year as an elementary teacher! I’m originally from Washington D.C. and I’ve been working with children in various capacities for nearly a decade now. I'm proud to bring a diverse professional experience to NIS.  I received my Bachelor’s Degree in History and a Master's Degree in Social Studies Teaching from the University of Virginia.  My career has brought me to high schools, rural elementary schools, pupil transportation, Peace Corps volunteering, youth outreach, another international school in Thailand, and finally NIS!  I believe in empowering lifelong learners to develop a growth mindset and the skills to help make this world a better place. As an educator, I commit myself to creating a nurturing learning environment where students can create, collaborate, reflect, and forge strong relationships.  Nothing gives me greater joy as a teacher than watching young learners grow into who they are and become more confident in themselves.  All teachers live for those "aha!" moments and I cherish them deeply.  I am very excited to be joining NIS!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the NIS family. I’m originally from Cape Town, South Africa and graduated from Stellenbosch University with a B.Ed degree specializing in elementary education. 

I am passionately dedicated to the education of a diverse range of students by establishing a positive and productive learning environment where my students feel belonged, have fun and grow towards their academic potential. 

Beyond the curriculum I strive to teach my students problem solving skills, innovative thinking and responsibility that will hopefully continue on outside of the classroom.

Hi all, my name is Carly Swotek and I'll be a fourth-grade teacher this upcoming year. I started my international teaching career three years ago in Beijing, and what a wild ride it has been! Originally from the state of Nebraska in the U.S., I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. My certification for elementary education with an emphasis on English language development is through the state of Arizona, where I taught third grade for five years. After teaching in a public school in Phoenix, Arizona, my family decided they were up for an adventure of a lifetime and made our way to Beijing. Our time in Beijing has been an invaluable experience teaching us the importance of being flexible. While in Beijing, Thailand provided respite while we were on breaks. We loved this country from our first visit and we are so excited to live here permanently. I am honored and look forward to growing professionally and being a part of the NIS family.

This is my 10th year as a homeroom teacher. I hold 2 Bachelor degrees; in International Business and Education and have taught in the US as well as in China and Thailand. This is my fifth year at NIS as a Grade 5 teacher and I am truly happy to be back after 1 year in Shanghai. I really missed the NIS community and realized Chiang Mai has truly become home for my family.  This is my promise to all my NIS students’ parents:  “I promise you every day your child will learn something. Some days they’ll bring it home in their hands. Some days they’ll bring it home in their heads. And some days they’ll bring it home in their hearts.”       Valerie Welk

Hello! I'm Justin Swotek, and I'll be a fifth-grade teacher this upcoming school year. I have been teaching seven years; four years in Arizona and three years in Beijing. 

Although I consider Arizona, U.S. my home, I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business. I am a second career teacher, having spent most of my adult life in different management roles. After moving to Arizona, I went back to school and earned my teaching certificate in elementary education. Following teaching in public schools in Phoenix for four years, we started researching international teaching. And here we are! My family and I are excited to start our new adventure at NIS and to live in Thailand. I am looking forward to growing personally and professionally and being a part of the NIS culture.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work at NIS. Initially I moved to Chiang Mai in 1999 and taught for 6 years at Chiang Mai International School (CMIS). I loved Chiang Mai then, but I was too young to settle down - so I moved to Istanbul, Turkey and taught for a few years there as well. I then returned to my country, Canada, where I have spent the last 12 years at a private school. I have always longed to come “home” to Chiang Mai. The biggest gift and source of pride for me as a teacher is to now be able to work as a colleague with two of my former students - Ms. Anzie and Ms. Rachel. I look forward to working with you and your child as well, and hope that someday I will also be able to witness their success.

I am excited for my first year at NIS. I majored in English at Boston College and earned a Masters in Teaching from Concordia University in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. I spend my free time writing and revising poetry and short stories. Besides my love for English language and literature, I also take pride on my prowess on the rugby pitch and basketball courts. I hope to coach or start a new club within the NIS family. Prior to moving to Chiang Mai, I taught in Khon Kaen, Thailand for four years at both the 1st grade level and the undergraduate level. The five goals of my classroom philosophy are to build student success through collaboration, meta-cognition, critical inquiry, creative empowerment, and empathy. 

Hello, my name is Claire, and I come from the UK.  I have a Bachelor’s degree in Law, Post Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice, and Post Graduate Certificate for Professional Teaching.  I am currently studying for an MA in TESOL & Applied Linguistics.   I worked for the UK government for 17 years, supporting ministers in their parliamentary duties, before moving to Thailand.  This will be my 9th year teaching in Thailand, and I’ve been blessed to enjoy many happy experiences in different schools here.   I’ve taught in primary, secondary and university posts, teaching English through literature, conversational English, English for Academic Purposes, Critical Reading & Writing, and Secondary School English as a Second Language.     I am delighted to be joining NIS and hope that the students will have fun with me as we learn and grow together.

Returning to Thailand this summer, I will have completed my 10th year of teaching after spending the past 5 years in China. Starting my teaching career in Thailand, I taught ESL in government schools before being able to focus on humanities teaching at my first International school. Completing my Masters in Education in Thailand allowed me to progress professionally and moving to China opened up many exciting opportunities for me to develop as a teacher. My experiences in China were rich and rewarding and I believe have allowed me to develop greatly, both personally and professionally. Having visited Chiang Mai many times over the years, the culturally vibrant environment of the city is something I am very much looking forward to being a part of. I hope to share and pass on the benefit of my experiences to all, in the classroom and beyond and I look forward to many more years of learning and exploring.

I have over a decade of teaching experience; teaching electronic engineering at the London Electronics College (UK), physics at Hereford Sixth Form College (UK), Advanced Placement physics and math at the Ecole d’humanite (Switzerland) and various subjects, from consumer math to calculus, here at NIS. I have a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Imperial College (London), and Master of Science degree from the University of Westminster (London), England. In the classroom, I aim to foster an inclusive environment for all students and I am very much in favor of adopting a “hands on” approach to student learning.

I’ve been working as a teacher in Thailand for the last seven years, and prior to that I was doing software development for a living. Even though I’ve spent a great deal of my teaching career as an  English teacher, my true love has always been the sciences which is why I’m thrilled to be teaching Mathematics and Statistics here at NIS. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a professional diploma in Financial Markets and Instruments, a certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and I’m in the process of completing my Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), specializing in Further Education and Training.

I’ve been working as a Middle School and High School Mathematics teacher at Nakornpayap International School since 2008. I have a Bachelor of Mathematics from Naresuan University, and a Master of Science degree in Statistics from Chiang Mai University. Teaching students to truly understand math is something I’m very good at and I really enjoy doing it! I think math is amazing and fun to learn, so I work hard to help my students feel the same way about it as I do.

I am originally from Ohio, USA. I graduated from Bowling Green State University, USA with a B.S. in Middle Childhood Education, specializing in Mathematics and Language Arts instruction. I also have a TESOL certification accredited by Cornerstone University, USA.

Many of you may know me as your student’s grade 4 teacher! I have been with NIS full-time since the beginning of 2015 as a fourth grade homeroom teacher. This is my second year as the middle school mathematics teacher and mathematics department leader. I am very excited to teach my grade 4 graduates again and get to know all our students who have joined our NIS family since elementary. 

As a teacher, I seek to foster an environment where students feel motivated, engaged, and challenged to be critical thinkers who can problem solve!

As a 6th grader I can recall a moment when I realized that I had a deep interest in science, and decided that I would be a scientist someday. I pursued science through middle and high school, became focused on Entomology (insects), and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. However, during my last year of university, I became aware that although Entomology was interesting, it wasn’t a field that lent itself to helping people or improving the human condition. Therefore, after graduation, I enrolled in seminary with a goal of becoming a Youth Minister. I obtained a Master’s degree in Education, and while working as a Minister discovered teaching: a field where I could work with people and be involved with science. That was about 35 years ago, and I’m still teaching science today!

Please allow me to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the newly appointed Science teacher at NIS. Leveraging my 5+ years of experience, I anticipate that I will be able to contribute highly to helping students meet their curriculum goals and provide them with a wider view of perception in the field of science and technology. After I graduated from high school majoring in science, I pursued a diploma in pharmaceuticals followed by a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology.  I later completed a Master of Science in Biotechnology in Molecular Biology, Immunology and Biochemistry. Currently I am pursuing Doctor of Education, expecting to graduate by the end of this year. I was selected as Project Associate and Junior Scientist at University of Hyderabad India in the lab of animal biotechnology, working on Therapeutic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery in Cancer. I also worked as a research and development scientist at a pharmaceutical research laboratory in India. For me, teaching is more than a profession – it is my passion, it is the mentorship of young minds. I feel delighted when I am surrounded by kids who are willing to embrace all the ways of learning. Through my experiences, I have developed expertise in lesson planning, classroom management, assessment, classroom action research and evaluation of students. I am well versed in assisting young children to build social, cognitive, emotional, and physical skills. I am adept at providing a stimulating yet safe classroom environment. In addition, I am committed to creating a friendly as well as language-rich atmosphere. I look forward to meeting all of you individually while “learning the ropes” so that my transition is as smooth as possible.  I hail from the paradise on earth called Kashmir.

I have worked as the High School Science Lab Technician at Nakornpayap International School since January 2007. The labs are used by grades 1 to 12 and it is my responsibility to ensure a safe learning environment for any and all science experiments that have been planned by the teachers.  I also provide support to students in the science lab so that they can understand the scientific principles of each experiment. Before moving to Chiang Mai, I taught science in Kashmir for 7 years. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kashmir, India and I also hold a Bachelor of Education degree as well. 

I have been teaching at Nakornpayap International school for the past 11 years at both elementary and middle school levels. My home in the USA is Portland, Oregon, and that is where I taught for 19 years as a 4th and 5th grade teacher. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Portland State University and also earned a Master of Science degree in Science Education. As a teacher, it is my goal to help my students gain the confidence, knowledge, skills, and attitudes they will need to achieve happiness and success as they enter the adult world. I also wish to instil in my students the passion for life-long learning.

I am excited to join the NIS family as a Middle School Social Studies teacher.  This will be my first year at NIS, but my 8th year teaching social science subjects.  I received both a Bachelor’s and a Master's in International Relations from my home state of Arizona.   Throughout my 10 years of teaching, I have taught students of various ages from elementary to university.  This year I am fortunate to be teaching the active and curious minds of NIS Middle School. I hope my interest and excitement for social studies will drive students to see the world and themselves in a new light.  When I am not teaching you can usually find me outside enjoying some outdoor activities with my golden retriever Daisy.

Due to the high level of academics as well our campuses warm environment, it has been easy for me to be committed to serving our students and community for over 15 years. I graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, Social Sciences and have been teaching for over 20 years. In addition, with more than 30 years of experience in the vocations I am excited to bring this knowledge to our new and expanding Design Technology program.

As a Thai native who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, I’ve always missed the taste of street food and fresh markets so it was an easy decision to make when we were making our big move. My partner and I moved to Thailand in 2014 to teach at Nakornpayap International School and we’ve been here ever since. We want our two children to grow up in this wonderful community and so far so good. This is my seventh year as the College Counselor and I also teach both classes in the AP Capstone program (Seminar and Research- NIS has a 100% pass-rate since we adopted the program). I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Family Studies from Towson University’s School of Education, Maryland USA. I also earned a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Community Counseling from the Johns Hopkins University, USA. I am a US Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) from the state of Wyoming and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I am constantly learning from my students and very thankful to be a part of such a strong and supportive community here at NIS.

“I am the Modern History and World Cultures teacher for high school at Nakornpayap International School. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas, USA where rice fields made up the surrounding scenery. Soon after I graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities, I began my teaching career in Asia. With over a decade of teaching experience, I have dedicated myself to providing a comfortable yet interactive learning environment where I adapt my teaching methods to meet the needs of my students. ”

For the past 10 years, I have been teaching History in the Netherlands. Besides this, I worked for 5 years as a general learning coach in a very innovative form of personalized education. I received a Masters for Education from VU University, Amsterdam. My Masters Military History and passion for storytelling make a powerful educational cocktail. It enables me to transfer my profound enthusiasm for history to the kids. Creativity, humor and flexibility are cornerstones of my teaching philosophy. 

I take great pride in developing a meaningful relation with all my students. My classroom is a place where kids always feel appreciated. As an experienced general learning coach I truly believe in the value of motivating my students. By letting them learn who they really are, they are ready to start learning and achieve great things. I am a real team player who believes parents and teachers need to work closely together to support the student. My wonderful wife two daughters will join me in this great story that is about to be written.

This is my eighth year at NIS and I teach Computer Science and Digital Literacy to both Middle and High School, as well as Advanced Placement Computer Science. I have a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Honors from the University of Brighton, United Kingdom; a BTEC Diploma in Computer Science from Mid Kent College; United Kingdom; a Diploma and a Professional Teachers’ Education Certificate in Education from Asia Pacific International University; and a Virtual Teacher Diploma from the University of California, Irvine. I aim to bring an open mind, a thirst for knowledge, a positive attitude, and high expectations to the classroom each and every day.

This is my seventh year as the NIS School Counselor. I have lived in Costa Rica, Spain, and served two years in the Peace Corps in Peru. Most recently, I finished my Masters of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore USA. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (Maryland). I have worked in the Social Service field for more than 10 years and am obsessed with street food (lucky me to be in Thailand). In addition to being the School Counselor and AP Psychology teacher, I’m also the Advanced Placement Coordinator in the High School, a basketball coach and a father to two great kids who are both at NIS. I look forward to continuing the collaboration with teachers, parents, students and our community to make NIS the best place to be.

I have worked at Nakornpayap International School since May 2009 as a High School Chinese Teacher. I graduated from a Chinese school and continued studying at Kun Ming for almost a year. I have a Bachelor of Humanities, English Major from Chiang Mai University and a Graduate Diploma Program in Teaching Profession from Far Eastern University, Thailand. I recommend students study Mandarin Chinese not only to be able to connect with another culture, but to prepare themselves for the future.

I have worked as the High School Japanese teacher at Nakornpayap International School since August 2012. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese and Japanese Teacher’s certification for high school and middle school from Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. I try to make my students get a solid knowledge of Japanese and Japanese culture by effective and active teaching. The most important thing to me is to build the relationship of mutual trust with each other.

I have worked as the High School and Middle School music teacher at Nakornpayap International School since August 2009. I have a Bachelor of Music degree from St Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada and a Bachelor of Education degree from University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I feel strongly about making positive relationships with all my students. And I try to create an environment that fosters a positive attitude towards learning and an appreciation of the Arts.

I am currently lucky enough to be the Elementary Art teacher at Nakornpayap International School. I fervently believe that art fosters creative thinking and aids problem-solving in all areas of life, in and out of school. Exploring the ideas and imagination of children and working with other teachers to combine subjects and topics makes my job extremely fun and rewarding. I currently hold a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in Fine Art, L.L.B (honprs) degree in Law and a Bachelor of Education degree.

I have worked as the Middle School, High School and AP Art & Design teacher at Nakornpayap International School since 2005. I have a Bachelor of Education degree from The Pedagogic Academy, Alkmaar, The Netherlands, a Bachelor’s degree of Fine/Visual Arts from “In Holland”, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and a Master’s degree of Fine/Visual Arts from Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

I have dedicated myself to providing an interactive learning environment in which students challenged themselves to create art that goes beyond observation in developing personal identity as critical thinkers and discover the world around them through the processes of visual media.

I have been working at Nakornpayap International School since March 2015. I have a Bachelor of Education degree in Physical Education from Rajabhat University, Chiang Mai. I also completed an Associate Degree in Physical Education from the Physical Education Institute, Chiang Mai and completed graduate-level coursework in Non-formal Education at Chiang Mai University. Before coming to NIS, I worked for ten years as a teacher at non-profit organizations educating underprivileged children. Through my years as a teacher and sports coach, I believe that physical education and sports have the power to motivate and transform children’s experience at school. Sports challenges students to push their limits and work together as a team to achieve a shared goal and vision. As students grow up and enter the real world, they will always be working in teams and the foundation from team sports will help them be successful in any environment.

I graduated from Chiang Mai University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and a Master in Education, majoring in Physical Education. I have been a Thailand National Team athlete and coach for over 20 years. As a competitive athlete, I am always challenging myself to do better – and I do the same with my PE classes at NIS since 2007. I use the lessons I have learned from my experience as an athlete and teach my students to love sports and physical education and to improve their skills with every class.

I have worked in the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at Nakornpayap International School as a Support Teacher since August 2015. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Management Media and Technology from Chiang Mai University. I believe that a child’s education is the most valuable thing in the world. I’m happy to see the children grow up physically and emotionally, especially when they apply the skills that I taught them for their everyday life.

This is my seventh year as the NIS School Counselor. I have lived in Costa Rica, Spain, and served two years in the Peace Corps in Peru. Most recently, I finished my Masters of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore USA. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (Maryland). I have worked in the Social Service field for more than 10 years and am obsessed with street food (lucky me to be in Thailand). In addition to being the School Counselor and AP Psychology teacher, I’m also the Advanced Placement Coordinator in the High School, a basketball coach and a father to two great kids who are both at NIS. I look forward to continuing the collaboration with teachers, parents, students and our community to make NIS the best place to be.

As a Thai native who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, I’ve always missed the taste of street food and fresh markets so it was an easy decision to make when we were making our big move. My partner and I moved to Thailand in 2014 to teach at Nakornpayap International School and we’ve been here ever since. We want our two children to grow up in this wonderful community and so far so good. This is my seventh year as the College Counselor and I also teach both classes in the AP Capstone program (Seminar and Research- NIS has a 100% pass-rate since we adopted the program). I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Family Studies from Towson University’s School of Education, Maryland USA. I also earned a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Community Counseling from the Johns Hopkins University, USA. I am a US Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) from the state of Wyoming and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I am constantly learning from my students and very thankful to be a part of such a strong and supportive community here at NIS.