OUR PRIMARY TEAM
As the Head of Primary at Si Ri Panya International School, I am proud to lead a dedicated team of class teachers. You can read a short bio about all our staff below and learn more about my background and experience on our 'Meet the Head of Primary School' page.
Kind regards,
Mrs Lisa McNee
Head of Primary School
Mrs Lisa McNee
YEAR 1 TEACHER OLIVIA WILSON
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
My journey to becoming a teacher began in Aotearoa/New Zealand. At the time, I was working night shifts at a factory and visiting my sister at her Early Childhood Education centre before my shift began. It was during these visits that I discovered my passion for teaching. Inspired, I began studying and developing my teaching skills. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in a bilingual and bicultural ECE centre, where I immersed myself in te reo Māori, one of the national languages of Aotearoa. More recently, I had the opportunity to step into a leadership role as a head teacher. Now, I’ve chosen to relocate to Koh Phangan to embrace its natural beauty, and I’m excited to teach, learn, and grow alongside the wonderful community at Si Ri Panya International School, sharing my love for learning with my students.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
The most rewarding part of teaching is witnessing that “light bulb” moment in a child when they grasp something new. Children are natural learners, and I love nurturing their curiosity and encouraging their growth. My goal is to empower them to become confident, capable individuals who embrace learning with excitement and enthusiasm.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
My students would likely describe me as a fun, loving, and energetic teacher—someone who fosters their imagination, humour, and confidence. I encourage them to express themselves freely and thrive in an environment where they feel supported and inspired.
YEAR 2 TEACHER DEVON GOLD
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
I discovered my love for teaching in 1999, during my second year of college.
I remember having guest speakers in one of my classes and they were
promoting a program called Junior Achievement. I decided to give it a try
and do some volunteer work with children. I absolutely loved it and
teaching the lessons in the program just felt so natural to me. I was so
happy every time I walked into the classroom to work with the students,
that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. The following term, I settled on
a major and decided I wanted to teach Kindergarten and Primary school.
From there, I went on to study at Cleveland State University where I
graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. I began
teaching in inner city schools and low-income areas. Teaching children in
those demographics humbled me. Being there taught me kindness,
compassion, and empathy. It also taught me that understanding the needs
of the students have to come before any successful learning can take place.I will always hold those years and those students close to my heart, they taught me what it truly means to be a teacher. Teaching children in acompletely different background from how I was raised helped prepare me for my adventure in teaching internationally.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I love promoting creativity and independence in the classroom. Letting the students use their imaginations and seeing what they can come up with is one of the best things to witness children doing. It means that they are thinking on their own and forming their own thoughts using logic and skills they have learned in the classroom. Watching the students work together
to solve problems and come up with their own solutions is very rewarding. I enjoy seeing them use what they have learned and apply it to situations in everyday life.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
My students have often described me as “fun and chill”, “so nice and I care about them”. They also say I am firm but fair.
YEAR 3 TEACHER AMY WRIGHT
How long have you been teaching and what was your journey to becoming a teacher?
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I’ve always loved school and was lucky enough to be taught by very engaging teachers and enjoyed friendships with different age groups whilst I was a child. Nowadays, I enjoy investigating topics alongside the pupils, hearing their opinions and thought-processes and seeing how a class can work collaboratively to create solutions. I’m passionate about storytelling and love to help children create their own unique stories and find the confidence to tell them!
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
Fun, firm & fair.
I’ve been a qualified primary teacher for 27 years and have taught for fifteen.
At university, my final year project looked at how drama in schools could be used to assess the development of spoken expression. During this, I loved being around the children’s imaginations, their sense of humour and fun and decided to study for a PGCE the following year.
As well as teaching in primary education, I have been a secondary teacher of English and Drama and worked for over a decade as a senior executive in the UK and international EdTech sector. I love how innovative content and digital resources can engage children’s curiosity even further.
YEAR 4 TEACHER CHARLES SEATON
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
I felt I needed a career change and began training to be an ESL teacher in America. I moved to Asia and began my teaching journey at a language school in South Korea. I spent a year up north and realized that the weather was too cold for someone like me, hailing from California. So, I decided to move to Thailand where the weather and vibe are similar to San Diego. I have been living here for the past seven years, teaching at both private and public schools. I began as a kindergarten teacher and have progressed into teaching lower primary.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
Teaching brings new challenges and forces me to grow professionally each day. I've always enjoyed the process of developing lessons that activate students' curiosity through a variety of media. The energy and
enthusiasm that students bring to the classroom always keeps me on my toes and inspires me to guide them on their journey to becoming lifelong students. I hope through my efforts that my students will become the next generation's inquiring minds capable of inspiring an endless curiosity in their peers.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
My students describe me as someone who is fair, kind, funny, and patient. I believe that this is a result of listening to their needs and counseling them on appropriate behaviour in the classroom. The routines and expectations I use incorporate the opinions of all students, so they feel they have a stake in our success throughout the school year. I design lessons with interactive activities that encourage play-based learning. My use of humor also creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for students, that makes them feel more comfortable, especially when learning from their mistakes.
YEAR 5 TEACHER MATTHEW FAGUY
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
My journey into teaching began not far from Si Ri Panya, my first teaching post was as an ESL teacher in Surat Thani on the mainland. After a few months on the job, I knew that teaching was my calling. After getting my PGCE in Cardiff, Wales, I packed my bags and headed to the Middle East to teach in Abu Dhabi. I’ve been teaching for five years and rarely does a day pass that I don’t reflect on the people and places that led me to where I am and can’t help but think of how blessed I am.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
What I enjoy most about teaching is the dynamic environment and the
exchanges that happen in school and classroom settings. Never are two
days the same as a teacher. When viewed in a close, narrow focus we can
see our students and ourselves grow in small incremental, deliberate ways.
Throughout the ebbs and flows of a school year, we learn, and we make
mistakes. When we zoom out, we realize that the journey is what important, the process of learning how to learn.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
Fun, engaging and outgoing. I believe learning naturally occurs when students are having fun. I try to create lessons that resonate with my students, to make the learning relatable and engaging. I don’t take myself too seriously, I like have a fun time with my students.
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
I started my teaching journey working in China teaching student teachers. After this I knew I needed to teach. I then worked in Asia teaching primary and secondary children. I have had the opportunity to grow as a primary school teacher in Hong Kong, where I worked for the Education Department in various primary schools teaching years 1 to 6. I have spent the past 14 years in this environment and have nurtured my professional skills teaching children with very diverse cultural backgrounds, needs and abilities. I am looking forward to joining the teaching team at Si Ri Panya where I hope to grow further as a teacher.
YEAR 6 TEACHER SIMON HUNT
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I really enjoy the dynamic environment of the classroom. I enjoy creating learning
environments which motivate children and capture their imaginations making an
impact on their learning journey. I endeavor to create fun and interesting lessons that
fit with children’s abilities and interests. It is great to see children fully engaged in
their learning and their joy when they achieve their goals.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
Encouraging, fun and fair.
SPORTS TEACHER KIMBERLEY FISH
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
What was your journey to becoming a teacher? While I was in high school, my P.E. teachers took me under their wing and gave me the opportunity to start my first teaching role, leading after-school sports for the younger students. This experience filled me with pride and a passion for teaching and helping others, and since then, I’ve never looked back. Over the past 15 years, I've held various teaching roles, from sports coach to classroom teacher. I've worked with students from early years through to secondary school and coached high-performance athletes in the U.K. I moved to Thailand nine years ago and have been teaching children in schools and kindergartens since then.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I love seeing children develop their skills and express their infinite potential. Witnessing a light bulb moment in a child's mind is priceless. Working with children and young adults always comes with lessons—they teach you a lot!
I also love how they think; kids have amazing ideas and perspectives that are wonderful to observe.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
Understanding, patient and fair.
MUSIC TEACHER RUPERT BERGERON
How long have you been teaching?
My gran was a proud teacher, and living with us, she was always expounding on the virtues of the profession. Naturally, as a young boy, this had the effect of pushing me away from any notion that teaching might be for me.
However, during my undergraduate and master’s degrees I had the opportunity to tutor as a musician, and upon graduating, the industry that welcomed me was education. While it wasn’t a path I initially planned, it’s one I’ve loved ever since.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
Working with young people, it’s impossible to look beyond their smiles as a source of joy and inspiration. When the objective is personal expression and fun—especially when teaching music—it’s hard not to enjoy the work.
The “lightbulb moment” when a student grasps a fundamental concept is always a joy to witness. I encourage these moments of self-reflection, and helping children build confidence and self-belief through music is the best part of my role.
What three words would you use to describe yourself as a teacher?
I suspect my students might call me a giant—or even a wizard—thanks to my tall frame and sudden outbursts of Bach or Mozart!
My teaching style is expressive and animated. I often fall into silly characters and voices, and being from the north of England, my Sean Bean impression always raises eyebrows! I’d describe myself as “firm but fair”—and I strive to walk the line between fun and focus in every lesson.
EAL TEACHER PAUL JONES
How long have you been teaching?
I have had quite a journey leading me to Si Ri Panya. After serving in the Royal Navy and then working as a guitar technician with touring bands, I embarked on a new adventure in 1998, moving to Italy to help a friend establish a language school. This experience sparked a passion for education, leading me to Chichester University where I studied English with English Language Teaching.
Since then, I've had the privilege of working in 10 different countries over 24 years, with a significant portion of that time spent with the British Council across five countries in Asia, including Thailand in 2007. Most recently, I was in Saudi Arabia, preparing students for entry into one of the Kingdom's top universities.
I'm thrilled to bring my diverse experience and passion for teaching to our school, and I look forward to supporting our students' learning journeys.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I find immense inspiration and personal motivation in the social aspect of teaching English. Getting to know each student individually is incredibly rewarding. There's a unique joy in helping learners develop the skills and knowledge they need to truly thrive through English, and ensuring they enjoy the learning experience along the way. For me, witnessing their progress and enthusiasm is what makes this job so fulfilling.
What three words would you use to describe yourself as a teacher?
I hope my students would say I'm approachable and supportive. I try to create a classroom where everyone feels comfortable collaborating, participating, and asking questions. I think they'd also mention that I'm patient and always ready to explain things in different ways until they click. Ultimately, I hope they'd see me as someone who genuinely cares about their progress and enjoys helping them learn.
WHOLE SCHOOL PASTORAL LEAD FAYE READING
My 20 year’s experience as a primary class teacher has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and insights into children's development across various key stages and a deep understanding of their academic, social, and emotional needs. For the past few years I have been training in the emotional regulation and development of children, working 1:1 and in small groups supporting children and families. I am dedicated to supporting the holistic growth and well-being of children by teaching children strategies for recognising and managing their emotions, fostering empathy and self-awareness, and building healthy coping mechanisms. As pastoral lead, my role involves providing support and guidance to students and families, to promote their emotional well-being, personal development, and overall welfare within the school community. It encompasses a range of responsibilities aimed at fostering a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
WHOLE SCHOOL SEN LEAD MAYA HESSE
As the SEN lead, I provide personalized support to students, collaborating closely with teachers and families to empower each student to achieve their utmost potential.
My expertise spans from assisting students with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and other learning challenges to offering social, emotional, and mental health support. With a rich background in education across Nepal, India, and various special schools in the UK, I have also managed the Special Needs Children's Service in North London. Through these experiences, I have developed strong advocacy skills and a deep commitment to supporting students with diverse learning needs. I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment where every student can thrive and realize their full potential.
