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 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 2 TEACHER DEAN CHAUDHRY
How long have you been teaching and what subjects have you taught?
So many teachers in my life were role models growing up, and when it came time to imagine my future it seemed like the right path for me. I hope that I can give my own students an experience like the ones that inspired me when I was a student.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I look forward to building on the children's experiences in the Early Years and developing a Key Stage 1 setting that continues to put inquiry and personal development first. As a very creative teacher, what I enjoy most about teaching is the opportunity to ignite the spark of imagination in my students. I love crafting lessons that are not only educational but also deeply engaging and interactive, allowing children to explore concepts through expressive art and design, storytelling, and hands-on activities. Seeing their faces light up when
they grasp a new idea or create something unique fills me with joy and pride. Every day is a new adventure, and I relish the chance to nurture their creativity and curiosity, helping them discover their own potential and love for learning.
What three words would you use to describe yourself as a teacher?
My students would describe me as a creative, fun, and interactive teacher who always encourages them to think outside the box and express themselves in unique ways.
YEAR 3 TEACHER BETH FAROW
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
Ever since I was a child I wanted to be a teacher, during sixth form college I volunteered teaching ballet lessons to primary school age children and loved it, so I decided to get work experience in a primary school. I knew then that this would be the perfect job for me as I loved learning about every subject and spreading this love of learning to students. I completed a Primary Education degree at the University of Hertfordshire for 3 years and then started working in a school in North London.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
The best part about being a teacher is when you see students become excited about what they are learning; when they have their own questions, when they feel inspired by subjects and want to know more or do their own research and are excited to speak about it. I love inspiring others to learn. I
also love when my students discover a skill they didn't know they had, or work really hard to become better at something they believed they could not do.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
My students describe me as kind, helpful, and caring, with a legendary touch of creativity and humor. I enjoy guiding them through their learning journey and always lend a hand when they need assistance.
YEAR 4 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 5 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.
YEAR 6 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.
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 DAVID PEREZ
How long have you been teaching?
It all started naturally, as soon as I ended my bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Sports, I started to share my skills and passion with children. I was a Triathlon coach, Swimming coach and Football coach, I enjoy teaching Music, English, Spanish... It felt like the right thing to do, like a spontaneous way of contributing to the world; trying to give a safe and a positive learning environment for the always curious younger generations.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
The feeling of observing how students succeed in finding happiness and motivation for, not only the subject, but being socially active and with high self-esteem. My favourite moment is when students learn something they find valuable to their lives.
What three words would you use to describe yourself as a teacher?
Children, especially younger children, always make me laugh! Some of them see me as the best football player ever and some of them as the best guitarist in the world, when I am none of them! It is my responsibility as a teacher to give them confidence and space to be who they really are during the process of learning.
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 SENCO MAYA HESSE
As the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), 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.
