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 Tina Cooper
Head of Primary School
Mrs Tina Cooper
YEAR 1 TEACHER DANIELLE COOK
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
My journey started across primary schools and early years settings in England and Wales where I developed my founding skills. I then spent 2 years in Italy working as a Governess, before spending 8 years in British International and Bilingual schools in China and Bangkok. I had the chance to expand my professional development and grow in leadership roles working closely with staff, families and teachers. After completing my Master's in Education Leadership and leading a kindergarten in Bangkok, I decided to move to Koh Phangan to bring balance to my work and life - where I look forward to sharing my skills and experience and continuing to learn and grow with others.
what do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I believe that children are 'born inquirers.' As educators, we can empower
children to be independent, creative, lifelong learners by providing them with experiences enriched with positive relationships and enabling environments. I'm also a strong advocate for educating parents to support children's early development, as I believe in the importance of empowering home-school relationships. I love to see children develop their confidence over the course of the year with me and supporting them through a holistic journey.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
Funny, Firm and Kind.
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?
My passion for teaching was discovered at a young age when I realized how much I enjoyed helping others learn new things. Despite spending the early years of my career in supervisory and management roles, I soon recognized that my true calling was in teaching. This realization led me to pursue a Post Graduate Certificate in Education with a specialization in Early Years and Key Stage 1 (KS1). Since joining the teaching profession, I have gained valuable experience across various stages, including Early Years, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 3. My most recent role was as a KS3 teacher at a specialist day school for autistic boys, where I taught students aged 10-19. This position allowed me to develop tailored teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of my students, supported by a multidisciplinary team.
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YEAR 5 TEACHER CHLOE GENTRY
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I enjoy teaching because it allows me to make a meaningful impact on my students' lives. I love to see their progress, whether it's mastering a new skill or gaining confidence; it’s incredibly rewarding. I especially love witnessing the "light bulb" moments and supporting them in building their self-esteem. Teaching also offers me the opportunity to continually learn and adapt, as each day brings new challenges and insights.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
My students would describe me as approachable, enthusiastic, supportive, and understanding.
YEAR 6 TEACHER LISA MCNEE
What was your journey to becoming a teacher?
Two subjects lit me up as a young person, and they were RE—for the way it weaved narratives together out of the cultures and beliefs of people around the globe, and French—which showed me there were other ways to communicate beyond English! These interests led me to a degree in Social Anthropology, where I specialised in Southeast Asian cultures. After graduating I moved to Asia and taught both KS1&2 in Bangkok and Hong Kong, before moving into Key Stage 3 & 4 in Hong Kong, where I was the headteacher of an International School for 8 years. I am joining Si Ri Panya from the Isle of Man, UK.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I really enjoy how creative, interdisciplinary, and versatile you can be as an educator. It’s thrilling to see confidence grow and independent learning occur. I see the multiple sides of the teacher’s role as an artform, which requires a special type of person who is good with people, knowledgeable and willing to take risks in the classroom. I like to make learning accessible for all students regardless of ability and love to discover students’ strengths, and to see them blossom and flourish in their own unique ways.
How would your students describe you as a teacher?
Creative, innovative, bold
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.
