Paul Pallister
Headmaster
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor Education
University of Alberta, Canada
Master of Educational Leadership
University of Portland, USA
Hello Berkeley Community. My name is Paul Pallister. I am very humbled to be your Headmaster. I was a school administrator in Canada for 20 years working for students from grade 1 to 12 in a variety of schools. In 2023 I finished two years of school administration in Kuwait. Throughout my career, I have thoroughly enjoyed helping thousands of students realize their potential. Please stop by to say hello and let me know how Berkeley can best support your educational needs.
Jake Varley
Secondary Principal
Bachelor of Primary Education
Master in Public Administration
My name is Jake Varley and I am proud to be part of the Berkeley team! Born on the sunshine coast in Australia, and having worked in international schools in South Africa, China and the Philippines, it is a privilege to live in such a beautiful country with amazing people. I consider it an honor to combine my passion for education with my love of traveling, and am constantly inspired by the places I visit, and the people I meet. I am excited to be able to play a central role in the growth of Berkeley and see it as my mission to help the school reach its formidable potential.
Kannika Leelapanyalert
Executive Director
PHD IN MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER, UK
MSC IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY, UK
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN LEARNING AND TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION
LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY, UK
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ENGLISH AND MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER, UK
BACHELOR IN LAW
THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY, THAILAND
HELLO, I AM MINK. MY PASSION FOR EDUCATING AND NURTURING YOUNG MINDS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER 18 YEARS IN ACADEMIA AND I AM DELIGHTED TO JOIN THE BERKELEY FAMILY. DURING MY 14 YEARS STUDYING AND WORKING IN THE UK, I WAS A LECTURER IN MARKETING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON´S BIRBECK COLLEGE, AFTER WHICH I WAS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY.
MOST RECENTLY, I WAS AT BAKER MCKENZIE AS A SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, WHERE I LEARNED THE DAILY RIGORS OF BEING IN A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS. I BELIEVE THIS GIVES ME A UNIQUE ABILITY TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES AS WE ALL WORK TOWARDS IMPROVING OUR SCHOOL AND OURSELVES.
MY DEDICATION TO DEVELOPING THE YOUTH SPILLS OVER IN MY FREE TIME: I AM A VOLUNTEER TEACHER AND A BOARD TRUSTEE AT A CHARITY ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN THE KLONGTOEY COMMUNITY. I LIKE SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND TRAVELLING. I ENJOY PILATES AND COOKING THAI FOOD.
OVERALL, I AM THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BERKELEY AND HELP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS DEVELOP TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY BECOMING INDEPENDENT, SELF-MOTIVATING, AND RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL CITIZENS.
Karen Hendren
Primary Principal
Masters of Education Administration
Endicott University - Madrid, Spain
Bachelor of Elementary Education
Oklahoma State University
Hello Everyone! I have been working at Berkeley since 2015 and have loved every second of it! I have had the opportunity to work in both the elementary and kindergarten divisions. It has been such a joy to be in the classroom watching our bright students grow and develop everyday. I am thrilled to work as Curriculum Coordinator to not only continue working with our students but also working closely with our staff to push ourselves to make Berkeley the best it can be! In my free time I like to get outside- ride bikes, play softball and tennis. I also enjoy a good doodle session on my ipad creating different kinds of print materials. I am looking forward to another great year at Berkeley!
Elizabeth Frantz-Larson
Social & Emotional Counselor
B.A. in Psychology
Arizona State University, USA
M.ED in International Education
Framingham State University, USA
Hello, I´m Elle and I am so excited to be part of the Berkeley family as the Social and Emotional Counselor. I have lived in Thailand since 2011 with my husband, Eric, and we consider this place our home. I have also worked as a counselor, mentor, educator and yoga teacher in the USA. I have studied mindfulness and yoga since I was 16 and love to share this practice as it has helped me grow in my own life. I love to read, learn and talk with others about life and believe taking care of ourselves, both physically and mentally, is very important. My door is always open with an empathic ear and open mind. I am so looking forward to getting to know everyone this year!
Jill Vinson
College Counselor
Hello, and sawadee-ka! My name is Jill and I´m thrilled to be a part of the dynamic team at Berkeley International School. I´m a nomad by nature, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; then I lived in South Carolina after earning my BA and MAT from Clemson University (Go Tigers!). I taught English and Spanish there for three years, and afterwards embarked my journey as an international educator in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where I´ve been living and teaching for the past seven years. I have a passion for travel and believe in seeing as much of the world as possible; learning is a lifelong endeavor and I love to explore new cultures. I firmly believe that every place has something unique to offer and every person has something important to teach. I bring that philosophy to my classroom where I love to give my students opportunities to collaborate and learn from each other. As a teacher of language and literature, I strive to bring real-world relevance of texts out into the light for students to explore. When I´m not in a classroom or boarding an airplane, you´ll either find me in a cozy chair with a book and a cup of coffee or else in the kitchen cooking up something tasty.
Lauren Welbourne
Curriculum Coordinator
Masters in International Education
Framingham State University, United States
B.A. (Hons) Marketing and Advertising
University of Lincoln, United Kingdom
Hi Berkeley Community!
My name is Ms. Lauren, I am originally from the UK and have worked in education at various International Schools in Thailand since 2014. My family and I very much love living here and feel privileged to call it home.
Having taught in the classroom for many years, I feel passionate about reaching all students where they are and enabling them to progress and achieve. As the Curriculum Coordinator, my role is to maintain and enhance the quality of education within Berkeley by ensuring that the curriculum is relevant, engaging, and effectively supports student learning. I am excited to work with our dedicated teachers and students to develop the curriculum further, ensuring we meet the needs of learners, and promote effective teaching and learning.
