Kelly Taylor
Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher
Masters of Educational Leadership and Administration
University of New Brunswick, Canada
Graduate Diploma of Education
James Cook University, Australia
Bachelor of Arts, Honours
Trent University, Canada
Hello! My name is Mrs. Kelly, I am originally from Ontario, Canada and I have been fortunate to live and teach in Honduras and Egypt. I have over 10 years of experience teaching Kindergarten and grade 1. I also spent 2 years being an Elementary Vice-Principal, but missed being in the classroom too much. My favorite place to be is in a grade 1 class listening to the excitement and buzz of the students learning and enjoying school. I am always finding new ways of planning creative, thoughtful and engaging lessons that allow all students to be successful and love school. I am eager to create a positive learning experience for students and parents as we work together to teach your children. On holidays I love going to the beach, exploring the beautiful beaches of Thailand! This is going to be a fantastic school year!
Nicole Irene Iberri
Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher
Bachelors of Arts in Education
Cal Poly Humboldt, California, USA
Master of Arts in Education
Chapman University, California, USA
My name is Nicole Iberri and I am originally from Los Angeles, California. I have taught in international schools in Bangkok since 2007 and love this city I now call home. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education with minors in Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages and Speech Communication. I have a California clear teaching credential, qualifying me to teach through grade eight, as well as an M.A in Education. As a lifelong learner, I love researching and sharing the latest findings and methodologies in education. I have been a workshop presenter for Bangkok´s Teacher Network multiple times, as well as a workshop presenter in four different countries at East Asia´s largest teachers conference: EARCOS. I am inspired by the sense of wonder, creativity, and humor children bring to education that contribute to a joyful learning community. I believe in the power of play as a tool for inquiry and development, and the use of the arts as expressive languages. Although retired from performing, I am also a professional dancer and can be found teaching and choreographing for children and adults in and outside of school. I have two children born in Bangkok who also attend Berkeley, and a husband whom I first met at summer camp in middle school. I love to travel and try to keep the countries I´ve visited the same number as my age. I am proud that my family is a part of the special Berkeley community!
Neal Hawthorne
Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher
Masters in International Education
Framingham State University
Post Graduate Certificate of Education
Asia Pacific University
Bachelor of Arts: Psychology
Simon Fraser University
Hello, my name is Mr. Neal and I have been the second grade homeroom teacher at Berkeley since the school´s opening. I am from Vancouver B. C., Canada and have been teaching in Asia over the past 15 years. Before teaching at Berkeley I taught first and second grade at other schools in Thailand and have also taught K2 and K3 in Japan and Taiwan. My time at Berkeley has been a great experience watching the students grow and develop into happy, hardworking, and responsible young learners. I hope that all of my students will have left second grade with a greater passion for learning and some valuable skills that encourage them to be life-long learners.
Alexandria Haines
Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher
Bachelors in Science
James Madison University, Virginia, USA
Masters of Arts in Education
James Madison University, Virginia, USA
Hello, my name is Alexandria Haines and I am thrilled to be joining the Berkeley team as a Grade 3 Teacher. I am originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia in the US. I have been fortunate to teach and mentor upper elementary students in the US and internationally since 2018. Before coming to Bangkok, I worked in Lagos, Nigeria where I had the opportunity to learn more about West African culture and the diverse continent. Learning is a passion of mine and I am always looking for ways to grow as a professional and individual. Giving my students the tools to succeed through voice and choice, exploration, risk taking, and a safe learning environment are a few ways that I intend to make learning personal and fun in my classroom. In my free time I enjoy hiking, experiencing beautiful beaches, playing sports and exercising, cooking, trying new foods, and traveling. I am so excited to meet my students, their families, and the entire Berkeley community!
Danelle Singhanart
Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher
Bachelors in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Moody Bible Institute, United States
Hello! My name is Danelle Singhanart and I really love teaching at Berkeley International School! I am originally from Memphis, Tennessee, but I have lived in 5 different states. I taught Thai university students for 3.5 years before returning to the USA and earning my masters degree in education. I also taught ESL to kindergarten, first grade, and third grade students. I enjoy creating engaging lessons that my students enjoy while also having fun. My husband is from Thailand and I have three children that really keep me busy outside of school! We love visiting parks as well as other family activities in Bangkok. I also enjoy gardening, crafts, and movie nights! I am ready for another exciting year at Berkeley!
Blake Geddis
Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher
Bachelor of Commerce
St. Mary´s University, Canada
Bachelor of Elementary Education
Acadia University, Canada
Hello, my name is Blake Geddis and I am from Nova Scotia, Canada. I am very excited to be teaching the awesome fifth graders at Berkeley this year. I try my best to make sure my classroom is a very fun and challenging place for students to learn. I have been teaching and living in the Philippines for the last six years and I have also taught in Canada and South Korea. I really enjoy playing, coaching, and watching soccer. I have been coaching young ´footballers´ of all different levels and ages for over 20 years! I really enjoy visiting new islands and beaches and I love swimming and snorkelling in the ocean. I am excited to be a part of the Berkeley community and to discover new places in Thailand!
Courtney Lynch
Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Social Science
Keene State College, USA
Hello! My name is Courtney Lynch and I´m very excited to join the elementary team at Berkeley International School. Throughout my four years in college and eight years in South Korea and Thailand, I have worked with many different children, varying in ages and backgrounds. Before coming to Thailand I spent two years teaching elementary and middle school English in South Korea. Then, in 2013, I moved to Thailand and continued my teaching career. I worked for five years at prominent international schools in Bangkok before transitioning to Berkeley International School. I love motivating children to be critical thinkers, be excited about learning, working both independently and in groups to create a fun learning environment.
Risa Lambert
Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology - McGill University, Canada
Bachelor of Social Work - McGill University, Canada
Master of Arts in Child Study & Education - University of Toronto, Canada
My name is Risa Lambert and I am a Grade 4 teacher at Berkeley. I am an Ontario Certified Teacher from Canada, and worked as a children´s educator in Toronto, Montreal, Taipei, and Shanghai before making Bangkok my home in 2015.
As a teacher, I have implemented a variety of inquiry-based programs, including IB, Reggio Emilia, and Canadian curricula, and have learned to build learning communities that nurture curiosity, creative thinking, and authentic problem-solving through hand-on learning engagements. I am also experienced with teaching second language learners and children with special education needs, and value diversity in the classroom.
In my free time, I am a scuba diver, a musician, and an artist. While I am not especially talented in any of these areas, I am a firm believer that there is more value in the process than the product, and aim to build a similar attitude in my students as they develop into life-long learners!
Michelle Ulvila
Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher
Bachelor of Science in Education - Indiana University, USA
Master of Science in Reading - Barry University, USA
Greetings! My name is Michelle Ulvila, and I have been teaching professionally since 2006. My roles have included homeroom teacher for kindergarten to grade 3, English as a Second Language (ESOL) teacher, and Reading Specialist. I´m originally from Chicago, but I´ve spent time teaching in Seoul, Miami, and the UAE. I am also certified to teach kids yoga and mindfulness. My free time is spent reading at coffee shops, traveling, practicing yoga, and being active outdoors. I became a teacher because I believe in the importance of education. I want to make a difference in young people´s lives and to inspire each student to have the same passion as I do to become a lifelong learner. I strive to promote independence and a love for learning in my students. My goal is to bring an open mind, a positive attitude, and high expectations to the classroom each day.
Stephanie Herron
Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher
B.S. Elementary Education - University of Central Florida, USA
Hi! I´m Stephanie and I am a Grade 2 Homeroom teacher here at Berkeley. I am originally from the state of Wisconsin, but lived in Florida for 15 years before moving to Bangkok. In 2020, I moved to Thailand with my husband and our two children with the desire to experience new cultures while still fulfilling my passion for teaching. I have been working in the education field since 2006 and I am always seeking new ways to make learning fun and engaging for my students. I believe that all children are eager to learn when they are excited about the content, and it is my job as a teacher to find what interests my students and allow that to drive my lessons.
When I am not in school, you can find me spending time with my family, traveling, or reading a good book! I am looking forward to a very fun and successful school year.
Lizz Merryman
Elementary Learning Support
I´m Lizz Merryman. I´m excited to be working with your child this year! With over 15 years of experience working with kids from preschool through high school, I bring a lot of passion and understanding to the classroom. I grew up in San Diego, went to Point Loma Nazarene University, and spent six wonderful years living in Cheonan, South Korea. In my free time, I enjoy crafting, reading, and watching sci-fi movies. I look forward to teaming up with you and the homeroom teachers to make this year a great experience for your child!
