Co-founder and Early Childhood TeacherOriginally Thai, Soonya spent her childhood years predominantly outside the country. After studying at Jiddu Krishnamurti holistic schools in India for almost 10 years, she moved to England for further studies. She has a BA in International Relations from England and a MSc in Development Studies from Sweden. Prior to starting Wonder Valley, Soonya worked for a German political foundation and later as a business news reporter for the Bangkok Post.
It took over 20 years of many educational initiatives first started by her mother at Suan Sai Nam, a Krishnamurti Retreat in southern Thailand to finally arrive with the idea for Wonder Valley.
Soonya believes that “true” education is the fundamental and most sustainable endeavor to bring about happy human beings attuned with who they really are. And it is such people who will readily contribute their full potential for the betterment of humanity.
Soonya is married and has a daughter, Kamin who also studies at Wonder Valley.
Mrs. Sunanta Khiawhom
School DirectorFrom experience as a teacher and school leader or director more than 30 years. It is considered an important opportunity and mission in pushing the various work of the school to be successful. The important aspect that I adhere to is being a leader with a positive attitude can help support and create learning innovation which the most important thing is building good relationships between school, parents and community that make it a good environment conducive to learning of students in which everyone participates in education, or it can be called a school that creates happiness. For everyone who come to learn together. Actually it is truly a valuable source of learning.
Please come and be a part of our school.
Aom Apinya Kaenwongkam
Early Childhood EducatorApinya has an open heart. Being and learning with children makes her happy. She believes that love is the most important tool for both the children and herself to overcome various forms of changes in life. She has been working with children since 2011, after graduating with a degree in education from Burapa University.
With a strong motivation and passion in working in social work and working with children, along with a wide range of skills including art, music, classroom management for different age and other relevant trainings she received (such as crisis management), led her to work with people from all around the world.
Nowadays, Apinya is one of the educators of Wonder Valley, which situated hundreds of kilometres away from her hometown in the Mae Khong region. She decided to settle her energised spirit in the valley for love to be close to the nature. She also believes that this community will nurture not only the children to find their own paths of growth here, but so is she.
Angela Jain
Science and Maths teacher and curriculum developerAngie, studied at Jiddu Krishnamurti schools in India and has degrees in Chemistry and Education. She is a founding member of Shibumi, an alternative school based on the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, where she also taught for five years. Angie believes in a holistic approach to education and in building an environment for children that is free of fear. She seeks to make the process of learning enjoyable, exploratory, and one that requires problem solving. A good teacher for her is patient, flexible, and is able to approach situations with good humour.
Angie took this philosophy to many organisations and learning spaces, where she worked on designing learner-centered education programs and curriculum and pedagogy, and mentored educators. She also brings with her a variety of skills and interests such as soap making, farming, cooking, and photography.
Her love for new experiences, being creatively challenged, and exploring new spaces has now brought her to Wonder Valley.
Maximillian Peter Richmond
Primary TeacherMax was born, raised and educated in England. He holds a BA in European Literary and Cultural Studies and an MA in Contemporary Poetics. Max's teaching journey began as a volunteer in an NGO school in Kolkata in 2013. He worked there for 2 years during which time he qualified as an English language teacher. After this he returned to England to study to become a fully-fledged primary school teacher. He trained and taught for 3 years in England in his home county. A sense of adventure then brought Max to Thailand where he has been living and working for the past 6 years, teaching in an international school in Bangkok and then on Koh Phangan. Max has a great desire to find a healthier, more balanced and integrated way of educating and of living. As such he feels blessed to have found Wonder Valley International and the passionate community of teachers and learners that make up its body and heart.
Our Mentor
Mr.Pichai Srisai
Director, Songkhla Community Foundation
Mr.Pramote Juthaporn
Retired academic and electrical engineer.
Associate Professor Dr.Soree Pokaeo
Former lecturer in Counselling at Chulalongkorn University
Assistant Professor Amporn Sornprasit
Assistant Professor of Science Faculty, PSU
Dr. Nirand Wichsethsamit
Specialised Doctor in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine in Community's Mental Health and Director of Mayo Hospital, Pattani
Dr. Woralak Chookamnerd
Licensee of Woraphat Nursery and Educational Innovator
