Administration

Ms. Tracy France-George, Elementary Principal

I am originally from the North West of the United Kingdom and began my teaching career over there 19 years ago. I graduated with an Honours degree in Modern Arts and decided that teaching would be the career for me! I met my husband Jeremy when we were training to be teachers at the University of Leicester. After 5 years teaching in Britain we decided to combine our love of traveling with our chosen careers. We are lucky to have lived and worked in Mexico, Colombia and Russia. We first visited Cambodia 12 years ago and we knew this would be a place that we would love to return to.

I have been a PYP teacher and Coordinator since 2000 and believe strongly in the three IB programmes. I was also the Elementary Assistant Principal here at ISPP and in my former school in Russia. I am also thrilled to have my two children educated within the IB programmes. ISPP is a family centred community; our students are truly international and wonderful to be with. I truly appreciate how lucky I am to have such a satisfying job at ISPP. This year brings further challenge as I embark upon my second year as Principal and I keep myself busy by completing my Masters of Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Bath in the UK, working full time and being a mother to a Grade 4 and a Grade 2 student. There is never a dull moment in a PYP school!

Ms. Kim Engasser- Assistant Elementary Principal

I was born in Vietnam and moved to southern California, USA in 1974. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and this year marks my twentieth year in education. I graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from there went on to receive my Teaching Credential and ESL Certificate from the same institution. In 2006, I received my Principal Training Certificate from the Principal Training Centre in Miami, USA and I hold a Master’s degree of Science from Buffalo State, State University of New York.

I taught for five years in the USA and held a range of leadership positions at Alvord Unified School District, California, before moving to Bangkok, Thailand. The New International School of Thailand (NIST) has an extremely strong PYP programme and that was where I worked and learned for over 10 years, I taught a variety of grade levels and had the leadership responsibility of being the elementary school Maths coordinator and for many years I was a grade level coordinator as well. While at NIST, I became an IB-PYP workshop leader and trainer, and started traveling throughout Asia Pacific to conduct PYP workshops whenever my school duties permit. I met my partner, Nik Mische, who works in higher education, in Bangkok, and we have been exploring the world together ever since. In 2008, I moved to Hong Kong and became the PYP Coordinator at a school called Hong Kong Academy and joined ISPP as the Elementary Assistant Principal and PYP Coordinator in 2010.

I find ISPP to be a truly amazing place with a wonderful community feeling and spirit, and it provides an excellent IB-PYP education for all elementary students. I am a strong believer in the programme not only because it is an inquiry-based, concept-driven and transdisciplinary programme that fosters the development of a whole child, but the attributes of an international minded student are fully imbedded in the curriculum and this promotes life-long learning. Learning in a PYP school is always about continuous development and the effect is truly fulfilling.

Sally Relph, Business Manager

Originally from Preston in the North-West of England, I first came to Cambodia in 1995 whilst travelling in South and South-East Asia with my husband, Andy; we fell in love with the country and the region and fifteen years later it's amazing to see how life's direction changed.

An auditor by training, I had a fascinating experience back in Phnom Penh from 1998, both in audit and assurance services and as Country Manager with Coopers & Lybrand/ PricewaterhouseCoopers; it's such a widely varied and rapidly changing environment, and it was hugely rewarding to see the firm grow and the young Cambodian staff develop to internationally trained CPAs.

I came to ISPP as Business Manager in 2003; enrolment has doubled since that time and the constantly shifting challenges of a growing school continue to give me a wonderfully broad learning experience. Our son, Daniel, and daughter, Molly, are both benefiting from the school's cultural mix, its commitment to the IB philosophy and from the work of creative and dedicated faculty and staff. It's demanding but very invigorating to be part of this dynamic and professional international community committed to continuous improvement.

Mr. Anthony Coles, Secondary Principal

ISPP is my fourth International Baccalaureate World School. My passion for the IB has taken me from my home country of Australia to Switzerland and Sri Lanka where I have expanded my knowledge along the way!

I believe that schools are more than just places; they are made up of strong connections and partnerships between students and teachers, parents and the whole community; they need to be an environment where people are able to thrive and grow.

ISPP is a diverse learning community that lives out its mission by helping each student to achieve their ‘personal excellence’. I am a life-long leaner and currently in the final stage of completing a masters of educational leadership and administration. The ISPP faculty brings broad experiences and expertise to the lives of our students. I am excited to be part of ISPP; a student-centred community.

Mrs. Holly Gardner, Assistant Secondary Principal

I am from Littleton, NH, about an hour from the Canadian border, where we get our first snow by Halloween and our last snow the end of April, and where I learned to ski and ice skate at the same time I learned to walk!   I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in English Literature and then began teaching middle school English, Drama and Gifted and Talented Education.  During that time, I also became involved in directing large-scale plays and musicals.  Since then I have directed at least one play or musical every year and some years as many as four different productions.  I have a passion and love for the arts and how they help students to develop confidence, self esteem, team work as well as language skills.

 

After teaching in NH for ten years, I decided to step out of the states for the challenge of teaching and being an administrator overseas.   My first overseas position was in Turkey where I taught English and was English Department Head.  Soon after arriving there, I began doing administrative tasks and soon found myself as the Assistant Academic Principal.  After four years in Turkey, I moved to Thailand where I was the Deputy Head of a small boarding school for eight years.  Sadly I left Thailand after eight years to move closer to home and ended up in Mexico where I’ve been working as the Drama Teacher/Director and Fine Arts Department Head as well as completing my Masters in Education.

 

I’m excited to return to SE Asia and look forward to working at ISPP.  My daughter too is thrilled to return to the area of the world she considers home.  I’m thrilled for her to be part of the IB program and the school’s rich cultural diversity.  And I look forward to my new challenge as the Assistant Upper School Principal.