School Updates
Meet the MYP Coordinator Ms. Rachel Samson
In our previous issue, we introduced you to our new DP Coordi-
nator, Mr. Markus Mattila. This time, we will introduce our readers to and find out more about our new MYP Coordinator, Ms. Rachel Samson. Impact: Please tell us about yourself. Rachel Samson: I was born in India but my family moved to the U.A.E. six months later. I spent my childhood there until we moved again to Canada. Growing up, my family travelled and moved houses frequently so I developed a keen interest in exploring the world around me. I enjoyed learning about different cultures, histories, languages, but it was in high school that my passion for the sciences was solidified. After completing the DP, I attended the University of Toronto, majoring in Human Biology and French Literature. After a friend of mine shared her experience of teaching abroad, I thought that was a great opportunity to combine my passions for being a life-long learner and travelling. I completed my Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University and my first chance at teaching overseas was at an IB school in Alexandria, Egypt. After two years there, I was fortunate to find a position at Concordian, and my five years here have flown by in the blink of an eye! Impact: Why did you choose Thailand for your international career and what are some aspects that you enjoy most about living here? Rachel Samson: I was open-minded about where I would teach after Egypt. While considering Thailand, I knew I would enjoy the warm weather, the beaches and mountains, the food, the city life, and that it is a central hub for travel in this region. After coming here, I found Bangkok to be a unique mix of East and West. As a third culture kid, I really enjoy this aspect and the friendly, caring people I have met here. Impact: How has being at Concordian made you a better person and a better teacher?
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Rachel Samson: Having taught in the Math and Science departments, and having interacted with teachers and staff across the school for service, homeroom, and various projects, it is definitely our colleagues who inspire and support me to be a better teacher. They have their own unique perspective of best practices for teaching and learning, but all of them are rooted in their passion for giving our students a meaningful education. As for being a better person, my experiences here have built up my self-confidence and ability to be a risk-taker. The admin is always encouraging us to develop our skills and pursue new opportunities, even if we feel like we may not be the best at it.
Impact: What exactly does a MYP Coordinator do in an IB school such as ours? Rachel Samson: The MYP Coordinator is a liaison between many stakeholders at our school and the IB, they are responsible for the implementation of all aspects of the MYP program. This includes the standard and practices for an IB education, curriculum planning and mapping, supporting the Community and Personal Projects, professional development for staff, and communication with parents about the program. They are also responsible for ensuring a smooth transition for students from the PYP and to the DP. Impact: How do you make sure that at the end of MYP our students are well prepared to make the transition into the DP programme? Rachel Samson: Although the DP subjects are academically rigorous, successful completion of the Diploma Programme requires students to have more than just a depth or breadth of knowledge. They have to balance their coursework with service to the community, the extended essay, and other extracurriculars. Throughout their time in the MYP, students build on the skills that were introduced in the PYP; communication, collaboration, research, creative and critical thinking, organisational and reflective skills are what will support them in their endeavours as life-long learners. Our school’s on-going commitment to purposeful action in the community and the Personal Project, a student-driven inquiry in MYP 5, provides them the opportunity to further demonstrate other IB values such as the Learner Profile attributes and international-mindedness.