From the Boardroom

School Update

From the Boardroom Dear all beloved Concordians, I have been a part of the Concordian community for more than 12 years. My eldest son graduated from Concordian four years ago and is now studying for his master degree at the University of Melbourne in Australia. My youngest son has been with Concordian since Nursery and is now in G8. I started to become involved in Concordian community work as a secretary of the PTA. After a few years, I was invited to join the school Board of Trustees and I have been a Board member for 10 years. I have experienced this school since the time when we had only a few hundred students, and now we have almost a thousand!

Board members attend the Board of Trustee meetings as well as specific committee meetings. We give advice and guidance on various school related matters as needed. One area which I am closely involved in is athletics.

I am the mother of an athlete so I understand the importance of many matters relating to sports. Both my sons are quite sporty. My eldest son did Showjumping and currently plays soccer and runs. My youngest son swims, plays Badminton and used to play chess. One thing I like about sports here at Concordian is that there is always an opportunity for any student who would like to try and play. The child can just try and see if they would like to continue playing. That’s it! From what I’ve seen after many years involved in sports, I do believe they can be a very important part of developing a child’s character. Children learn sportsmanship and discipline. They also gain self-esteem and self-value.

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I am proud that I am a part of the active support for the new Sport Complex that includes a 50-meter swimming pool. At the time when we only had a 25-meter pool, some of the swim moms presented our dream to the school administration. We never thought that our dream would materialize and expand into the beautiful 5-story Sport Complex we see today. This is evidence of how our school’s admin team and the Board are open to constructive suggestions and comments. Everything is possible for the well-being of our students. And I have to tell you school never stops improving. We always think ahead and try our best to make this community a happy place for all. This is the main reason why I continue to be a board member: to give back to this great community that lays down a solid foundation and shapes the future of both my sons.

Khun Suparp Kancvalskul Board Member

School Update

Getting to Know the Board Members

Suparp Pattarathammas Kancvalskul

Michael J. Lauer

Lawyer & Mother

General Manager, Asia; DP Technology Corporation

Why is serving on the Board of Trustees important to you?

I feel this school is special and important for the future of Thailand. Serving on the Board of Trustee here allows me to contribute to this special community that I hope one day will change Thailand for the better through our students.

Why is serving on the Board of Trustees important to you?

I believe that serving on the Board is an honor. I am pleased to be a part of the team that guides the school to keep following its Vision and Mission in the ever changing dynamics of education for our future leaders.

What professional expertise do you bring to your role?

The viewpoint of a parent and a legal professional.

What makes Concordian’s Mission and Vision powerful for you?

They are powerful to me because I hope the Mission and Vision of this school manifest genuinely in both my childrens’ lives. Also I think most of the parents who send their kids here have the same mission and vision in mind.

What would you like the Concordian Community to know about the Board of Trustees?

I would like our community to know that each member of the BOT works hard for the well-being of the school and the community. We are here to serve and make this a better place.

What professional expertise do you bring to your role?

I am a USA citizen that graduated in chemical engineering and also an MBA in the USA. I have had a 25 year career in Asia while living in three different countries. Along the way I have acquired language proficiencies in Thai and Mandarin Chinese and have learned to understand and enjoy the culture differences in our everyday experiences.

What makes Concordian’s Mission and Vision powerful for you?

I know that many international schools focus heavily on excellence in academics. I think what sets Concordian apart is the incorporation of integrity and social responsibility into its training for future leaders by tightly weaving these elements into IB coursework and group projects.

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What would you like the Concordian Community to know about the Board of Trustees?

The Board is very eager to reach out and talk with parents to understand more about why they chose Concordian and an IB education, how the school is evolving, and how they feel the school is performing in pursuit of the Mission and Vision. One matter to emphasize is that the Board Members that are representatives of parents are not involved in the day to day decisions of running the school. Our focus is on school policies and long term strategy to make sure the school is meeting the needs of the parents and students.