Barry Sutherland is the Head of School at Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh. He has held leadership positions in seven international schools over the last 30 years; six of them as Head of School in Thailand, Tanzania, Vietnam and Cambodia. In addition, he has worked in schools in Canada and Singapore. He has served as Founding Head in schools as well as leading schools through major campus development phases. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Waterloo as well as a Master of Arts in English from the same institution. His bachelor degree in education is from the University of Toronto and his Masters degree in School Leadership and Administration is from The College of New Jersey. Barry returns to Cambodia to lead another world class school in Phnom Penh through a significant period in its development and he is excited by this challenge in a country he knows well and loves. He is especially grateful to be involved with the Shrewsbury family of schools who have a worldwide reputation for tradition and rigor in education, as well as a healthy dose of serious fun.
Toby Waterson is the Founding Principal of Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh, which opened its doors in 2022 and is now entering an exciting new phase of development with the opening of a third campus. He read International Politics and Geography at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he also gained his PGCE, before completing a Master’s in Educational Leadership at the University of Buckingham. With nearly three decades of teaching and leadership experience across the UK, South Korea, and Brazil, he brings both depth and breadth of perspective to his work. He was a founding member of North London Collegiate School Jeju, South Korea; the school was awarded British International School of the Year in 2021, and he is passionate about establishing schools of lasting impact. At Shrewsbury Phnom Penh, Toby is now central to the planning and development of the school’s third campus, which reflects both the ambition of the institution and the strength of its growing community. His focus is on ensuring that the school continues to deliver an ambitious, innovative, and holistic education that reflects the ethos of Shrewsbury School UK, while embracing the opportunities unique to Cambodia. He believes wholeheartedly in the lifelong value of a well-rounded education, where academic excellence, creativity, and character development go hand in hand. Toby is married with three young children, and enjoys exploring Cambodia’s outdoors whenever he has the chance!
Alina Manda is a British-qualified national leader of education with over 18 years of international experience across Europe, Asia, and Africa, working with multiple curricula including the British National Curriculum, Cambridge, and the International Primary Curriculum. She holds Qualified Teacher Status, the National Qualification for Senior Leadership from UCL Institute of Education, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management. Throughout her career, Alina has taught across all primary phases and held a variety of leadership positions, from Class Teacher and Head of Department in London, to Head of an international primary school in Malaysia, Founder of an online coding club in Romania, and most recently Founding Head of an international primary school in Nigeria. She is an Associate Member of The British Computer Society and has worked as a consultant for local government in the UK, training more than 100 teachers and supporting 32 schools; she has also collaborated with ICT advisors to Ministries in Japan, South Korea, Sweden, and The Netherlands, and co-authored research on computing education with Japanese scholars. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education must transform lives by fostering self-awareness, a strong moral compass, and the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century. Now leading Shrewsbury Primary School Phnom Penh, Alina is excited to be part of Cambodia’s educational landscape while immersing herself in the country’s vibrant culture.
Originally from the UK, James holds a BA in History from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and a PGCE from Canterbury Christ Church University. He has taught in London, China, and the Dominican Republic. With over six years of international teaching experience and more than three years in London classrooms, James brings a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and a calm, pastoral approach to the classroom.
He has led subjects including History, Geography, and ICT, and is passionate about building strong relationships and fostering curiosity in young learners, empowering them with critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy for the 21st century. Coming from a strong edtech background, James worked in a Google-affiliated school and was part of the team awarded Edufuturist School of the Year for innovation in edtech. Outside the classroom, he enjoys learning languages, scuba diving, and cycling. He is thrilled to be joining the warm and welcoming community at Shrewsbury Phnom Penh.
Richard McDermott received his Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Design at Edgehill University in the UK. He also gained the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers in 2021. He has taught across the whole primary range during his 27 year career and held leadership positions including many curriculum subjects and also a headship in Saudi Arabia. Richard has served as a Council of International School’s (CIS) visitor and overseen successful CIS and British Schools Overseas (BSO) qualifications at the schools he has worked in. Since the first ten years teaching in the UK, Richard has always remained closely connected to the classroom and classroom practice. Leadership has involved a close focus on teaching, learning and curriculum. He creates warm and welcoming classroom environments where children excel both academically and socially. Outside of the classroom, Richard is as passionate about writing as he is about following his favourite sports team. He has taught students from around the world, has always wanted to work in South East Asia and therefore he is excited to join the growing school of Shrewsbury Phnom Penh.
Heather graduated with a Mathematics Degree from the University of Bath in the UK in 2014, and, after a few years working in sales and project management, decided to pursue her love of learning and working with children to become a primary school teacher. Leaving the University of Winchester in the UK in 2018 with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education for Primary Education, she then worked in Bristol, England. Having taught both upper and lower Key Stage 2, Heather has a broad understanding and knowledge of the content and expectations of the national curriculum for England. During her teaching career, Heather has led on both science and sustainability (two of her passions) along with providing extra support and interventions for mathematics. Creating curious, confident and creative learners is at the heart of her educational philosophy. Teaching at Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh is Heather’s first foray into teaching internationally and she loves living in and experiencing the Kingdom of Wonder!
Nicola studied her Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies at Sheffield Hallam University and holds a Primary PostGraduate Certificate in Education and a Trinity Diploma in TESOL from the same institution. She went on to gain a Masters in Education from the University of Sheffield. For her MA dissertation, she researched the approaches teachers use when teaching Key Stage 1 students to read, as she is an advocate of promoting a love of reading to all her students and wanted to delve into how best to support children with learning to read. She has created a variety of phonics training for teachers as she believes phonics has a positive impact on a child’s reading and writing development. Nicola has worked in education for over ten years and joins us from an outstanding British International School in Kuwait. She is a committed and dedicated educator who strives to ensure all students fulfil their potential, feel acknowledged and listened to and become global citizens. She is enjoying applying her wide experience and knowledge at Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh.
Originally from the UK, Julie holds a B’Ed in Early Childhood. She has taught in Lincolnshire, UK, Jordan, Thailand, China, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. With over 14 years of teaching in the UK and 14 years internationally Julie brings a wealth of knowledge about the Early Years Foundation Stage including the International Early Years Curriculum, Reggio Emilio, EtonHouse Inquire, Think, Learn curriculum and Early Childhood development. She has joined Shrewsbury Phnom Penh from the British School Riyadh.
She believes that all children deserve the best possible start to their educational journey. She is committed to creating a nurturing, consistent, and adaptable environment where strong relationships between children, parents, and staff are central to each child’s success. Julie delivers the EYFS curriculum through in-the-moment planning, following children’s interests and recognising ‘teachable moments’ to move learning forward. With a calm, stimulating, and well-organised learning environment, indoors and outdoors, she supports curiosity, independence, and progress. Outside of the classroom Julie enjoys reading, sewing and becoming involved in voluntary organisations within the community.
Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Eun has been living and teaching internationally since 2015. She holds a BA in French Language and Literature from Ewha Womans University in Seoul and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education for Early Years from the University of Sunderland, UK. She has also completed a master-level programme in literary translation in Korea and studied creative writing at the British Centre for Literary Translation at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. With a deep passion for early childhood education and literature, Eun began her teaching journey in Hamburg, Germany, and most recently taught in Phnom Penh at Northbridge International School Cambodia. She is dedicated to creating child-led, play-based learning environments where every child feels safe, valued and inspired. She is especially committed to supporting multilingual learners and nurturing global citizenship through inclusive, creative experiences. Outside the classroom, Eun is also an accomplished literary translator, with work published in international journals including Harper’s Magazine in the US. With her love for language and literature, she aspires to nurture young learners’ imagination, expression, and empathy through stories and meaningful engagement with the world of books.
Dean is a highly experienced physical education teacher with a diverse teaching career spanning various locations and age groups. He holds a Bachelor’s of Education (Honours) degree in Physical Education from the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education (now the University of Chichester) in the UK. His journey began in a multicultural secondary school in the East End of London, where he learned to appreciate and respect different cultures through the power of sports. Five years later, he took on the role of Head of PE at an outstanding middle school in Dorset, UK, refining his leadership skills. Dean’s career has also involved teaching abroad in Borneo and China, where he introduced successful programmes and pathways for students to develop their physical, social and cognitive skills. With a deep understanding of the British early years and primary curriculum, Dean enjoys contributing to the holistic education of our students through PE and swimming lessons. As for all our teachers, Dean brings a wealth of expertise and passion to the role and the school.
Rachel discovered her love in playing piano at an early age and enrolled under Raymond Tan at age six and this led to earning her Diploma in Music Performance in Trinity Licentiate (LTCL) later gaining a Bachelor of Music (Hons) in Music Performance and Pedagogy at University Science Malaysia and her Masters in Music Education from Kingston University London. She has now over fourteen years of working experiential wealth behind her; teaching, arranging music, conducting orchestras and establishing music clubs to enable students to engage, explore and develop their skills. Rachel believes music is an important element in a student’s life as it is an incredible vehicle for self expression. Her involvement in this industry demonstrates her commitment to her profession and does not stop here. In between semester breaks, she attends music workshops and events to network with other educators.
Siling is an experienced educator with a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Assumption University and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Management and Systems from Tianjin Foreign Studies University. She holds a Certificate for International Chinese Language Teachers from the Confucius Institute Headquarters. With over eleven years of experience in language education, Siling has a strong background in teaching at international schools in Thailand. She has now brought her rich expertise to Cambodia. Passionate about education, Siling continues to inspire students by integrating a rich understanding of Mandarin language and culture into her teaching practices.
Chantheth attended the Royal University of Phnom Penh and received a Bachelor of Khmer Language and gained experience teaching Khmer literature following her degree. After a year working as a teaching assistant at Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh and learning the ethos and practical skills commonly employed here, she has taken on the responsibilities of teacher of Khmer language. Chantheth is passionate about the Khmer language and culture and brings this alive in the classroom.
Ella Horsnell graduated with a strong foundation in education and is TESOL qualified, showcasing her passion for teaching and commitment to early childhood education. Having spent the past five years in Cambodia, she has developed a deep love for the country and its vibrant culture. Before moving to Cambodia, Ella worked in a boarding school in the UK, where she gained invaluable experience in nurturing students’ growth and development. This role allowed her to work closely with children from diverse backgrounds, enhancing her understanding of childhood development and the unique challenges and joys that come with it. At Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh, Ella is dedicated to creating engaging learning environments that foster curiosity and creativity in young learners. She believes that every child deserves the opportunity to explore and discover their potential, and she is committed to supporting their educational journeys.
