who we are
Seeds of Phangan International Kindergarten is established and fully run by certified, experienced and passionate American and German Early Years Educators.
Values
We value empathy, mindfulness, interculturality and respect and care for the environment. Children's social, emotional and academic learning needs are nurtured in a safe, stimulating and welcoming setting.
Ages
Children ages 2-5.6 years old and from all backgrounds are welcome to apply. Seeds is a unique International English Kindergarten and the Seeds team is qualified and experienced in teaching English as a second language.
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30am-3:00pm
Location
We are centrally located at 50/49 Moo 2 in Soi Suan Pa (Thong Sala area), very close to The Phangan Community Garden, Big C, Makro, First Western Hospital and many other shops and markets. You may follow the street signs to find us.
Support Locals
We support the Thai local community wherever we can. Our bamboo furniture is locally sourced and our morning circle cushions and uniforms are handmade from Northern Thai cotton and local Thai tailors.
seeds philosophy
We believe in a holistic education which focuses on the whole child and encourages student engagement in the learning process. We prioritize social, emotional, physical and spiritual learning just as much as intellectual skills to foster the development of confident, curious and well rounded individuals. We are convinced that children need a balance of routine, self-guided and teacher-led learning. This allows them space to explore their own interests, while we support and facilitate their learning to reach their full potential.
Our holistic kindergarten is run in a student-centered manner rather than teach-centered. It flows through the following process:
1. Recognize child’s interests
2. Create a fun and interactive environment
3. Use a variety of approaches
4. Ask students open-ended questions
5. Encourage individual dreams and visions
Through this approach, we aim to grow students 21st century skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. We embrace interculturality, diversity and equality and encourage students to make connections between what's at hand, their experiences, and their communities.
We also strive for students to have the courage to take risks in the surrounding beautiful and natural environment. Through these connections, students develop empathy and respect for animals, the environment, and the world around them.
Nurturing all aspects of the child and giving them the proper tools to develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually prepares students for success in this dynamic and ever-changing world.
Most importantly for us, if your child enters the classroom with a smile, learns and grows, then we’ve accomplished our goal!
Founding team
Elli Biedermann
Founder
I grew up in a forest in the smallest village of East Germany, often building treehouses or collecting seeds and woods for crafting. My childhood in this enormous green forest formed my core beliefs that most of our capacities grew from the interaction with the environment.
My first experience working with children was when I lived in Sydney, Australia working as an AuPair. I found my passion in teaching so I followed my heart and pursued a degree in Early Childhood Development and Social Work in Germany. During my twenties, I was enriched through working with orphans at a Waldorf school in Kathmandu, Nepal and many visits to holistic schools in Delhi, India which helped me forming my core values of empathy, integrity and courage.
After studying, my wanderlust brought me to Tokyo to work as a homeroom teacher at a German School. After an incredibly instructive year in Japan, where I gained a lot of knowledge about diverse forms of teaching, I decided to move to Bangkok where I took over the management of a nursery for 6 years at an international school.
I now desire to live closer to nature after living in a busy city for so long and found my second home on this beautiful island Koh Phangan where I can make my dream come to true to open a holistic kindergarten under palm trees.
In my spare time I am always looking to grow and feed my curious mind with good books, laughs, travels and company! I'm also a big foodie and love to try out new cafes and restaurants; to balance this hobby, I enjoy running and Muay Thai.
Nikole Ferullo
Co-founder
My passion for education began during my childhood with my siblings; my favorite activity was roleplaying school and I always made sure that I was the teacher! I love working with young learners for their curious, open minded nature and the joy of celebrating each small milestone.
I’m from Boston, USA and moved to Thailand in 2019 to continue my kindergarten teaching career at an international school in Bangkok. I studied Psychology and Early Childhood Education in university and am certified in teaching English as a foreign language.
Through adventurous backpacking trips around the world to higher education, I’ve developed an interest in sustainability, environment conservation and minimalism; our kindergarten reflects these values in our design and the use of natural and locally sourced materials. I also enjoy sharing the elements of different cultures in the classroom to enhance learners' worldly and open-minded perspectives.
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking nutritious food, exercising and spending time in nature. Koh Phangan is a place where all of these aspects of my lifestyle can be intertwined while I fulfill my passion of creating a space where young learners are holistically guided on their journey through life.