Learn Like King’s Bangkok by Koren Sullivan: Head of Maths

Ignite your passion and unleash your potential

King’s College International School Bangkok believes our 3 pillars - Academic Excellence, Co-curricular Programme, and Pastoral Care System - can strengthen and pave the way for all of our students’ futures. For academic excellence, it cannot be denied that teachers are the key to success, so we always select the best people to work with us and the children.

Koren Sullivan, Head of Mathematics at King’s Bangkok, graduated and gained a PGCE from the University of Cambridge. She formerly worked as a Maths Teacher at King’s College School Wimbledon and has spent the past 11 years in the teaching profession. Koren consistently shows us how into Maths she always has been and continues to be in each and every one of her classes. King’s Bangkok School strongly believes that her plethora of knowledge and her strong passion for Mathematics will instill a love of Maths, equations and logic much like her own in every student. We recently interviewed her and would like to share some of her thoughts on teaching and her experiences.

1. What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to always have the highest expectations from my students. I love Maths, so I might be a little biased, but I think not only is it the most important subject but it's also the most fun. My aim for my classes is to allow them to see how satisfying and enjoyable Maths can be. I believe that education should be accessible to everyone. I love taking my classes on mathematical journeys and explorations to ensure that their Maths education is filled with fond memories and a love for learning.

2. How long have you taught and what are some of the proudest moments as a teacher? 

This is my eleventh year in the teaching profession.

Results day is consistently a proud moment, as I always invest so much time and effort into each of my classes and I love reading about my students' successes.

Last year, a student told me that he had previously never been that keen to get onto the extension work, but in my lessons, he was excited to be able to complete the puzzles because he said that I made them fun.

For my most recent GCSE cohort I supported the lowest set over two years, and through my unwavering positivity and enthusiasm, rekindled a love for Mathematics for many of the students who had become disenchanted with it. Pupils have also given me very complimentary feedback about the notes that I provide to aid their revision in the best way possible.

As head of house in my previous teaching post, the students in my house won three events in one day! For someone who is competitive by nature, this was an incredibly proud moment! In summer of 2019, I accompanied two groups of sixth form students to Annapurna base camp in Nepal at 4130 m asl. The elements were against us but the students showed resilience and determination to reach the top and it was an incredible achievement of both groups to do so and a privilege to witness their triumph.

3. If there are children who do not like a subject, how would you change their attitude towards the subject?

It's sad to hear if a student dislikes Mathematics, and I feel it is because they haven't been shown the intricacies and how complex systems can be represented with simple equations. Maths always keeps you on your toes and never gets monotonous, each new topic is exciting and something to look forward to. Both Mr. Eskander and I have a passion for Mathematics that shines through our teaching and it's contagious.

4. What would be the best advice to your students before the class starts?

My advice to students would be to attend Maths lessons expecting to enjoy them. Numbers and Mathematics help us understand the world; the real-life applications are fascinating and endless, facilitating us to view the world in a way that nothing else can! The satisfaction you get from solving a mathematical challenge that initially seemed impossible is the best feeling in the world, it's unparalleled (intentional Maths pun). With a positive attitude and determination, students can achieve so much more and unlock that unrivaled feeling.

5. Science and Maths seem challenging when learning online. How would you encourage your students to focus and earn the most learning experience before you teach them in person?

So far this term, I have been so impressed with the students. They turn up to lessons with smiles on their faces and a readiness to learn, which can be challenging during online learning. Each class has submitted work of an excellent quality and shows the diligence and care that they have taken over their work. I have found that with a stylus and therefore the ability to write on presentations, we have had access to unlock some of the mathematics that would not have been possible otherwise. Maths is a subject that should be live, not prescriptive, and through the profound insights of my students, we have had plenty of enjoyable mathematical tangents and further extension to the lesson material.

Mathematics is the basis for all the sciences and underpins every area of our everyday lives, so I want my students to dream big and remember their goals, whether that is to become a doctor, a teacher or a musician. I can confidently say that whatever field they choose will require some level of Mathematics, so holding those dreams close to them will help students focus through the large amounts of screen time during the school day.

6. King’s Bangkok is a community centred around kindness. We also uphold the values of good manners and wisdom. What do these values mean to you?

Wisdom and Kindness are two of the core values at King's Wimbledon also, so I endeavour to instil these in every student I encounter. Empathy plays a key role in kindness to others; my form group and I have spent some of our form periods discussing how we can become kinder people. To me, developing kindness in others and exercising kindness myself is a sure way of being able to end every school year in a slightly better and more compassionate place.  

Koren has demonstrated both her passion for Mathematics and her skill in bringing out the best in all of her students. Her positive attitude and vigour in her teaching will definitely be a great inspiration for our students. Her background, full of academic achievements, paired with her love of integrating fun into her classes and making them as enjoyable as possible benefits our students’ learning journeys. King’s Bangkok is honoured to have her as Head of Mathematics and believes that our students can truly extend their knowledge and learning ability here, with the help of her and the rest of our wonderful faculty.