We are a global movement of educators and change agents who believe that a flourishing, sustainable world begins with our students and schools.
Staff and Facilitators
Agile network of global systems thinking professionals
Board of Directors and Advisors
Supporting sustainability education to make the world better
Certified Practioners and Educators
A global team of educators
Staff and Facilitators
Compass Facilitators are Heads of School, Sustainability Directors and Educators from every discipline. Their first hand school and classroom knowledge means that their facilitation is relevant, timely and customized to the particular needs of every kind of school or classroom environment.
Compass Education is an agile social enterprise that follows a model of lean internal operations providing support for our international network of facilitators.
Staff
Nicole Swedlow
Executive Director, Compass Facilitator
Nicole Swedlow is the Executive Director of Compass Education, a global non-profit supporting education for sustainability through training in systems thinking practices. Nicole supported the team at the American School of Puerto Vallarta to develop their sustainability and service outreach initiatives. The school was awarded the Tie-Care, Tri-Association Award for Global Leadership in recognition of this work. As a consultant, she is passionate about helping schools and businesses integrate sustainable principles with a strategic, inclusive and conscious approach. Nicole’s work in nonprofit leadership and sustainability as Director of the nonprofit organization Entreamigos, has been recognized by the United Nations, as a finalist for the Global Equator Initiative, as a breakout speaker for the World Economic Forum, and by the Dalai Lama, as a 2014 Unsung Hero of Compassion. Nicole has a Masters Degree in Education and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.
- Email:[email protected]
Watkana Thongrueng
Operations Director
Watkana Thongrueng (Nong) is the Operations Director for Compass Education, providing organizational and administrative support for the education programs and Compass trainers across the globe. In addition to her work with Compass Education, Nong is an independent consultant and educator supporting the implementation of sustainable and ethical agriculture standards in Thailand. Nong provides in-country support and training for international companies and organizations including; FairAgora Asia, Starbucks, the World Wildlife Fund and the United Nations.
Nong grew up in a farm family in central Thailand before receiving her degree in Marine Science. She is passionate about educating the Thai people to develop lifestyles that protect and prioritize the environment. She believes that the best leadership is by example and she contributes to her community actively. In 2015, she was a trainer for the Network for Sustainable Development supporting the “Livable and Happiness City project” in 33 provinces. Nong contributed to the development of the Climate Change Education Framework for Thailand in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQP).
- Email:[email protected]
Nining Ikha Sumarni
Media & Communications
Nining coordinates the internal and external communications aspects of Compass Education. This includes the organization, publication and development of the website, and networks through social media channels. She also assists with the logistics of the organisation’s events. She has experiences in communications whilst coordinating the Prem Tinsulanonda International School (PTIS) Yearbook and also when working for the Mining and Energy sector for the Indonesian Government. She is Indonesian and currently lives in Bali, Indonesia with her husband, who works as a Primary School teacher at Canggu Community School, and their two daughters. She loves sports, traveling and experiencing different cultures around Asia.
- Email:[email protected]
Gitanjali Paul
Education Program Manager, Compass Facilitator
Gitanjali believes that everyone deserves access to quality, contextualized education that empowers them to thrive in and contribute to building a more just, sustainable world. She takes pride in designing, coordinating, and facilitating transformational learning in collaboration with Compass Education's network of inspiring Compass Educators. Gitanjali consults as a learning designer and facilitator for organizations striving for positive systems change on topics such as bystander intervention, violence prevention, leadership and social enterprise.
Gitanjali is indefatigably inquisitive. She has a B.A. in Peace and Justice Studies from Tufts University, an M.Ed in Education Policy, Research and Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and learns continually from nature, cooking experiments, adventures with family, and her Filipina rescue cat, Mahatma Charlie.
- Email:[email protected]
Working Group Members and Facilitators
Robert Steele
Founder/President Board of Directors, Compass Facilitator
Robert is a teacher, trainer and group process facilitator who values collaboration, partnerships, and working on a team-based strengths model. He enjoys working with inspiring and passionate people, especially educators and youth. Since 2004, Robert’s passion and focus has been systems thinking, and helping people learn to use systems thinking tools and approaches in education (classrooms and school management) and in the corporate world.
Robert is an “expert generalist” with deep knowledge in the fields of education, environmental management, energy efficiency, organisational change and leadership, CSR, sustainability and sustainable development, green economy, social enterprise development, indicator development and systems thinking. Drawing on his skill in systems thinking and bringing together many disciplines, he has developed a highly effective consulting and capacity building practice for those who seek successful change strategies with tangible results.
Robert is the founder and director of Systainability Asia, a regional consulting and training firm working with UN agencies, national governments, NGOs, universities and schools, and private sector companies throughout the East Asia region. He is also a Senior Associate of AtKisson Group, Faculty of VISIS Academy, and team leader for Compass Education since its inception in 2009.
- Email:[email protected]
Lynda Rolph
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Lynda is from England but has lived in Thailand since 1998. She trained and worked for nine years as a primary teacher in London before moving to Chiang Mai to teach science in a bilingual school.
Lynda spent many years working with the Barge Program, developing programs and facilitating environmental education experiences around Thailand. Currently, she is Head of Community at Traidhos Three-Generation Community for Learning Chiang Mai which includes the Prem Tinsulanonda International School, a visiting schools program, an environmental education watershed program based in Bangkok, a Camp program, Cooking Academy and an educational farm.
- Email:[email protected]
Kate Doré
Learning Empowerment Working Group Chair, Compass Facilitator
Kate is an educator and a life-long inquirer. She is passionate about empowering students as legitimate change-makers in wider communities. Kate has been in international education for over 12 years. She planted a co-op preschool in Taiwan that empowers new parents to take leadership roles in their children’s education, and is currently a Middle School Science teacher at United Nations International School Hanoi. Kate believes that systems thinking is key to developing the problem-solving, critical thinking, and transfer skills necessary to make sustainable change; and is very excited to be a part of Compass Education.
Kate finds balance by chasing her two children around and working closely with her husband; who challenges her to keep thinking and question everything.
- Email:[email protected]
Teresa Tung
Leadership Empowerment Working Group Chair, Compass Facilitator
Teresa Tung has facilitated learning across a wide range of age levels in primary and secondary education, and with adults. She believes that great learning should support each child know themselves, understand the world, and be joyful, successful and contributing global citizens. Currently, she is serving as the Secondary School Principal at Hong Kong Academy. With Compass Education since its inception, Teresa has been developing materials and facilitating workshops for educators since 2009. Previously, she served in a variety of roles at NIST International School in Bangkok, Thailand, and International School of Tianjin in China. In those schools, she specialized in curriculum, Service and Action, Education for Sustainable Development, and Global Citizenship. Passionate about education’s key role in developing flourishing futures, Teresa contributes regularly to work with the International Baccalaureate Organization, Bangkok ServICE Network, and SkySchool. Teresa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Teaching from the University of Virginia, as well as a Certificate of International School Leadership from Principals Training Center and a Certificate of Corporate Innovation from Stanford Graduate School of Business. In her downtime, Teresa is nourished by spending time with her husband and toddler son (and their cat who uses the human toilet), creating podcasts, and doing yoga.
- Email:[email protected]
Michael Lees
Compass Facilitator
Michael has enjoyed an eclectic professional journey, including roles as restaurateur, flight instructor, drama/science/math teacher, community service coordinator, guidance counselor, school administrator and educational consultant. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership with a focus on service learning cultures in international schools. Having been anesthetized by suburban Canada in his early life, Michael kept his sanity by living vicariously through National Geographic magazine articles, and television specials by Jacque Cousteau and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. His quest to explore this ‘pale blue dot’ has led him to meet some truly inspiring people from around the globe. The past two plus decades in international school settings has provided the opportunity to participate in some exceptionally rewarding and transformative community service learning experiences for both him and his students.
Michael’s passion lies in bridging the islands of our individual efforts and building collaborative networks of people who seek to effect positive sustainable change in their communities and beyond. Michael is the founder of the Global Issues Service Summit in Africa and is excited to be heading to Cuba in 2016 to assume the helm as the new Director of the International School of Havana.
- Email:[email protected]
Adam Erickson
Compass Facilitator
Adam is from Seattle, Washington and has been teaching overseas since 2008. He has been at UWCSEA East Campus since 2012, where he currently teaches Spanish and serves as the Grade 6-12 Environmental Stewardship Coordinator. Adam became interested in Compass Education as a method of coaching students in planning meaningful and sustainable environmental action. However, he quickly found that he needed it every bit as much as they did! Adam feels that a major win of using Compass tools at UWCSEA has been the common language it provides to students and educators alike at all grade levels. In addition to sustainability, Adam's passions include urban gardening, soccer and cycling.
Kate O'Connell
Community & Partnerships Working Group Chair, Compass Facilitator
Kate O’Connell is a passionate educator and learner with 22 years of classroom experience, 17 years of teacher leadership experience, and now is in her 2nd year of leading an international school as a Principal. She has taught a variety of age levels including: 4 year olds, 5 year olds,
Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and 7th Grade Science.
Kate is pursuing a Certificate of School Management and Leadership through Harvard Business School and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Kate is originally from the United States and has taught both at home and abroad in China, Tanzania, Thailand and Cambodia. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University in Elementary Education in 1995 and her Master of Arts in Curriculum and
Instruction in 2001 also from Michigan State University.
Kate is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Workshop Leader and also leads other workshops including Compass Education. Kate regularly leads workshops for teachers throughout the Asia-Pacific Region. Online she has coached courses through Harvard Graduate School of Education’s WIDE World.
- Email:[email protected]
Michael Johnston
Community & Partnerships Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Mike Johnston is the Assistant Head of School at Frankfurt International School. He has lead workshops and keynoted for teachers and administrators around the world on sustainability, global curriculum K-12 and how service learning should not just be what you do, but who you are as a school. Mike is a proud member of the Common Ground Collaborative advisory council seeking to transform learning in schools globally. As a member of the Compass Education team, he is part of a growing community of passionate educators aiming to equip schools as learning communities to educate and act for a sustainable future through systems thinking and practice. He has dedicated much of his time to not only ensuring students are properly prepared for the world’s most pressing issues but that they have the skills and desire to take action. With his Doctorate in Organizational Systems Mike helps to inspire and lead schools through times of change and educational transformation. Please visit https://www.johnstonmike.com/ for more information.
- Email:[email protected]
Scott Edwards
Compass Facilitator
Scott Edwards is a LEED Accredited Professional and director of GPDM for Sustainability, a regional consultancy that helps clients find environmentally, economically, and socially responsive solutions to their needs. Scott moved from Canada to Bangkok in 2001, and since then has lived in Phnom Penh Cambodia, Hanoi Vietnam, and Jakarta Indonesia. Arriving in South East Asia with a background in building design and sustainability, Scott’s involvement with international schools in the region has led to a growing interest in the relationships between sustainability, design and education. Scott has recently completed a Master of Science in Environmental Education & Interpretation from the University of Wisconsin, and has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Building Design & Construction from the Sustainable Design Institute at Boston Architectural College.
Drawing on his experience with educators, his architectural training, and an understanding of education for sustainable development and systems thinking, Scott assists Schools with their efforts to develop holistic, whole-school approaches to the topic of sustainability. Scott is excited to be joining Compass Education in their work of empowering students, educators and learning leaders and fostering the development of a more resilient and sustainable society.
- Email:[email protected]
Martin Spreckley
Compass Facilitator
Martin is from the North of England with his first experience of South East Asia as a Business Development Engineer in the late 1990s. Having retrained as a teacher, Martin has has been teaching Internationally for nearly 20 years. Martin is a Middle School Science teacher at the United College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), Singapore and is also the Head of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurship Development (SEED). This three-year course empowers students aged 11-14 to contribute to a peaceful and sustainable future by providing them with an understanding of sustainability, systems thinking, and a change-making process through entrepreneurship. Martin loves seeing students extend their understanding of the world both in a global and local context and how, through this course, students are exposed to a range of systems thinking tools that enable them to think in innovative ways to make informed and sustainable decisions that support lasting change in local and global communities.
Tom McLean
Compass Facilitator
Tom is from Scotland but has lived and worked internationally for the majority of his working life. Tom previously taught IB Geography and coordinated the whole school approach to sustainability at the International School Manila (ISM), Philippines. Tom’s role at ISM evolved from his work coaching students in the use of the system thinking toolkit to facilitate the 2012 Global Issues Network (GIN) conference and has included guiding students through the process of facilitating a school-wide goal based on the sustainability pledge in the ISM mission statement. Tom regularly writes about sustainability education, his work often appeared in the East Asian Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS) triannual journal and he wrote a sustainability education position paper published by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Tom is currently leading the IB diploma accreditation process at ISG Jubail in Saudi Arabia. At this moment in time, Tom is particularly interested in the challenge of embedding a sustainability mindset in teaching and learning in the Middle East region. In furthering this aim, Tom is currently part of a team of educators working on a strategic plan for sustainability and service learning within the NESA region.
- Email:[email protected]
Cindy Chen
Learning Empowerment Working Group Co-chair, Compass Facilitator
Growing up in a multi-cultural environment, Cindy thrives to cultivate a global approach in education supporting and working with the young leaders of the world. Cindy’s involvement with Compass Education started as a passionate teacher who wished to expand her horizons and tools towards systems thinking in 2013. Ever since, sustainability has been her core value, practices, and now a trainer with Compass Education, a non-profit network equipping schools for a sustainable future.
Cindy is currently a learner and educator at NIST International School for MYP Sciences, DP Environmental Systems and Societies, and Secondary Service Coordinator. She works with various young leaders exploring possibilities, passions, and taking action in their local community through exploratory, experiential, and service-learning.
Cindy is very blessed to be involved in a very supportive and collaborative network amongst international schools in Thailand. She is an active advisor for the Bangkok ServICE Network, which inspires, connects and empowers students and educators in the Bangkok-Pattaya-Phuket regions. She co-organized and hosted the 5th and 7th annual conferences.
- Email:[email protected]
Kath Lane
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Kath Lane is a primary school teacher from the UK who has a passion for educating children about nature and sustainability. She worked at Green School in Bali, Indonesia and has completed a Masters of Education in Educating for Sustainability at Antioch University in the United States. Her most recent position was a Grade 5 teacher in United World College of South East Asia – East, in Singapore, where she was also Environmental Stewardship Coordinator and was actively involved in infusing sustainability education across the primary grades and beyond.
Kath believes that through systems thinking in the curriculum, outdoor education, service and personal/social education children can be given the passion, skills and qualities needed to make the right choices and find sustainable solutions for our world.
- Email:[email protected]
Laurence Myers
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Laurence Myers is originally from Athens, Greece and is proud of it! He is currently the Service Learning Coordinator at the American School of Dubai (ASD).
Laurence holds an M.Ed. degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. in International Relations from The College of Wooster. He also holds a certificate in Education for Sustainable Development through the Earth Charter (University of Peace), a Sustainability Leadership certificate from Ithaca College as well as a Serve & Learning Certificate in Service Learning from the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Laurence has presented and facilitated sustainability, service learning and systems thinking workshops and professional training within schools, at conferences and online throughout the world. Recently he coordinated ASD’s winning submission for a Zayed Sustainability Award Global High Schools category (MENA region).
- Email:[email protected]
Michelena McPherson
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Michelena McPherson has been working with Compass Education for 6 years as a facilitator and member of the Learning Empowerment group. She is currently a grade 4 teacher and Global Citizenship leader at American International School of Vietnam in Saigon,Vietnam. Michelena is passionate about Compass Education and believes that systems thinking is instrumental to encouraging children and educators to take action on global issues. Michelena believes in encouraging children to explore the outdoors as well as creating awareness about the issues that affect our world. Michelena has been working with her students on analyzing the 17 sustainable development goals, creating actions that students can carry out locally including teaching local children about systems thinking and sustainability. Michelena believes that systems thinking is instrumental to engage students to problem solve and take action on the global goals. Michelena has a BFA in Photography, a Master’s degree in Gifted and Special Education and a bilingual education endorsement from the University of New Mexico. In addition to teaching she likes hiking, photography, traveling, and cooking.
- Email:[email protected]
Shani Ben-Aroya
Compass Facilitator
I currently work as a CAS Coordinator and IB teacher at the Eastern Mediterranean International School in Israel. I completed level 1 and 2 of the Compass Education training and use the tools in my teaching, particularly through the CAS programme and through our peace and sustainability curriculum, ‘Global Impact’.
I love the outdoors, hiking, nature, travelling and meeting inspiring people! I am currently developing a huge passion for wellbeing and sustainable ways of connecting to oneself, each other and the planet and am using many mindfulness and meditation tools in and out of the classroom.
- Email:[email protected]
Katina Grigoraskos
Compass Facilitator
A native New Yorker, Katina is the CAS/Events Coordinator and IB TOK teacher at Wells International School in Bangkok, Thailand. Holding a PsyD in Human & Organizational Psychology, she is passionate about empowering youth and helping them find their potential. She is an MUN advisor and has been involved in other student-centered initiatives in the Bangkok region, such as the Compass Youth Empowerment Programme and the ServICE network. It is through these channels that she supports students in finding their voices and discovering their passions.
Katina is a big believer in service learning, systems thinking, and sustainability. She is fascinated by mental models, and enjoys using the Iceberg model or Ladder of Inference to delve deeper into understanding issues. She is a lifelong learner who is always trying to develop herself as a person and global citizen, hoping to inspire those around her to do the same. In her free time, Katina enjoys reading, photography, meditation, traveling, and eating delicious Thai food!
- Email:[email protected]
Elaine Reimann
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Elaine is a Third Culture Adult, born in England UK, to Jamaican parents. She has lived in seven countries across four continents with her German husband, Frank and two sons Joshua and Kaleb. Along with her 18years experience in teaching, learning and several years in leadership, Elaine communicates fluently in English, German and French and can hold conversations in Khmer and Laos language. Elaine holds a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning primary education, a Master in TESOL and a Certificate of School Management and Leadership (CSML). Elaine is the author of ‘The Supportive Classroom, Language acquisition in a Multilingual Environment for three to five-year-olds’, available on Amazon.
- Email:[email protected]
Michael Horrocks
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
- Email:[email protected]
Stacey Jones
Community & Partnerships Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Being a PE teacher who grew up in the UK and now working at a Buddhist centred school, Stacey is passionate about Inner transformation to Empower Social change. Volunteering her time with United Through Sport and Bhubesi Pride in Africa and the Caribbean, she is passionate about practical ways of empowering Youth leadership. Stacey first became involved with Compass Education when she was the MYP Service coordinator at Stamford American International School in Singapore back in 2017. Here she applied the tools to youth events including ServICE, Global Social leaders and helped prepare students for GIN 2019. Leading various sports for change programs, she encourages Youth to discover their passions and leadership potential to drive social change. She has recently completed her MA in International Education at Bath University where her dissertation involved building a Virtual Immersion program for Youth, she adapted CE tools to analyse data and trends. Stacey loves exploring the workings of the inner mind, being in the outdoors and connecting with diverse cultures.
- Email:[email protected]
Mark Mains
Community & Partnerships Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
After careers as a US Army paratrooper and an actor (among others), Mark has been an education professional for 17 years in Mukilteo, Washington, USA, and most recently in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Along the way, he earned an M.Ed. in elementary education and National Board Certification. He has developed and facilitated training in subjects such asTeacher Evaluation as a Growth Model and The Power of Public Narrative. He is excited to be working with Compass Education to promote Systems Thinking and Sustainability among educators worldwide. To learn more about Mark, go to www.markmains.com.
- Email:[email protected]
Jeffrey Kane
Leadership Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Jeffrey Kane is the Head of School at East-West International School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He has been with East-West for his entire professional career, serving first as a primary teacher, then a secondary teacher and Head of Pastoral Care, and then moving into his current role in January 2018. His work with Compass Education has helped him see the transformative power of the tools at the Leadership and Board level of the school, and he is passionately curious about learning more about how to use the tools with non-native English speakers. He serves as the Junior and Senior Boys basketball coach and is passionate about teaching life skills through sports. He holds a B.S. - Journalism from Northwestern University and an M.Ed - Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University. Jeff enjoys coaching/playing/watching basketball, travel, reading, and exercise, especially long walks with podcasts.
- Email:[email protected]
Karen Virta
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member, Compass Facilitator
Karen Virta has worked at the American School of Puerto Vallarta (ASPV) for the past five years as the lead English teacher for students ages four and five years old. She holds a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on constructivism, as well as a certificate in early educational leadership. Karen is a member of the Compass Education Learning and Empowerment Team and is certified as a Level 2 Compass Educator. In addition to her work bringing systems thinking tools into her kinder classroom, during the previous year, Karen worked with a team of stakeholders at ASPV to complete a Sustainable Community School Transformation process. Karen currently helps facilitate the Primary School SEL committee and manages the school’s recycling program in collaboration with a team of high school students. When not at work, Karen can be found enjoying time with her family, watching movies and playing card games.
- Email:[email protected]
Owen Haywood
Learning Empowerment Working Group Member
Owen comes from Durham in England. He has been teaching internationally since he left university, with a five-year break in between where he was running a restaurant in Vang Vieng, Laos. He is a mathematics teacher, with experience in both the Cambridge curriculum and the IB curriculum. He completed a Masters in Education for Sustainability at London South Bank University in 2020 and then heard about Compass Education. He took part in the Compass Education's Level 1 course and was instantly hooked by the ready-to-use systems thinking tools. Soon after he completed the Level 2 course. Now here he is joining the organisation, what a journey, or is it just the beginning!
- Email:[email protected]
