Leadership
Suzanne Thibault
Elementary Principal
Having joined RAS as the Elementary Principal in 2023, Ms. Suzanne Thibault has taught in places around the world including Thailand, Australia and primarily in her home country of Canada. She has worked in Education for 23 years, holding roles such as Student and Learning Services, Alberta School Improvement Initiatives coordinator along with 7 of those in elementary school administration. Her credentials include a Bachelors of Elementary Education Degree from the University of Alberta and an Alberta Leadership Certificate. Her focus, passion and expertise are in the field of literacy based on the practices around the Science of Reading philosophy. She works to create a school culture that allows teachers to thrive and students to meet their best potential.
Mark Hemphill
Secondary Principal
Originally from Texas, Mark Hemphill has spent the last 18 years serving as a Middle School Principal, High School Principal, Director of two PK-12 International Schools, and an IB/AP Secondary Campus. His international experience includes schools in Ukraine, Armenia, Albania, China, Spain, and Vietnam. Prior to this, he taught secondary social studies for 15 years. Mr. Hemphill received both his Bachelor of Science Degree and his Master’s in Education Administration from Texas A&M University. He has been married to his wife Kate for 33 years. Mrs. Hemphill is a violinist and orchestra director. They have two daughters, both pursuing medical careers. Recently arriving in Malaysia, Mr. Hemphill looks forward to his leadership role, in support of RAS and its mission.
James Elliott
Admissions Director
Mr. James Elliott is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he joined RAS in 2020 as a teacher and admissions representative. Mr. Elliott holds a BA in Rhetoric and Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as well as Professional Teaching Licenses for Elementary Education and ESOL. His career in education began back in 2014 as a Pre-K teacher at a private school in Wisconsin, where he discovered his passion for teaching and mentorship. Since then, he has taught students at every level, from early childhood to university. Since joining RAS, Mr. Elliott has taught ELL, 4th grade, 5th grade, and a multitude of CCAs while also assisting the admissions department in enrolling hundreds of new students. James believes that authenticity is the key to properly pairing families with a school to ensure that it suits their child’s educational needs, and he utilizes his experience as an RAS teacher to educate prospective families about the opportunities that Raffles American School can offer them.
Yinkon Her
Communications Director
Mr. Yinkon Her is from Denver, Colorado. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies with a concentration in Community Development from Nyack College in New York, where he also met his wife Darla. He began his career in Information Technology in the Higher Education system, before eventually moving to the Primary and Secondary Education sector in 2018. Before Raffles, Yinkon and his wife worked at Jackson R2 School District in Jackson, Missouri, where she taught Elementary Special Education, and he continued his work in Information Technology. In addition to his work, Yinkon has held various community development roles such as mentoring youth and coaching a variety of sports.
Christian Choyce
Boarding Director
Mr. Christian Choyce has been in education for 13 years and has a Bachelor of Education degree. His teaching experience includes History, Business Studies and Geography. He has been involved with boarding facilities for the majority of his schooling and professional career. Chris has been a head of department, head of a boarding facility, and a grade head. He is married to Natalie, a Pre-K teacher, whom he has known since Grade 1. Guiding and nurturing childrens’ development is a passion, a calling and a pleasure for Chris.
Sok Wee Kho
Curriculum Coordinator
Sok Wee Kho, a Singaporean native, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore. As our Secondary School Curriculum/IB Diploma Programme Coordinator with teaching expertise in Cambridge, IB, and AP curricula, he is excited about our teachers delivering high-quality education aligned with the latest standards and research-based approaches. As the Dean of Students for the Secondary School, Mr. Kho’s passion lies in empowering students to embrace continuous growth in 21st-century skills. With a strong belief in fostering confident decision-making, he creates a supportive learning environment that encourages students to embrace challenges and become lifelong learners.
Andy Manion
Athletic Director
Andy Manion, an Australian educator, joined Raffles American School after spending three years at the Australian International School in Vietnam. With a Bachelor of Education and over 38 years of teaching experience in Physical Education, Andy has held significant roles as Head of PE Departments in both Tasmania and Queensland, as well as Director of Sport at a P-12 school on the Gold Coast. Recognized for his excellence, he received the Australian ‘National Excellence in Teaching Award’ in 1997 and was awarded Life Membership of ‘School Sport South Coast’ in 2015. Andy’s passions include cricket, golf, SCUBA diving, motorcycle touring, surfing, cycling, camping, and gym activities. He firmly believes that enjoyable active participation is key to personal, social, and physical development, and he is excited to share his experience and enthusiasm with others.
J. Casey Hammond
College Counselor
J. Casey Hammond joined Raffles American School in August 2022 as College Counselor. He brings a wealth of experience to this position. He previously worked at the university level in the United States and Singapore, where he developed and taught undergraduate courses for first-year students and helped them transition into tertiary education. A speaker of Mandarin Chinese and Bahasa Indonesia, he is a longtime resident of this region. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame, a master’s degree from MIT, and a Ph.D. from Penn.
