PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City School 11 (Pattaya Demonstration Secondary School) celebrated the dedication of retiring educators and showcased student creativity through special activities held on September 28 and 30, 2026.
The school’s official retirement appreciation ceremony took place on September 30 under the theme “Under the Golden Shower Tree,” bringing together education officials, teachers, staff and distinguished guests to honour educators who had devoted their careers to nurturing young people.
Sakon Phonlukin, Deputy Chief Executive of the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), and Nakhon Phonlukin, a Chonburi PAO Council member representing Bang Lamung District 2, attended the ceremony. School Director Sorachai Khemkhaeng and teacher Suthasrat Srisingh, who were being honoured on their retirement, joined fellow educators and school personnel in welcoming the guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sakon described retirement as a proud milestone for dedicated public servants. “Retirement is another moment of pride. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and admiration to all retiring educators who have devoted their energy and commitment to serving their schools and young people,” he said.
“Although their official duties may have come to an end, their good deeds and contributions will remain an inspiration and be remembered by their students and the education community for generations to come.”
The official ceremony followed a retirement appreciation gathering on September 28, when the school opened a new café created through the imagination and teamwork of teachers and students. The café belongs to the school, with teachers and children producing the artwork, decorating and arranging the space themselves. Their ideas were transformed into a practical learning environment where students can develop skills, confidence, responsibility and teamwork. The initiative also honours Sorachai’s progressive approach to education and his commitment to creating meaningful opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.
Dr Darin Phanthusak recalled working alongside him in 2025 on a Safeguard Kids Foundation initiative encouraging students to produce short films campaigning against child sexual abuse. She said the experience demonstrated his compassion, determination and willingness to overcome obstacles while consistently putting children’s welfare first.
That collaboration included the national Safeguard Kids short-film contest, whose awards ceremony was held at the school on December 15, 2025. The competition attracted 238 teams from secondary schools and universities nationwide. Dr Darin sponsored a prize fund exceeding 400,000 baht in memory of her late father, Sutham Phanthusak.
Speaking at that earlier event, Dr Darin said, “If we are blessed with influence, then we are responsible for using it to protect those who cannot protect themselves.” As a board member of the Safeguard Kids Foundation, she continues to uphold her father’s belief that success should be shared with society, supporting initiatives that protect children and expand their opportunities.
Dr Darin explained that the café also draws inspiration from the Scout movement, encouraging discipline, patience, self-reliance and perseverance. It aims to help young people develop the determination to face difficulties without giving up.
Dedicated to Sutham’s memory, the project commemorates the longstanding friendship between Thai and Swedish Scouts. It carries forward his wish to inspire children through the Scouting ideals of King Rama VI and Lord Baden-Powell, encouraging them to become responsible, resilient and compassionate citizens who serve others.
Sutham was a former senator, member of the National Legislative Assembly, former chairman of the National Scout Advisory Committee and chairman of the Advisory Board of the National Scout Council of Thailand. His legacy was also recognised during the December 2025 Safeguard Kids ceremony, when the school unveiled a commemorative plaque in his honour. The plaque bore the Scouting motto he lived by: “Better to die than to lose one’s honour/truth.”
Together, the retirement celebrations and café opening recognised the contributions of dedicated educators while carrying forward a shared commitment to creativity, child protection and service. As Sorachai enters retirement, the café stands as a lasting tribute to his work and to Sutham’s vision of inspiring younger generations.
