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Hi everyone,

I’m Orla and I’m originally from Monaghan, Ireland 🇮🇪 and I’m very excited to be joining the Year 3 team in Regent.

I feel like I’ve moved around a lot through the years by growing up in Ireland and America- to completing my undergrad in the University of Trinity Saint David in Wales then moved to Birmingham to complete my PGCE in the University of Wolverhampton.

I was very fortunate to work in Birmingham (Aston) for 6 years- working across EYFS and Key stage 1. Then moved to East London (Essex) to further teach across Key stage 2 for 4 years.

Outside of teaching, I really enjoy exploring new places from food, comedy, music to socialising!

Can’t wait to meet you all and making this a fantastic year!

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Hi everyone,

I’m Iva and I’ll be teaching music. My main instrument is the violin and I’ve been playing for 29 years! Time really flies when you spend hours practicing 😅.

I studied and worked in Serbia, the US(Wisconsin), Turkey and for the past 5 years Dubai.

In my free time I love reading and exploring pop culture and everything that comes with it. I am keeping up with the Kardashians(no shame💅🏻)! Music is, of course, a huge part of my life so I’m always attending concerts, gigs, festivals and clubs(love a good DJ) and music workshops.

Looking forward to meeting everyone and I hope we’ll have a great year☺️

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Hi everyone, I'm Isabelle (Izzy) and I am thrilled to join the Sunmarke team this year. I will be working in Year 5, having previously taught across KS1 and 2.

This will be my 8th year teaching. Interestingly, one of my teacher training placements was in Brooklyn, New York! I have taught in Dubai previously during COVID and my other experiences have been London and Surrey based.

In terms of what makes me tick, I really enjoy performing. I love singing and am keen to join a choir/musical theatre group. When I'm not harmonising, I pass time exploring new places and planning my next travel adventure. I would like to visit Bali and Thailand next so any travel tips would be greatly received.

Finally, I enjoy keeping active and would love to join a recreational (!) netball team.

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Hello everyone,

I’m Sara and I’m going to be working at Regent International School teaching Year 1.

I grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland and I am the eldest of 5 children. Before Dubai I studied Primary Education at Glasgow University then worked as an Early Years Teacher. This will be my 4th year working in Dubai and I am very excited to join the team at RIS.

Some facts about me:

I love to travel and explore new places. This year I would like to visit Zanzibar and New York City. 🌎🇹🇿☀️🇺🇸🗽

I like trying new foods and cooking new recipes. 🍜🍲🌮

I enjoy reading books by the pool in the sun.📖☀️

I like meeting new people and socialising with my friends.👯‍♀️

When I was younger I used to be a ballet dancer. 🩰

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I’m Tracey Kennedy-Massey, and I’ll be teaching Drama and English to Secondary at RIS.

I’m originally from Northern Ireland and trained in music and performing arts before earning my BA in Drama at the University of Sunderland.

After completing my PGCE in Secondary Drama at the University of East London, I spent six years teaching in Enfield, North London, before moving to Dubai three years ago.

I now live in Ras Al Khor with my fiancé, Ahmad, and our two Arabian Maus, Toby and Jasper. I love history, reading, theatre, and travelling—especially to historical sites—and hold an MA in European History from Birkbeck, University of London.

😊

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Hello, my name is Sundus, and I’m so excited to be joining the RIS this year.

I’ve been fortunate to teach in the UK, Italy, and the UAE, and I love bringing those experiences into a warm, welcoming classroom. I believe in kindness, patience, and celebrating each child’s unique journey.

Outside of teaching, I have a big love for podcasts, comedy and East Asian dramas — I enjoy anything that can make me laugh or transport me into a great story!

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During Covid I got a sailing boat and added a 4 HP outboard motor. 

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I first started teaching in 2004. Since then my journey has taken me from the North of England to as far as Shymkent in Kazakhstan where the winter temperatures were - 20! I have also worked in Qatar in Doha and 2 years at an American school in Dubai and 5 years with the MoE in Fujairah. I am now working at Regent, looking forward to teaching Computing and IT here.

Fun fact: I once saved a friend from drowning. He did tell me before we got in the water that he could swim. But he clearly didn’t!

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I’m Joshua Harris, your new Psychology Teacher.

Originally from Birmingham, UK, I’ve spent the last two years teaching in Abu Dhabi, where I’ve loved inspiring students to explore how the mind works and how psychology can help us in everyday life.

I’m passionate about making psychology engaging, relatable, and fun—whether we’re discussing memory, behaviour, or the fascinating quirks of the human brain. My goal is to help every student develop confidence, curiosity, and skills they can carry far beyond the classroom.

Looking forward to meeting you all and making this year a fantastic one!

📍 Fun fact: I also enjoy football, podcasts, and hosting events—and I can’t wait to get involved in school life here in Dubai!

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Hi, everyone!

I'm Gemma, Assistant Head in Sunmarke Primary. I'm originally from Liverpool, but I've lived in Dubai for 11 years now. At this stage, I have no desire to go back to the cold and rain of England! I started work at Regent 11 years ago and this is now my 8th year at Sunmarke.

My favourite thing about living in the UAE is the opportunities for travel. I've been developing my bravery over the past few years and travelled to 16 countries (some arguably unusual destinations!) solo. I love nothing better than researching and planning travel opportunities, so if you have any recommendations please let me know.

I'm looking forward to meeting you all and facilitating the Pos Ed sessions this year. I'm sure you'll all have a great year ahead!

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Hi! I’m Emily! I am from the South West of England. This will be my 5th year in Dubai. I will be working in year 2. I have taught mainly in key stage 1 both here in Dubai and in the UK.

Outside of teaching, I love to travel and explore new places. I am currently training for the Dubai half marathon (hello midlife crisis) which, I am enjoying. You can also find me happily sat in a pub watching sport.

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Hi everyone, I’m Arianna, primary ELL and Spanish teacher at RIS.

I was born in Cuba but spent most of my life in Canada, where I quickly realized I’m not a fan of cold winters! I’m a mother of four and have been in the UAE for seven years, teaching language learners of all ages and levels.

I’m passionate about travel, culture, and traditions. Outside of school, I enjoy training, dancing, cooking, and spending quality time with family and friends. I’m excited to meet you all and look forward to a great year ahead!

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"Maths teacher, Harry Potter fan, and proof that a bit of magic (and a lot of determination) can help you lose 5 stone (not philosopher's stone)! "

I’m joining Regent International School as Head of Faculty – Mathematics, and I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and working together.

I’m originally from Mauritius, and my academic journey has taken me through the University of Manchester (BSc), Swansea University (MSc), and Manchester Metropolitan University (PGCE).

For the past eight years, I’ve been teaching at my current school, and now I’m excited to bring my experience to Dubai.

Outside of teaching, I’m passionate about fitness, I aim for 10,000 steps a day, enjoy football, gym sessions, and have recently taken up badminton. Padel is next on my list to try!

I also love to travel.. I’ve visited 29 countries so far, and I’m hoping to expand that list while using the UAE as my base.

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Hi I’m Millie 👋🏼

I am originally from London 🇬🇧

This will be my fourth year in Dubai and I am joining Sunmarke as a Year 6 teacher!

I originally came to Dubai to save for a mortgage in the UK and ended staying, getting married and having a baby! 😂 I’ve spent most of this summer severely sleep deprived as he was only born 8 weeks ago.

In my free time I love to keep fit, I particularly enjoy trapeze and aerial hoop🎪. On the flip side, I also love a lazy family day and a movie night. I like to have a good balance!

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Hi everyone,

I’m Natalie and I’m going to be a Year One Teacher at Sunmarke. I have just moved to Dubai this week from Manchester and will be joined by my husband and two little boys (Luka, 7 and Teddy, 3) at the end of the month.

I have ten years experience in teaching and have trained as SENCo and DSL.

I’m feeling very grateful and welcomed by those of you I have met already and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the week 😊

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Hi, I’m Chloe!

I’m originally from Waterford, Ireland. This will now be my 5th year in the UAE after saying I would only come for a year 😅. Very excited to be joining the Y3 team in Sunmarke!

Since moving I’ve definitely caught the travel bug and love visiting new places. Outside of work I am dog obsessed and on the hunt for a foster pup (if you know of any please send them my way). I’m also fond a visit to Mcafferty’s - you can’t beat it 🇮🇪.

Looking forward to meeting everyone and exited for the year ahead! ☺️

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Hi everyone! I’m Regine, Health, Safety, and Compliance Officer at Jumeirah International Nurseries. I’ve been with Fortes Education for 7 years and have spent the past 5 years co-organising the PosEd training with Ms. Katrina Mankani.

I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Psychometrician license, and an IOSH Managing Safely certification, and I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in Psychology—Adler, Frankl, and Erikson are my favourites.🧠

The UAE has been my home for 16 years. Outside work, I’m usually on the tennis court with my dad, travelling, trying new food, or learning languages—I can read and write in Arabic (!مرحبا), Korean (만나서 반가워요), a bit of Russian (как дела?), and I’m now exploring Mandarin (加油!).

A fun fact about me—I’m a huge fan of the character Miffy (or Nijntje in Dutch) 🐰, so don’t be surprised if you spot Miffy bag charms or random collectibles in my workspace. And of course, I’m a proud fur mum to two lovely cats.

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Hi everyone, my name is Caitlyn Osbaldestin and I will be joining Regent as a Secondary History Teacher.

A few facts about me:

Grew up in the North West of England, Wigan to be precise.

Started my career in Salford, Manchester and been with the same school since moving to Dubai.

I have been a vegetarian all my life, so would welcome any recommendations for places in Dubai that are good for veggies.

Studied History at the University of Lincoln and went on to do my PGCE at Edge Hill University.

Keen interest in American History and Politics, especially presidential history.

Many people think my last name is Eastern European when they see it, but it’s actually old English.

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I'm Sadia Chaudry - Fareed, assistant head teacher in EYFS at SMS.

I have been working at Sunmarke since it opened in 2016. During this time I have taught in both FS1 and FS2.

I have been living in the UAE for the last 12 years, initially working in Abu Dhabi for 3 years and then moving to Dubai.

Originally from Halesowen in the UK. I am now living here with my husband and 2 daughters Zoya (5 years old) and Adira (9 months).

I love watching movies both Hollywood and Bollywood! My eldest daughter and I love muscials and enjoying singing along to songs on spotify during our car rides. As a family we love travelling to different countries and seeing as many sights as possible to learn about different cultures and taste a wide variety of food!

I look forward to meeting you all in the PosEd sessions.

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Hi, I’m Jemalene Arellano. I’m an education graduate with over a decade of experience teaching children. I’ve been living in Dubai for seven years, and I recently became a proud mom to a beautiful baby boy. I’m excited to join RIS as an Individual Needs Learning Support Assistant, where I can continue making a positive impact on students’ learning journeys. I’m a team player, always eager to learn, and enjoy connecting with people from all walks of life.

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Hi everyone!

My name is Yi, the new Special Education Teacher for primary at RIS. I’m also a QABA-certified Behvaior Analyst.

A little about me:

I’ve been in Dubai for six years (and counting!), and I’m one of the luckiest people who’ve found their passion and purpose. I dedicate myself to supporting individuals with determination and improving quality of life for those with unique needs.

I love reading—my favorite genre is classics, but right now I’m reading Guns, Germs, and Steel, a nice book about human history. I also love playing MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games. My partner and I also share our home with two mischievous cats, Jojo & Jimbo. :p

I’m really looking forward to meeting all of you and beginning this journey together. :)

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Hello☀️ My name is Nafisa.

I have been living in Dubai for five years. During this time, I have spent a lot of quality moments with my children. I also worked online as an EAL teacher. This will be my first time working at Sunmarke School. I feel excited and a little nervous, and I hope everything goes well. I look forward to meeting wonderful people and amazing children.

I spent the whole summer with my mom. I don’t see her very often because she lives far away. She lives in sunny Turkmenistan, and this year we spent time together in Kazan. Kazan is the city where I studied and where I came to live when I was 16 years old.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my children, reading books, and watching movies based on true stories.

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I'm Becky Holden the Assistant Head Pastoral and Wellbeing, also one of the Secondary Computing teachers.

This is my fifth year at Sunmarke and in Dubai, however my 7th year in the UAE, after "only coming for 2 years" as I'm sure you will hear many people say.

I moved here from Bradford, Yorkshire with my husband Grant and our two boys Curtis (Year 9) and Harvey (Year 4). Grant works in real estate and has done a good job of brainwashing our two sons into football obsession.

I'm a proud geek and enjoy new technologies and sci-fi movies. But most of all pool days at the amazing hotels Dubai has to offer.

I look forward to meeting you all in the PosEd sessions.

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Hey, I'm Laura the Primary Pos-Ed Lead and French teacher across Regent Primary and Secondary. I am Welsh and grew up in North Wales (near Wrexham for football fans), I moved to Manchester at 18 to study and also completed a year of my studies in France. I worked both in finance and as an English teacher during my time in Paris.

As soon as I had completed my studies I moved to Dubai and have been here for the last 4 years. This is my 5th year in the UAE and my 4th year with Regent.

I love to learn languages and travel (I spent my summer in Italy hence the photo). I also love food, fitness and socialising.

I'm excited for the year ahead and to welcome new starters to the team!

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Hi everyone, I’m Lee the Primary Pos-Ed Lead, and I work in the Inclusion Department at Sunmarke.

I’m from Wales, but have lived all over the UK and also in China, Italy and New Zealand. This is my 3rd year in the UAE, having taught in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Outside of school I love travelling, reading and cooking. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better and welcoming you to the team!

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Namaste, I’m Devika Mankani, a first generation expat born in Dubai, a city that now needs no introduction. My first contact with Fortes was as a 3.5 year old pre-school student attending Jumeirah International Nurseries and being taught by our founder Mrs. Mankani herself in 1983.

My professional background is in mental health and psychotherapy and I’m proud to say I am celebrating 20 years as a therapist this September. WOW time flies when you do what you love. I moonlight as many things at Fortes, the most exciting role is that of a parent. I am also a part of the well-being team and have the honor to serve the company in a strategic role as well.

As a self confessed nerd with at least 95686 tabs of research open at any time, and the current hot topic taking up my headspace (as an educator and mother of 2) is how much technology should children use at school and at home and from what age. I have just started playing Padel and Tennis with my children and although I don’t often get to the ball in time I enjoy the cardiovascular benefits of bouncing around the place.

I look forward to meeting all my colleagues this year, old and new and hope we all have a flourishing year ahead!

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Hey everyone! My name is Grace Stewart. I am the Assistant Head Teacher at Regent. I'm from Ireland and pictured above are Danny, Evie (2 and 1/2 years old) and Tommy (1 year old).

Some facts about me:

- I came back from Ireland last Thursday but myself (and the three above!) need to do it alllllll again on Friday as my Dad is getting married.

- I love to read fiction on my Kindle but I will always download nonfiction onto Audible.

- I'm a big Man City supporter and love/hate Fantasy Football.

- Students are never more disappointed than when they learn that I'm a vegetarian.

- Trash TV is my guilty pleasure.

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Hello everyone, I’m Jack Winston and I am the Secondary Pos Ed Lead at Regent. I have lived in Dubai for 7 years, with 3 of those years working at Regent as Head of Humanities before embarking on my new role in developing Positive Education in Secondary.

I have always loved travelling, having been lucky enough to live in Tunisia and the UAE during my childhood. I grew up mainly in Reading (which is slightly less interesting!) and then moved to Liverpool to study History.

I live with my wife, Katie, who is also a teacher and works in the Primary School at Sunmarke. Although she also loves to travel, we have stayed in Dubai this summer as we are expecting a baby within the next few weeks.

I have a keen interest in History and Politics outside of the classroom and seem to be able lots of useless trivia, which comes in handy for pub quizzes that I take very seriously!

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I'm Becky Holden the Assistant Head Pastoral and Care, also one of the Secondary Computing teachers.

This is my fourth year at Sunmarke and in Dubai, however my 6th year in the UAE, after "only coming for 2 years" as I'm sure you will hear many people say.

I moved here from Bradford, Yorkshire with my husband Grant and our two boys Curtis (Year 8) and Harvey (Year 3). Grant works in real estate and has done a good job of brainwashing our two sons into football obsession.

I'm a proud geek and enjoy new technologies and sci-fi movies. But most of all pool days at the amazing hotels Dubai has to offer.

I look forward to meeting you all in the PosEd sessions.

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Hi, everyone.

I'm Annie- the Deputy Head for Sunmarke Primary. I'm originally from Cornwall but have also lived in Cardiff, Nottingham and South London. This is my 7th year in Dubai; all of them spent here at Sunmarke. The UAE firmly feels like home now, and I've loved the opportunities to travel from this base whenever I've had the chance. The photo above was taken in Japan- just before an epic karaoke session. I've now reached the age where going on a cruise sounds like a good idea, so if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!

I'm looking forward to facilitating the breakout sessions for this Positive Education training and getting to know everyone a little better.

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Hi, I am Katrina Mankani. The little girl on the photo is the 3-year old Ekaterina Bernakevich, who knows how to enjoy and be free. I learn a lot from her, the little me.

Couple facts about me:

- born in the USSR (which I like saying when people are trying to guess my age) & Moscow is my hometown.

- My father is Ukranian, my mother is Russian. I am one of those many people for whom the tragedy of current war between these neighbouring countries is personal.

- I have a Russian name, legal name & an Indian name.

- I love learning. I have 2 masters degrees, many certificates and I am subscribed to more online courses than I can complete (uff...I wish I had more time).

- I have several roles in Fortes Education. In addition to being the Director of PosEd for Fortes, I am also the Managing Director of the Jumeirah International Nurseries, with 10 nurseries that serve 1400 children.

- I have a 2,5 year old son Aviram. Motherhood is new and humbling experience for me

- I also have a furchild, Maltese dog named Master Yoda Mankani.

- I am an ELL, who only moved to the English speaking world at the age of 22.  I always welcome feedback that helps me to improve my English proficiency.

- I know cool Yoga places & Vegetarian restaurants around Dubai.