Introducing the 2023/2024 New AIS Teachers by Stephanie Wheaton

Cary - Magic in your Ears

2023-03-17 01:02:48 UTC

Hello Friends,
My name is Cary. I will lead middle school Beginning Band -- and any other music I can get my hands on -- at AISK. I hope to get several of you joyfully squeaking and squawking together with the middle years kiddos on trumpet or clarinet or whatever instrument you used to play way back in the day (I'll return the favor by joyfully struggling together with your PE or math or science class). Before Kuwait, my positions have been Bangkok, Chennai, Abu Dhabi, Caracas, and a strange little country full of culture shock called Texas. I will bring my wife Tania to Kuwait but I will hole in my heart in the shape of my daughter Athena. Which of you courageous mages and intrepid warriors will embark with me on our epic quest to survey and rank every shawarma in Kuwait?
-C

rashasamir1 — 2023-03-17 21:05:42 UTC

Hello Team,

This is Rasha, who will be teaching Religion to middle school students, I’m holding a Bachelor of Islamic Sharia and Education Diploma.

I have been dedicated to the spiritual growth and development of the students, helping them understand the principles and teachings of different religions and their significance in society. I’m a passionate and knowledgeable teacher who strives to create a positive and inclusive classroom environment where all students can learn and express their beliefs.

I’m a communicator, approachable, and have a strong commitment to the
academic and personal success of all students, will help the students to
develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the importance of religion
in our world today.

Thanks & Best Regards
Rasha Samir

danielaparedes10 — 2023-03-18 20:05:34 UTC

¡Hola a todos!
I’m Daniela, from Chile. This is my third year living and teaching in Kuwait (currently teaching ELA and Spanish) and I’ve previously taught in Chile and China.

I’ll be teaching KG2 and I’m very excited to be joining AIS and meeting you all! 😊

Leena Ijhaish: MS French Teacher

2023-03-20 10:30:14 UTC

Hello everyone!
My name is Leena Ijhaish, and I will be the MS French teacher. I am excited to be part of AIS’ community. I also teach Spanish and German, as well ESL. I have experience in curriculum development and instructional coaching as well, and I am excited to be sharing my experience and good practice with AIS’ community, and to pay it forward. I am thrilled to be working with all of you, and to be part of AIS’ learning community. I am married with two kids. My daughter Zeina has recently graduated from McGill University، and my son Abdullah will be in Gr. 4 at AIS. I always sing, so you might often hear me singing across the hallway in Arabic, more than once! It is my number one hobby, along with cross-stitching, cooking, playing the piano (with just one hand 😊, and I can’t read musical notes), so maybe the band teacher can guide me through the process 👍. I am a Montrealer at heart, a heart filled with love and passion for languages and different cultures and backgrounds🌷.

Sabrien Moustafa

2023-03-20 16:20:34 UTC

Hello everyone!

I am Sabrien from the Netherlands.
At the moment I still live and work in the Netherlands, but I look forward to meeting you and be part of the AIS-team.

I have been teaching for many years, so I have a lot of experience that I will be taking with me to Kuwait. I look forward to be part of the children's development and to create a positive and effective learning environment for all children.

I cycle every day and when the weather is nice I like to skate. If you see someone cycling, you know it's me :)

Can't wait to be in Kuwait!
Warm regards,
Sabrien

Rasha Nassif

2023-03-20 19:41:18 UTC

Hi everyone!

My name is Rasha Nassif, a mother of 2 , Tatiana and Jad . I am originally from Lebanon , and moved to Kuwait in 2011 .

I have an experience of 11 years as a math teacher.

I will be joining the MS math team and really excited to start working with all of you.

2023-03-21 11:33:34 UTC

hello AIS community! I am Mateus Jones (but you may call me Jones) and I am from Brazil. Currently I teach in my homecity called Salvador at Pan American School of Bahia. I graduated in PE in 2008 and I love to work with health, body movement, sports in general and specially soccer. At Pasb I have taught PE from PK2 up to Year 5. I am also the soccer coach from Year 4 up to Year 12. Besides the school world I have about 15 years of experience coaching youth and professional players. I am marriege with Katie Jones who will join the ES PE team at AIS. We have a cute, beatifull and funny son who is 6 and will be 1st grade in August. We are very excited to live the new life!!

Katie Jones

2023-03-22 01:03:48 UTC

Hi there! My name is Katie Jones and I'm thrilled to be joining the ES PE Team at AIS for my first professional experience outside of Brazil. I'm married to my husband Mateus, who will also be teaching PE in a different division, and we have a lovely and energetic 6-year-old son who is starting First Grade.

I come to AIS with 5 years experience teaching PE from Kindergarten to Year 5 at the Pan American School of Bahia in Brazil. I'm passionate about my work and firmly believe that PE class can be an incredibly productive and effective learning environment for children of all ages. In my free time, I enjoy working out, traveling, and spending quality time with my family and friends.

I'm excited about this new chapter in both my personal and professional life, and I can't wait to see what the future holds at AIS!

Tonya Paul

tonyapaul — 2023-03-22 16:59:46 UTC

Hi everyone. My name is Tonya Paul and I will be the HS Instructional Specialist.

I'm currently an English teacher who loves to travel and explore new cultures (and the animals in those cultures). I had the incredible opportunity to live in Cairo for six years where I developed a strong appreciation for the Arabic culture. I strive to bring my passion for discovery and learning into classrooms to help create dynamic and engaging environments for the students.
I'm thrilled to be embarking on a new adventure and am eagerly anticipating living and working in Kuwait.

2023-03-23 13:43:46 UTC

Hi AIS family,

My name is Dana and I will be the Design and Technology Teacher for grades 1 and 2 next year. The activity that I enjoy the most is being creative. I have several creative skills, including drawing and painting, but I particularly enjoy junk modeling and design. The ability to reuse and remodel objects and using my imagination come to life is very satisfying.
I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of the AIS team!

Hello!

2023-03-23 14:00:56 UTC

Hello everyone. My name is Bashayer, I'm half Kuwaiti and half British. I'm currently teaching both middle school and high school English and graduated with a degree in English Literature from the American University of Kuwait. I'll be teaching middle school English.

I'm an avid reader (the stranger the plot, the better) and spend all my vacations traveling in order to hoard more books back to Kuwait, most of which I will stare longingly at because there's just never enough time to read them.

Besides that, just the usual interests (travel/TV/animal lover).

Super excited to be starting the next part of my journey at AIS, and as someone who was born and raised in Kuwait, I've only ever heard stellar reviews and cannot wait to be a part of such a reputed school.

Patrick Boghdady

2023-03-23 14:45:54 UTC

Hello everyone!!

My name's Patrick, I'm half Lebanese and half Egyptian, and I am really excited to be joining the Middle School team as an Art teacher! I've been in Kuwait pretty much my whole life, moved here when I was two years old, so I'm already putting the offer out there for anyone who needs a guide with anything Kuwait-related!

I studied Graphic Design at the American University of Kuwait, and I am extremely passionate about anything creative. I do hope I can bring this experience into the art department at AIS to push students creatively into the future.

A little bit about me, I love exploring and diving into different hobbies every few months, just trying to find the perfect one that sticks with me I guess! I really do love anything music or art related and tend to pick up on the skills pretty quickly. I also love driving around and exploring different areas, as well as trying out different restaurants around Kuwait.

I look forward to meeting you all in person, and I am eager to explore this new chapter of my life as soon as possible.

(This is the only picture I found of myself please bare with me)

Nikoline Sanderson

2023-03-23 18:17:05 UTC

My name is Nikie Sanderson. My husband, Joel, and I are very excited to join the AIS team! I will be teaching MYP Individuals and Societies at AIS. Our home base is in Traverse City, Michigan. We are currently completing our teaching contracts in Valencia, Venezuela. We have also taught in Florida, The Dominican Republic, and Saudi Arabia. I am certified to teach grades 5-12 English and social science. My degree is in secondary history education from Ferris State University.
We have two adult children and a precious grandson. He is 4 years old and he is the light of our lives. Joel and I love to travel, camp, snorkel, and explore.
We loved our time in Saudi Arabia and we are very excited to go back to the Middle East.
Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Nuha Juma

2023-03-24 07:37:59 UTC

Hello from Kuwait,
My name is Nuha Juma and I am excited to join the AIS family! I will be teaching HS Chemistry and I'm looking forward to helping students learn and working with all you next year.
I have a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a Masters degree in Secondary Education.
I am a dughter, sister, wife and mother. I love my friends and enjoy being out with them. I also like walking and biking whenever possible.
I look forward to meeting you all on the first day of school 😊

Dijana Hadzic

2023-03-24 08:43:37 UTC

I'm Dijana Hadzic from Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. I will join as an EC Homeroom Teacher and I am super excited :)

I am a mom of three amazing kids, a wife to a great husband, who joined AIS last year. We are all looking forward to Kuwait and meeting you.

Design Teacher

2023-03-27 07:15:26 UTC

Heeey, it’s Dina!

I am an interior designer, and I found my passion in teaching design and showing how important design is beside its ability to change and impact us without us realizing. It’s magic you can say!

I love cats and I’ve two, so a total of 8 paws 🐾 If you feel down, just adopt a cat, or maybe the cat will own you!

So excited to meet you all! 😊

Taylor Hayman

2023-03-30 18:08:19 UTC

Hello everyone, my name is Taylor Hayman, and I am currently teaching in my hometown in Canada.

I previously taught Design at AISK from 2017 - 2019. I really enjoyed my time teaching at AISK, and I am excited to be joining the AISK team again next year. I will be teaching MYP Lang & Lit next year!

Traci Dougherty

2023-04-05 03:01:43 UTC

I am Traci Dougherty and I will be joining the AIS High School Admin Team along with Tonya Paul and Malinka Markov. I spent my early career as a Foreign Service Officer with the US State Department in Argentina and Colombia. I also worked in Washington, DC on the MidEast Peace Process before moving into education as a bilingual (Spanish) social studies teacher. I have been an administrator in the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado for the past 20 years. I have two children - my son is in a Masters' program at the Royal College of Music in London and my daughter will be starting a Physician's Assistant Masters' program at the University of Iowa in August. Both of them graduated from the University of Michigan. My husband will be joining me in Kuwait. We both love to travel and experience new things and are very much looking forward to this new adventure!

Raghad Hussain

2023-04-10 08:53:09 UTC

Hi everyone!

My name is Raghad Hussain, I graduated from Kuwait university, I will be the Islamic teacher for grade one and two for the next year, I am very happy and excited to be one of the members of AIS family I hope to see you soon 😊

Fatima Awad

2023-04-10 15:08:35 UTC

Hello everyone!

My name is Fatima Abdel Rahman Awad. I’ll be the Arabic Teacher for KG next year. I am extremely excited and pleased to be a member of the AIS family. I like cooking, sport and I’m passionate about teaching. Can't wait to embark on this journey with you! See you soon.

2023-04-10 16:39:27 UTC

Hi everybody,

My name is Reem Kullab, I will be the Arabic teacher for Elementary School, I'm excited to join AIS family. See you soon 🌺

Olivia Lewis-MS Social Studies

2023-04-11 01:52:07 UTC

Hi all! My name is Olivia Lewis, and I am beyond excited to be joining the AISK middle school team as a social studies teacher.

I am currently living in Spokane, Washington, as I wrap up my master's degree at Gonzaga (5 more weeks to go!!). But Spokane has only been my home for a few years! Before that, I lived all across the US and even in Guam.

I will go ahead a stake my claim as the newest teacher, as AISK will be my first official teaching job, which feels like a dream to say after all these years of university. I am currently student teaching, and prior to that have taught for museums, in ESL classrooms, and social studies classroom across a variety of grade levels.

If you couldn't already tell, my life is somewhat consumed with school and teaching at the moment, but in the rare moment of free time, I love to be outside, preferably among the mountains, hiking, skiing, or floating around on a lake. I am a major foodie, who is usually pulling off some food experiment in the kitchen, or baking a 4 tier cake just because. I also love music (listening to it and playing it), as well as painting and crafting when I need to destress.

I am really excited to meet you all and can't wait to get started!

Welcome to Kindergarten.. All the best for you 💕

2023-04-15 16:48:26 UTC

Amanda Bennett

2023-04-20 04:36:33 UTC

Hi everyone!

My name is Amanda and I am excited to join the MYP teaching science!

I have spent the last few years teaching science and math in British Columbia, Canada where I grew up. I swim, play volleyball, and like being active. I visited the Middle East as a student many years ago and feel fortunate to be able to return and explore all that Kuwait has to offer!

Looking forward to meeting you all soon!

Mohamed Khalifa: Passionate Educator and Lifelong Learner

2023-04-29 15:12:34 UTC

Asalam Alykum, I'm Mohamed Khalifa, and I'm thrilled to be joining the AISK as the MYP design teacher this year. I'm Egyptian American and currently reside in New Jersey. I graduated from Kean University with a degree in K-6 education, specializing in Earth Science and Special Education. My passion for assistive and educational technology has led me to obtain several certificates in this field.

I enjoy exploring the great outdoors, cycling, cooking, and BBQ during my free time. I also pursue my interests in photography, YouTube bench watching, painting, and life-improving technologies.

Thank you for welcoming me to AISK, and I look forward to a great year ahead! My goal for this school year is to work hard and contribute to the success of our school community. I'm excited to get to know everyone and to collaborate with you all to ensure our students have a fulfilling and rewarding academic experience.

Hi everyone,

2023-05-10 17:09:59 UTC

My name is Mai Mohammed ,I will be Arabic teacher (AFL) for middle school. I am excited to join AIS family☺️💐. See you soon

Nuha Juma

2023-05-21 11:44:42 UTC

Hello,
I'm excited to join the AIS family next school year. I will be teaching HS Chemistry and I can't wait to meet the students, teachers and parents.
I like being with my family and friends and appreciate having them in my life.
Until we meet in person, stay well and happy 😊

Antoinette Duffey

2023-05-22 05:34:15 UTC

Hola All! I'm Antoinette Duffey, a recent transplant from Texas. I will begin my third year in Kuwait as a MYP English teacher, and I'm very excited about joining y'all! As a Blerd, Black nerd, I'm into learning and using that as a base from which to build community and generate growth and development for all. My picture comes from my spring break in Ireland; I'm a bit of a nature girl who loves international travel adventures. Totally looking forward to this AIS greatness!

Joel Sanderson

2023-05-22 12:50:50 UTC

Greetings from Venezuela! Originally from Michigan, in 2015 my wife decided that she could no longer stand to watch me shovel snow, or cut, haul, chop and burn trees so we wouldn't freeze to death. Luckily, both of us earned bachelor's degrees in education in 2015 and we were ready to leave our frozen, wet, overcast homeland for the Land of Easter Flowers. Florida, where the sun shines even when it rains and other than reports of a few snowflakes attempting to infiltrate, it does not snow! We gained some experience, learned how to avoid being shot during school shootings, and realized that teaching students whose parents send them to school for free daycare and/or to avoid prosecution is not an ideal environment where education can flourish. Knowing about private international schools through family members who were Foreign Service Officers, the plan all along was to move on to private international schools after gaining sufficient experience.
So, we loaded up the truck and moved to Santo Domingo, Republica Dominica. Then, off to Jeddah! We loved it there! Unfortunately, we found ourselves in a situation that required us to be closer to home. Venezuela seemed like a great choice! Turns out, it was not...we can discuss this more after we arrive in Kuwait...hopefully with a smoldering hookah and some great coffee!
My undergraduate degree is mathematics education, with a minor in physics. Although, I am highly proficient in mathematics, and I can and do teach mathematics, I am truly a science teacher at heart. This year is the first year in nine years in which I have not taught at least one science class and I am in science withdrawal. Fortunately, I will be onboarding as a science teacher. My madness fits this position. Have you ever heard of a "mad mathematician?" Maybe, but the mathematician was probably just angry, not looney like when a scientist becomes "mad."
Currently, I am working on a master's degree in International Education teaching and Curriculum Design (or something like that) from NHL Stenden University of Applied Science, in The Netherlands. Our son is 29 and our daughter is 25. Our son and his wife gave us our first grandchild, MASHALLAH and ALHAMDULILLAH! He is four and he is one of our greatest joys. Any other relatively new grandparents in the audience? If so, you know exactly what I mean!
Aye! I've gone over the maximum word count! Hasta Agosto!

sviatlanayashchyna — 2023-05-31 08:08:03 UTC

Hi from Moscow!
I am Sviatlana (Lana) from Belarus. I currently live and teach in Moscow, Russia. I started my career teaching languages (English, Russian, Belarussian) working with international students in Minsk, Belarus. I went to Kampala, Uganda, as a volunteer in the late 90s and fell in love with the country and its people, as well as the diverse inetrnational community there. I enjoyed the opportunities to explore cultures and places and to engage with the communities. It marked the starting point of my international teaching career and my professional learning journey. I am a passionate educator and an enthusiastic explorer.
I am a certified yoda instructor and a mindfulness practictioner , I love hiking and travelling. Giving back to the community and supporting those in need is my passion and I will take any opportunity to volunteer.

I am super excited to join AIS and I look forward to meeting all of you in August!

Hello 👋🏻

2023-06-06 13:25:31 UTC

My name is Daragh Meredith. I’m from Ireland, but currently live in Kuwait. I’ve been teaching abroad since 2011. I have worked in South Korea, China and Canada. I’ll be teaching MYP Language and Literature at AIS. I look forward to meeting you all ☺️

Lang and Lit

2023-06-06 13:52:07 UTC

What's up everyone!

I'm Ali. I was born in Vermont, in the USA, and raised in Kuwait. I am currently teaching English in Kumamoto in Japan. Next year, I will be teaching English Lang and Lit. I like hiking, and playing volleyball, football, or soccer if you are pedantic about the terminology. So if you're ever down to play pick-up volleyball or soccer, I'm definitely down. Oh, and I love Chipotle. Looking forward to meeting everyone! :)