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I passionately and firmly acknowledge that everyone can achieve growth and that gain is contingent on the positive influences placed in one's pathway. It is my ambition to help cultivate that desire for advancement and to guide each learner to identify their exclusive learning style. I am delighted to be able to serve the community of RVIS while forging toward the goals and vision of the school and community. As a part of the awesome community at RVIS, I have the immense opportunity to be an instructional leader and encourage the development of innovative ideas by bridging current and relevant issues into the classroom experience. It is my conviction that all people offer something unique to the world that we live in. Working along the sides of the staff and community here at RVIS, by fostering a positive learning environment, I believe each student will receive the personalized educational experience they so rightfully deserve. I look forward to helping in the development of open-minded citizen that will positively impact the world around them.

I believe children learn through experiences. Given the skills to solve problems, students become self-directed learners and are more engaged and empowered in their own education. Students that are taught these problem solving skills can learn to curiously analyze and evaluate challenges they encounter both in the classroom and in life. When the students feel safe, protected and culturally valued, they can fully explore their curiosity in their environment. My role as the curriculum coordinator is to support the RVIS teachers in creating a culture that focuses on student outcomes and results. A culture where Professional Learning Communities analyze data for informed decision-making and celebrate achievements. I am excited to bring my experiences and ideas to RVIS, lead teachers through our professional learning and support school-wide professional development.

As a member of the team at RVIS I promote a culture of international mindedness. A school in an international setting has the opportunity to teach and support diversity in education because of the unique situation of being a culture within a culture. As educators we have the privilege to help students develop their individual stories, as well as link their stories to the lives of others to build a community of learners for today and the future.

A key component to meaningful education is creating a sense of belonging and significance with all members of the community. Through student-centered decision making and collaboration, our community will not only be an effective learning environment for students but for parents and teachers as well. Whether it be a parent teaching about the world economy, or a student describing the benefits of game-based learning, a community that focuses on learning, creates a rich environment where all members have a chance to grow.

As learners, we learn best when we feel encouraged. As a school, our purpose is to create an environment where everyone is a teacher, mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, and where members actively engage in making the greater community a better place. This not only makes everyone feel they are part of something greater, it also helps them feel like they are contributing members to the school community.

Lastly, a support system within the school to meet the community's needs is essential. This means that each of our students have the necessary resources to reach his/her full potential, faculty and staff have opportunities to grow as individuals and professionals, and parents have access to support and resources in times of need.

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"A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart”. My appreciation for teaching was sparked by my grandfather when I was only seven years old. As I grew older, I cherish fond memories of my grandfather's school in India. In my neighborhood, pretend play was a routine, with my role always being a teacher. Soon after I completed my Bachelor's degree in English literature from New Delhi, India, I continued my passion for teaching and have been in this noble profession from the past 15 years now, as an elementary school teacher. This lifelong learning has led me to pursue my Masters in Education-Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Studies degree from St. John's, Canada.

I have had the privilege to work in reputed schools in the Eastern Province region of Saudi Arabia and actively participate in professional development offerings. By being well connected with teachers around the world, I always look forward to learn interesting and creative ways of teaching and keep looking for opportunities to present something new through workshops within and outside schools.

I continue to admire the role of technology in engaging young minds, though I truly believe "technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important" (Bill Gates) (Yes, I love quotes!). I show a keen interest in developing classroom libraries in order to have successful readers and writers workshops with my students.

Some of my other interests are travelling, interior designing, playing table tennis, baking, and decorating cakes.

Working at RVIS means a lot to me, it was during one of the NESA Winter workshops at RVIS three years back when I fell in love with this lovely institution with great educators. I am Super excited to join RVIS's team in August and continue my teaching and learning journey in Bahrain!

My name is Julie Reynolds and I am excited to be joining the primary team next year. Throughout my childhood I lived in France, Britain and Denmark and as an adult I continue to enjoy exploring new places and their cultures. This is my first international teaching post and I am looking forward to discovering Bahrain and the Middle East. I have always been passionate about education and studied it as part of my undergraduate degree. I then went on to complete my PGCE and Masters in Education. My research has reinforced my belief in adapting to the needs and interests of children so that they remain engaged and understand the purpose of their learning. An engaged child will seek to develop a deeper understanding of the subject thereby developing their intellectual autonomy. I believe this is the key to education; to equip children with the means and motivation to become life-long learners. The challenging but fun part is being able to find new ways to engage each child and I look forward to continuing to expand my teaching approaches and strategies. Amongst many other benefits, growing up in a multilingual context demonstrated to me the importance of language and communication. My university thesis as well as my current teaching post in a state bilingual school both highlighted the power language holds in the formation of identity and perspectives. Learning about different languages and the cultures that come with them develops tolerance, open-mindedness as well as a better understanding of one's own culture and language. I look forward to meeting everyone next year, developing my teaching approach further and maybe even learning some Arabic!

I am from the Channel Islands and graduated from Durham University. I have taught in the UK and also here in Bahrain. I have lived in Bahrain nearly 3 years and enjoy the culture and island life. I am extremely excited to join RVIS in August and to meet each and everyone of you. My teaching philosophy starts with how I believe that all students have the right to a high quality, safe, learning environment. My goal is to provide an inclusive classroom where all students feel safe, happy and are given the tools to thrive and make progress. I want to ensure that students receive a top-class education so that they are able to pursue their goals and career of their choices in the future. I believe in student led learning and active learning. I like seeing students enjoying what they are doing and learning from it and their experiences. I also believe in differentiation, noting that students have different needs and require tasks and resources to reflect this. I enjoy getting to know my students so that I know how to fully meet their needs. As a teacher I like to take time to reflect in order to continuously develop. I also believe reflection can be a useful tool used in the classroom to think about actions and consequences. I am looking forward to the new academic year, to meeting my new class and to helping shape students who are our future”.

I have had the privilege of working in the education industry in both the midwest and east coast of the United States. During this time, I worked with general and special education students helping them reach their full potential. Personally, I found this to be a rewarding and enriching experience that challenged me. It ignited my own passion for continuing to grow as an educator. Most recently, I taught fifth grade math and science. I participated on a committee that shaped the educational and performance framework for the district. In addition, I coached co-ed volleyball for middle school students. Currently, I am pursuing my Learning Behavioral Specialist Endorsement. As an educator, my philosophy is to inspire and motivate students from diverse backgrounds to discover new ways of thinking through personalized instruction. Diversity brings curiosity and broadens perspectives. This can ignite a passion for learning within others, something I strongly believe in. Differentiation, coupled with inquiry based instruction will set my students up for success. My mission as an educator is to bring diversity and differentiation together to build authentic and independent thinkers who will thrive in a complex world. “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” - John Dewey

In my experience of teaching over the past eight years in China, Vietnam, and the USA, I have found that this Confucian proverb is true of every classroom: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

My goal is to inspire students to become lifelong learners with a passion for knowledge through building a safe and collaborative learning environment where students feel comfortable to be challenged, ask questions, make mistakes, and learn from one another. Moreover, I feel that it is important to incorporate each student's voice in what happens in the classroom, so students are able to show their expertise and help shape the learning experience.

Through addressing the individual needs of each, I strive to empower young learners to become confident, well-rounded, and successful individuals that can make meaningful contributions to their communities both now and in the future.

The classroom is a community of high achievers ready to explore the world, and only together, can we all grow.

I have taught the last 13 years in New York City, Quito, Ecuador, and Ithaca, NY in different grade levels, but mainly upper elementary. I really enjoy teaching and working with students. As a teacher, I try to establish a structured and nurturing environment with clear expectations, classroom norms, and learning standards. I believe it is important to engage students in their learning and make them involved in the learning process. It is imperative for students to learn problem solving skills, work together, and reflect on their work. I enjoy collaborating with colleagues, parents, and students to help student learning and to further my learning as a teacher. I try to be flexible in my teaching with the understanding that students learn in different ways through different processes.

Teaching is my profession and gives me the opportunity to contribute to the greater good of society. I chose teaching because it fulfills my life while I make a positive impact. When asked by others about my profession, I honestly respond, “I prepare future world leaders and provide life coaching to them.” I love my job. My teaching philosophy is to put the child first. I owe my teaching philosophy to the good men and women in education that cared for me and my peers as more than students in the class. It is my belief that every person, regardless of their age, has much to teach me also. That is why every student deserves my respect and devotion. There is a great saying, “with great power comes great responsibility.” I believe teachers are given a lot of power in their profession, and in turn teachers have the great responsibility towards students. It is my belief that in education a better metaphor than family is a team. In a team people work together to achieve more. It is my pleasure to work with people who want to achieve more for the people we serve.

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I graduated from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town in 2007, and have over 15 years teaching experience. I recently taught at Cascade Primary School and Forest Village Leadership Academy where I was the Deputy Principal of Intermediate and Senior Phase.
Ever since I started teaching, I have been passionate in my commitment to two things: maximizing student performance and inspiring students to achieve great things. I strive to create a community of learners that nurtures growth in a positive fun environment.
Personally, I enjoy reading, cooking, music, and spending time with friends and family.
I look forward to the new school year at Riffa Views International School.
“The future depends on what you do today.”

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My name is Rawan Atiyani, and I am currently a middle school science teacher. I have always been curious about and have loved the life sciences, so I decided to pursue a Bachelor's in Biology. I then proceeded to study for a Master's in Human Nutrition given my own previous experiences with my weight. I have since dedicated my time to research and teaching others, whether it was in an academic setting, or about nutrition. While teaching, I love to encourage my students to WANT to learn, not just academically, but in life. I try to help my students believe in themselves and their capabilities, to have the courage to try new things, and to question everything around them (as scientists do). Through this, they can take on life challenges and be the best they can be. I have also realized that their constant questioning of things has changed my perspective and challenged my thoughts on multiple occasions. This keeps things quite interesting, and it is important to acknowledge that even younger people need to be treated with significance and respect. I find it very important that my students feel safe and secure with me as their teacher, to have meaningful discussions, and to bring out the best in them. Lastly, as a teacher, I need to cater to their many unique and individual learning styles. This means having fun being creative with my teaching strategies and assessments, especially with subjects many students may find intimidating.

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My name is Leila Matahen. This is my first year teaching English Language Arts and my second teaching Social Studies. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Humanities and Political Science and am also currently pursuing a Master's of Education, followed by a Master's of History from Arizona State University. The beauty and the challenge in teaching social studies is that in order to address all its content, social studies must be incorporated into all areas of the curriculum as well as through teachable moments. It is one of the only subjects that speaks to all people in their intrinsic and extrinsic lives, and it fascinates me how much better we can understand the world around us by diving deep into the details, as well as what the world looked like before us. Like many of my students, I have a lifelong fascination with the subject matter, and hope to get more students excited about history and the world we live in. I am also a musician and, before COVID disrupted our lives, I would perform quite often on the island in local venues, as well as JazzFest and other music festivals. Additionally, as well as being raised by parents from different cultures, I was raised a military brat. As such, I have had the privilege to live in many countries and see a lot of the world. Because of this, I try to travel as much as possible. I have been in Bahrain for over 7 years now, and it is the longest I have ever lived anywhere consistently.

“Change is the end result of all true learning.” - Leo Buscaglia

I truly believe that my job as a teacher is to guide my students through their evolution into young men and women who are able to go out into the world and be productive citizens. Science offers an amazing lens through which we can examine how we respond when challenged, how we create balance, how we distinguish between anomalies and paradigm shifts and most importantly how every voice has the ability to bring about change. Every student is different. As a teacher, it is my job to create a safe space where each student is able to demonstrate his or her growth. The focus will always be on the process as we take on challenges together. Our classroom will be one where opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged and apparent failures lead to learning opportunities.

I am passionate about developing internationally minded individuals who are prepared for their futures. Being knowledgeable, principled and reflective are a few key IB learning profiles that I value and strive to live by.

My teaching journey began in the United States of America, in my home state of Kentucky. As my love of education grew, new paths took me to South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Seven years ago, I was presented with the opportunity to teach IBDP Business Management, and instantly fell in love with the IB program. For the past two years I have also been the IBDP Coordinator and Extended Essay Coordinator. As a teacher and coordinator, I have witnessed the impact that IBDP has on students' lives and am a strong advocate of the program.

I enjoy learning about cultures, educational systems and the social structures in countries, which has guided my interest in traveling. I have traveled to over sixty countries and look forward to exploring more. I also enjoy playing various sports, working out and watching the arts.

I am extremely excited to join the RVIS family and look forward to meeting everyone soon.

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Shawn Moodley is a highly qualified Math teacher with over 20 years experience in various countries. Through a creative approach and adaptable teaching style, he always aims to get the most out of his students. Shawn appreciates that the beauty of Mathematics is in its simplicity and always tries to make the subject accessible to students of any ability through patience and determination. Shawn is married to Nerina, who will be teaching in Elementary school and they have two sons who will also be joining RVIS. He loves to travel and lead an outdoor lifestyle whenever he can. Shawn's philosophy when it comes to teaching, is to never give up on his students. Everyone has their strengths and talents and it is up to the teacher to provide a safe environment where a student feels comfortable to allow their curiosity to direct their learning. Shawn looks to build positive relationships with students in order to give them the confidence to succeed in life (and in Math!)

My name is Andrew, I'm a British Economics teacher (soon to be ESS as well). Though I was born in South Africa, I spent my childhood growing up in various countries around the world. As an adult, I've continued to travel and love to explore new places and learn new things. For this reason, I think I have quite an internationally minded perspective on the world and more of an international identity as well. I have taught in Thailand, Indonesia, China and am now looking forward to adding Bahrain to that list. Besides teaching economics, I have also taught TOK and 'humanities' as its own subject. I would say my teaching philosophy is to always be learning and always be adapting. I believe that if I can relate to my students, see what kind of style fits with theirs and find ways to help them appreciate the topic, then that goes a long way towards helping them get the most out of my class. I enjoy finding interesting ways to help students grapple with big concepts and deeper understandings of things. I'm always fascinated with how the world works, which is why I think I gravitated towards teaching humanities subjects. My degree is in Social Science, where I majored in economics, but also media-studies, which I think was quite a unique mix that helped me be more well-rounded in my knowledge. I also have a PGCE from the UK, which I undertook when I decided to go into teaching. I believe teaching is a profession that can be as challenging as it can be rewarding, for this reason I'm always interested to learn more from others and be inspired by new ideas or strategies. I hope to continue to learn and improve my 'craft' in this way.

I have a strong background in my disciplines and extensive experience in teaching them in the United States as well as internationally. I use a guided inquiry-based learning approach in all my classes. According to How Students Learn: History, Mathematics, and Science in the Classroom; 2005 from the National Research Council, teaching by telling does not work - especially for science -for most students. As part of an interactive community, students are more likely to be successful. Gaining knowledge is personal; students enjoy themselves more and develop greater ownership over their learning when they are given an opportunity to construct their own understanding. Using the inquiry-based approach has shown a significant growth in my students' understanding of the chemistry concepts based on the SAT and AP scores. It is my goal to promote the best intellectual, technological, and ethical learning experiences for my students and to guide them to become effective contributors to the global society.

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Before becoming a teacher, I worked at Injaz Bahrain (Junior Achievement branch in the Kingdom) for years. In those years I was so inspired by the students whom I had met from various schools. It was then that I realized I wanted to be a teacher and now I cannot see myself being in any other position. I taught Art at Shaikha Hessa Girls School for almost 3 years and before that I taught at the Royal University for Women.

I believe that the Art classroom is a place where students relax and explore interesting ideas freely. This helps them trust themselves and realizing their own mistakes. I love seeing students proud of their own art work and showing it off to their peers, especially when they come up to me and say ‘I cannot believe I did this'. Yes, you did!

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My name is Nour Geha, and I am a Lebanese speech therapist. I moved to the Kingdom of Bahrain after obtaining my Bachelor's degree in Speech Therapy from the Lebanese University in Lebanon. For over ten years, I have been working with children, teenagers and adults, in English, Arabic and French, who have been experiencing various speech difficulties in articulation, fluency and resonance; as well as oral language challenges including comprehension, expression and cognitive-communication difficulties. However, for the past six years, my main focus has been helping students in schools who have ADHD, ADD, general learning difficulties, as well as specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and dysorthographia. In addition to that, I have been working with preschool children who have stuttering, communication disorders, articulation disorders and oral language delay. Moreover, I provide ongoing guidance and support to the child's parents and/or caregivers, as well as to the different paraprofessionals who may be involved in their treatment plan, as I believe that this inclusive approach is essential to the child's well-being and progress. I believe that every child who is given the right tools and opportunities can achieve their goals regardless of their difficulty. That is why I find passion in what I do and in helping children and young adults grow and find their own voices, one word at a time.

The issues that our current generation faces, as well as those unforeseen, calls for a new type of learner. Those who can tackle economic, environmental, and social problems using practical skills and a higher level of computer literacy. I leave a quote by Nassim Taleb, which has some perspective on the problems of tomorrow. “I know that history is going to be dominated by an improbable event, I just don't know what that event will be.” Nassim's idea of how unpredictable the world can be, give a clear picture on how we should approach future problems. My current role as head of ICT, and as a member of the Student Life Organization has allowed me to pursue additional programs for students, which includes but is not limited to initiating STEAM programs. My passions encompass a wide range of IT related fields including Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Automation, and 3D design. I hold a BSc in IT from the UK Open university, and I am currently pursuing a MSc in Artificial Intelligence at IUBH University of Applied Science, in addition to an MSc in Information Security and Digital Forensics at the UK Open university. I also obtained additional qualifications in PMP, Arduino, Robotics and Python. Given the right guidance and opportunity, students can make a huge difference and impact on society. I am excited to see how I can develop LEVEL 5 further and enrich students to the greatest extent possible.

I think most people in the field of education can agree that relationship building is fundamental in being able to develop an environment where students feel safe and secure in their learning journey. My hope is to be at least one of the adults in the school building that students can feel comfortable enough to come to if they need assistance, whether it be friendship ups and downs, test anxiety, going over what they want to do with their life after graduation or just for a catch up chat! Being trained in the ASCA National Model, you'll find me providing direct services such as one on one counseling, groups and guidance lessons. My background is primarily High School and Middle School. I have had the pleasure of serving my community in Tucson, Arizona and most recently Qatar. Before being a school counselor, I had a stint in South Korea where I taught English. I am a proud Wildcat and graduate of University of Arizona where I earned a BS in Psychology and BA in Religious Studies. I later earned my M Ed. degree at Northern Arizona University in School Counseling. I am so very excited to be part of the RVIS community and be of service to our students and families.

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I am very excited at the opportunity to be a part of the dynamic team at Riffa Views International School. I am a Physical Education teacher with 18 years of experience, having taught in Australia, England, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. I have experience in teaching students across all age groups from Early Childhood through to High School and I have held several positions of Leadership during my career. For the last two years I have taught in a specialist school in Australia teaching students with mild to severe intellectual disability, associated disabilities and students with autism spectrum behaviours.

I hold a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Master of Educational Leadership degrees. I am currently completing a Master of Specialist Inclusive Education through Deakin University. I am a dedicated, hardworking and innovative teacher that is always striving to motivate students to do their best and extend their own personal limits. I constantly try and stay up to date with the latest research in education and incorporate the latest technology into my lessons.

Not only do I enjoy seeing students thrive during my classes, I also love to see students being involved in physical activity and extending themselves outside of the classroom. I am extremely passionate about extra-curricular activities and giving students the opportunity to experience the benefits that participation in sport and fitness activities can offer.

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I studied at the New York Institute of Technology, where I earned both a bachelors degree (BA), and a masters degree, in Business Administration (MBA). While studying in university, I worked various roles within several different departments of AMA Group in order to identify my strengths and passions. I later got the opportunity to join one of Bahrain's leading Accounting and Business Consultancy firms, BDO Jawad Habib, within the Career Progression Program; part of the national projects set up by Tamkeen to help develop the Bahraini workforce. I maintained the management position for 4 years, building on my skills and acquiring a depth of knowledge in connecting thousands of employees with the appropriate training courses to match their needs.

My educational philosophy is to give students the tools to innovate and create and to explore their ideas and passions in a safe and comfortable environment. The Learning Commons provides students the opportunities to do just that, making my job even more fulfilling. I am extremely excited to be taking on the role of Learning Commons Coordinator for the next school year and I hope to continue the amazing work done at the LC.

My name is Isabella, and I will be joining RVIS in August as the new French and Spanish teacher. Growing up in an international family inspired my love for languages and fuelled my curiosity to learn about new cultures and customs from around the globe. As a language teacher, I aim to embrace the school's multiculturalism and interweave its diversity into my lessons. This encompasses my philosophy that languages are more than words and grammar, as it also provides cultural awareness which not only captures the student's fascination but also helps them become well-rounded, socially adept members of society. After completing the International Baccalaureate in Copenhagen, I undertook a bachelor's degree in French and Hispanic Studies at the university of King's College London. During which I completed a year abroad in France as a language assistant. This led me to complete a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) at the University of Cambridge specialising in language teaching. Since then, I have been working at a small independent school in the heart of London teaching GCSE and A Level pupils in French and Spanish. Whilst working, I also completed a Master's degree in Education at the University of Cambridge, in which I explored the effectiveness of integrating drama projects in language lessons. I am really looking forward to joining the RVIS community, getting to know my fellow teachers and future pupils and fully immersing myself in life in Bahrain.