Blowing you away with my skills and this awesome magnesium and oxygen synthesis reaction!
My passion in life is to instill a love of discovery in learners of all ages; understanding ourselves (and science!) is really about understanding the world! I want my mentees to be life-long learners who are always driven by curiosity, wonder and the autonomy and agency to be empowered and empower others. I facilitate students learning how to live in the world they are a part of. I want learners to walk away with the attitude of knowing how to solve a problem and how to give back to their community around them. I aim to do the same for myself in order to become the best educator I can be.
Top Strengths
1. Life-long Educator and Learner – My extensive experience has led me to interact with and teach all spectrums of students and adults. I have taught multiple subjects and life-skills in public school, private school, lab schools, online and virtual, and in environments where there are few resources or structure. Learners have ranged in ages with varying backgrounds, cultures, languages, abilities and learning styles. I am adept in people management and inquiry-based learning. I believe that if a person feels empowered, safe, engaged and is having fun then they will excel. I am trained in traditional schooling, special education, Montessori, Responsive Classroom, STEM, ed+tech, SAMR model, ISTE standards, whole-child and project-based learning. I am bilingual in English and Arabic and conversational in Spanish. Employer observations affirm that I am flexible and open to perfecting my trade as well as learning new modes of pedagogy and digital learning. I am a strong believer in making education accessible and free to everyone; each time I construct curriculums or educational materials I make sure they are public and accessible.
2. Distinguished Scholar – While I believe that a true educator can teach anything to anyone, it’s also equally important to be a master of the subject you teach and to dedicate time to simply be the best in that content. My degrees, records and awards attest to that. I can synthesize complex concepts in simple terms and have enough content-specific knowledge to work in varying settings such as a school, a lab or a company. I am known to work seamlessly across all ages; I am adept at switching between an educator role, a coaching role, a consultant, and most importantly, a facilitator of learning.
3. Interdisciplinary and Communicative – I am exceptional in collaborating with people of different trades and integrating curriculum across multiple disciplines and locations. I am able to link the subjects that I teach to everyday topics in order to increase the relevance to the learner and enhance their experience. I have received extensive training in learner differentiation and technology integration. I am able to adapt a concept to any person according to their level as well as foster agency. I have been known to be strong communicator with all types of people (including parents, younger students, staff, administration, engineers, partner schools, and the greater community). I have been dubbed the resident “community and experiential organizer” for every institution for which I have been a part. In addition, my expertise and skills have frequently been used for marketing and interviews in corporate and educational settings.
4. Resourceful – I have worked in environments ranging from limited / no resources to having access to state-of-the-art tools. I am well known for my resourcefulness with materials and am able to find original ways to teach in a kinesthetic and engaging manner. I believe that any learner has the right to experience an education that is personalized to their style, and resources should never be a limiting factor. I have even created full labs out of nothing but trips to the local dollar store or flea market. More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have worked on the cutting edge of edtech; I have spoken at conferences and led workshops and trainings on adapting instruction with relevant tools in today’s world of in-person, hybrid, and remote teaching.
Education Philosophy
It’s amazing what a set of experiences can do to an individual. As the youngest of four children, I grew up attending several types of schooling systems ranging from international institutions, rowdy public schools, quiet homeschooling, private academies, foreign language schools, community college and state university. I have also traveled across the world and lived in places like Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
With this background, my mindset is that each learner, like me, is unique. Every person enters the open doors of a learning environment with hopes and aspirations, and it is up to all of us – educators, parents, students, and the greater community – to realize those dreams. My philosophy is that learners excel when they feel safe, respected, included, have agency, and have fun!
I enjoy teaching and coaching with an investigative and upbeat communication style where most instruction is learner-led, personalized and encourages autonomy and problem solving. I like to have my learners discussing issues, physically moving to engage all of their senses, and experiment at their own pace. My approach is a learner-centered pedagogical environment where personalization allows me to meet various needs. Moreover, I am keen on interpersonal relationships and show respect for students and adults and take part in their interests. My mentees and I have developed an atmosphere of mutual respect and professionalism. When it comes to pedagogy, I have found myself stepping away from rigid structures and moving into a more flowing, whole-child type of instruction that is enhanced through the lens of social justice and digital literacy. I find that I am open and flexible enough to teach in a manner in which they find their content relevant and meaningful. I am a strong proponent of using technology in the classroom to enhance (not replace) the learning experience and transcend the learning into the real world. Instruction can take form in many ways, like project-based learning, student-led labs, and connecting with other learners around the world.
EMAN HAGGAG 