Staff | About Us | DIA Emirates Hills | Dubai, U.A.E

Staff

Primary, Secondary, & General Staff

Dubai International Academy has a well qualified faculty with international teaching credentials from over 30 different countries. The student/teacher ratio is 12:1.

Through dynamic cycles of inquiry, action and reflection teachers enable and support students as they develop the approaches to learning they need – for both academic and personal success.

They support sensitively to the needs of the students through fully differentiated lesson plans, stimulating learning environments and a variety of teaching strategies.

In addition to the detailed school reports each semester, parents are updated through regular PTC and on-line communication.

IB teachers are given access to:

  1. High quality professional development that encourages critical thinking, self- reflection and dedication to lifelong learning and continuous improvement
  2. Innovative and diverse education frameworks, unit planners, teaching resources and evaluation tools
  3. Certification and degree programmes offered by highly respected universities worldwide
  4. A pedagogy known to produce students who are motivated to continue inquiry and lifelong learning, beyond school study.
  5. Centres on learners
  6. Develops effective approaches to teaching and learning
  7. Works within global contexts, helping students understand different languages and cultures
  8. Explores significant content, developing disciplinary and interdisciplinary understanding that meets rigorous international standards.

Staff

Senior Management
  • Poonam Bhojani - CEO, Innoventures Education
  • Michael Stephen - Director Finance and Administration, Innoventures Education
  • James Roberts - Director of Standards and Head of School Development Unit
  • Hitesh Bhagat - Principal, Dubai International Academy
Primary School
  • Tom Collar - Head of Primary
  • James Heard - Deputy Head of Primary - Academic (KG1 - Year 2)
  • Stephanie Trueman - Deputy Head of Primary - Academic (Year 3 - 6)
  • Manuela Watfa - Deputy Head of Primary - Pastoral
  • Jayda Keer - Head of Inclusion, Primary
  • Ruchika Sachdev - Primary Years Programme Coordinator
Secondary School
  • Michelle Puxty - Head of Secondary
  • Claire Inglis - Deputy Head of Secondary - Academic (Year 12 - 13)
  • Jonathon Dunn - Deputy Head of Secondary - Academic (Year 7 - 11)
  • Colin Leacy - Deputy Head of Secondary - Pastoral (Year 7 - 13)
  • Daniel Murphy - Assistant Head - Pastoral
  • Gerhard Van der Wal - Assistant Head (Year 10 - 13)
  • Nemanja Dordevic - Assistant Head (Year 7 - 9)
  • Mona Khreis - Diploma Programme Coordinator
  • Kanshi Das - Careers Related Programme Coordinator
  • Ruba Jeshi - Middle Years Programme Coordinator
  • Asha Karam - Head of Inclusion
Whole School
  • Mihail Kouzev - Director of Sports & Activities
Primary School 
Year 1 Teachers
  • YR1A: Yogita Amonkar, Yellaine Macasiray (CRA).
  • YR1B: Aimee Hinksman, Cherry Leene Apad Melgar (CRA).
  • YR1C: Ashleigh Claire Watson, Kimmi Joy Alcazar Verzola (CRA).
  • YR1D: Eimear Brophy, Jenicel Obacan Flores (CRA).
  • YR1E: Natalia Bodo, Maria Cecilia Pascual (CRA).
  • YR1F: Conor Slattery, Jennifer Balidio (CRA).
  • YR1G: Jodie Harries (Year Leader), Udeni Mala Kapuwatta (LSA).
Year 2 Teachers
  • YR2A: Dianne Williams (Math Co YR3-6), Katherine Shyne Garcia Yu (CRA).
  • YR2B: Ellen Kehoe, Maria Corazon Salonga (CRA).
  • YR2C: Talita Grobbelaar Samuel, Rosemarie Alfonso Alamer (CRA).
  • YR2D: Sudhata Maharaj (Year Leader), Elizabeth Gurrea Sible (CRA).
  • YR2E: Katie Marie Cahill, Shienna Mae Leal Marquez (CRA).
  • YR2F: Nicholas Taylor (Community & Service Leader), Kriss Navarro Albun (CRA).
  • YR2G: Barbara Lynham (Math Co KG1-YR2), Mikee Lauren Maliao (CRA).
Year 3 Teachers
  • YR3A: Tommi-Lee Henry.
  • YR3B: Amy Marie Kelly (Science Co KG1-YR2).
  • YR3C: Amanda McLean.
  • YR3D: Sinead O'Grady (Year Leader).
  • YR3E: Karlien Stephan.
  • YR3F: Natalie Paisley (House Leader).
  • YR3G: Emer Grace Kelly.
Year 4 Teachers
  • YR4A: Kopal Bansal (Teaching & Learning Lower Primary).
  • YR4B: Louise McDonald.
  • YR4C: Sarah McKeogh.
  • YR4D: Anita Das.
  • YR4E: Aida El Jeries (English Co YR3-6).
  • YR4F: Venisha O'Gilvie (Year Leader).
  • YR4G: Sean Taylor (Well Being Leader).
Year 5 Teachers
  • YR5A: David Duggan.
  • YR5B: Sara McDermott.
  • YR5C: Damien Summlar (Year Leader).
  • YR5D: Natalie Broderick.
  • YR5E: James Brunton.
  • YR5F: Aliyah Sutton (Teaching & Learning Upper Primary).
  • YR5G: Lyndsey Hardy.
Year 6 Teachers
  • YR6A: James McLean.
  • YR6B: Debony Leitch.
  • YR6C: Conor Kavanagh (Year Leader).
  • YR6D: Megan Archer.
  • YR6E: Phillip Lydon (Science Co Yr3-6).
  • YR6F: Shona Wills.
  • YR6G: Caralynne Fowler.
LSA Pool (TAs)
  • Dhanya Deepesh (PS 012).
  • Saria Abu Harb (PS 012).
  • Razan Al-Moshasha (PS 012).
Student Support
  • Jayda Keer: Head of Inclusion.
  • Shivani Talwar.
  • Monica Nanda.
  • Kanika Kalra.
  • Zoe Jacob Khawaja.
  • Melita D'Souza (Social Counselor).
Physical Education Teachers
  • Katie Allason (Head of PE & Team Sports).
  • Mark Lester de Real.
  • Dominic Mulligan Mann. 
  • Sonia Isabel Tome Dias.
  • Candice Tantuan Capistrano.
  • Kyle Brady.
  • Angelica Marie L. De Leon.
Secondary School
English teachers
  • Alicen Inker 
  • Andrew Hanlon.
  • Camille Catheral. 
  • Ciara Gillespie.
  • Claire Inglis.
  • Esther Johnson.
  • Florence Okore.
  • Kanchi Das.
  • Karla Bou Serhal.
  • Katy Dolan.
  • Krishna Priya.
  • Maha Zaouil (Head of MYP).
  • Nagina Chaudary (Head of DP).
  • Naveen Tyagi.
  • Peter Williams.
  • Renda Kayali.
  • Shannon Meehan.
  • Srishti Jain (ESL).
  • Zeina Kazak.
Modern Foreign Languages Teachers
  • Ana Maria Perez Quintas.
  • Blanca Gonzalez (Head of MYP).
  • Catherine Poudin.
  • Camila Trevino.
  • Claire Dessemond.
  • Daniel Gonzales Munoz.
  • Frederique Defontaine.
  • Jessica Mammone.
  • Ouaiba Belahcene.
  • Roberto Villa Garcia.
  • Teresa Vazquez. 
  • Valerie Labedan.
  • Yolaine Siko (Head of DP). 
Individual & Societies Teachers
  • Aalia Shaikh.
  • Amanda Luman.
  • Amy Dowling.
  • Andrei Fedenev.
  • Chaitra Pargaonkar.
  • Damien Kelly. 
  • Glen Doyle.
  • Jennifer Agacy.
  • Laura Cunniffe.
  • Mahrukh Sutaria.
  • Mahua Paul (Head of MYP).
  • Mai Elbahar.
  • Mukta Mundhra.
  • Nimra Khan. 
  • Palak Mathur.
  • Peter Stoddart (BTEC). 
  • Reena Tikku (Head of DP).
  • Saira J Nazir.
  • Sangeeta Handa.
Science teachers
  • Akshyta Tandon.
  • Amy Sharp.
  • Barbara Timlin (Head of DP).
  • Caoimhe Morrison. 
  • CB Sivakumar.
  • David Penagos.
  • Dina Thebian.
  • Gerard Finnegan.
  • Julie McGuigan.
  • Kathryn Keiller.
  • Lama Chami.
  • Liam Cronin (Head of MYP).
  • Lisa Hynes.
  • Maeve McKeogh.
  • Marishka Dsouza.
  • Mona Khreis.
  • Nemanja Dordevic .
  • TR Saraswathy.
  • Vijayalakshmi Vatkar.
Math Teachers
  • Amira Hussein.
  • Amy Cunningham.
  • Asha Kumar.
  • Colin Leacy.
  • Dheera Pant.
  • Edgar Hambly.
  • Gerhard Van Der Wal.
  • Huneza Usman.
  • Izel Joubert.
  • Jonathon Dunn.
  • John Aboaja.
  • Katherine Beswick (Head of MYP) 
  • Manmohan Singh.
  • Mark Smyth.
  • Muhsin Mukhtar. 
  • Rohanna Hymers (Head of DP)
  • Stephen Cleary.
  • Vidya Shriram.
  • Vinayak Sharma.
Technology teachers
  • Aparna Ravichandran.
  • Anuradha Harikrishman.
  • Daniel Murphy.
  • Jasmine Borlos. 
  • Ateeb Mohammed. 
  • Nithya Sankaran.
  • Rajani Anoop (Head of DP Design). 
  • Ruba Jeshi. 
  • Somya Jajor (Head of MYP Design).
  • Stephen Duffy.
Art teachers
  • Jill Martin (Head of Performing Arts).
  • Veronica Richards (Head of Visual Arts).
  • Seon Lewis (Head of Media).
  • Jamie O Sullivan  (Music)
  • Kulsoom Haris (Visual Arts)
  • Noha Kazak
  • Paul McCabe (Music) 
  • Zeinab Koaik
Arabic & Islamic Studies teachers
  • Reda Al Elashmawy - Head of Arabic (Ar A). 
  • Mohamed Nasr Ali - Head of Arabic (Ar B).
  • Waleed Ahmed - Head of Islamic.
  • Amira Adel Jad.
  • Marwa Elashri.
  • Moemen Elsamahi.
  • Mohamed Ahmad Saad.
  • Rehab Ahmed Mohamed.
  • Tasnim Bayyari.
Physical Education Teachers
  • Mihail Kouzev.
  • Fiona Turnbull (Head of PE).
  • Joe Sidebottom.
  • Donna Campbell.
  • Lea Jean Chaves.
Counseling & Inclusion Team
  • Head of Inclusion: Asha Karam.
  • Hala Al-Himsi.
  • Izel Joubert.
  • Kamal Nosheen.
  • Lojain Abu Baker.
  • Mala Joseph.
  • Mojdeh Niyousha.
  • Urvi Shah.
  • Career Counselor
  • Rachana Sippy.
  • Stewart Pinkerto.
  • Saira Cherian.

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