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

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
  • Jodie Harries- 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
  • Nemanja Dordevic - 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)
  • Stephen Cleary - Pastoral Coordinator (Year 10 - 13)
  • Amy Dowling - Pastoral Coordinator (Year 7 - 9)
  • Gerhard Van der Wal - Assistant Head (Year 12 - 13)
  • Ruba Jeshi - Assistant Head (Year 7 - 11)
  • Mona Khreis - Diploma Programme Coordinator
  • John Aboaja - Careers Related Programme Coordinator
  • Mahua Paul - Middle Years Programme Coordinator
  • Pashu Bhattacharya - Head of Inclusion, Secondary
Whole School
  • Mihail Kouzev - Director of Sports & Activities
Primary School 
KG 1 Teachers
  • KG1A:  Jessica Simon, Elena Lim & Edna Dalangin (CRA) 
  • KG1B:  Amna Ahsan, Lane Osena & Jenny Ann Quiambao (CRA) 
  • KG1C:  Nida Khandwani, Robelyn Yanag (CRA) 
  • KG1D:  Sana Syeda Abbas, Angelita Zozobrado & Den Tecson (CRA) 
  • KG1E:  Aisling Fitzpatrick, Elien Abao & Romelyn Palacio (CRA) 
  • KG1F:  Courtney Farland, Alyn Joy Abibiason & Miralyn Partosa (CRA) 
  • KG1G:  Melanie Cousins, Rofa Madayag & Erica Fe Laguador (CRA) 
KG 2 Teachers
  • KG2A:  Amelia Critchley, Airesh Mae Cuizon (CRA) 
  • KG2B:  Ashleigh Claire Watson, Maricel Fajardo (CRA) 
  • KG2C:  Laura Wade, Norba Tumbaga (CRA) 
  • KG2D:  Niamh Margaret Kelly, Armalyn Fronteras (CRA) 
  • KG2E:  Jessica Whyte-Whelan, Nonette Narveza (CRA) 
  • KG2F:  Amber Cailyn Corfe, Crispina Mendoza (CRA) 
  • KG2G:  Jessica Keogh, Marvic Sarona (CRA) 
Year 1 Teachers
  • YR1A: Ellen Kehoe, Ma. Elena Martin Montoya  (CRA)
  • YR1B: Alanna Patricia Church, Cherry Leene Apad Melgar (CRA)
  • YR1C: Talita Grobbelaar Samuel, Roselle Cabalan Panal (CRA)
  • YR1D: Brooke Elizabeth Arthur, Elden Ampo (CRA)
  • YR1E: Morven Eva Jackson, Maria Cecilia Pascual (CRA)
  • YR1F: Conor Slattery (Year Leader), Kimmi Joy Alcazar Verzola (CRA)
  • YR1G: Monika Krokos , Udeni Mala Kapuwatta (LSA)
Year 2 Teachers
  • YR2A: Katie Marie Cahill , Shienna Mae Leal Marquez (CRA)
  • YR2B: Nastasha Ahloma Van Staden, Mikee Laureen Maliao (CRA)
  • YR2C: Dianne Michelle Williams (Math Co KG1-YR2), KatherineShyne Garcia Yu (CRA)
  • YR2D: Sudhata Maharaj (Year Leader), Elizabeth Gurrea Sible (CRA)
  • YR2E: Eimear Brophy, Rose Marie Alamer (CRA)
  • YR2F: Lyndsey Dianne Hardy, Kriss Navarro Albun (CRA)
  • YR2G: Nicholas Taylor (Community & Service Leader), Rosenie Gardose Genodia (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: Aliyah Sutton (Teaching & Learning Upper Primary)
  • YR5C: Damien Summlar (Year Leader)
  • YR5D: Saffron Elizabeth Nickels
  • YR5E: James Brunton
  • YR5F: Manjulika Dhar
  • YR5G: Barbara Lynham (Math Co YR3-6)
Year 6 Teachers
  • YR6A: James McLean
  • YR6B: Debony Leitch
  • YR6C: Sara McDermott (Year Leader)
  • YR6D: Megan Archer
  • YR6E: Phillip Lydon (Science Co Yr3-6)
  • YR6F: Shona Wills
  • YR6G: Caralynne Fowler
LSA
  • Dhanya Deepesh
  • Saria Abu Harb
  • Razan Al-Moshasha
  • Anita Nair
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
  • Ilona Kliminska
  • Candice Tantuan Capistrano
  • Angelica Marie L. De Leon
Art Teachers
  • Kiran Lakhiani (YR1, 3, 5)
  • Iti Sethi (YR2, 4, 6)
Music and Dance Teachers
  • Rini Aloysia John ( Head of Arts)
  • Lauren Patricia Sexton ( Head of Musical Arts & Perfomances)
Arabic and Islamic Teachers

Arabic A

  • Rana Othman (Arabic A Co)
  • Yomn Safi

Arabic B

  • Eman Abdalla Jamal (Arabic B Co)
  • Reham Ahmed
  • Maha Ezzat 
  • Nadra Arafa 
  • Omaima Mohammed 
  • Samah Abdelhares 
  • Amal Wahby Ahmed Mustafa

Islamic

  • Asmaa Al Kurdy (Islamic A) (Islamic Co)
  • Mahmoud Ibraheem El Sayed (Islamic B)
ICT Teacher
  • Felipe San Juan De Leon
Modern Foreign Languages Teachers
  • Wahiba Hamdi (French) (Head of MFL)
  • Milena Isacchi(French)
  • Rosario Garcia (Spanish)
  • Alicia Garriga Beloso (Spanish)

 

 

 

Secondary School

 

 

 

English teachers
  • Alicen Inker 
  • Andrew Hanlon
  • Camille Catheral
  • Claire Inglis
  • Clare Boyes
  • Eimear Scully
  • Esther Johnson
  • Florence Okore
  • Karla Bou Serhal
  • Katy Dolan
  • Marc Pekhazis
  • Marqia van der Walt
  • Nagina Chaudhry (Head of DP English)
  • Naveen Tyagi
  • Paul Norton
  • Peter Williams
  • Renda Kayali (Head of MYP English)
  • Robert Elliott
Modern Foreign Languages Teachers
  • Ana Maria Perez Quintas
  • Blanca Gonzalez (Head of MYP Language B)
  • Catherine Poudin
  • Camila Trevino
  • Claire Dessemond
  • Daniel Gonzales Munoz
  • Frederique Defontaine
  • Jessica Mammone
  • Ouaiba Belahcene
  • Roberto Villa Garcia
  • Saloua Bensaad
  • Teresa Vazquez
  • Valerie Labedan
  • Yolaine Siko (Head of DP Language B)
Individual & Societies Teachers
  • Aalia Shaikh
  • Aaarti Vignesh
  • Amanda Luman
  • Amy Dowling
  • Andrei Fedenev
  • Chaitra Pargaonkar
  • Damien Kelly
  • Glen Doyle (BTEC Coordinator)
  • Jennifer Agacy
  • Laura Cunniffe (Head of MYP Individuals & Societies)
  • Mahrukh Sutaria
  • Mahua Paul
  • Mai Elbahar
  • Mukta Mundhra
  • Nimra Khan
  • Palak Mathur
  • Reena Tikku (Head of DP Individuals & Societies)
  • Saira J Nazir
  • Sangeeta Handa
  • Sunnanda Mor
Science teachers
  • Akshyta Tandon
  • Amy Joy Price
  • Barbara Timlin (Head of DP Science)
  • Caoimhe Morrison
  • CB Sivakumar
  • David Penagos
  • Dina Thebian
  • Jasmin Thomas
  • Joni Stoop
  • Kasim Hollins
  • Kathryn Keiller
  • Lama Chami
  • Liam Cronin (Head of MYP Science)
  • Maeve McKeogh
  • Marishka Dsouza
  • Mona Khreis
  • Nemanja Dordevic
  • Saoirse McGrath
  • TR Saraswathy
  • Vijayalakshmi Vatkar
Math Teachers
  • Amira Hussein
  • Asha Kumar
  • Colin Leacy
  • Dheera Pant
  • Edgar Hambly
  • Gerhard Van Der Wal
  • Gregory Weldon
  • Huneza Usman
  • Ivan Loris Ballacchino
  • Jonathon Dunn
  • John Aboaja
  • Katherine Beswick (Head of MYP Mathematics)
  • Marcella Mezzina
  • Muhsin Mukhtar
  • Rentia Bartie
  • Rohanna Hymers (Head of DP Mathematics)
  • Stephen Cleary
  • Sumaiya Parvez
  • Sweta Sewak
  • Zaid Usmani
Technology teachers
  • Aparna Ravichandran
  • Anuradha Harikrishman
  • Deepika Bhatia
  • Jasmine Borlos
  • Ateeb Mohammed
  • Nithya Sankaran
  • Rajani Anoop (Head of DP Design)
  • Ruba Jeshi
  • Somya Jajor (Head of MYP Design)
  • Stephen Duffy
Art teachers
  • Charis Baylis
  • Gargi Khot
  • Jill Martin (Head of Performing Arts)
  • Seon Lewis (Head of Media)
  • Jamie O Sullivan
  • Noha Kazak
  • Paul McCabe
  • Zeinab Koaik (Head of Visual Arts)
Arabic & Islamic Studies teachers
  • Amira Adel Jad
  • Amro Adel Abdelbaki
  • Ahmed Othman
  • Hesham Safi
  • Marwa Elashri
  • Moemen Elsamahi
  • Mohamed Nasr Ali (Head of Arabic B)
  • Reda Al Elashmawy (Head of Arabic A)
  • Rehab Ahmed Mohamed
  • Waleed Ahmed (Head of Islamic Education)
Physical Education Teachers
  • Donna Campbell
  • Fiona Turnbull (Head of PE)
  • Joe Sidebottom
  • Lea Jean Chaves
  • Mihail Kouzev
Counseling & Inclusion Team
  • Ahed Kasrawi
  • Hala Al-Himsi
  • Kamal Nosheen
  • Mala Joseph
  • Mojdeh Niyousha
  • Pashu Bhattacharya (Head of Inclusion)
  • Urvi Shah
  • Rachana Sippy
  • Stewart Pinkerton
  • Saira Cherian

 

 

 

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