I am a certified, regular education, ESL and special education teacher. My wife, Gabrielle, has 20 years of pre-school teaching experience, and although she’s not certified, currently she and two assistants are teaching 15 pre-school students. We are both teaching in a school owned by the royal family in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where I’m teaching English/ESL. Last year we taught in Kuwait where I was a science and social studies teacher and Gabrielle was an assistant teacher.

Throughout my career I’ve been able to meet a wide variety of expectations from supervisors, parents, peers, and community members; and I’ve met most of my students’ needs. My classrooms are user-friendly, professional environments where students feel comfortable as they learn and then prove what they can do.

At the start a new school year, I check my students’ levels of knowledge, curiosity and caring by asking them questions like, “Do you know why lb. is the abbreviation for pound?” “What do you like to do in your spare time?” and “What are your plans for yourself after all of your formal education is finished?” I find out the degree to which parents want to be involved in their child’s education and then I work with all of them as the students set and realize their goals.

By structuring my lesson plans for success, I’ve been able to show my students the correlation between hard work and getting what they want. A good teacher empowers students to try to do their best, and I always emphasize this in my lessons. Many students have a hard time thinking ahead to their futures, so I help them set achievable short-term goals. I constantly remind them that “Not giving up + Time = Goal Attainment,” and “Talk – Action = Zero.”

I set high standards for myself and for my students, and yet I know I have to monitor and adjust my style according to the changes and realities in the classroom. I’m a student-centered teacher and also a team player. I am a teacher who motivates students to do their best and then gives them ways to prove what they can do. It’s a challenging task but my past successes indicate that I’ll be successful in the future too.

As a regular and special education teacher, I’ve taught all of the major subjects (language arts, math, science, and social studies/humanities), mostly in grades 4-12. I’m confident that I can successfully teach any student any subject within my range of expertise. If my qualifications seem to match your needs, I urge you to follow up on your instincts, and contact me about a teaching position in your school.