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My First Presentation

I had to give my first presentation ever in front of our new staff. All forty nine of them, along with seven of my own admin team. I had known about this talk I had to give about Kuwait culture since May. I had worked on it during my summer break. But I had no time to review it nor practice as it’s been crazy since we have been back. Night before, I had gotten the flu so I slept by 7pm. I didn’t polish the presentation or give it at least one go. Wednesday morning came and my nose and ears were blocked, and I could barely hear myself. I took some medicine, and off I went to work.

The men who offered us arabic coffee/tea/dates.

I wanted to add personal touches which would both ease the audience, and offer a unique approach to the presentation. So I served arabic coffee, tea and dates to give them a little taste of Kuwaiti flavors. I also played background Kuwaiti music, and hung items of Kuwaiti clothing around the space in which I was presenting.

Lights off, and I began. Standing in front of room full of people, with hopeful eyes watching me to convey to them at least the essence of the place in which they’ll be spending several years of their lives, was exhilarating. A rush of emotions swayed over me and rolled around inside my body, and I flowed with it. I joked around to break the ice for both them and myself, and it definitely helped. Laughter eased us all into and throughout the presentation.

Our newbies so engaged at learning about their new home/culture.

I thought it would take 20 minutes but it took about an hour between my presentation, their questions, and the anecdotal stories I shared. I didn’t want to overwhelm them with too much information, but I didn’t want to leave any of their concerns unattended to either. It was done, I did it – my first presentation as an AP – and I received a lot of positive feedback. I also asked for constructive criticism and what I could do better the next time.

I know there’ll be many more presentations to give as an AP, but for my first time, I feel good. I feel like I did a good job, and that I’m settling into my role. It all feels so great that most times, I’m lost for words.

If any of you have any suggestions on what I can do to get over the anxiety I have to speak in front of my staff, please do let me know. I hope not every time I have to give a presentation entails the same level of insane emotion!

Thanks 🙂

D*lightfully

My new role…

This is it. New year, new chapter in my life, new challenges, new everything … AAAAAAAAHHH! Its all so nerve-wrecking. I arrived to Kuwait on Wednesday night and Thursday was my first day at work, officially as an ES assistant principal. Mind you I was unable to sleep properly. The anxiety I felt were insane and totally new to me. I probably slept for 2 hours.

The next morning, I picked up the KG AP and went grocery shopping for our new staff arriving that night. We made sure we got them things that will get them by for that night. We had planned many shopping trips for them. We bought the things and took them to sort them out and deliver them to each apartment. Later that morning was my first Admin Council meeting. We all greeted each other, spoke about our summers and began the meeting. It felt weird being there with the rest of the team and jumping into conversations when needed. That night all 8 of us went to the airport. We greeted the new teachers as they walked out of the sliding doors and towards the AIS sign. It was a wonderful feeling introducing myself or a principal introducing me. I tried to make them feel comfortable and answered all sorts of questions they had. Most importantly, I was able to get them connected to message their families and to let them know they arrived safely, and that they were in good hands. We were there from 9pm until 2am making sure everyone arrived and got what they needed.

The next morning we took them grocery shopping and the AP’s met to discuss the following days’ activities and schedule. It was all wonderful yet overwhelming. My main goal was to get them settled in and make sure they got everything they needed. We kept telling them not to worry about their class or school, that these two weeks are for them to make their flats feel like home, and to get their lives sorted out before anything else because that will be paramount to making them feel comfortable starting at school.

The next day we took them for breakfast at a very yummy Lebanese restaurant, then to the biggest mall in Kuwait from 10am-5pm. While they were shopping, the Admin team met to go over the next few days. Meeting at Starbucks and working in this new role, with people passing by, looking at us, felt surreal to me. Was I really here? Am I the AP? Is this happening? I felt as though I had grown up so much, so quickly.

We made sure we were visible to our new staff while they shopped and we worked, in case they needed anything. It was an amazing feeling being there, discussing their day plans and what we needed do for them. Being a teacher and then an AP is a plus for me as I know both worlds, and can empathize with what teachers need, and what they would like for us to do to help them integrate and adapt.

Overall the experience has been great. I am loving every minute of it. Yes, there are challenges but so far it’s been easy to iron it out for them. As long as our new staff are all happy and smiling, and their transition has been smooth, then all this exhaustion is worth it. I can’t wait to see what’s planned ahead for me.

Dlightfully D.

PTC Take #2

It was time to fly to Miami. I got there two days before the course started with a plan to get over my jet lag, but this time, it was impossible. This time around was much harder for me. Doing it the year before in the lens of a team leader was so much easier and different than doing it in the lens of an AP this time round. I felt it was so intense and tough. This was the real deal, like everything they were saying in the course was actually to me, as an actual AP. They are talking to me. I have that power. It freaked me out in all the best and worst ways. But I never took my eyes off the ball. Not even for a second.

I learned so much though, and I took thorough notes and did all my homework like a good girl 🙂 I will admit though, I took the two courses this summer so much more seriously than last summer. It was intense and overwhelming, and yet felt so good and different all at once. I saw friends from the summer before, met new ones and made new friends. It’s all about the networking. Meeting so many educators from around the world and being able to share with them my fear, my experience, my excitement was phenomenal. I got lots of tips and pieces of sound advice from those I connected with. I took away so many things to help me transition from one position to another.

One thing I learned from the PTC experience was that I am not alone. So many different people are either fighting hard for what they want, facing the same problem of overcoming such huge emotions to get what they want, or feeling the same feelings in their own way. It was reassuring to know I wasn’t alone at all. Many offered to stay in touch and email whenever I had a question, or to just share whatever is going on with them. It was wonderful to know they cared and that I had a network of people from the PTC that were interested in hearing about my journey. I felt a bit more at ease after completing my last course than when I had first started.

At most of my classes I happened to be the only Arab. It felt strange at first but then I got used to it. Being able to speak about Kuwait and share information about my culture was also a beautiful feeling. I felt proud of where I came from, who I was, and where I was going.

I completed both courses and finally graduated. But I plan on going back for more. After all, you can never be overeducated.

The NEWS and moving forward..

The bell rang and recess was over. I was walking up to my class and settling my students down so I could begin my lesson, when my class phone rang. It was the secretary telling me to go down to my superintendent’s office, and that he needed to see me at that very moment. I waited for the substitute to come to my class and hurriedly left. My legs couldn’t move fast enough! This is it … this is the moment that I’m going to find out whether or not I got the job; the dream. If not, what’s plan B? Do I apply anywhere else or wait? So many scenarios went through my head as I walked into his office. He walked in, sat on the couch in front of me, and was about to tell me the news. As he was saying, “Thank you for applying for the ES position…”, my stomach tumbled into a million knots and I expected him to say, ‘we are sorry but…’ Instead he said, “I am happy to offer you the ES AP position for 2017/2018”. I froze … I wanted to scream… jump… shout. I remember looking at him in a daze, as in, did I hear correctly? I’m sure he read my face, so he repeated it again, and the second time around, I was sure he said what he said.

I asked if I could scream! I couldn’t believe my ears! He showed me my new contract to sign and asked, “Do you still want the position?” Do I want it? Are you serious? Of course I do! I read the contract, asked a question and then signed. He congratulated me, we shook hands, and I literally ran back to my principal to share the news. I then ran to my AP who was leaving the next year, and then ran to my class to continue teaching. How I taught that class, I have no idea. I was on cloud nine.

I quickly called my husband and family, excitedly screaming the amazing news into the phone. I ran to one of team members and just put my thumbs up on her glass door because she was teaching. She ran to the door, hugged me and ran back in. I simply couldn’t believe it! My dream was coming true, and there truly is no better feeling in the world.

When I found out having my PTC on my CV made a huge difference, I was so grateful. I couldn’t wait to enroll for PTC 2017. Slowly news traveled, an email went out and everyone started coming to congratulate me in person, by email or phone. It probably took a few weeks for it to fully sink in that I got the position, and that I wouldn’t be in a classroom anymore. Ten long, beautiful, exasperating, and soul shaking years in a classroom; years spent working myself to the bone, planning my vision, pushing myself forward, and finding ways through one challenge after the next. However, I still had months ahead of me of a workload that would be the heaviest I had handled yet.

Two days after signing my new contract, I received an email from PTC saying the schedule is out for Summer 2017. I had written down which two courses I needed in order for me to graduate. Right then and there I logged on, enrolled, secured my place and paid. I was now all set to go and couldn’t wait to travel.

January hit and everything was becoming so real. I was doing three jobs at once: teaching, team leading, and shadowing my current AP whenever he was free. All my free periods would go to being with him. He showed me the ropes and was so patient with me. I was going to all the ES leadership meetings every Sunday and Wednesday. I would stay after school to catch up with my grading and planning. Time was flying and next thing I know it was June. As I was packing my classroom up for the next teacher to take over, I felt so strange. So many mixed emotions zapped through me while I was packing up. I barely took anything with me, and left and reorganized everything for her. All I took to my office was a box with my personal things.

Time for a change…The Interview

By 2016 I marked ten years of teaching, and felt I needed a new challenge. I started to grow bored of being in the classroom. Having already done two PTC courses and knowing that I had two more to complete the following summer meant to me that I needed to begin applying for assistant principal (AP) positions anywhere in Kuwait.

Luckily there was an opening at the school I was already working in for an AP post in the upper Elementary Grades 1 – 4. I updated my CV and applied for that position. I applied thinking I wouldn’t get it but wanted that interview experience. My interview was during the same day as the 3rd grade assembly, so it was day full of excitement and anxiety.

The time for the interview came once the assembly was done, so I got changed and ready with a tummy full of butterflies, and walked to my superintendent’s office. The walk seemed endless, with my heart beating so fast. I got there 5 minutes early and waited with the secretary. The door opened and my heart froze. I walked into the conference room to see all principals from all divisions, along with the KG AP. Yikes. Be still my thumping heart. I had coffee before my interview as a little pick-me-up. I am not usually a coffee drinker, but when I do have it, I’m wide awake and start bouncing off the walls. I introduced myself and shook hands with everyone there, and somehow managed to sit down without falling over. The entire interview took about 20 minutes. I asked my one question, got my answer, thanked them and left. I felt I did well, and that I gave it my best. I went back to my class to change again and planned for the next day. They told me that I would get an answer back within three weeks, which felt like a lifetime. Meanwhile I continued doing what I had to do as a team leader and teacher.

PTC Take #1

In November 2015, I was so excited to begin, that I enrolled for two courses when the schedule first came out. I had applied for my US visa and got it for 10 years. I booked my seat in the class, got my ticket, and was all set to go six months before the course even began. I could hardly bear the excitement. After six years of putting it on hold, the time had finally come for me to attend PTC!

In the summer of 2016, I started packing my bags for a 21 hour flight journey on my own for the very first time in my life. Miami was a long way away, so far in distance, and so far removed from everything I knew for 34 years of my life. My emotions were all over the place. I felt overwhelmed, anxious, excited, nervous, scared, thrilled … the list goes on. Ambivalence at its best.

After an arduous flight, I made it to my hotel room and couldn’t wait to check in and rest my aching body. But when I finally walked into the room, I was hit by huge waves of emotions which seemed to come out of nowhere, and I just broke down and cried. It was so quiet. No one was calling out “mom” every second, and no one was fighting, crying or laughing. It was just me and the four walls of my strange hotel room in this strange city where my lifelong dreams were hanging right before of me. I switched on the TV and put on my music to feel the comfort of sound around me, and I began to unpack and settle in. This will be my home for 21 days, I thought, so I had better get used to it.

I had 3 days before my first PTC class began, so I decided to use them to my advantage by getting my jet lag adjusted and also walking around the neighborhood to check out where I could get everything I needed. By the third day I was familiar with most things and seemed to be settling in smoothly, but the feeling of missing my family still gnawed at me tremendously.

Thanks to technology I was able to Face Time with my children daily. I would spend my mornings with them on video calls, and when they would go to sleep, my day would begin. The time difference worked to our benefit.

By the fourth day, it was time to register and get ready for classes, and the process went quite well from the get go. Meeting so many different educators from all over the world was an amazing experience.

By the fourth and fifth days, the pace slowed down a little bit, and I was getting into the swing of studying alongside an extremely diverse group of people. I felt slightly bombarded by the amount of information I was taking in, not to mention the amount of networking there was going on. There were so many different activities to complete as part of the program, which entailed partnering up with others taking the class. And although it was all too much too quick, it was still worth every cent spent on the courses.

The new academic school year began and I started implementing at work what I had learned from the Leadership & Team Dynamics module. Getting us all on the same page was a successful process, and I could already see the positive effects the training had on my work performance. It worked so well that it drove my passion further, and I felt fulfilled. Trying out the team building activities with my team at work which I had learnt from the PTC course took things to another level.

The Working World

2007 was the first year I joined the workforce as a responsible adult, an experience ripe with anxiety of course. I was an on-call substitute in one school, and applied for full-time work at two other schools. Meanwhile I continued subbing at KG Land for three months every day, waiting for the opportunity to teach full-time. I had two interviews and chose the offer that best suited me, which was at a very good school.One of the top 3 schools in Kuwait. I could not wait to start working there.

Come September 2007, I was a homeroom teacher. I had my very own class and a curriculum I had to teach from. I remember how afraid I was and how overwhelming everything seemed, but I loved every minute of it. Getting to know my class, their parents and working in a team of six was a wonderful experience. By the fifth month, I had formed my long-term goal which I intended to achieve after completing ten years teaching in a classroom. That goal was to become a principal one day in a private school. I didn’t see myself being in a classroom for the rest of my life. I just got that feeling right then and there. There aren’t a lot of Kuwaiti’s working at private schools, let alone any principals or assistant principals. I wanted to break that trend, and be the first Kuwaiti female to take on the challenge.

I had to have a plan in order to reach my goal by the tenth year of teaching, so I visualized it and drew it out. I knew that to be an assistant principal or principal one needed their masters and a principal certificate. After researching and locating the programs I needed to enroll in, I decided to begin my masters while teaching. The school I was working in at the time offered a Master’s program, so I enrolled and graduated with an MS in Interdisciplinary Studies and Educational Leadership Certification, Buffalo State SUNY in June of 2011. I was so sure of what I wanted, that all the obstacles and struggles it took to get there felt like mere necessity. I was also building a family at the same time, and felt equally dedicated to it.

I gave birth to my daughter, and only two weeks later attended class in order to graduate with the same class I began my Masters program with. Yes, it wasn’t easy at all. Having sleepless nights, new mother and trying to recover after giving birth did NOT stop me and still went to class. It was a 2-year program and I attended classes after working hours. In 2011, I received my masters and graduated. Now all that was left was my principal certificate.

I asked around and heard about The Principal Training Center (PTC) and The Ontario Principals Council (OPC). I compared the two and chose the most feasible option. However, I put my principal training on hold for a while to focus on my children, whom I gave birth to in 2010 and 2012. Still, nothing was going to stop me from continuing along my path.

So meanwhile, I decided to save money in order to complete my principal training in two summers. I chose to do the training through the PTC in Miami. From 2012 to 2016 I saved up exactly the amount I needed. During that time I was also team leader for third grade for two years, accumulating leadership experience to help pave the way for my principal training.

The Beginning

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. As a child, it seemed as though I constantly held a red pen/crayon in my hand, placing check marks and X’s everywhere. When I had friends over, I always seemed to convince them to play school, and I was always the teacher. I don’t remember ever having an interest in the business world, or anything corporate. All I knew for sure is that I wanted to be a teacher, and that it came naturally to me.

I went to school and graduated with a major in Education. I graduated with honors, and solidified a teaching certificate as well, completing four years successfully.

It wasn’t always a smooth road however; I remember that during my student teaching stint, I had an overwhelming urge to quit and drop out of college entirely. My supervisor insisted on me completing my student teaching for three months in a government school, and it was grueling for me because I had been in private schools growing up and found public education to be a completely different world. My goodness what a difference it was.

When I found that there was no way out of the situation, I didn’t give up. Instead, I went daily for three months without skipping a moment, and completed the three months which felt like three years. But I was done. I knew that I would never fit into a government school. It simply wasn’t a space I belonged in. But I didn’t allow that to deter me from pursuing my education dream.

Kudos

I have to say, blogging isn’t my modus operandi, nor is writing a hobby or passion that comes naturally to me. Writing about the most vulnerable and intimate experiences of my life, and sharing them with the world, is definitely not something I would call a joy ride, because it’s not the way I’m assembled. I’m a doer. I get an idea of what I want to create, and I go ahead and get it done without a lot of fan fair. But this is where I’m blessed; I have loved ones who cheer me on without me even having to ask. My husband and one of my closest friends both yanked me out of my head and pushed me to write about what it means to be one of the first Kuwaiti women to pave this road in education. What it took. How it feels. Without them, this whole website wouldn’t exist. Also, the Director of PTC Bambi Betts, was the third person to mention to me that she believes others would benefit from reading about the journey of a woman who pursued an uncommon path and dream in the Middle East. So here I am, listening to the support system whom without, I would not be the same person. I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the love. I appreciate you endlessly.

Get to know me!

Myself in a nutshell. Born and raised in Kuwait. I received my high school and bachelor degrees from academic institutions in Kuwait. Married with two children. My passion while growing up was always to be a teacher. As my aspirations grew, I set my goal towards becoming assistant principal and, ultimately, principal, which I have partially accomplished thus far. Growing up in Kuwait as a minority was not easy. I am ensuring that any negativity I endured as a child is not repeated in school with other students. I take the responsibility of shaping future generations very seriously in mind, body and spirit.

Name : Dana Shuhaibar

Birthday: October 5th

Nationality: Kuwaiti, Middle East

Experience in teaching: 10 years

Experience in Assistant Principal: 3 years and going

Schools I taught in: Bayan Bilingual School for seven years (BBS.) I taught Grade 3 for five years and Grade 4 for two years. I moved with my daughter when she entered KG1 to American International School of Kuwait (AISK). I taught there for three years in Grade 3 and was the Team Leader for two years before becoming Assistant Principal.

Education:

M.S., Interdisciplinary Studies and Educational Leadership Certification, Buffalo State SUNY – June 2011
B.A, English Education with a teaching certificate, Gulf University of Science & Technology – December 2006
HS Diploma, American International School of Kuwait- June 2001

Credentials

Principal Training Center-enrolled 2016 (2 courses completed)
Principal Training Center-enrolled 2017 (Graduated)
TESOL Kuwait Conference –November 2013
PYP “Introduction to the PYP Curriculum Model” Certificate – October 2013
ICDL Certification – January 2009