Samantha Hodges

DEPUTY HEAD OF PRIMARY (STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT)
MOTTO:

Be relevant, be meaningful and be fair.

I always knew I would be a teacher. I used to teach my teddy bears in my bedroom when I was at primary school. Every day I would run home to imitate my teacher and re-invent my bedroom as a classroom; all the teddies lined up in a row as students. When I finished college, I was reluctant to stay in education; a stronger urge to travel the world had gripped me. I travelled to over forty countries including Mongolia, China and Egypt, fulfilling my dream as a nomad and building an interest in international mindedness. I also worked as a tour leader for a company who specialized in responsible travel and continued to build my knowledge of environmental issues and the responsibilities of being a global citizen.
My passion for teaching re-visited me again and I knew it was time to share the knowledge I had gained. I wanted to encourage children to show an interest in the world, to be curious about different countries and cultures and to be internationally-minded. I also wanted to introduce my students to projects I had been engaged in such as supporting orphanages and schools in financially challenged areas.
Currently working in an IB school, I have been able to encourage my students to take further action in their steps to becoming global citizens. Such activities have included philanthropic fund raising initiated by the Dubai Cares foundation, share and care projects which have supported schools in Nepal, disaster relief support to the Philippines and pen pal clubs to students in England and Korea. It’s important for me that my students are informed and aware of worldly affairs as well as nurturing themselves to become outstanding people.

In addition to my duties as a classroom teacher and as a member of the wider school community, I have established a girls’ soccer team within the school, initiated charitable drives for the labourers of Dubai as well as the cleaning and assisting staff in the school. I intend for my assemblies to inform and inspire all students to be engaged and involved in projects which help others. I have also established writing clubs for students who enjoy creative writing and encouraged entries into local and international competitions including the kidsblog magazine and the Emirates festival of literature.  As an avid travel writer myself, I share my work with students and ask for their ‘two stars and a wish’ on my work.

I also enjoy mentoring teams and work closely with new and training staff, encouraging them and attempting to set an example of excellence.