At WES Since: 2018

What motivated you to become a teacher?
I became a teacher because I had so many incredible teachers growing up, who inspired me to work hard and be the best person I can be. I knew from as young as second grade that I wanted to give back to the children of the future just like my teachers did for me. I wanted to inspire and help shape the minds of the future generations.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
The best piece of advice I have ever been given is from my colleague Anita Gallagher (a Grade 4 WES teacher). In the 2016 WES Magazine she wrote, “Go for your dreams and take that risk, you never know where you might land!” Reading that quote as a college student inspired me to work hard toward my goal of becoming a WES teacher. With that advice in mind, I was able to do my student teaching in spring 2018 here at WES, and then was hired as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher that June.

Bio:
I was born and raised in Potomac, Maryland. I have a mom, dad, younger brother, and a pet dog named Dax. I attended WES from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8, and some of my fondest memories and friends have come out of those 10 years. My co-teacher, Katie Rothwell, and I work together on planning and implementing lessons for our students, as well as sending out weekly communications to parents on what is happening in the classroom. Additionally, for the 20-21 school year I was the lead teacher for the Pre-K Virtual Learners. I was in charge of planning, creating, and implementing lessons for small groups of virtual learners. When I’m not teaching, I love reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

 

At WES Since: 2012

What excites you about teaching your grade level?
What excites me the most about teaching nursery is how pure and honest children are at that age. The level of genuine love and trust that they give you is humbling and incredibly rewarding.

What is one of your goals as a teacher?
My goal as a teacher is for the children to feel that they are loved and cared for no less than they are at home. My duty as an educator is to build a caring and loving relationship with each child and create a happy, joyful, and safe environment where they can shine and thrive with a high level of self-esteem and confidence.

Bio:
I am blessed that I was born and raised in the most beautiful city in the world, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. There, I attended the University of St. Petersburg, where I earned my B.S. and my master’s in science and engineering. Growing up, I was a competitive cross-country skier and spent most of my summers with my family exploring the natural beauty of different parts of Russia while covering hundreds of miles kayaking and camping. During my college years, I met my husband, Mehdi Elkassem, who is also a teacher at WES. We have three sons who all graduated from WES. My favorite things to do outside of WES are spending time with my husband and my three sons, traveling, hiking, exploring national parks, and nature photography.

 

At WES Since: 2001

What excites you about teaching your grade level?
The Early Childhood students are so innocent and pure—basically angels. And who doesn’t want to be surrounded by angels? The Middle Schoolers want someone to connect with and to create trusting relationships with an adult to help them grow and to build character. Achieving that is simply priceless and a true honor.

What is one of your goals as a teacher?
To make EVERY child feel that they are loved and that they matter.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

• Rules without relationships lead to rebellion.
• People may forget what you tell them but they will never forget how you make them feel.

Bio:
I was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco. I have one brother, Abdessamad, and one sister, Ghita. My mother is Amina, and my father is Mohamed. I grew up with over 30 first cousins. When I turned 19, I went to Russia to attend the University of St. Petersburg, where I completed a six-year master’s program in engineering. There, I met my beautiful wife, Katya Elkassem, who is also a teacher at WES. I came to the United States in 2000 and became a U.S. citizen in 2017. My favorite things to do outside of WES are spending time with my wife and children, traveling, and playing soccer and guitar.

Fun facts: I played in the Moroccan Soccer Premier League. I am fluent in Arabic, French, and Russian. When I was 13 and my brother was 15, without any adults, we went on a European backpacking trip from Morocco to Sweden.

Awards:
2014 Winner of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington Association’s (AISGW)  Shirley J. Lowrie “Thank You For Teaching” Award

 

At WES Since: 2022

What is one of your goals as a counselor?
I want to make students feel confident by helping them develop mastery of their social-emotional and academic skills.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
The Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Bio: 
An alumna of the University of Virginia, I earned a bachelor’s in English and continued to earn my master’s in Human Resources Development at Marymount University. After I became a mother to three beautiful children, I grew a deep appreciation for the support school counselors and other professionals gave my youngest child, who has special needs. Driven by a desire to provide this same support and encouragement to other children, I returned to school to earn a master’s in School Counseling. I’ve worked in a few elementary schools in Montgomery County, including Sequoyah Elementary and Farmland Elementary. Having worked as a counselor for Montgomery County for several years, I’m excited to come to WES:  it’s an opportunity to forge strong relationships with children (and parents) and help guide children as they become their best selves. Working with children is joyful, fulfilling, and rewarding! It will be an honor to see your children thrive! I also love going on hikes with my dogs, visiting friends, and reading a good book!

 

At WES Since: 2023

What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that children learn best through intentionally planned, hands-on experiences. By teaching children using that philosophy, I can appeal to their interests, encourage open-ended exploration of materials, promote thinking and problem-solving, and build on the knowledge children already possess.

If you could talk to any person (living or deceased), who would it be and why?
I’d like to talk to Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. I grew up in New Jersey and my father’s side of the family is from Long Island, so their music has always been a part of my life and reminds me of home.  I’m a huge fan of both and I’ve seen them in concert many times!

Bio:
I spent 17 years working at Montgomery Child Care Association as a Program Specialist. During that time, I was responsible for overseeing the curriculum implementation across 15 children’s care centers serving infants through eleven-year-olds.  My favorite part of the job was visiting all the different classrooms where I supported the teachers and helped the children learn through active exploration. I also briefly worked at Bethesda Elementary as a Kindergarten Paraeducator.  My education career started as a counselor at a sleepaway camp in Maine because I wanted to give the campers the same incredible experience I had when I attended as a child—I’ve been working with children ever since!

I’m a proud graduate of Skidmore College.  I grew up in New Jersey and I’ve lived in Silver Spring since 2003. In my free time, I love spending time with my husband, two sons, and friends. My favorite things include planning new travel adventures, discovering unique restaurants, attending musical theatre, and spending my summers on the lake in Maine.   

 

At WES Since: 2016

What is your philosophy on teaching?
I try to create a safe, inclusive environment for students where they can begin exploring what interests them.

What is one of your goals as a teacher?
One of my goals as a teacher is to help students become more self-reliant and learn how to advocate for themselves.

Bio:
I grew up in Southern California and joined Teach for America after college. I was placed in the Mississippi Delta, where I taught for three years. I then moved to Kentucky and then DC, while teaching middle school English language arts. After 11 years, I moved into my current role here at WES. I enjoy playing softball, cooking, and trying to get our dog to listen.