Awatef Masri received her BA in English Literature from An-Najah University in Nablus.

Since 2000, she has been working as a headmistress of a number of secondary schools in Palestine. Most recently, she has served as headmistress at Al- Aeshiya Secondary Girl’s School where she manages and directs the entire school, including teachers, students, programs, and many other activities.

In addition to all her responsibilities and duties as a headmistress, Ms. Masri has also attended various teaching and educators’ seminars in the United States and Britain throughout her career.

In June 2012 Awatef graduated with a master’s degree in educational policy studies and evaluation from the University of Kentucky.

Fatima Mohammed is from Ramallah and works at Al-Teera Secondary Girls’ School as an English teacher. She has been teaching English since 2001.

Fatima received her BA from Birzeit University and her MA in educational technology at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education. Fatima enjoys reading English novels and watching English TV channels. She also hopes to expand her knowledge in teaching English to make teaching and learning more interactive and simple. Fatima further aspires to reform the Palestinian educational curriculum, and seeks to improve her English vocabulary, in order to one day teach at the university level.

Inad Mialeh is from Asker village in Nablus and has been working at Al-Ittihad Secondary School for Boys as an English teacher for more than thirteen years.

He received a BA in English language and literature from An- Najah National University in Nablus and a master degree in special education at Syracuse University’s. Inad chose this field due to the large and increasing number of children with disabilities in Palestine.

He noted “I was interested in learning more about dyslexia and wanted to increase the awareness of the public for more inclusive classes. Also, I hope to increase the number of resource rooms in local schools and to equip them with the necessary devices, aids, and supportive technology.

Ismail Al Najjar’s teaching career began in 2004 when he taught English at ZEEF School. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in English language methods from Al Quds Open University in 2001, and in July 2012 he received his MS in teaching and curriculum from Syracuse University.

Since graduating, Mr. Al- Najjar has been teaching English at various governmental schools in the Hebron Governorate. He hopes to contribute to the improvement of the newly introduced Palestinian English curriculum, which he feels is in need of further development.

Jamal Hussein is from Jenin and works at the Directorate of Education in Jenin as a supervisor of English and as a teacher. He has been teaching for about thirteen years.

Jamal graduated from An-Najah National University in Nablus, and received his MA in Teaching and Curriculum at Syracuse University – School of Education. He believes the Palestinian curriculum is in need of improvement and development and hopes to transfer the knowledge gained during his studies in the US towards achieving that goal. Jamal enjoys reading and participating in voluntary work.

He hopes to play an important role in the Palestinian educational system, and to continue on to receive his PhD.

Kefaya Massarwa is from Al Zababdeh- Jenin and she works at the Raba Secondary Girls’ School/ Directorate of Education in Qabatia as a headmistress. Kefaya obtained a BA in English Language and literature from Yarmouk University in Jordan.

In 2011 Kefaya graduated with a master’s degree in educational administration and leadership at Syracuse University’s School of Education. Her reasons for choosing this field was to enrich her educational knowledge, improve educational processes in Palestine, and develop her experience as an English teacher and headmistress Kefaya enjoys reading and cultural exchanges.

She notes “despite the difficulties that I face I always try to apply the skills ingrained in the US in the secondary schools in Palestine and now I’m eager to pursue a PhD degree in education”

Luna Nasrallah obtained her BA in English language and literature in 1981 from Kuwait University. After graduating, she began teaching and supervising teachers at a private school in Jerusalem. She later became an English supervisor at the Directorate of Education in Bethlehem beginning in 2004.

Luna received a number of certificates on training and education in the fields of human rights and psycho trauma therapy and counseling, and is currently preparing to take the Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test TKT.

In July 2012, she received her master’s in teaching and curriculum from Syracuse University.

She is especially interested in early childhood education. She believes that the younger the child begins an education, the more likely he or she is to absorb more information.

Ma’zouz Sbeih is from Zaita-Jammai’n in Tulkarem, and has been working at the Directorate of Education in Salfit as an English supervisor for more than nine years. Before that he was an English teacher for six years.

Ma’zouz received his BA from An-Najah National University and a master’s degree in educational management from Boston College’s Lynch School of Education. Ma’zouz believes that his position as a supervisor deals with both the educational and administrative domains, which is why he chose to pursue such a degree. He has a special interest in using effective methods in teaching English as a foreign language.

His MA degree improved his work skills which helped him to manage better the three elements of the teaching process: the teacher, the student, and the curriculum.

Maha Masri is a teacher at Qablan Primary School for Girls. She received her master’s degree in teaching and curriculum at the Syracuse University School of Education. A s she notes “It was both mine and my parents dream to pursue a master’s degree in the US.”

Maha enjoys working within teams. Maha believes that education in Palestine needs specific development in its curriculum, teaching methods, and teaching aids. She hopes to assist Palestinian teachers in gaining new methods of teaching and learning.

Murad Abd AlGani recently graduated with a master’s degree in educational policy and evaluation from the University of Kentucky.

Since 2006, Murad has held the position of Central Educational Supervisor at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. His role includes supervising all teaching processes, as well as qualifying in service teachers.

In addition to all his responsibilities and duties as a supervisor, he has participated in a conference in Japan on improving teaching methods in science and math in primary education. Murad received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from An Najah National University in Palestine, and has participated in a conference in Japan on improving teaching methods in science and math in primary education.

Murad is interested in teaching at a Palestinian university and hopes to conduct extensive educational research in order to help diagnose the reality of education in Palestine.

Najah Ma’ali has served as the headmistress at the Ajja Secondary Girls School in Jenin since 2004.

Her duties included supervising the teaching process and ensuring a suitable teaching environment for students, teachers, and schools in general.

In July 2012, Najah received her MS in Educational Leadership from Syracuse University and her BA degree in 1994 in English literature from An Najah National University in Nablus, Palestine.

She has participated in various trainings, conferences and workshops on teaching methods, school development and education. She hopes to develop her skills to hold a part time job at one of the leading Palestinian universities.

Najeh Shahin scored high enough on his high school leaving exam – the tawjihi – to study medicine, but instead chose philosophy. Najeh has over ten years of experience, most recently at Birzeit University’s Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies, teaching courses such as modern western thought, modern Arab thought, human rights and introduction to logic.

Recently, Najeh’s interests have turned to political philosophy, such as the tension between Islam and democracy: “Either we accept Islam and reject democracy and keep the kind of life typical of medieval [societies], or adopt democracy, clash with Islam and be rejected by the majority of the Palestinian Arab-Muslim community. It is not easy to find a solution.” This kind of compelling issue is driving his motivation to earn a PhD in the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Political Science. Najeh later decided not to pursue the full Ph.D. program, and was instead granted a second master’s degree in philosophy from the University.

Najeh’s interests also extend to reading novels, writing poetry, and desiring to understand the American way of life, as well as American traditions of philosophy. He has a book published in Arabic The Palestinian Higher Education: a Critical Look, as well as various articles on human rights, the philosophy of science, and education.

Nida Arafat was born in Nablus city. Nida’ works in the Directorate of Education at the Ministry of Education as an education supervisor of mathematics.

She achieved a BA in mathematics at the Science department at An-Najah National University, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. She also received a 93.9 in the Tawjihi high school exam. She has been working as a math teacher for thirteen years and three years as an educational supervisor. One of her dreams was to get an MA in the US in order to apply the knowledge she gains to her home country as well as to contribute to educational reform. In 2010 Nida applied to get amaster’s degree through the PFDP. In 2011 she received her MA in educational measurement and evaluation at the University of Pennsylvania-Graduate School of Education.

She lives with her family and notes: “I love my country very much and I want to serve it from what I have learned in the U.S. I hope to raise the percentage of students reaching advanced levels of education and acquiring higher degrees.”

Reem Ayoush began her career as an English teacher in 1996, a few years after she acquired her BA degree in arts and education from the University of Garyounis / Faculty of Arts and Education in Libya. She focused on the English language and moved on to work with the Palestinian Ministry of Education Curriculum Committee, where she has been able to apply her skills towards assisting in the general improvement of the education system in Palestine.

In July 2012, she graduated with masters in teaching and curriculum from Syracuse University. Following her graduation, she returned to her job as a high school English language teacher with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Reem is interested in pursuing a higher degree in the US in order to acquire a more diverse teaching experience and to update her knowledge through gaining new and international perspectives.

Samar Samara is from Ramallah and has served as an English teacher at of Ein Yabroud Secondary Girls School For 11years. She then became principal and she served in that capacity for the past five years.

She received her BA from the University of Jordan and her MA degree in educational administration/management/leadership. She said” My experience in the US has helped me in gaining the necessary skills to assist the development of my leadership position, as well as to work effectively as an individual and as part of a group.”

Samar enjoys teaching English grammar to students and relatives, and hopes to gain more experience as a principal in order to be able to later teach at a college or university. Samar engaged in a series of training in topics such as time-management and communication in order to further develop her skills.

Zuheir Khalaf graduated with a master’s degree in educational technology from Syracuse University.

Zuheir has worked at the Educational Resources Center – Department of Educational Technology at the Directorate of Education in Qalqilia, West Bank. His job entails training teachers on how to use educational technology, as well as visiting schools to ensure correct implementation.

Zuheir received his bachelor of science in physics from Al Fateh University in Libya in 1995, after which he attended a number of conferences throughout the Arab world on electronic management, e-learning, and educational technology. He is interested in developing an intricate plan for the use of internet in the education system, and hopes to increase the use of several software systems such as Moodle in Palestinian education institutions.

Mr. Khlaif believes that, through technology, Palestinian students can overcome some of the obstacles to learning that are imposed on them by checkpoints and the separation wall.