About me.
My journey started well over thirty-five years ago upon moving to Kuwait from Buffalo, NY, followed by retirement in 2019 as Director of the Foundation Program Unit (Math and English) at Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST). My early career started as a teacher and administrator for early childhood and elementary levels, in addition to teaching intensive English in private institutions in Kuwait for twenty-five years.
Currently, you can find me blogging about my experience living in Kuwait and providing support to refugee teachers in a variety of locations around the world. My podcast, Journeys to Belonging, features guests sharing how they feel they belong, and my new book, Journey to Belonging: Pathways to Well-Being has just been published and is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
I have presented workshops at local and regional conferences in the Middle East and internationally on topics such as Kuwaiti culture, the administrator as a visionary leader, and inclusive teaching practices. One of my favorites is asset-based teaching approaches to ensure a sense of belonging for all students. I mentor struggling teachers and aspiring administrators who are doubtful about their leadership abilities. When I was an administrator, I encouraged members of my staff to become teacher leaders.
I love being a member of communities that provide me with connections to other educators and a sense of belonging. I am a Wakelet Ambassador and have served on the leadership teams of ISTE Global Collaboration Network and the TESOL International Refugee Concerns interest section (RCIS). I’d love for you to join my growing professional learning network (PLN) so be sure to follow me on social media (@IleneWinokur).
Finally, I am a lifelong learner and was awarded a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University in 2013, an MBA from the University of Miami, Florida (1979), and completed my ESL certification at the College of New Jersey (2000). My academic interests include psychological safety, belonging, social-emotional learning, project-based learning, and continuing professional development (CPD).
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Ilene Winokur