Pre-K

Yvonne Donoghue

Having taking a Philosophy degree and graduating with honours, in 1999, Yvonne went on to take a Masters Degree in Special Education from the UK’s Open University. She taught in Ireland for three years before moving to the UAE in 2002, where she taught Key Stage 1 (Kindergarten 2 and Grade 1) in both Sharjah and Dubai. She also holds a CELTA teaching certificate. After recent service with the Malaysian Ministry of Education as a teacher trainer, mentor and facilitator in primary schools, Yvonne returned to Dubai where she joined JBS as our first PK teacher in September 2011.

KG1

Sarah O'Shaughnessy

Sarah graduated in 2006 with an honors degree in Primary Education with Mathematics from Stranmillis University College in Belfast, Northern Ireland and then went on to teach at Ebbrington School in Londonderry. She accepted a position in 2009 to teach in The Scholars International Academy, Sharjah where she taught the English National Curriculum in Foundation 2 (KG1) and Year 1 (KG2). Sarah has also worked in Nursery Schools in Melbourne, Australia. She is an IRFU Tag Rugby coach and has a special interest in Netball, PE and Athletics.

Blathnaid Rooney

Blathnaid is an honours graduate of the National University of Ireland Galway where she studied Spanish and Geography, and holds a post graduate certificate in primary school education from Saint Patrick´s College of Education in Dublin. She joined JBS in 2011 from the Abu Dhabi Private International School where she worked as an early years teacher. Blathnaid has a keen interest in the educational areas of music and drama.

Jan Roulston

Jan started her career as an early years’ teacher in the UK, where she qualified at the University of Leicester. Her work in the UK was followed by postings in Hong Kong, Australia and South East Asia. She has held a number of positions of responsibility, including Year Leader at the British International School of Jakarta and the Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur. She joined JBS in 2010 from JESS Ranches where she taught in Year 1 and Foundation 2 and where she was also the Primary Art Coordinator.

KG2

Georgina Williams (Phase 1 Leader and Primary IPC Co-ordinator)

Georgina was Key Stage One (KG2 – G1) Leader at Dubai British School from 2005 – 2010 and is a founding member of staff with Taaleem. Having graduated with a BA Honours degree in Education and Media Studies from Trinity College, Carmarthen, she commenced her teaching career at Hook Junior School, in Hampshire. Her enthusiasm for teaching then led her to New Zealand, where in an innovative school; she explored using the Reading Recovery Programme and focused on using 'creativity' across all areas of the curriculum. Georgina joined JBS from DBS in 2010.

Orla McCallion

After graduating from the National University of Ireland with an honours degree in German and political studies studied in German, Orla completed her Graduate Diploma in Education, specialising in primary teaching at St. Patrick’s College in Dublin. She joined JBS in September 2011 from the Abu Dhabi Private International School where she worked as a Primary class teacher. She has a keen interest in sport, in particular swimming and life saving (she is a fully qualified lifesaver) and has regularly and successfully competed at national level. Orla also has a keen interest in the arts and has been a member of the Performing Arts School in Galway.

Lynda Sammon

Lynda graduated from the National University of Ireland in 2008, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Psychology, Sociology and Political Science. She then completed a post graduate course in primary school education at St. Patrick´s College of Education in Dublin, Ireland and went on to teach in Abu Dhabi Private International School as a Key Stage 1 (KG2 – G1) class teacher where she was also coordinator of the Arts and Crafts extra-curricular club. Lynda has a keen interest in sport, in particular swimming, hockey, and tag rugby. She joined JBS in September 2011.

Grade 1

Katie Farrell

After living in The Netherlands and graduating with an IB bilingual Diploma, Katie returned to the UK in 1998 where she attended Liverpool John Moores University, where she took a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Primary Education. She taught for three years in Liverpool, traveled extensively and then returned to the UK to teach at a first school in Windsor, Berkshire, where she became subject leader for both Maths and PE and then Key Stage one (KG2 – G1) leader. As an ECA leader, her tag rugby team reached the county finals, significantly raising the profile of sport within her school. Katie joined us as a Grade 1 teacher in 2011.

Jenny Cockrell

Jenny took her degree in English from Exeter University, and then attended Nottingham Trent University to complete her PGCE, specialising in primary education. After a spell in Hong Kong, where she taught at the Victoria Shanghai Academy, she returned to Essex where she had been teaching before she went overseas. After three more years in Essex, teaching in Orsett and Dagenham, Jenny came to Dubai where she started at JBS in January 2012. During her career, she has held a number of positions of responsibility, including Special Needs, PE, Geography and History coordinator.