Melanie Guidera

Teacher of Creative Media and English

Jumeirah English Speaking School (Arabian Ranches)

I taught for 6 years in the UK before picking up my international opportunity and moving to Dubai. I practised across a range of subjects, including English, Drama and Music, acting as both coordinator for Key Stage 3 English and an examiner for QCA before moving into teaching Media and Film, and working for WJEC as an examiner. On joining Wellington International School in 2005, I set up Drama and Media Studies for 14s - 16s, running the first examined Media and Film 14-19 courses in Dubai. I have consulted for schools across the UAE on implementing Media in 14-19 curricula. I am a GESS presenter, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Trainer, and an Apple Teacher. Moving to JESS in 2014 has led to amazing opportunities at one of the Middle East’s most successful not-for-profit educational institutions. I'm thrilled to be running the first Creative Media course at JESS from September 2023. As ICT Coordinator for English since 2014, I’ve created training opportunities on teaching and learning with tablet computers and digital inking at the JESS Digital Innovation Summit from 2016-2019. My return to teaching Media and Film is welcome after many years of developing my skills as a JESS teacher. I also remain a proud member of JESS's English Department, known as one of the best and highest achieving in Dubai. Our practice and results are, as acknowledged in our annual inspection reports, outstanding at all levels through the 11-19 curricula. Further to English and Media, and running training opportunities in my time at JESS, I have worked on a range of projects including writing policy with the JESS Teaching and Learning group and a research project into handwriting on tablet PCs, working with Dr Richard Churches for the Education Endowment Trust. 'The Think Tank', my most recent project, developed with a colleague at JESS, is a bespoke PSHE-style programme ensuring conversations on a range of topics that would otherwise go unspoken in most schools in Dubai. Covering lessons on topics such as #notallmen, intersectionality, eating disorders and political bias to name but a few, our programme, which started as a passion project for Key Stage 3 across two terms in 2019, is now part of every week, where students are encouraged to read, watch and listen to age-appropriate resources and discuss their understanding and opinions on 'Think Tank Tuesdays'. I am also a member of the DEB group at JESS; fairly newly formed, we are trained advocats for diversity, equity and belonging at the school, working to ensure all members of the community feel valued.

Melanie Guidera's links

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/in/melanieguidera