A Moment with
We met Nadia at the Global Education
and Skills Forum Dubai, in 2017, and
we were extremely impressed with
her poise and grace. Her passion for
education was easy to see, The Teach
Middle East Magazine team enjoyed
speaking with her and gaining from her
wisdom and wealth of knowledge on
education and leadership. Her book
“The Bridge To Brilliance” is a must
read for all educators, it will remind you
of why our profession is so vital. In this
special interview we get to know a little
bit more of what drives this powerful
mother, educator and change agent.
Who was your favourite teacher?
Why?
My favorite teacher was Mrs. Stephanie
Paone, who taught me in second grade.
She was a calming force that was always
pleasant, but no nonsense when it
came to her students completing their
work. I remember Ms. Paone, was the
first teacher to give my mother her
home phone number so she could
explain how to support me at home and
always gave me extra work beyond the
classroom that was challenging. These
things were important because my
mom was unfamiliar with the education
system, but knew she wanted me to
have the best learning experience. It’s
been 33 years since I’ve been in Ms.
Paone’s classroom, but she still sends
me cards for the holidays and reaches
out to let me know she is proud of my
accomplishments.
What inspired you to start your own
school?
I decided to write a proposal to open
Mott Hall Bridges Academy after working
in a school where I experienced working
with teachers and administrators who
had low expectations of the children
they were suppose to serve and educate.
It bothered me that a child’s address
dictated the quality of education they
would receive and the respect they were
given. Unfortunately, for many scholars,
living in poverty made them susceptible
to low academic achievements and
many mental health issues that
impacted their behaviours. But I never
believed that these factors should ever
define them, which resulted in a vision of
creating a learning environment where
children would be nurtured to thrive
by being surrounded by adults who
were passionate about teaching and
empowering children.
Share two major challenges that you
faced when you started. How did
you overcome them? mentorship, or had a lesson modeled
to demonstrate best practices. Actions
make people a leader, not just the title.
I faced so many challenges when I
opened up Mott Hall Bridges Academy.
The summer before opening the
school, I literally had to go out into the
community day and night to recruit
scholars, because I had no children
enrolled. It was not easy finding families
who were interested in a new school,
especially because I was unfamiliar
with the neighborhood. That first
year I ended up with many of the kids
that none of the neighboring schools
wanted, which meant many had a
reputation of being violent. One child
set the bathroom on fire in the middle
of the day; thankfully no one was hurt.
The second challenge was losing nearly
$225,000 the same year, because we
were under enrolled, which meant I
was unable to purchase textbooks and
technology that we desperately needed
to engage our scholars in their learning.
Although I had no control over those
circumstances, I felt defeated and found
myself praying through each obstacle.
Ultimately I developed resilience and
a resourcefulness that has become
immeasurable. By our second year,
we tripled our numbers and became a
school known as the beacon of hope for
the community. Share an important life lesson that
you have learnt and how it has
impacted your life.
What are three key qualities that
every school leader should possess
and why?
Every school leader must be reflective,
adaptable, and a visionary. Within every
organisation, there must be vision of
what can be possible and a firm belief
that everyone must work towards making
it happen. I have found that in education,
when there is a lack of vision, a culture
of excellence will not exist. People will
trust and follow a leader who has a vision
that everyone can become a part of and
believe in. Now because we are in a
world that changes every minute of every
hour, leadership requires adaptability to
any situation. What worked yesterday,
won’t necessarily be the solution
today, therefore adapting to change
and being reflective in the process is
critical. As a leader, I am always thinking
about how to improve my work, build
relationships, and manage open lines
of communication. It’s easy to criticise
a teacher for a poor lesson, but a true
leader reflects on whether the teacher
has received professional development,
About a year ago, after traveling for many
hours on a plane, I developed a blood
clot that led me to be hospitalised. The
emergency room doctor was astonished
that I was still alive because of the
location of the clot and immediately put
me on bed rest. For the first time, I was
forced to prioritise myself before my
work. In my absence, my team stepped
up and managed every aspect of the
school. They worked collectively to
maintain the level of excellence I would
expect in my presence. It was during this
time that I realised that as a leader, I must
trust that the vision will continue, even in
my absence. As a result, I am finding the
balance I need to become my best self
not only for me, but those that I lead.
What is one of your proudest
achievements to date?
My proudest achievement is my
fifteen-year-old daughter, Cenné, who
is currently in her third year of high
school. She inspired me to become a
teacher that led to me opening my own
school. Because of her, I created an
environment where children graduate
at a rate of 100% despite the high drop
out rate in the community of Brownsville.
My measure of success is seeing how
much she is able to accomplish, while
I try to balance being a mother and
a principal everyday. She is the most
selfless individual who sacrifices being
with me, so I can be present to support
other children.
What are three fun activities that
you do to relax and take your mind
off work?
When I want to relax and get my mind
off of work, I enjoy traveling, because
I love discovering new cultures and
learning what the world has to offer. My
guilty pleasure is shopping in the home
section of stores for linens or d