Q&A with Rola Ghadban, Teacher at Greenfield Community School

Find out why Rola Ghadban loves teaching and how she incorporates mindfulness in her classes!

Trying to get a feel for a school, mama? Look no further than the staff room to find out what kind of teachers make the place tick! We sat down with with Rola Ghadban, Teacher at Greenfield Community School, to find out why she became a teacher, how she engages with her students and why she thinks Greenfield Community School is a right choice.  

What is your background and training?

I am a grade two teacher and the Mindfulness Wellbeing Coordinator at Greenfield Community School, a Taaleem school. My training in is Elementary Education and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. I also am a certified Mindfulness teacher, and yoga instructor.

What made you want to become a teacher?

I have always been curious about others and what cultivates the best in us. I personally had a difficult childhood, and struggled with various challenges coming from an immigrant family in America. Yet as an adult, the struggle is what drove me to want to teach and contribute to change. There is no better feeling than knowing I have the privilege to empower and hopefully, positively impact children.

What do you love about working at your school in particular?

I love that I have been given creative freedom to be innovative in my style of teaching, as well as being immersed in the enriching highly diverse student body population.  Though it is a big school, it does properly feel like a community, as we are all partners together in helping inspire and work to the best interests of our students.

What is your favourite game or activity to do with your students?

My favourite activity is Mindfulness exercises which I do with my class on a daily basis, often periodically throughout the day.  It is the most powerful tool I have discovered to cultivate a clear, focused and positive mindset, which has resulted in limitless benefits.

Can you tell me more about your Mindfulness Program?

I have been practicing mindfulness and positive mindset exercises with my students for years now, and am convinced that it is one of the most valuable life skills that I can offer them. As I witnessed the benefits evolve, including but not limited to focus levels, problem solving skills, compassion levels, and overall happiness, I had a vision to transform a space in the school that was solely dedicated to the wellbeing of students in the school.  After much negotiation and planning, I got the freedom from the school to take on this project of creating a Mindfulness Room, inclusive of all things related to positive mindset, which had never been done before in the region.  After months of planning and collaborating with teachers, students and parents in the community, this magical room became a reality.   It was an honour having the grand opening earlier this year with the company of Her Excellency Ohood Al Roomi, the Minister of Happiness, and Dr. Abudullah, the head of KHDA.

Since then, incorporating mindfulness and positive education has become a school priority, and is now in the timetable of all classes as a lesson. It brings great pride and joy seeing the endless benefits of this valuable skill evolve.

What is one fun fact about you?

I was nominated the most bashful person in Middle School, 2 years in a row. However, one of my life goals was to overcome that silenced voice, and most notably I led a workshop for over 150 people, which was a huge accomplishment in comparison.