From receiving her bachelor’s degree in Zoology at the University of Cairo in Egypt to becoming a primary level teacher at Grace Montessori, Haiam Attia’s story is extraordinary. When Haiam moved to America, she never planned on teaching, but as her family grew and each child became part of the Montessori family, she wanted to be a part of it, too. Visiting the school back in 1996, her first son was in the second class at Grace Montessori. She would help with his homework every day after school, which helped her learn English. She began helping around the classroom and shadowing the teachers, and in 2005 she received her Montessori Certification from Lehigh Carbon Community College.
She has taken great pride in being a part of the Montessori family throughout her years. With her three children being former students and her grandson currently enrolled, Haiam feels that her Montessori traditions are strong. When family emergencies or the passing of a loved one has occurred, her Grace Montessori family is quick to support. Treating everyone with equal respect and compassion is a Montessori philosophy. She witnesses this philosophy in action every day at work and makes it part of her daily routine.
“The treatment you receive at Grace Montessori is the same for everyone; students, teachers, and administration,” explained Haiam.
Haiam’s’ proudest moments are when she sees improvement in students. In primary level education, cognitive improvement is rapid and resilient. When her students’ progress is evident, she feels her mission of helping children learn is fulfilled. It brings tears to her eyes when she thinks about teaching.
“When I see a child’s progress from September to June, I think to myself, ‘how did I get so lucky to have the opportunity to help these children’,” said Haiam.
In her free time, Haiam loves to watch her grandson grow and learn new skills that Grace Montessori has provided. You can also find her chatting with her fellow teachers over lunch and occasionally getting together for laughs and a good time.
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