Meet Our Team

As a member of the Local Advisory Board in the UAE since October 2023, Ms. Hussaina is deeply committed to shaping the future of education, contributing to educational excellence by training senior and middle leaders, improving school evaluations, and guiding improvement initiatives, especially in the initial academic planning for newly established schools.

Her extensive background in educational leadership includes serving as a School Principal since early 2021, with prior roles as an Educational Leadership Consultant and Acting Principal/Founding Vice Principal. With over nine years of experience as a Head of Mathematics, she has shaped the curriculum and led teacher trainings, complemented by a strong foundation in Computer Science.

She firmly believes that her purpose in education transcends positions; it's about the positive impact she can make with a goal for fostering the best possible environment for staff, students, and parents. Holding certifications in National Online Safety, she is dedicated to continuous growth, having been a part of various inspection and accreditation programmes. Her passion drives her to contribute meaningfully to the educational landscape, ensuring every endeavour benefits all.

Her vision is to lead with a forward-thinking approach, utilising our collective expertise in driving strategic improvements that genuinely enhance student progress and school effectiveness across the region. Committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, she ensures that our schools not only meet but exceed national and international educational benchmarks. Crucially, her focus extends beyond academic achievement to the holistic development of students' skills, both academic and non-academic. This includes proactively integrating the latest advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence, into our curricula and teaching methodologies to prepare students for a rapidly evolving global landscape.

A former NCAA scholarship athlete and two-time All-Canadian in cross-country running, Dr. Terry W. Burwell brings a lifelong appreciation for discipline, perseverance, and the effective stewardship of time to his work in education. These qualities have shaped a distinguished career spanning more than three decades as an International Educator and nearly three decades as a School Principal and Head of School across Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Burwell has served in a wide range of Senior Leadership roles, including Principal, Superintendent, and Head of School, leading complex school communities through periods of growth, reform, accreditation, and inspection. His professional experience includes extensive work within Canadian, British, American, and International Baccalaureate–aligned systems, as well as direct engagement with government and regulatory bodies. In addition to his school-based leadership, Dr. Burwell had served as a faculty member in the Graduate School of Education at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada and as a Regional Evaluator for the Prime Minister of Canada’s Awards for Excellence in STEM Teaching, further reinforcing his commitment to educational quality, evidence-based practice, and system-level improvement.

Throughout his career, Dr. Burwell has worked closely with beginning teachers, aspiring leaders, and senior administrators, many of whom navigate increasingly demanding professional environments marked by constant change, competing educational philosophies, and heightened accountability. He is particularly passionate about mentorship, leadership development, and building sustainable professional cultures that support both educator well-being and high levels of student achievement. Collectively, Dr. Burwell’s leadership practice, scholarship, and international experience position him as a respected voice in educational leadership, mentoring, and organisational learning.

Ms. Banany is a dedicated Early Childhood Educator and Academic Leader with almost 10 years of international experience in the United Arab Emirates, currently serving as the Headteacher of Kindergarten at The Bloomington Academy, Ajman. Holding a degree, Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a Diploma in Early Childhood Education, and a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (NCFE, UK), she is currently pursuing the National Professional Qualification in Headship (NPQH), further strengthening her leadership and school governance expertise.

Her professional qualifications are complemented by extensive specialised training in early years education and child development, including an EYFS Teaching Diploma Level 3 (John Academy, UK), Diploma in Child Psychology, Play Therapy for Children with Special Needs, Language Acquisition through Reading Success, Jolly Phonics, Jolly Music, Special Educational Needs (SEN), and Kindergarten & School Supervision from reputed international institutions in the UK, India, and the UAE. Ms. Banany is also a KHDA-approved vocational diploma holder in Child Care and Early Childhood Education.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in EYFS-aligned, Montessori-inspired, and play-based learning, ensuring holistic development across academic, emotional, social, and physical domains. She brings strong expertise in curriculum design, lesson planning, child assessments, inclusion strategies, and early intervention for children with diverse learning needs.

Alongside academics, she is also certified in First Aid and Child Safeguarding, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and child-friendly environment. As a leader, she actively mentors and trains educators, conducts performance appraisals, and guides continuous professional development, while maintaining full compliance with UAE Ministry of Education standards and accreditation frameworks. Her commitment to excellence and leadership in early years education has been recognised through multiple awards, including Employee of the Year (2023–2024), Madam Sosamma Lazar Award for Outstanding Staff (2022–2023), Kindergarten Best Leader Award, Consistent Outstanding Performance, and Kindergarten Section Best Team Award. These recognitions reflect my dedication to quality education, teamwork, and professional integrity.

For The Bloomington Academy, Ms. Banany’s vision is to build a positive, inclusive, and inspiring early learning environment where children feel valued, educators feel empowered, and families feel confident, laying strong foundations for lifelong learning while upholding the highest standards of academic and operational excellence.

With over 25 years of experience in British school systems, Ms. Samia has dedicated her career to supporting students through their educational journey. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics and a Diploma in Education, providing a strong foundation for her work in education.

Her career has progressed from classroom teaching to school management and administrative roles. This experience has given her a deep understanding of students' needs at every stage of their development. She has worked extensively with students across all key transition phases, from elementary through secondary to high school, and understands the unique challenges each period presents. She believes in preparing students not just for exams, but for life after graduation. Her approach focuses on helping young people develop the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to navigate these transitions successfully and thrive in their future careers and adult lives.

Ms. Zahida is a dedicated educator with over 25 years of experience spanning teaching, lecturing, coordination, and examination leadership across university and schools. In her current role as the Head of Secondary at The Bloomington Academy, she has the privilege of shaping academic policies and procedures that directly influence the educational experiences of diverse community of students. She is passionate about serving as a catalyst for institutional progress, dedicating herself to ensuring that every student receives quality education and enjoys the benefits of holistic development. Through strategic leadership and a student-centered approach, she continues to inspire positive changes within educational communities. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowerment, mentoring both faculty and students to evolve into critical thinkers and compassionate global citizens. She focuses on a holistic educational approach that encompasses four key pillars: integrating essential life skills into the curriculum, establishing comprehensive mentorship programmes, fostering global citizenship, and prioritising mental wellness. By blending academic rigour with character development, she nurtures well-rounded individuals who are not only knowledgeable but also equipped with emotional intelligence, cultural and sustainability competency to make meaningful contributions in an interconnected world.

Chris, the Secondary Headteacher at The Bloomington Academy is a warm, supportive and strategic leader who has an eye for educational excellence. A British-trained, British national, with two master’s degrees, Master’s in Educational Leadership, Master’s in Theological Studies, PGCE, QTS and BSc. Biochemistry. He was previously a member of a Senior Leadership Team in a renowned international school in Dubai. Chris has key experiences in continuous school improvement processes, both serving as a school inspector and supporting schools during inspections, in addition to his rich experiences in innovation where he previously led a whole-school transformation project into Apple Distinguished School status. He is passionate about school improvement processes and has recently completed his Penta Level 2 Inspectors training in his journey towards becoming a British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspector. As an educator, he is an outstanding teacher who has a heart for coaching teams and teachers into outstanding classroom practice. You can check out Chris’s teaching philosophies in his ‘Meet the Teacher’ Connector Magazine article below:

Mr. Issam Hosni, Head of Academics, MOE subjects, is a dedicated and visionary educational leader with over 15 years of experience in driving excellence and achieving progressive curriculum standards. His commitment is to cultivate robust learning environments to ensure the progression and success of quality Ministry of Education (MOE) programmes across the UAE. His career has been distinguished with many educational advancements, striving towards constant progression and achieving pedagogical superiority while fostering holistic student development.

Mr. Gokul Krishnan is a dedicated educational leader with over nine years of experience in education management. He currently serves as the Head of Assessment and CIE and Pearson Exams Officer at The Bloomington Academy, where he leads the development of effective assessment strategies that enhance student learning and achievement. He is also currently pursuing the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), reflecting his aspiration to progress to the next level of school leadership. With strong analytical skills, Gokul uses data-driven insights to inform instructional practices and support whole-school improvement. He is committed to fostering a culture of continuous feedback and professional growth among educators and students. An effective communicator and collaborator, he supports staff through training on assessment best practices. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team and the School Evaluation Team for Northpoint Education, Gokul has been recognised with an Outstanding Employee Award. He has also completed Level 3 Safeguarding Children training, reinforcing his commitment to student well-being and safety.