From Passion to Practice: Ghadeer Qassim’s Teaching and Certification Journey

For Ghadeer Qassim, teaching Arabic is deeply connected to her identity, her culture, and the people who shaped her love of language. As an Arabic teacher working toward certification through the Professional Innovators in Education program, Qassim has combined her lifelong passion for Arabic with new professional skills that continue to shape her classroom. She is currently teaching at Multicultural Academy in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Qassim grew up in Jordan surrounded by the Arabic language and the traditions that come with it. From an early age, she experienced how language can bring people together. One of the most influential people in her life was her grandfather, who helped spark her joy for learning and teaching Arabic.

As a child, she remembers him teaching her songs and expressions through rhythm and repetition, making language both joyful and memorable. Those experiences not only strengthened her connection to Arabic but also shaped how she approaches teaching today.

The program has played a major role in her growth as an educator, Ghadeer shares. Through coursework, mentorship, and classroom reflection, Qassim has strengthened her lesson planning, assessment strategies, and ability to differentiate instruction for students with different learning needs.

“The teacher I was on my first day in the program is very different from the teacher I am now,” she said. “I have become more intentional with my planning and more thoughtful about how I support every student.”

One of the most important lessons she has taken from the Professional Innovators program is the value of intentional assessment and differentiation. By better understanding each student’s learning style and needs, she shares that she has been able to create lessons that allow more students to participate and succeed.

As she continues through the program, Qassim says the experience has strengthened both her confidence and her professionalism. It has helped her see herself not only as a native Arabic speaker sharing her language, but as a trained educator equipped with the strategies and knowledge needed to help students thrive.

Through her work in the classroom and her growth in the Professional Innovators in Education program, Qassim continues to share her passion for Arabic language and culture while helping students discover the joy of learning a new language.

Interested in learning more about Professional Innovators in Education and how you or your staff can earn a Michigan teaching certificate? Click HERE to learn more today.