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our team

Ann Djedid

Principal
Layla Husmann

Head of launch
Aisha Aziz

Secretary to the principal
Levi Adamson

Admissions Manager
Amanda Smith

Teacher - KS2 Lead
Grace Kelly

Teacher
Laura O'Donnell

Teacher
Ashling Dodds

Teacher
Eleanor Duffy

Teacher - KS1/EYFS Lead
Kathleen McLarnon

Teacher
Jemma Johnston

Teacher
Daniela Furtuna

Teacher
Christina Sutherland

Teacher
Ferhan Khan

Teacher
Danielle Wright

Teacher
Adam Dowdall

Teacher
Seham Hussain

Teacher
Dr Amr Ahmed Mahmoud

Teacher
Batoul Nseirat

Teacher
Riham Mutlak

Teacher
Laura Hemmings

Teacher
Elliot Johnston

Teacher
Mary Garcia

Teacher
Nadia Bettache

Teacher

A rare
opportunity

To be part of a brand-new school

Queen’s Qatar delivers a contemporary learning and teaching experience that is international, inclusive and inspiring. 

Our focus on individual greatness not only applies to students, but our teachers too. Our brilliantly diverse, world-class educators engage in all aspects of school life and are supported to deliver quality first teaching.

Teachers have the rare chance to be part of building a new school that educates with impact. Our faculty staff share community values, underpinned by an infectious passion for learning and the power to inspire. If your education expertise is ready to be challenged, we’d love to hear from you.

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A FAMILY OF SCHOOLS

Ann Djedid

Principal

With over three decades of experience in international education, Ann Djedid brings a wealth of expertise and a deep passion for learning to her role as the Founding Principal of Queen’s Qatar.

Qualified as a teacher in Scotland, Ann holds an MA in International Education from King’s College London. Her extensive career includes 11 years as a Head of School, during which she successfully led two schools in Qatar to achieve prestigious PENTA (BSO) and QNSA accreditations.

In addition to her hands-on leadership experience, Ann possesses two senior leadership qualifications and an ESL qualification, equipping her with the skills to effectively manage and enhance educational environments. Her dedication to professional development and excellence in education is evident in every aspect of her career.

Living in Qatar with her family, Ann enjoys travelling, learning new languages, and cooking. She is excited to leverage her extensive experience in her new role at Queen’s Qatar, where she is committed to creating a fantastic learning environment for students.

Ann looks forward to this new chapter and is delighted to contribute her knowledge and passion to the growth and success of Queen’s Qatar.

Layla Husmann

Head of Launch

With over 20 years of experience in Branding and Marketing, Layla Husmann brings a wealth of knowledge to our project, working alongside our founding Principal, Ann Djedid. Layla ensures everything is organised, oversees recruitment, and is a key part of our admissions team, making sure that staff and families have all their questions answered.
Aisha Aziz

Secretary to the Principal

Residing in Doha for over a decade, Aisha has established a solid foundation in education administration. As an exams officer, she oversees the organization and facilitation of assessments, supporting students’ academic endeavors. Additionally, her role as a seasoned school secretary has allowed her to witness firsthand the transformative power of education in shaping young minds.

Aisha’s professional journey has been equally enriching, with a background deeply rooted in risk analysis for two major UK banks. With expertise in risk management, she excels in assessing and mitigating potential risks to ensure the stability and success of projects and initiatives.

In her downtime, Aisha is an avid reader and actively participates in two book clubs. After all, a curious mind never stops learning!

Levi Adamson

Admissions Manager

Meet Levi, our Admissions Manager. With over 15 years of diverse experience, including a decade in luxury and hospitality. Levi has spent the past 4 years working in school admissions in Doha. She is passionate about creating a seamless and welcoming experience for our future students and their families.
Amanda Smith

Teacher - KS2 Lead

Embarking on her teaching journey 27 years ago in the UK, Amanda has since had the pleasure of teaching across the globe, enriching young minds within the primary education age range in Spain, Abu Dhabi, Brunei, and Qatar. Throughout her career, she has assumed various leadership roles and is presently serving as a year 5 leader in a 10-form entry school. Her strong commitment to excellence drove her to earn the NPQH (National Professional Qualification of Headship) in 2022, enhancing her capacity to lead with vision and creativity.

Amanda is very excited to be joining Queen’s Qatar and helping to create a nurturing and exceptional school experience for the students. Being a member of the founding team is an honour, and she can’t wait to play a part in building the foundations of what will become an outstanding school.

Grace Kelly

Teacher

Grace Kelly is originally from a small town in County Derry, Ireland. She completed her teacher training and started her teaching career in Liverpool before moving to Qatar in 2017. Grace has extensive experience with the curriculum from EYFS to KS3 and has held numerous leadership positions in her career thus far. Her passion for education and teamwork led her to complete an MA in Educational Leadership and Management, with pedagogy, in 2022. She is thrilled to join the team at Queen’s Qatar as they embark on this exciting journey.

Laura O'Donnell

Teacher

Laura O’Donnell is from Donegal, Ireland. She obtained her first degree in Early Childhood Care and Education studies in Ireland before moving to the United Kingdom to complete her Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education.

Laura’s international teaching experience began in Qatar 4 years ago. She started as a Year 1 class teacher for 2 years before transitioning to a Year 4 class teacher, taking on the role of Year Lead. She is now delighted to be one of the founding staff members at Queen’s Qatar.

Laura is very excited about the new challenge of creating a culture of success at Queen’s and promoting a sense of community in the school so that students, parents, and staff develop a sense of belonging. She looks forward to a successful year ahead!

Ashling Dodds

Teacher

Ashling Dodds, originally from Ireland, has always been driven by a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others, which led her to pursue a career in education. She holds a BSc in Education and Special Needs from John Moores University in Liverpool and completed her Postgraduate degree in Primary Education at Liverpool Hope University.

Her interest in working internationally led her to Qatar, where she moved four years ago to become a primary teacher. During this time, Ashling has had the privilege of working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, enriching her teaching experience and broadening her understanding of different perspectives. She finds her role as a primary teacher in Qatar deeply rewarding and is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to her students’ educational journeys and make a meaningful impact on their lives.

Eleanor Duffy

Teacher - KS1/EYFS Lead

Eleanor Duffy brings 16 years of dedicated teaching experience to her role as Head of EYFS and Key Stage One at Queen’s Qatar. She holds an Honours Degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, a Higher Diploma in Primary Education and a Master of Education in Leading, Learning, and Teaching as well as a National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL).

Originating from a small seaside town on the outskirts of Dublin, Eleanor spent nine years teaching at the primary school that she attended herself, before relocating to Doha with her husband. For the past seven years, she has taught in British International schools here in Qatar.

Eleanor is delighted to be part of the founding team at Queen’s Qatar and looks forward to being part of a very special community.

Kathleen McLarnon

Teacher

Kathleen McLarnon has been a Foundation One teacher for the past 2 years in an international school in Qatar. She is originally from Northern Ireland and studied at Liverpool John Moores University, where she completed her PGDE in teaching children aged 3-7 years old. This will be her third year in Qatar teaching in an Early Years setting.

Kathleen is really excited to be welcoming children into the class and to be working with them to help them grow and develop into enthusiastic learners throughout the year. She looks forward to a brilliant year and working with parents to provide the best support for their child.

Jemma Johnston

Teacher

Jemma is a passionate and creative teacher who has been shaping young minds for over 10 years. With all of her experience being in Early Years or Key Stage 1, it is clear that her passion lies with the littlest learners. She loves the adventures they can go on from inside the school grounds and how their imaginations can soar through the wonders of play.

Her favorite quote is: “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – A. A. Milne

Daniela Furtuna

Teacher

Daniela Furtuna brings 20 years of dedicated teaching experience from various British International schools in Qatar to the English Department at Queen’s Qatar. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Low Danube University of Romania and a Master of Science in Educational Studies from the State University of New York, USA.

Daniela has been committed to creating a vibrant and joyful teaching and learning environment throughout her career. Her Cambridge Certificate in Educational Leadership from Cambridge University has inspired her to promote the Joy Revolution programme, as she firmly believes that joy positively impacts learning by enhancing children’s cognitive abilities and fostering social connections. Daniela understands that happiness creates a fertile ground for effective learning, enabling students to retain information more effectively, stay motivated, think critically, and engage actively with the subject matter.

She is excited to take on the challenge of developing a dynamic, cross-curricular learning experience at Queen’s Qatar, bringing her passion for joyful education to the school community.

Christina Sutherland

Teacher

Originally from Northern Ireland, Christina has been teaching for the past twelve years. She holds a BSc in Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography from Queen’s University, Belfast, and a PGCE in Secondary Chemistry from the University of Bath in England.

After qualifying as a teacher in 2012, she initially began her career in England for four years before moving to Qatar. For the past eight years, she has been teaching KS3 and 4 Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Geography, alongside managing the Science department in a British International school in Doha. In addition to this, she has worked as a Head of Year and Head of Academics, overseeing and implementing new curriculums.

She truly loves teaching and growing students’ passion for Sciences and Humanities by making her lessons as active, inclusive, and hands-on as possible. She is excited to bring her experience and enthusiasm to the community at Queen’s Qatar and looks forward to contributing to the academic and personal growth of the students.

Ferhan Khan

Teacher

Ferhan is an experienced educator with a proven track record of building exceptional art and photography departments. With a BSc Hons in Virtual Design and a PGCSE in Art and Design, his diverse background spans commercial product design, entrepreneurship, and multimedia commercial sectors.

Ferhan established a successful teaching career in the UK developing thriving GCSE and A-Level photography programs. Moving to Doha in 2012 Ferhan took up position as Head of Art at a leading British International School. During his time in Qatar Ferhan has led multiple art departments to outstanding achievements, including world-class exam results.

Ferhan’s passion for art and photography is evident in his engaging teaching style. He is dedicated to inspiring and nurturing his students’ creative potential.

Ferhan equally enjoys an active lifestyle in particular enjoys playing tennis, football, and table tennis. He and his 2 children are excited to be joining the Queens community.

Danielle Wright

Teacher

Danielle’s career began over 8 years ago in a small village school in England, where she taught mixed Year 5 and 6 classes. Her passion for Special Educational Needs (SEN) developed when she noticed children struggling who could have thrived with the right support. This inspired her to change and develop the SEN department at her school. Alongside her full-time teaching commitment, Danielle completed the NASEN qualification in 2019.

In 2022, Danielle fulfilled her lifelong desire to teach internationally and moved to Qatar. She served as an Assistant Head of Inclusion at a large all-through inclusive school in Doha for 2 years. During this time, she discovered her love for Qatari culture and the country itself.

Danielle is very excited to take on the challenge of developing a new SEN department at Queen’s International School. She looks forward to supporting all families to help ensure that their children can reach their full potential.

Adam Dowdall

Teacher

Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Adam Dowdall earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde and later pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, specialising in Secondary Mathematics. With three years of teaching experience in Glasgow, Adam has now joined Queen’s Qatar as a founding member of the mathematics department. He is eager to contribute to the growth and success of the school in this exciting new chapter of his career.

Seham Hussain

Teacher

Seham Mahmoud Hussein is an Arabic teacher at ACS International School Doha. Living in Doha and a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Seham is dedicated to both her personal and professional goals.Seham places her family as her top priority, with the happiness of her children being the most important to her.

Seham’s primary professional goal is to create an enjoyable learning environment where students are happy with their studies. She aims to build strong relationships with her students, fostering confidence and ensuring they do not feel forced to learn.
One of Seham’s significant achievements is her role in international arbitration in Arabic Debate. Her diverse experiences with various students and curriculums have allowed her to broaden her children’s opportunities and horizons.

In her free time, Seham enjoys reading and photography.

Dr Amr Ahmed Mahmoud

Teacher

Dr. Amr is extremely proud to be a founding member and the Head of MOHE Subjects at Queen’s Qatar. He holds a BA degree in Teaching Language and Islamic Studies, a Master’s degree in Teaching Arabic Methods, and a Doctorate in Arabic Literature. His career in education began 21 years ago, during which he has achieved many notable accomplishments. Dr. Amr teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies to both native and non-native speakers and has 15 years of experience teaching IGCSE. Additionally, he has 15 years of experience leading Arabic and Islamic departments in international schools.

Dr. Amr’s vision for MOHE subjects at Queen’s Qatar is to provide all students with ample opportunities to learn Arabic by inspiring a love and passion for these subjects. His goal is for all students to enjoy learning Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Qatar history, and to gain a deep understanding of Arabic culture. He aims to achieve this by offering engaging lessons that link the learning to students’ life skills.

Batoul Nseirat

Teacher

Batoul Nseirat, originally from Jordan, holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Jordan, along with a teaching certification from the Ministry of Education of Jordan. Her passion for teaching deepened during six years in Philadelphia, USA, where she gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by students learning a second language. Seven years ago, she relocated to Qatar, beginning her journey as an educator with a focus on Arabic and Islamic studies for non-native speakers. Batoul has also earned a certificate in teaching Arabic as a second language and an additional certification in second language teacher training, allowing her to serve as a trainer and observer, providing feedback on new teaching and learning styles. As a proud founding member of Queen’s Qatar, she continues to share her passion for education and language learning.

Riham Mutlak

Teacher

Riham Mutlak is an educator with a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from Damascus University. Over the past decade, she has had the privilege of imparting knowledge and fostering growth within Qatar’s educational landscape. Her career has been enriched by teaching at esteemed institutions in Doha, where she has taught Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Qatar History. Through these roles, she has significantly contributed to the academic and personal development of her students.

Riham’s teaching philosophy centers on providing a comprehensive educational experience that addresses the academic, social, and emotional aspects of each student’s journey. She is deeply committed to creating a student-centered environment that nurtures critical thinking and creativity, in alignment with the esteemed vision of Queen’s International Qatar School.

As an educator, Riham is passionate about integrating innovative teaching methodologies and fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment. She is eager to channel her expertise and enthusiasm into contributing to the continued success and excellence of the students, shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.

Laura Hemmings

Teacher

Laura Hemmings has been teaching for 20 years and graduated from the University of Birmingham with a PGCE in Secondary Physical Education. She holds a Master’s in Education (Professional Studies), a National Professional Qualification in Middle Leadership, and is currently completing a National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership.

Laura brings a wealth of experience, having previously taught in Qatar before spending the majority of her career in the UK as a Head of Department in a secondary school and sixth form. She is excited to return to Qatar with her young family and is honoured to be part of the founding team at Queen’s Qatar.

Elliot Johnston

Teacher

Elliot brings with him a wealth of knowledge, having taught PE for over 15 years both in the UK and internationally. He has led Primary and Secondary PE Departments in the UK, Thailand, and Qatar. Elliot is extremely excited to be a founding staff member at Queen’s Qatar, where he will use the fantastic sporting facilities on a daily basis. Outside of school, Elliot is a fitness enthusiast and avid rugby player, recently representing Qatar against India and Kazakhstan.

Mary Garcia

Teacher

Mary Garcia is a dedicated and highly skilled Music Teacher with a passion for fostering a love of music in students of all ages. Since graduating in 2010, she has gained over a decade of comprehensive experience teaching music at both primary and secondary school levels. Her expertise spans a diverse range of musical disciplines, including piano, drums, and singing. Committed to creating engaging and inclusive learning environments, Mary strives to inspire students to develop their musical talents. She is excited to continue making a positive impact on the musical education journey of her students.

Nadia Bettache

Teacher

Nadia Bettache is an expert French teacher with a rich background in teaching across diverse cultural settings such as France and Qatar. Driven by a profound love for languages, she has dedicated her career to helping students not only master the French language but also deeply understand its rich cultural context. With a distinguished degree from a leading French university, Nadia blends academic rigor with innovative teaching methods tailored to meet the needs of every learner. Passionate about creating engaging, immersive learning environments, she is known for fostering curiosity and confidence in students of all ages and is honoured to join the founding team at Queen’s Qatar.