Yamna Kamal

Session Summary:

This panel will centre the voices of early career teachers as they share personal narratives that reflect the realities of entering the profession today, their aspirations, the challenges they face, and the ways they are growing through experience. Too often, the perspectives of beginning educators are underrepresented in professional dialogues, despite the valuable insights they bring from the front lines of the classroom.

Through authentic storytelling, panelists will illuminate the tensions between preparation and practice, the need for responsive mentorship, and the importance of feeling seen and supported during the critical early years of teaching. The session will also open space for discussion on how schools and systems can more effectively retain early career teachers, not through generic programs or rigid frameworks, but through intentional, relational support that honors their evolving identities as educators.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of new teachers and some actionable ideas for fostering inclusive, empowering environments that nurture their development and strengthen the profession as a whole.

Speakers:

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  Professor Rana Tamim | Professor, CEO and Founder - University of Toronto & EduBridges

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  Carine EL Yamani | Head of English Department; RISE Lead (Research and Innovation for Sustainable Education) - Saint Mary's Orthodox College

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  Yamna Kamal | Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher - Al Rayana Charter School

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  Taiba Albahrani | Lead Learning Resource Specialist - Yas School