My Tribute to a Remarkable Teacher: Ghada Mounis

Shortly after I arrived in Turkey, it began to snow. Roads that a few hours before had been dry soon became slippy and dangerous. Concerned for my safety, one teacher, originally from Lebanon, travelled two hours on buses and trams to greet me. Immediately I met Ghada, I was deeply impressed with her strength of character and sense of joy for life. As I was to witness, this teacher has remarkable resources and continually thinks and works to the better development of all her students. In classes with younger children, I saw how she brought all to order with her immense strength of character and love. With older students, some of whom were twice her size, she cheerfully jostled their minds to wake up and to focus on what they were doing. As she later in the day invited me to a restaurant and we passed numerous students after school, older ones alone and younger ones with their mother, she was continually asking them questions. To one “why did you miss this in your homework?” To another, “What did I tell you to do last week?” This lady is one of the very best teachers I have ever had the pleasure to meet, but more than that she equally puts her love and strength to the concern for her colleagues. She is an incredible team player. If there is one school, anywhere in the world, who misses such a human dynamism, I would so strongly recommend you invite this extremely dedicated, wonderfully kind and genuinely giving teacher to join you. She is one of the very, very best.