Andrew Wurtz (ESL & Citizenship Instructor)
I started teaching in 1987. I graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in music education and I have graduate degrees in Teaching in Middle School and Teaching English as a Second Language. I have been with Dearborn Adult Ed for four years. I currently teach English as a Second Language and Citizenship. I like a relaxed and supportive classroom where the students learn English, gain confidence, and receive the skills needed for the workplace, higher education, and employment. I also teach a very lively citizenship class. Here we learn important American history, how our government works, and most importantly, we gain the skills and knowledge needed to successfully pass the requirements to become a US citizen. I tell people I have the most interesting job in the world. I learn from my students every day. There’s nothing else I would rather be doing.
Eman Radha (ESL Instructor)
I have been actively involved in education for the past 25 years. I took many positions in many school districts throughout my career, starting from a paraprofessional to a Principal. Recently, I joined Dearborn Public Schools with the Adult Education to teach English as a Second Language. I hold a Teaching Certificate with a Masters degree in Education. Currently, I am taking classes toward a Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. I love my job and I enjoy teaching and interacting with the adult. It gives me great pleasure that I am impacting individuals, in order to become effective citizens and able to apply the skills I teach on a daily basis. Not only do I teach the Language, but I also introduce the new culture and share my life experience with them so that they can interact with the new environment and appreciate all cultures. My class is fun and interactive. My goal is to instill confidence in them to be able to communicate with others, seek further education or employment. Furthermore, help them to be involved in the community.
Loraine Daoud (ESL Instructor)
Hello and Welcome to Adult Education. I graduated from The University of Michigan- Dearborn. I have been teaching for a total of 4 years. During the day, I teach 4th Grade in Dearborn Public Schools and two days a week I teach Beginning Intermediate level English at the Michael Berry Education Center. Teaching is my Passion! I promise all of my students to give them my all throughout the whole year and to help them as much as possible. I’m really looking forward to starting a new semester with determined, passionate and intelligent students. Can’t wait to meet you!
Ekram Jamal (ESL and Citizenship Instructor)
I am mother to 3 beautiful daughters and married to my wonderful husband. I love spending my free time with my family, trying new restaurants, shopping and traveling. I received my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education in 2007 from Cleveland State University and my Master’s in Teaching English as a Second Language in 2012 from Cleveland State University. I have a love and passion for teaching. It was my dream career since I was a young child. I taught kindergarten for 7 years and completed my student teaching program teaching English as a Second language to adults at Cleveland State University. I have been teaching in Dearborn Adult Ed for a few months and look forward to continuing teaching Adult Ed. I love teaching because I can make a difference in someone’s life. I love to inspire, motivate, and support other people. I also believe that as a teacher I am always learning new things from my students.
Amy Bokser (GED Instructor)
Amy graduated from Prescott College in Arizona with a BA in Writing and Literature. She also has an MA from San Francisco State University in English: Creative Writing, as well as an MSLIS from Florida State University. She holds a teaching certificate in English and has taught elementary, middle, and high school students as well as adults. She taught at a special education school in San Francisco, and then taught ESL in Guadalajara, Mexico before taking a job at the American School Foundation of Guadalajara there. At the ASFG, Amy taught support classes in reading and math to grades K-12 for several years before becoming the 6th grade ELA teacher for 12 years. Amy moved to Michigan in 2019. She believes that students deserve a teacher who is excited about the subject, and that enthusiasm for the subject is the best way for students to learn. When Amy isn’t tutoring, she can be found reading, writing, cooking, or laughing with her family.
Fida Amir (GED Instructor)
I work currently as a Math teacher at Edsel Ford High school during the day and I teach Adult Ed in the evening. I graduated from University of Michigan with a major in Math and minor in psychology/statistics. I got my Master’s degree from the University of Michigan in teaching and minor in psychology. Last year, I finished my Curriculum and Instruction Specialist degree from Wayne State University. I have been teaching high school students for 15 years and adults for 2 years. I really enjoy teaching because I feel that I provide opportunities and change the lives of students. My dream is to see every single student that I have taught a successful leader in our community.
Erin Connors (GED Instructor)
I am an evening GED teacher for science and social studies. I have been with Adult Education since 2017 and I started teaching in 2012. During the day I teach social studies at Fordson High School in Dearborn and on the weekends I work at The Henry Ford. I have my Bachelor degrees in history and social studies with minors in psychology and anthropology from the University of Michigan- Dearborn. I also graduated with my Master’s degree in special education from U of M- Dearborn. Recently, I completed the Bridge Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Education at Wayne State University, so I can receive my English as a Second Language teaching certification.
Some “fun facts” about me are that I love spending time with my husband and my extended family and that I am slightly obsessed with cheese, tea, and owls. I truly love learning and teaching! I believe we are all life-long learners whether we are inside the classroom or out in the world every day. I love having conversations with students, watching students collaborate as they learn, and learning new things myself alongside students in the classroom. Our GED classroom is a real community where we take small risks and push ourselves a little outside of our comfort zones all in the name of learning. We support each other and work together to learn and grow. Join us! I look forward to meeting you in class.
Jessica Zaleski (Allied Health Instructor)
This will be my third year teaching Allied Health for Adult Ed and fourth year teaching Allied Health at the Michael Berry Career Center. I am also an Emergency Medical Technician for Alliance Health in Troy, MI and have been working in the heath field for 11 years.
I received my undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan-Flint: Human Biology BA and Research Psychology BS. I have a Career Technical Education teaching certificate from Wayne State University and am currently pursuing a Masters of Education Leadership at Oakland University.
In my free time, I enjoy home DIY projects as well as swing, ballroom, and Latin dancing.