Our Extended
Leadership Team

Rebecca Laurence

IB Leader: Head of Primo

Rebecca has lived in the UAE for seven years. She comes from a small town in South Yorkshire, England.

Rebecca started her teaching career in 2013 after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a BA (Hons) in Early Years Education. She has held leadership posts in the Early Years for the past four years and fully appreciates, values and understands the learning journey young children are embarking upon.

Early Childhood Education is Rebecca’s passion and she considers it a privilege to be involved in a child’s first experiences of school. As an Early Years Specialist she believes that positive relationships sit at the core of a successful and joyful learning experience.

Rebecca creates a child centered learning environment, developing the whole child to feel safe and confident, to explore and take risks. She encourages creativity and inquiry-based learning to support children to become innovators and problem solvers. She aims to set each and every child up for a lifetime of learning, and build a foundation, from which your child can grow and succeed.

Outside of school Rebecca is very family orientated, she enjoys outdoor activities, travel and messy play with her husband and son. Together with the Early Years team, Rebecca looks forward to working closely with BWA students and families on this exciting journey together.

Maria Odeleye

IB Leader: PYP Coordinator

Maria is a fully qualified learning facilitator with a bachelor’s degree from North London University, Masters Degree from the University of Huddersfield, and a PGCE from the University of Nottingham.

Her personal aim is to continue to be an inspirational change facilitator who uses her initiative to make any environment a learning environment, recognising teachable moments and using these instinctively. Her personal inspirational quote is “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” — B.B. King

Neil Best

IB Leader: MYP Coordinator

Neil Best, originally from the Northeast of England, graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a 2:1 in BA Hons Secondary Physical Education Sport & Dance with QTS. Following graduating he began his overseas career and has been teaching internationally for 13 years across the Middle East, USA and Europe.

With a depth of knowledge in the International Baccalaureate, Neil began at Bloom World Academy in August 2023 as Leader & Advanced Practitioner of Physical Education and Deputy MYP Coordinator. This academic year now sees Neil moving into the role of MYP Coordinator alongside PHE to continue building on this area within Bloom World Academy.

Outside of teaching, Neil enjoys playing a range of sport with extensive background in rugby at representational level, football and recreational golf. He also enjoys keeping fit through running and workout classes.

Carolyn Siklos

IB Leader: DP/CP Coordinator

Carolyn Siklos is a trilingual IB educator, workshop leader and examiner originally from Germany. She grew up bilingually with English and German nationality and learnt French as a teenager, later studying in Paris as part of her English, French and Psychology degree from Durham University. After completing teacher training at Oxford University, she worked in London before finding her passion, teaching the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programme in Dubai!

After fifteen years of working in IB schools, leading a language acquisition department, coordinating the Middle Years Programme and providing IB professional development, Carolyn has most recently contributed to curriculum development as part of the Middle Years Programme Enhancement Project run by the International Baccalaureate.

Faridah Merchant

Leader: Integra

Faridah Merchant is an experienced and visionary inclusive education specialist, leading the Integra department at Bloom World Academy. With a Master’s degree in Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (SEN) Faridah is deeply committed to championing inclusivity and driving positive change within our educational community.

With over eight years of experience in Dubai, Faridah has a proven track record of developing and implementing strategic initiatives that create equitable learning environments. She excels in building and leading high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and empowering staff members to support every student’s unique needs. Her approach is analytical and data-driven, ensuring that areas for improvement are identified and targeted interventions are effectively implemented.

Faridah has extensive expertise in working with students with various learning differences. She believes in a child-centered, needs-based approach to education that enhances specific skills and promotes student independence. Her leadership is guided by the belief that if children cannot learn the way we teach, then we must teach the way they learn.

A lifelong learner, Faridah is committed to staying updated with the latest research and developments in inclusion. She is dedicated to transforming educational landscapes and empowering students to reach their full potential.

Outside of her professional role, Faridah is an avid hiker who leads groups of hiking enthusiasts on weekend adventures to explore the stunning trails of the UAE. She finds joy in the mountains and believes that shared experiences help build meaningful connections.

Doaa Elbessa

Leader: Arabic and Islamic Studies

Doaa Elbessa is a highly experienced educator and leader practitioner from Egypt, with 16 years of teaching experience across Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language and Islamic Sciences from Cairo University, Egypt in 2007.

Having taught both the American Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate in various schools in the UAE and Egypt, she is passionate about teaching the Arabic language and believes that education is not preparation for life, but education is life itself. Learning may begin in the classroom, but it certainly doesn’t end there. Teachers set up the foundations for the road ahead by inspiring students to learn wherever life may take them.

In 2010, Doaa moved with her husband to the UAE and has since become a mother to her son. She enjoys spending time in reading, cooking and spending time with family and friends.