by JEANIE CHUA
CENTER & BACK EDITOR
and LINA GU
OPINIONS EDITOR
Dina ElGhitany embraced the Chadwick community as a new teacher during the spring of 2017. Since then, she has made innumerable contributions to Chadwick, working as head of the Math Department, a member of the Global Education Program team, an Upper School advisor, and as faculty advisor for the Middle Eastern Affinity Group.
ElGhitany was born and raised in Egypt. She started her teaching career as an administrator and educator in her native country, where she worked for 10 years. After moving to the United States, she taught at LAUSD charter schools while working toward her teaching credentials and a master’s degree. Ultimately, ElGhitany’s uncle, who lived in Palos Verdes, is the person Chadwick can thank for introducing her to its community. She and her family lived with her uncle when they initially moved to America. After some research, ElGhitany thought Chadwick would be a great fit and an easy transition for her and her family, especially as her children, Alia and Danya Saad, already attended Palos Verdes schools.
Even in college, ElGhitany always loved math, and her passion for numbers followed her to Chadwick. “I feel like it’s an amazing, creative, beautiful subject, but I also think it really impacts people negatively and positively so much in their personal character. And I feel like, as teachers, we work hard to make it a positive experience,” ElGhitany said.
To her, being a math teacher is more than just teaching and making sure students get good grades. It also means uplifting students and helping them build a positive relationship with math, especially those who have a difficult time, given that teachers are important adults in students’ lives. “I like to be that person who is there to support them and let them see the positive side of math,” ElGhitany said. “I enjoy that so much, and I enjoy being there for students. I like seeing that side of students.”
This year, ElGhitany has expanded the kind of math classes that Chadwick offers. The School introduced her Data Science class, which analyzes and organizes data. The class encompasses a multitude of subjects, ranging from math and AI to humanities and social justice. Many students take this class because they find it applicable to the real world. “I like Data Science because it comes naturally to me and is something I find relevant to the real world,” says senior Kate Tomas.
ElGhitany is also an advisor for the Middle Eastern Affinity Group. The Middle East encompasses a large geographical region, but at Chadwick, the affinity group itself is small. “It was really important to have that kind of cozy, comfortable space where they can just gather around one or two tables, and just talk and laugh,” ElGhitany said.
ElGhitany also shares the joys of her culture and identity through Chadwick’s Global Education Program trips. Her most recent visit was to Jordan last spring. “I feel that bringing or planning programs that bring students to a place that they usually wouldn’t go is just so powerful and makes people know a side beyond what is seen in the media,” ElGhitany said.
As a strong believer in bringing experiential learning to all students at Chadwick, a big part of the Jordan trip for ElGhitany was about breaking common stereotypes and appreciating the immensely rich culture of the country. Said sophomore Beesan Abusneinah, who was a part of the Jordan trip, “It was eye-opening to experience the culture first-hand and see beyond the headlines. It made me appreciate the depth of Jordan’s history and people.”
“I was able to connect with Ms. ElGhitany further by just talking about things that weren’t school-related,” said sophomore Beesan Abusneinah, reflecting on the excursion. “She made it a point to talk to each one of us who were on the trip, to get to know us more and connect about topics outside of school.”
Added ElGhitany: “You’re not just a teacher, you’re more than that, which I really appreciate. I like all the extras of being an advisor or planning global programs. All these things are very exciting.”
ElGhitany’s reach touches many aspects of Chadwick, whether in the classroom or on a trip halfway around the world. No matter where she is, ElGhitany hopes to empower students’ voices and guide impactful experiences in their lives.
The Mainsheet 