Fadi El-Saikali

Hi y’all!

My name is Fadi El-Saikali, and I am a teacher in the Ottawa Catholic School Board. I was born and raised in little ol’ Ottawa and actually currently work in my old high school. My B.A is from Carleton University, and my B.Ed is from Ottawa U. Currently I teach Comm Tech (Media Arts and Yearbook), Photography, and Fashion (not sure how I got that one…). In the past, I was mainly a Math, Science, and Drama teacher.

Outside of classes, I like to keep busy with various activities around the school. Currently I am one of the teachers in charge of the Yearbook and the High School play/musical, a lead for Skills Canada in our school, and I am on various committees such as an organization called Cappies. In the past I’ve been in charge of the Remembrance Day and Black History Month ceremonies, Afro-Carribean Dance, Boys and Girls Outdoor Soccer, and Grad Committee. Outside of school, I like refining my photography skills with my event photography company. However, if I was known for one thing to those around me, it’s how much I love Disney. I am a Disnerd (Disney Nerd, get it!) at heart, and always will be.

I guess teaching just kind of fell into my lap. All the ingredients were there to force me down this path. As a child, I used to visit my extended family in Calgary every Christmas and summer, and fortunately, all my aunts and uncles were teachers and principals. I think I was always attracted to the lifestyle and how you could always tell when someone was in education based off their personality. However, the hook came when I was in high school. A few teachers came together to help me in a time of need, and to this day I think of their kindness towards me. When I enrolled in University, as much as I wanted to be a teacher, I changed my program 5 times before I finally just followed my heart and went into teaching. I will never regret that decision. I mean, some days I do, but we all have those days :).

Teaching and growing up in low socio-economic school, I have seen the impact a teacher can have on not only someone’s education, but someone’s life. For some students, a teacher is the only adult figure in their grasp. I want to be able to help those kids who need it and be that pillar for those who don’t have it. I know we won’t be able to get to every student out there, but if I can make a difference in one student’s life, then I know I’ve done my job. I want to be able to pay back that kindness those teacher’s did for me all those years ago.