Tracey Susan Brauns
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Summary
UAE-based English and literacy educator with 12+ years of teaching experience across the UAE and South Africa, including UAE classroom experience since 2017. Current Reading Intervention Teacher at Al Rayana Charter School, specializing in structured literacy intervention, EAL/ESL support, academic vocabulary development, and the CAFE reading methodology: Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanded Vocabulary. Founder and CEO of NoorLingo, a UAE-based reading platform for Arabic-speaking children. Brings together classroom practice, curriculum design, assessment, purposeful EdTech innovation, warm pastoral care and high expectations for learner progress.
Overview
3
3
years of post-secondary education
12
12
years of professional experience
Work history
Reading Intervention Teacher - Grade 5
Al Rayana Charter School
Abu Dhabi
2019.01 - 2026.07
- Deliver targeted literacy intervention using CAFE framework, strengthening comprehension, accuracy, fluency and expanded vocabulary.
- Design structured reading programs and differentiated resources for Arabic-speaking EAL learners, increasing access to academic vocabulary and text comprehension.
- Analyze MAP data and classroom evidence to identify reading gaps, form intervention groups and implement responsive instructional strategies.
- Develop ADEC-aligned comprehension tasks, fluency practice, vocabulary activities and cross-curricular reading materials.
- Build student confidence, reading stamina and independent strategy use through explicit modelling, guided practice and feedback.
- Support literacy-focused instructional consistency through collaboration, resource sharing and practical classroom strategies.
- Create baseline checks, progress trackers, fluency checks, vocabulary tasks, comprehension questions and student reflection tools to monitor reading growth over time.
- Plan differentiated small-group pathways for emerging, developing and fluent readers, using MAP data, classroom evidence and reading behaviors to guide instruction.
- Integrate cross-curricular literacy through English, Science, Social Studies, Moral Education, sustainability and UAE cultural contexts to strengthen academic language.
- Communicate student progress, next steps and learning needs clearly with colleagues, parents and leadership to support consistent intervention.
Lead ELA Teacher - Grades 6 and 7
Al Rayana Charter School
Abu Dhabi
2021.01
- Led curriculum planning and English/literacy strategy alignment across Grades 6 and 7.
- Coached colleagues on reading comprehension, differentiation and structured literacy practice.
- Strengthened literacy outcomes through clear learning intentions, success criteria, shared planning and focused reading strategies.
- Taught all areas of English Language Arts, including reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, comprehension and text analysis.
- Used MAP data cycles to identify class trends, prioritise skills, adjust curriculum pacing and plan targeted revision and intervention.
- Created lesson plans, assessments, rubrics, success criteria and differentiated resources to support consistent ELA instruction across classes.
- Supported colleagues through collaborative planning, curriculum mapping, shared resources and practical guidance on differentiation and assessment alignment.
Private Academic Tutor (Part-Time)
Abu Dhabi
2022.01 - 2026.07
- Design personalised cross-curricular programmes across English, Mathematics and Science.
- Integrate reading comprehension, vocabulary development, critical thinking and exam preparation into individual learning plans.
- Use hands-on, visual and digital learning experiences to support confidence, attention, independence and progress.
- Maintain close parent communication through clear feedback, next steps and practical home-learning guidance.
- Mentor learners through structured routines, confidence-building feedback and personalised targets that strengthen independence and academic self-belief.
- Provide parent-facing progress updates with clear next steps, practical home-learning guidance and evidence of student growth.
Homeroom Teacher - Grade 4
Diyar International Private School
2018.01 - 2019.01
- Delivered differentiated instruction across core subjects, supporting mixed-ability learners through structured planning and responsive teaching.
- Led science-based learning, experiments and inquiry tasks that developed vocabulary, reasoning and conceptual understanding.
- Managed classroom routines, assessments, student progress tracking and parent communication.
- Maintained positive classroom management, pastoral care and learning routines that supported behaviour, participation and progress for mixed-ability learners.
- Designed lesson materials, assessment tasks and scaffolded activities to meet varied learning needs across core subjects.
Teacher - Grades 4 to 12
Department of Education
2015.01 - 2017.01
- Delivered English and Social Sciences curriculum across upper-primary, middle-school and secondary age groups.
- Built strong literacy foundations through reading, writing, discussion, vocabulary development and structured classroom routines.
- Adapted instruction for different ages, abilities and learning needs while maintaining clear expectations and positive relationships.
- Designed assessments, guided discussion tasks and written-response activities that strengthened literacy, reasoning and subject understanding.
- Mentored students through clear expectations, classroom routines, feedback and positive relationships across primary and secondary age groups.
Founder and CEO
NoorLingo
Abu Dhabi
- 2026.07
- Founded NoorLingo, a UAE-based English literacy support platform helping Arabic-speaking children read with confidence, think critically connect with their culture and retain academic vocabulary.
- Design gamified, culturally relevant literacy content integrating comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, science, mathematics, moral learning and real-world knowledge.
- Translate classroom literacy challenges into digital product features, including levelled reading pathways, comprehension strategy practice and child-friendly user journeys.
- Collaborate with developers on interactive learning experiences, content quality assurance, visual design, onboarding and school/parent communication.
- Apply research-informed strategies such as predicting, visualising and summarising to build deeper comprehension beyond word recognition.
- Lead the development of story-based reading modules, phonics support, comprehension activities, gamified practice and progress-focused learning pathways.
- Create teacher-facing and student-facing resources, including baseline assessments, reading booklets, answer keys, pilot materials and progress trackers.
- Use classroom evidence and teacher workload realities to shape a low-lift, engaging EdTech solution that supports reading practice rather than replacing teachers.
- UAE-based Literacy support platform
Education
Bachelor of Education -
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2011.01 - 2014.01
Skills
- English and literacy instruction
- Reading comprehension strategies
- Café methodology and CKLA practices
- Fluency and academic vocabulary
- Lesson planning and curriculum mapping
- Assessment design and alignment
- EAL and international education
- EAL/ESL scaffolding and differentiation
- Data-driven instruction and analysis
- Parent communication and care
- Cross-curricular literacy integration
- Classroom management strategies
- Professional collaboration and partnerships
- EdTech innovation in curriculum
- K-12 content development
- Digital learning design and quality assurance
- Gamified learning engagement
- Stakeholder collaboration and communication
- Teacher resources and progress tracking
ENGLISH TEACHER ROLE
- High standards in English and literacy
- 12+ years teaching English/literacy across Grades 4–11, including reading, writing, grammar, speaking, listening, comprehension and vocabulary, with specialist CAFE reading expertise.
- International-school adaptability
- 8+ years in UAE schools supporting Arabic-speaking EAL learners through differentiation, pastoral care, parent partnership and curriculum-aligned resources.
- Progress and assessment focus
- Uses MAP data, formative assessment and classroom evidence to identify gaps, plan curriculum, group learners and monitor progress.
- Innovation and collaboration
- Founder/CEO of NoorLingo; creates gamified reading content and collaborates with developers, colleagues and families to improve learning access and engagement.
PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTION AND REFEREES
- Holistic Educator & Advocate: Deeply committed to maintaining high standards of International teaching, proactive pastoral care, and fostering collaborative partnerships with students, parents, and colleagues.
- Educational Innovation & Leadership: Bring a classroom-informed, forward-thinking mindset with a proven ability to drive curriculum development, data-informed reading interventions, and student-centred school improvement.
- Wider School Contribution: Eager to enrich the broader school community through digital learning initiatives, cross-curricular projects, and parent engagement strategies.
- Professional Referees: Available immediately upon request, including current Head Teacher / Principal leadership, fully in line with safer recruitment and Nord Anglia application requirements.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Private Academic Tutor (Part-Time)
2022.01 - 2026.07
Lead ELA Teacher - Grades 6 and 7
Al Rayana Charter School
2021.01
Reading Intervention Teacher - Grade 5
Al Rayana Charter School
2019.01 - 2026.07
Homeroom Teacher - Grade 4
Diyar International Private School
2018.01 - 2019.01
Teacher - Grades 4 to 12
Department of Education
2015.01 - 2017.01
Bachelor of Education -
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2011.01 - 2014.01
Founder and CEO
NoorLingo
- 2026.07