Recruiting Good Teachers for Lincoln Public Schools
LPS is poised to launch the teaching of Arabic by hiring a refugee scholar from Gaza. Dr. Nael Hijjo fled from Hamas rule soon after he graduated from college and went first to Malaysia. There he earned a PhD in linguistics and translation at the University of Malaysia and taught Arabic in a Saudi-sponsored primary and high school. In 2020 Dr. Hijjo came to the U.S. where he gained asylum in 2022. Most recently, he has been serving as a part-time simultaneous interpreter in New York City (see photo next page), working in courts, hospitals and, occasionally, at the United Nations.
Erik Witt has reviewed Dr. Hijjo’s qualifications and has invited him to begin teaching Arabic in January, with probationary licensure while he concurrently takes 14 credits of education courses at UNL that will make him fully eligible for Nebraska’s certification. Thanks to funding provided by one of Professor Hamann’s grants, the cost of tuition will be covered. But given Dr. Hijjo’s circumstances, he will still need further assistance to relocate to Lincoln and get settled, before he begins teaching, studying, and earning his way. He would like to move to Lincoln in December 2023.
- Plane fare New York to Nebraska, (one-way) (roughly $500)
- Additional moving expenses (he has just a few boxes to send – roughly $500)
- A car (a good second-hand car would be fine – roughly $7,000)
- A security deposit to rent an apartment or pay his share of an apartment shared with grad students (usually first and last month rent – roughly $2000) for the first couple of months (Nael would prefer to rent a room in an apartment, perhaps with graduate students, until the beginning of summer, by time he will know Lincoln and be able to find a place of his own.
- Initial spending money (for groceries and like expenses) until payments from his salary begin (roughly $2,500)
- Donated furniture (e.g., bed with mattress, dresser, chair(s) – in-kind, but roughly $1,000) For more information contact Barbara Bartle, dgbarbara5650@gmail.com or 402-770-3323
Rotary 14 is the place to be.
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States of America