Penny Amies- Assistant ES Principal and PYP Coordinator 

In light of moving the spotlight towards our dedicated faculty members, we interviewed our Assistant Vice Principal and PYP coordinator, Penny Amies. What is most interesting about Penny’s story is that she was with CAC for 6 years, then left for a couple of years, then decided to re-join the CAC family again . 

Penny first joined CAC in 2013, where she spent six fruitful years of growth and development. Like most international educators, Penny is always on the lookout for new enriching experiences. For that purpose, she left in 2019 to pursue another opportunity in Jakarta, Indonesia. Two years later, Penny who was still in contact with her friends from CAC was asked if she would be interested in coming back for a recent vacancy that had just opened up. 

Penny was more than happy about the prospect of going back to the school and country she had such great memories in. She applied for that vacancy and was able to re-join her old family at CAC. 

“Egypt, it’s got everything. All the historical places are right there for you to visit. The people are so warm and easy to get along with. Especially as a foreigner, I have never really had too much trouble finding my way around the city, because everyone is always eager to help,” Penny added. 

We asked her what, in her opinion, is the most important aspect about being a member of the CAC family, and her response was, “ The community. The school has this lovely culture of embracing people. I love being a part of this diverse community who are there for each other. Every place I’ve been to is different, but what makes CAC so special is that strong sense of supportive community.” Penny added that even though she came here on her own, she is still very grateful for being a part of a diverse and embracing family. 

She first heard about the school when she was working abroad, with our current Elementary School Principal who told her about the vacancy in Egypt. “The school had a really good reputation among us, because it really is that. It’s a great school,” she noted. Another very important factor that has a big impact on her decision is safety. Penny explained to us that she loves how safe Egypt is. Our teachers are always housed in the area of Maadi. This is a beautiful area full of history, greenery, trees and lots of warm people. Most of our faculty and staff are easily able to walk to work every day. 

When asked about the language barriers she might have faced here, she had this to say; “Not really, even though I can’t speak Arabic, I am fascinated by the language. I’ve got friends and neighbours who are always more than happy to help translate. It has never been much of a barrier for me.” 

“One of the highlights of living in this neighbourhood is our Boab ( building janitor). Everyday he is happy to welcome me back home with his family, and we usually have a quick short English lesson, which feels really great!” she adds. 

For resting and relaxation, Penny chooses to go to Aswan to decompress. She loves to spend a few days there every now and then to do some relaxation amid the sand and the Nile river. She has also tried the Nile cruise many times, especially when her family and friends are visiting. The Great Pyramids of Giza are one of many amazing sites that she loves to visit. It is always great to hear from our faculty and staff members to learn more about their lives, what they are looking for and how we can provide them with what they need to make their experience here easier and more enjoyable.