DOREEN N. LWANGA
Arlington,USA
Summary
Dynamic international educator with over two decades of impactful English language teaching, teacher training, and curriculum innovation across Africa, Europe, South Asia, and North America. Renowned for empowering teachers in underserved settings, cultivating learner-focused classrooms, and creating engaging instructional materials that reach students from all sociocultural backgrounds. Passionate champion of education access and equity, with a proven track record supporting English language learners from pre-K to adults in both traditional and alternative environments. Demonstrated cross-cultural leadership and institutional growth skills, driving sustainable, community-rooted education in close alignment with VSO’s mission in Uzbekistan.
Professional educator with deep expertise in language instruction and curriculum development. Proven ability to engage students, foster inclusive learning environment, and drive academic success. Strong emphasis on teamwork and adaptability to meet evolving educational needs. Skilled in lesson planning, classroom management, and utilizing innovative teaching methods. Reliable, results-driven, and collaborative.
Overview
4
4
Languages
1
1
Certification
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
English Language Teacher (Volunteer)
The Welcome Project
Somerville, MA, USA
11.2025 - Current
- Empowered immigrant and refugee adult learners in Level 4 and Parents' English classes, enhancing real-world communication skills and fostering community engagement.
- Designed culturally sensitive, student-centred lesson plans, accommodating diverse language backgrounds to improve learner engagement.
- Developed and adapted learning content tailored for adult English language learners with limited formal education, promoting effective language acquisition.
Special Education Teacher
Arlington Public Schools
Arlington, MA, USA
11.2024 - Current
- Co-taught in inclusive 4th and 5th-grade classrooms, differentiating English language and literacy instruction to meet diverse learner needs.
- Utilized data-driven progress monitoring and developmentally appropriate practices, enhancing student academic performance.
- Created interactive, student-centered environments, fostering learning confidence and promoting sociocultural belonging.
Founder, Education Consultant & Learning Coach
DevNexus Learning (formerly When Kids Teach)
Mount Pocono, PA to Arlington, MA, USA
03.2020 - Current
- Successfully supported struggling learners by operating a virtual English learning platform, delivering effective small-group and individualized online sessions with measurable academic growth using learner-centered, evidence-based approaches.
- Developed educational policy strategies to secure donor support for refugee youth education in African host countries.
- Collaborated with tutoring agencies and cyber schools to design and deliver blended learning experiences that enhanced student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Develop educational policy strategies for donor support to refugee youth education in African host countries.
Director, Instructional Design (School-to-Home Connection)
NewGlobe
Cambridge, MA, USA
09.2023 - 06.2024
- Directed strategic design and successful rollout of a school-to-home English literacy program in government and community primary schools across Africa and South Asia, directly improving teacher capacity and learner outcomes in under-resourced settings.
- Developed first integrated academic content for kindergarten through primary school learners, aligning with national curricula and sociocultural contexts to enhance educational relevance.
- Managed and mentored 10-person Delhi-based team to create home-learning, technology-integrated resources tailored to sociocultural contexts, increasing learner engagement and resource accessibility.
- Collaborated with education directors across multiple countries to integrate learner-centred, culturally responsive practices, promoting inclusive educational environments.
Teacher, Pre-K–12 & Special Education
Pocono Mountain School District
Swiftwater, PA, USA
10.2014 - 01.2022
- Taught English Language Arts and content subjects across multiple grade levels in diverse, inclusive classrooms, utilizing personal knowledge and electronic resources to provide a global perspective.
- Designed individualized learning plans and literacy interventions; supported students with special needs.
- Advocated for learning success of English Language and immigrant learners through the infusion of assistive technologies and other best-practice models for teaching nonnative English-speaking learners.
- Collaborated with teaching teams to create engaging, inclusive environments and develop curriculum materials that supported diverse learning needs.
Consultant
Wholesome Consulting
Kampala, Uganda & PA, USA
08.2010 - 01.2017
- Enhanced educator management capacities in institutional development, resource mobilization, and teacher recruitment, contributing to improved educational outcomes.
- Secured funding and awarded scholarships for early childhood teacher training for young women in rural Uganda, increasing access to professional development and expanding the local educational workforce.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance client engagement and satisfaction.
- Developed and implemented process improvements to optimize operational efficiency.
- Facilitated workshops to identify client needs and tailor solutions accordingly.
Training & Research Consultant
Advocates Coalition for Development and the Environment
Kampala, Uganda
04.2012 - 11.2013
- Developed training materials and facilitated community health monitoring and evaluation programs to enhance health outcomes in underserved communities.
- Conducted comprehensive research to support policy recommendations and advocacy initiatives.
- Analyzed data trends to inform environmental sustainability strategies and community development projects.
- Developed and presented findings to stakeholders, enhancing engagement and decision-making processes.
Education
Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy - International Affairs
The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University
USA01-2005
BSc in Special Education with Early Childhood (Dual Certification) - Early Childhood Special Education
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, USA12-2019
BA in Sociology & Geography - Minor in French
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda01-1998
Skills
- English language expertise
- Learner-centered pedagogy
- Curriculum development specialist
- Curriculum design innovator
- Student evaluation
- Academic vocabulary instruction
- Learner engagement strategies
- Learner needs assessment
- EdTech integration skills
- Culturally responsive communication
- Teacher training leadership
- Empowering English learners
Accomplishments
- Improved through effectively supporting 10 adult English language learners from multilingual backgrounds in their first three months language training
- Achieved outstanding reviews from students in both adult and elementary classrooms for transformative teaching support.
Affiliations
Somerville Road Runners
Comrades Marathon (USA)
Certification
- Early Childhood Teacher Certification, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PreK–4) | 2021
- Youth Mental Health First Aid | Arlington Public Schools | 2025
- QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program | East Stroudsburg University | 2019
LANGUAGES
English (Native)
Luganda (Native)
French (Intermediate)
Swahili (Basic)
Interests
- Participating in cultural exchange programs and homestays
- Volunteer Travel
- Documenting and sharing travel experiences
- Backpacking and Hiking
- Volunteering for community initiatives to give back to local communities and make a positive impact
- Adventure Travel
- Exploring famous landmarks, historical sites, and cultural attractions in a new destination
Timeline
English Language Teacher (Volunteer)
The Welcome Project
11.2025 - Current
Special Education Teacher
Arlington Public Schools
11.2024 - Current
Director, Instructional Design (School-to-Home Connection)
NewGlobe
09.2023 - 06.2024
Founder, Education Consultant & Learning Coach
DevNexus Learning (formerly When Kids Teach)
03.2020 - Current
Teacher, Pre-K–12 & Special Education
Pocono Mountain School District
10.2014 - 01.2022
Training & Research Consultant
Advocates Coalition for Development and the Environment
04.2012 - 11.2013
Consultant
Wholesome Consulting
08.2010 - 01.2017
Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy - International Affairs
The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University
BSc in Special Education with Early Childhood (Dual Certification) - Early Childhood Special Education
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
BA in Sociology & Geography - Minor in French
Makerere University
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Sockman, B.R., & Lwanga, D. (2023). Teachers' stories of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in becoming an innovative teacher facilitator. Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning, 15(1), 31–56.
- Lwanga, D. Ed. (2019). Don't judge a book by its cover! Studentreasures Publishing. [Children's book, published with student co-authors]
- Poster: 'Can video technology intervention enhance reading fluency among struggling learners?' NCDC International Conference on Curriculum Development, Kampala, Uganda, April 2023
- Workshop: 'Academic Writing and Study Skills,' Cavendish University–Uganda, 2022