FIZA IQBAL PATHAN

Teaching Portfolio

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Accomplished educator with 14 years of teaching experience in English Language, English Literature, and History. BA B.Ed. qualified with First Class honors, specializing in History, Sociology and English, currently completing PGCITE certification for international curricula (PYP, MYP, IGCSE, IBDP, AS & A Level). Award-winning published author of 18 books with over 70 international literary awards. Proven ability to inspire critical thinking, creativity, and academic excellence in diverse student populations. Recipient of The Examiner’s Bronze Pen Award 2024 in recognition of literary and journalistic achievements.

EDUCATION

Post Graduate Certificate in International Teacher Education (PGCITE)

Podar International School, Mumbai | January 2025 Batch (Completed with top grades: December 2025)

• Qualified to teach English, History, and Global Perspectives at the PYP, MYP, IGCSE, AS & A Level, and IBDP; Individuals & Societies MYP (Grades 6 and 7); Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and CAS at the IBDP
• Completed 180 lesson observations across diverse subjects and grade levels as of October 21, 2025
• Teaching portfolio: https://fizapathansteachingportfolioforpgcite.com/
• Content examinations: English PYP and MYP completed. Secured 88/100 in English PYP and 84/100 in English MYP; additional exams (IGCSE, IBDP, AS & A Level) in progress
• Lessons completed:

○ IBDP – English: Han Kang’s Human Acts: Analysis of Biblical Allusions and Existentialist Themes | Grade: O (Outstanding)

○ IBDP – History: The Chinese Civil War | Grade: O (Outstanding)

○ MYP – Individuals & Societies: The Empire Builders: Greek and Roman Civilization | Grade: O (Outstanding)

Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

Pontifex University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA | In Progress (Asynchronous online)

• Interdisciplinary theological research enhancing pedagogical depth

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) – First Class

St. Teresa’s Institute of Education, Mumbai | University of Mumbai | 2011 (66%)

• Specializations: History and English
• Honours Programme Certification (Grade B)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History – First Class

St. Andrew’s College, Mumbai | University of Mumbai | 2010 (62%)

• Major: History | Major: Sociology
• Certificate Award for securing the highest marks in Hindi at the HSC Examination 2007
• Academic Scholarships: Rui Smith Scholarship (Hindi, 2008), Mikhail Gorbachev Scholarship (History, 2009), Mercy Raj Memorial Scholarship (History, 2009)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teacher – English Language, English Literature & History

Lilavatibai Podar Senior Secondary School (ICSE) | 2011–2012

• Grade Levels: 9th and 10th
• Designed and delivered engaging lessons in English Language, English Literature, and History
• Developed assessment tools and evaluated student performance
• Participated in curriculum planning and staff development programs
• Mentored students in academic and personal development

Private Tutorial Services (Self-Employed)

Mumbai, India | 2012 – Present (14 years)

• Provide individualized instruction in English Language, English Literature, and History to ICSE and ISC students (Grades 7–12)
• Develop customized lesson plans tailored to individual learning styles and academic goals
• Consistently achieve strong student outcomes with improved grades and conceptual understanding
• Foster critical thinking skills through analytical discussions and research-based assignments

PUBLICATIONS & LITERARY ACHIEVEMENTS

Founder & Publisher | Fiza Pathan Publishing (OPC) Private Limited

2016 – Present

• Published 18 books under the imprint Freedom With Pluralism®
• Specialization: Original fiction, essays, and abridged classics for children aged 7–12
• Books available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.org
• Company website: www.fizapathanpublishing.us

Selected Books & Major Awards

Book Title	Major Awards	Year
Classics: Why and How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them	• Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal (Education) • Literary Classics Gold Medal • CIPA EVVY Gold Award • Global Ebook Gold Award	2017
The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name	• Digital Book World Winner (Short Stories) • Digital Book World Finalist (Social Issues) • IAN Book of the Year Winner (LGBTQ) • Global Ebook Silver Medal (LGBT) • Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist	2018
Scenes of a Reclusive Writer & Reader of Mumbai	• DBW Award Finalist (Non-Fiction) • Writer’s Digest Honorable Mention • Wishing Shelf Red Ribbon	2020
NIRMALA: The Mud Blossom	• New Apple Medalist Winner • Pinnacle Book Achievement Award • Next Generation Indie Finalist	2014
Amina: The Silent One	• Reader Views Global Award (Asia) • Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal • Beverly Hills Book Award Winner	2016
Someone Is Burning My Lord, Kumbaaya	• Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist (Juvenile/Y.A.)	2021

Additional Books: 8 abridged classics for children including CARMILLA, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Through the Looking-Glass, Daddy-Long-Legs, The Diary of a Nobody, The Canterville Ghost, and Rip Van Winkle (all with illustrator Farzana Cooper)

Total Literary Recognitions: Over 70 awards and finalist positions across international literary competitions

The Examiner’s Bronze Pen Award 2024

Inaugural recipient in recognition of journalistic and literary achievements as a young Catholic writer (The Examiner is a reputed Catholic newsweekly of India, celebrating 175 years)

Contributing Writer

• The Examiner (Catholic newsweekly) – Regular contributor for 16 years
• Indian Catholic Matters (ICM) – Theological articles and book reviews
• The Teenager Today (St. Pauls Congregation) – Educational articles
• Personal Blog: insaneowl.com – Over 180 short story analyses since 2012

Blog Academic Recognition – Cited by Universities:

• Government Arts and Science College, Sivakasi (Madurai Kamaraj University)
• Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu
• Crescent Institute of Science & Technology
• IIS (Deemed to be University), Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar’s Senthikumara Nadar College
• University of Madras, Chennai
• Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

PGCITE-Qualified Subjects:

• English, History, and Global Perspectives (PYP, MYP, IGCSE, AS & A Level, IBDP); Individuals & Societies MYP (Grades 6 and 7); Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and CAS at the IBDP

Additional Subjects Offered:

• AS & A Level Humanities: Sociology, Psychology, Religious Studies/Divinity/Theology, Global Perspectives & Research, Thinking Skills
• IBDP Group 3 (Individuals & Societies): Global Politics (HL/SL), Psychology (HL/SL), Social and Cultural Anthropology (HL/SL), Philosophy (HL/SL), World Religions, Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS)

Core Teaching Competencies:

• Differentiated Instruction and Student-Centered Learning
• Critical Thinking & Research Skills Development
• Assessment Design & Formative Evaluation
• Creative Writing Instruction & Literary Analysis
• Public Speaking & Presentation Skills (trained under Fr. Frank Menezes)
• Digital Literacy: Portfolio development, online teaching methodologies
• Interdisciplinary Teaching: Connecting literature, history, sociology, and theology

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Lesson Observations: 180 observations completed across various subjects (English, Biology, Economics, French, Physics, Art, Mathematics, Computer Science, Hindi, History, Music, Spanish, ICT) and curricula (PYP, MYP, IBDP, IGCSE, AS/A Level) as of October 21, 2025
• Action Research: “Balancing Pedagogical Effectiveness with Classroom Management in IB/IGCSE Contexts: A Literature-Based Theoretical Approach”
• TOK Research: “The Ontology of the Soul in Dracula: Materialism vs. Spiritualism in Victorian Gothic Fiction”
• Micro-Teaching Sessions: Conducted as part of PGCITE program with peer feedback
• Content Examinations: English (PYP, MYP completed with 88/100 and 84/100 respectively); English, History, Global Perspectives, IGCSE, IBDP, AS & A Level (in progress)

NEP 2020: INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS (IKS) – SELECTED CHOICES

As part of the PGCITE program’s alignment with NEP 2020 guidelines, demonstrated familiarity with Indian Knowledge Systems through selected areas of study:

CATEGORY 1: ANCIENT INDIAN PHILOSOPHY & TEXTS

Vedic Literature:

1. The Four Vedas

• Rigveda (hymns, prayers)

• Yajurveda (rituals, sacrificial formulas)

• Samaveda (melodies, chants)

• Atharvaveda (spells, everyday life)

• Brahmanas (ritual explanations and meanings)
• Aranyakas (forest treatises, philosophical sections)
• Upanishads (Philosophical texts, 108+ Upanishads)

• Major ones: Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka

• Vedangas (Six limbs of the Vedas):

• Shiksha (phonetics, pronunciation)

• Kalpa (rituals, ceremonies)

• Vyakarana (grammar – Panini’s Ashtadhyayi)

• Nirukta (etymology)

• Chandas (prosody, metrics)

• Jyotisha (astronomy, astrology)

Epic Literature:

• Mahabharata

• Main epic narrative

• Bhagavad Gita (philosophical dialogue)

• Anugita (post-war teachings)

• Shanti Parva, Anushasana Parva (wisdom sections)

• Ramayana

• Valmiki’s version

• Regional versions (Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas, Kamba Ramayanam, etc.)

• Puranas (18 Mahapuranas + 18 Upapuranas)

• Includes Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, etc.

Darshanas (Six Systems of Indian Philosophy):

• Nyaya (Logic, epistemology – Gautama’s Nyaya Sutras)
• Vaisheshika (Atomism, metaphysics – Kanada’s Vaisheshika Sutras)
• Samkhya (Dualism, cosmology – Kapila’s philosophy)
• Yoga (Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – 8-limbed path)
• Mimamsa (Vedic exegesis, ritual philosophy – Jaimini’s Mimamsa Sutras)
• Vedanta (End of Vedas, Upanishadic philosophy)

• Advaita Vedanta (Adi Shankaracharya – non-dualism)

• Vishishtadvaita (Ramanuja – qualified non-dualism)

• Dvaita (Madhvacharya – dualism)

Heterodox Systems:

1. Buddhist Philosophy

• Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures)

• Madhyamaka (Nagarjuna)

• Yogachara

• Zen, Theravada, Mahayana traditions

1. Jain Philosophy

• Jain Agamas

• Anekantavada (multiple viewpoints)

• Syadvada (conditional predication)

• Tattvartha Sutra

1. Charvaka / Lokayata (Materialist philosophy – Brihaspati)

Devotional Literature:

1. Bhakti Movement Texts

• Works of Kabir, Mirabai, Tukaram, Surdas, Tulsidas

• Alvars and Nayanars poetry (Tamil)

• Regional devotional literature

1. Sufi Literature (Indian Sufism)

• Amir Khusrau

• Bulleh Shah

• Sufi poetry and philosophy

CATEGORY 13: EDUCATION SYSTEMS

103. Gurukula System (Ancient education)

104. Nalanda University (History and curriculum)

105. Takshashila University (History and subjects taught)

106. Vikramashila University

107. Ancient Indian Pedagogy

CATEGORY 7: ETHICS, LAW & SOCIAL SYSTEMS

• Dharma Shastras (Legal and ethical texts)

• Manusmriti

• Yajnavalkya Smriti

• Narada Smriti

• Parasara Smriti

• Nitishastra (Ethics texts)

• Chanakya Niti

• Vidura Niti

• Panchatantra (moral stories)

• Hitopadesha

• Kama Sutra (Vatsyayana – not just about sex! Broader life philosophy, aesthetics, relationships)

CATEGORY 2: STATECRAFT, GOVERNANCE & POLITICS

• Arthashastra (Kautilya/Chanakya)

CATEGORY 3: LITERATURE, POETRY & DRAMA

Regional Literature:

• Hindi Literature (Bhakti poets, Premchand, modern Hindi writers)

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP

• Sunday School Teacher, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Bandra
• Archdiocesan Female Representative for Catholic Youth of Mumbai (2009)
• Deanery Youth Head of Bandra (2008)
• Student Council Member & History Association Head, St. Andrew’s College (2009–2010)
• Paper Presentations: “Student Presentation on East Indians” (Symposium on Bandra), “Hijab” (invited by Principal, St. Andrew’s College)
• Community Service: 20 hours at Urban Community Development Centre (2011)
• Extension Work: 120+ hours in Information Technology, Entrepreneurship, Career Guidance, Women Empowerment, Population Education (2010–2011)

ONLINE PRESENCE & PORTFOLIO

• Teaching Portfolio: https://fizapathansteachingportfolioforpgcite.com/
• Personal Website: https://fizapathan.com/
• Blog: https://insaneowl.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiza-pathan-61975665/
• Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.in/Fiza-Pathan/e/B0091BCNTU/

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