A Syrian teacher finds fulfilling new work in the United States
One day in 2019, Evon Numan drove past Fontana Adult School (FAS) while taking her daughters to school and felt as if she belonged there. Little did Numan know that feeling would lead her to a journey from student to substitute teacher at the same school that captured her attention.
In her home country of Syria, Numan was an English teacher for 11 years and hoped to continue that work in the U.S.
“I went there to the office, and I asked them for a class to become an interpreter,” Numan says. “Unfortunately, they told me they don’t have Arabic classes because my mother language is Arabic, they told me it’s only for Spanish and English. I was disappointed.”
Then, a college tutor at the school encouraged Numan to take a different path.
“When you set a goal in your mind, just tell yourself, ‘I can do it,’ and you will.”
Evon Nueman, Graduate and Substitute ESL Teacher, Fontana Adult School
“She told me, ‘Why don’t you take the class for paraprofessional? Start with that and go from there,’” Numan says. “I had no idea where to start here to be a teacher again. But I went there and enrolled as a student for paraprofessional.”
Numan excelled in the program, passing all three required tests and earning her paraprofessional certification. Her dedication caught the attention of her teacher, Jessica Perri, who nominated her to become a college tutor at FAS.
“I also took computer classes and worked as an instructional aide at an elementary school, but I kept hours at FAS because I love all of the staff there, I feel like it’s my home,” Numan says.
In addition to working as a tutor, Numan continued pursuing her goal of becoming a teacher, adding that Perri provided her with a book to study for the CBEST, the test required to teach in California.
“I worked and studied, and I felt like I was ready to be a teacher again,” Numan says.
Her hard work paid off. In 2024, Numan began working as a substitute teacher at FAS, teaching ESL classes to students at all levels.
“I feel like the students are part of my life, I want to give them all the information they need,” Numan says. “If they need help, I will help them because someone helped me, and that gives me more motivation to help my students.”
Numan says finding her way back to teaching was a “rollercoaster of emotions,” but is confident others can accomplish similar goals.
“When you set a goal in your mind, just tell yourself, ‘I can do it,’ and you will do it,” Numan says. “All the teachers, the principal, the assistant principal, and the staff, they are ready to help the students, they consider the success of any student as success for themselves.”
Numan’s passion for teaching stems from her lifelong love of English and her desire to inspire others. Today, Numan continues to make an impact at FAS, and hopes to become a full-time teacher in the near future.
“Since I was a student in high school, I loved English,” Numan says. “I had a teacher who motivated me to be an English teacher, I loved her teaching style and how she took care of us. That’s why I wanted to teach.”
To learn more about the Fontana Adult School, visit https://www.fusd.net/adultschool.
Written by Chris Woodard
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| Southern California | Careers in Education |
