My Story

I’m Zawadi Shannon (but you can call me Ze); an educator, writer, and creative currently living and teaching in Qatar.

I’ve taught in classrooms across the UK, Kenya, and now the Middle East, each experience shaping not only my practice, but my perspective on life, identity, and what it means to teach with purpose far from home.

I’m Black. Plus-sized. Loc’d. Tatted. Pierced. Soft. Spiritual. A little weird (and proud of it). I’m also a wife, a cat and step mama, and someone deeply committed to showing up fully; both in and out of the classroom.

For a long time, I believed I had to shrink parts of myself to fit in, to be taken seriously, to belong, to succeed. But teaching abroad taught me something sacred: you don’t have to become someone else to build a life that fits. You just have to make room for your full self to lead.

That belief is at the heart of The Expat Educator.

This platform is more than a resource hub. It’s a space for international teachers and creatives navigating the complex, beautiful, often uncomfortable journey of living and working overseas. Here, I share practical tools for the classroom, honest reflections on expat life, and insights for teachers who are also seekers of growth, of peace, of something more.

Whether you're in your first year abroad or building a long-term life across borders, you're welcome here.

This isn’t just about teaching.
It’s about becoming.