Dr. Albert Michael Riskus
Assistant Professor - General Education and Foundation Program
Dr. A. Michael Riskus, Ed.D. has been teaching English for nearly 20 years. He has taught various grade levels ranging from middle school to post-graduate students in the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates. He believes in creating authentic learning experiences for his students and his research interests include collaborative and continuous professional development.
Doctorate of Education in Teaching Innovation and Leadership
• Arizona State University – 2011
• Dissertation – The contribution of professional development to a middle-school team’s collaboration and instructional learning
Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)
• 132 hour course through the British Council
• Certificate conferred December, 2016
• Certificate available upon request
Master of Science in Secondary English Education
• Hofstra University – 2003
• graduated Magna Sum Laude
Arizona Department of Education Certificate
• Secondary Education, 7-12
o English
o Endorsement in Structured English Immersion, K-12
New York Department of Education
• Secondary Education, 7-12
2021-present
Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Assistant Professor
2019-2021
Tsinghua University High School International – Chaoyang, Beijing, P.R. China
ELL & Data Coach
2018-2019
Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
English for Academic Purposes Tutor: Language Center
The Petroleum Institute University and Research Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Senior lecturer of English: Academic Bridge Program.
2011-2013
Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), Al Ain, UAE
English Medium Teacher
2004-2011
Western Sky Middle School, Goodyear, AZ, USA
Teacher, seventh grade English
2005-2011
Education2020, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Virtual Instructor – eleventh grade English
2003-2003
East New York Family Academy, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Teacher – tenth and twelfth grade English
- Teacher Collaboration as a Vehicle for Continuous Professional Development
- mixed methods study investigating how to implement effective collaboration among teachers to drive continuous professional development
- approved for funding of 79,000 aed (21,525USD)
- budget cuts terminated project
- Current projects
- exploratory study on teacher cognitions and motivation to participate in continuous professional development
- study on teacher identity of foundation English Instructors in the UAE
- Research Interests
- the role of PLCs in uniting other PD initiatives
- effective continuous professional development
- implementing effective extensive reading strategies in the ESL classroom
Riskus, M. (2018). A Review of Research Notes, Issue 64: The Impact of Creativity on Teaching Practices. ELT
Research, 33, 38-41.
Jones, R. & Riskus, A. (2017). Extraversion and Introversion in Young Adult ESL Learners. In Educating for Change:
Proceedings of the Asian Conference on Education 2017. (pp. 23-29). Kobe, Japan: International Academic Forum.
Zambo, D. & Riskus, A.M. (2014). Three years out and eight thousand miles away: How action research and support
developed a scholarly and influential practitioner. Journal of Ethical Educational Leadership, 1(9), 1-14. Retrieved from: http://www.cojeel.org.
Riskus, A.M. (2011). The contribution of professional development to a middle-school team’s collaboration and instructional learning (Doctoral Dissertation). Retrieved from ASU Library Digital Repository. (Item No. 9221)
