Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leading with Compassion: The Power of Self-Knowledge in Education

11 August 2025

In the journey of educational leadership, one of the most vital foundations is a deep understanding of oneself. Effective leaders in schools recognise…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Rewiring Team Dynamics: What Leadership Really Means in 2025

11 August 2025

I recently worked with a senior team in a premium school that had slipped into unhelpful habits. Their meetings were efficient but shallow, and their…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Embedding Leadership in the Curriculum: Why and How It Should Be Assessed

11 August 2025

Despite the growing consensus that leadership is a critical life skill, most schools still treat it as peripheral, offered through extracurricular…

Learning Environment

GESS Talks Webinar 36 - Exploring opportunities in the K-12 Sector in Saudi

This insightful webinar delves into the dynamic landscape of the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Our panel of school leaders provide you with…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

From Fog to Focus: The Role of Singular Strategy for International Schools

03 July 2024

Our team has completed hundreds of strategy projects with schools.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

What Can Schools Learn From Startups? 4 Key Lessons

01 July 2024

It's not just about refining the curriculum and pedagogy; we must also rethink the very framework of how schools operate.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Purposeful teams, prosperous schools

08 April 2024

A school leadership team can make or break a school...

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Misk Schools Integrated Leadership Curriculum Q&A with Dr Steffen

03 January 2024

Misk Schools Integrated Leadership Curriculum Q&A with Dr Steffen Sommer, Director General

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Inclusive Educational Leadership: Fostering Equity and Excellence in

16 November 2023

Inclusive Educational Leadership: Fostering Equity and Excellence in Schools

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

The Benefits of Compassionate Leadership

10 October 2023

The Benefits of Compassionate Leadership

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Bridging the Gap in Education: How Education Leaders can Uplift the

20 April 2023

Here are some of their suggestions on how leaders can strengthen the region’s learning eco-system.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Identity Development for Equity

19 April 2023

Equity work is not a ‘one and done’

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

"University is where we go to learn about ourselves and the world

19 April 2023

The landscape of higher education itself has become increasingly competitive

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

EQ – an essential element of strong school leadership

19 April 2023

EQ – an essential element of strong school leadership

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Effective School Leaders - Creating and Sustaining a Positive School

18 April 2023

School leadership is essential in creating a thriving learning environment.

Leadership Strategy and Skills

GESS Talks Webinar 16 - Being a school leader in the Middle East

This webinar explores the unique opportunities and challenges faced by education leaders in the Middle East.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leadership Strategies and Skills

17 April 2023

Take Me To Your Agile Leader!

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Developing leadership skills in students

12 April 2023

“Leaders are born, not made”

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

Breaking Barriers with Social Media Storytelling in Education

11 April 2023

schools must focus on purpose, authenticity, and sustainable storytelling

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Webinar 16 - Being a school leader in the Middle East

09 April 2023

We're pleased to announce our upcoming webinar on leading schools in the Middle East which takes place on Monday, 17 April at 16:00 GST/UAE, 13:00…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leading in a changing world

05 April 2023

As an educationalist, it is essential to believe in diversity.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leadership and trust

04 April 2023

Trust is key to a healthy culture – the beating heart of every school.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

How to build a great school leadership team

03 April 2023

It is amazing how much easier it is to make decisions when you have clear, visible values

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Learning Environment Wellbeing

Effective Performance Management Conversations

20 December 2022

Employee conversations play an important part in every effective people strategy.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Indonesia Looks To Strengthen Education Diplomacy With Kenya

19 December 2022

The six-member delegation includes UNY Chancellor Prof. Sumaryanto, Ph.D., Vice-Chancellor Prof. Siswantoyo Ph.D.Read the full article at:…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

British Council Hosts 42 School Leaders From MENA In The UK

08 December 2022

ATo discuss innovation in education leadership.Read the full article at: www.zawya.com

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Sierra Leone’s President Defends Large Education Budget As ‘Necessary Risk’

01 December 2022

Julius Maada Bio says 22% allocation of total government funding is needed to ensure all children can go to school.Read the full article at:…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Emirati Students Thriving As Dubai Schools Begins New School Year With

04 November 2022

Dubai Schools is a new model of schools built upon a private and public partnership Academic excellence and cultural preservation.Read the full…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Keeping a Professional Learning Journal

24 September 2022

What is a professional learning journal and why is it so important to keep one?

Leadership Strategy and Skills

GESS Talks Webinar 11 - Promoting and Ensuring Quality Practice in the

The latest GESS Talks webinar focussed on the vital elements that should be considered in Early Years care and education today.

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Future Leaders Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media Wellbeing

GESS Talks Webinar 11 - Promoting and Ensuring Quality Practice in the

08 September 2022

We're pleased to announce our latest webinar that will run on 21 September 2022 and examine the vital elements that should be considered in Early…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Wellbeing

Positive people management strategies

01 September 2022

Creating positive relationships, a supportive environment and a sense of belonging are all key.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Working towards outstanding from the start

29 August 2022

Outstanding teaching makes for outstanding learning. How can your school or nursery achieve such ratings from the get go? Here are some tips.

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Coaching / CPD Leadership Strategy and Skills Wellbeing

When Kids Are Grieving and Behind Academically, Quality Conversation is the

17 August 2022

Social-emotional learning is seen as nice, at times even urgent, but hard to find the time for. It's a dilemma, however, that shouldn’t exist.

Leadership Strategy and Skills Learning Environment

GESS Talks Webinar 10 - The evolution of education; are we facing a future

This webinar brought together innovative educators and leaders at the forefront of the education evolution.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Wellbeing

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

13 June 2022

Positive reinforcement is a superior technique for maintaining order and establishing a conducive learning environment.

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Future Leaders Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media Wellbeing

GESS Talks Webinar 10 - The evolution of education; are we facing a future

06 June 2022

We're pleased to announce our latest webinar that will run on 14 June 2022 and discuss how the evolution of education is impacting educators' roles.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

Save the Date for IPSEF Global

30 March 2022

GESS is proud to support the one-day event running on the 30th of June 2022 in London.

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Future Leaders Leadership Strategy and Skills

Introducing the T4 Insights Panel

23 March 2022

T4 Education exists to support teachers and schools as agents of change and in two years, they've developed a truly global community of educators.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

School Visits - a professional development tool

09 March 2022

When we think of continuous professional development for teachers, learning through school visits is a must.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Developing reading in the early years

21 February 2022

One of the most lasting ways EY practitioners can impact childrens' overall success and joy is by instilling in them a love and passion for reading.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Top Reasons to Attend the Middle East School Leadership Conference

08 February 2022

GESS is proud to be a partner and a supporter of the Middle East School Leadership Conference, being held in-person and online, from 1-2 March 2022.

STEM Wellbeing Leadership Strategy and Skills

GESS Dubai 2021 - Show Video

Take a look at some of action from onsite at GESS Dubai 2021, the leading Education Conference & Exhibition in the MENA region.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Learning Environment

You’ve Identified the Gaps, What Do You Do Now?

31 January 2022

When talking about learning gaps, it’s important to understand how they form.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Special Education Needs – 4 things We Can Do Differently In 2022

18 January 2022

Let us keep sincere our sensitivity to students' diversity and our motivation high, to provide meaningful opportunities for SEN students in the new…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Wellbeing

Celebrating Small Successes and Watch Your Learners Grow

04 January 2022

Celebrating success is a great way to boost motivation, confidence and class morale.

Leadership Strategy and Skills

GESS Talks @ GESS Dubai 2021: Dr. Saima Rana, Principal & CEO, GEMS

We caught up with GEMS Modern Academy Principal, Dr. Saima Rana at the Leadership Stream at GESS Dubai to hear more about the importance of global…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

10 Career Habits to Master

18 October 2021

Developing your professional skills is something that never stops, it should continue to happen throughout the entirety of your career.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Wellbeing

How will you handle another disrupted school year?

19 September 2021

2020 was the year we did the best we could in an impossible situation. 2021 is poised to be the moment countries turn the page and double down on…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

The Importance of Building Skills

04 August 2021

This global pandemic has thrown the world into a confused disruption. But what impact has this had on your future career plans, growth plans…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Lifting the lid on student potential

01 August 2021

“All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop those talents.” John F Kennedy

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

The MENA education sector: A blueprint for success

04 July 2021

Taking place on 14 July 2021, 14:00 BST/UK and targeting education suppliers, this webinar will provide key insight into the MENA region's education…

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Learning Environment Leadership Strategy and Skills

Sustainability in Schools – Going Beyond Green

29 June 2021

Have we truly changed the understanding of what sustainability means and looked beyond the easy wins to tackle the tough but necessary changes…

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Distance / Remote Learning Future Leaders Leadership Strategy and Skills

School year reflection 2020-2021

24 June 2021

As we draw this academic school year to a close, it seems more accurate to say that this has been a challenging year for all, rather than most.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Why 2021 will be all about The Stockdale Paradox

22 June 2021

Schools need to keep optimism and reality in balance this year but trust a better future awaits.

Future Leaders Leadership Strategy and Skills

GESS Talks Webinar 6 - Building a successful roadmap for the next academic

This webinar featured school leaders from the GCC region who reflected on the current academic year that is coming to a close and more importantly…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Webinar: Building a successful roadmap for the next academic year

14 June 2021

Taking place on 21 June 2021, 16:00 GST / UAE, this webinar sponsored by Wonde will feature school leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

End of year—a time to reflect, review and celebrate

13 June 2021

There has never been a year like this one and the past few weeks have certainly provided an opportunity for reflection, celebration and looking…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

TVET: Key Lessons on Effective Higher Education Leadership During the

08 June 2021

These are disruptive times and technical training institution leaders, like the rest, need to navigate new pathways.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leveraging a Global Network of Schools in a Pandemic and Building a Culture

06 June 2021

To navigate uncertainty, school leaders must remain true to their institution's mission and core values while also being agile to respond and pivot…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

An Australian educational network talks about leadership in rapid digital

02 June 2021

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) is an organisation responsible for delivering services, programs and resources to more than 77,000 students…

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Edtech Leadership Strategy and Skills Future Leaders

Technology Integration as a Vehicle on the Journey Toward Improved Teaching

01 June 2021

EdTech is ubiquitous in education, especially considering much of the education realm is still adapting to the paradigm shift that the pandemic…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Future Leaders

Early Years Leadership in Challenging Times

28 April 2021

The past year has meant great change EY but it showed the resilience and the necessity of knowledgeable adults and a supportive team.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Future Leaders

Building leadership in the classroom

28 April 2021

Every school should have at least one class that brings to the forefront each student's leadership ability and helps to improve and develop it.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Connecting Your Influence and your WHY for Impact on Student Learning and

28 April 2021

Leadership comes in all shapes, sizes and generates a great deal of discussion inside and outside Education.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Future Leaders

The Cage Free Leader

27 April 2021

Leadership is not self-serving; it is the opposite and should always free people to be the best versions of themselves.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leadership Goals: Promoting More Inclusion at Our Schools

08 April 2021

SEN students have been among the hardest hit groups during the pandemic. More inclusive school policies are needed to help them overcome the learning…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Everyone Has Leadership Potential

06 April 2021

What are the 7 most common leadership styles and how can you find your own?

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

School Leadership in Times of Crisis

04 April 2021

New thinking driven by strong leadership is needed if we are to create more inclusive, equitable systems that can promote quality education for every…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

The way ahead for the EY sector; global influences on change and their

Worldwide the pandemic and the subsequent necessary home schooling focus has raised awareness of the great job that all teachers are doing and the…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Introducing the School Leader Inventory

This presentation will introduce the School Leader Inventory (SLi) and explain how this new research-based framework identifies core behaviours for…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

How international schools are differentiating themselves and how to partner

The competition between international schools, particularly in some global cities, is now intense. As a result, schools are identifying niche…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Make your school World Class by focusing on the Learning Sciences

We used to think that only a proportion of students could be cognitively successful - but now we know better. In the best schools everyone achieves…

VR, AI and AR Edtech Leadership Strategy and Skills

Keynote: Teaching for tomorrow: unlocking your superpowers through

One might say that ideally, the role of education should be to skill up children to flourish in later life. To create learning environments in which…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

A conversation to explore our learnings in international educational

Dr. Helen Wright, International Education Advisor - Executive Leadership Coach Alex McGrath, Founder - Castlegate Education

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Keynote: The education Exchange - Why independence in our classrooms starts

Gavin McCormack will explore how the revolution in education starts from putting independence at the forefront of every learning outcome.

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Global Viewpoints: How Covid has changed International School Recruitment

This session explores the impact that the pandemic has had on teacher recruitment by international schools.

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Fireside chat with Brendan Law - Director General of Misk Schools

Brendan is an inspiring educational leader with over 35 years of international experience. He believes in child-centred learning and is strongly…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leveraging a Global Network of Schools During a Pandemic & Building a

Dr. Blake Spahn leads operations of all Dwight Schools globally (New York, London, Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, Dwight Global Online School). His strategic…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Guiding your school to world class outcomes

The session covered a range of topics to help guide leaders and teachers towards providing world class education. Much of the discussion highlighted…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leading schools in challenging times – An international perspective

Hear from global leaders in education as they share their experiences and knowledge in leading schools during difficult times.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

A new lineup of speakers announced for GESS Education Global Leadership

03 March 2021

The expert speakers, coming from Denmark, Finland, Romania, UAE, UK and USA, will share global educational perspectives at the summit (23 - 24 March…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

Applications to attend GESS Education Global Leadership Summit now open

22 February 2021

Attending is free for members of GESS Leaders in Education while a nominal fee of USD $95 will apply for other applicants who are not.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

Eight new speakers confirmed for GESS Education Global Leadership Summit

17 February 2021

The speakers, coming from Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, UAE and UK will share best practices in live panel discussions on the 23rd and 24th of March.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

New confirmed speakers for GESS Education Global Leadership Summit

10 February 2021

The eight new confirmed education experts will partake in live panel discussions on the 23rd and 24th of March at the must-attend leadership summit.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

Keynote speakers confirmed for GESS Education Global Leadership Summit

02 February 2021

Four world-renowned keynote speakers will deliver live sessions on the 23rd and 24th of March to engage and inspire you.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Marketing / Social Media

GESS Education Global Leadership Summit - 23 - 24 March 2021

02 February 2021

The two day virtual conference, running from 23 - 24 March 2021, is free to attend and exclusively for leaders in education.

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Marketing / Social Media Leadership Strategy and Skills

GESS Education Global Leadership Summit to be held on 23 - 24 March 2021

26 January 2021

The virtual event will be exclusive for leaders in education and feature world-renowned keynote speakers and leading global education professionals.

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Distance / Remote Learning Edtech Leadership Strategy and Skills

Making Hybrid Learning Work

13 December 2020

Schools in the UAE are about to return to a brave new landscape of education. With students returning to campuses for the first time in six months.

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Edtech Wellbeing Leadership Strategy and Skills

Getting the most out of Seesaw during Distance Learning

11 December 2020

From logistics, systems and the wellbeing of staff & students, the shift to distance learning has created huge uncertainty for educators.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Dubai can show the world how schools need to be reopened

11 December 2020

Schools in Dubai continue to excel in their distance learning provision relative to their peers across other cities.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills Wellbeing

Preparing to Start University

11 December 2020

Moving to university is a big step for a student and also their parents.

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Edtech Distance / Remote Learning Leadership Strategy and Skills

Remembering our online learning context

11 December 2020

Much like living in isolation during a global pandemic, learning is abstract, challenging and relies heavily on effective communication.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leading with Compassion, Empathy, and Understanding

08 December 2020

While the world grapples with a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, we also find ourselves facing up to some difficult conversations about how…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Principals in UAE schools hope CBSE will soon announce Class 10 & 12

06 December 2020

Amid speculation board exams may be delayed, UAE schools not leaving anything to chance.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Leading High Performance Teams – Building Trust

06 December 2020

Recently I was asked a question on what I thought “high performance” meant to me and how I would define it.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Beyond Reopening Schools - Recap From A Bahraini International

05 December 2020

After a different first term in the wake outbreak of Coronavirus our top priority was the health and safety of our students.

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Edtech Leadership Strategy and Skills Learning Environment

WiFi, Plug Sockets and the importance of Digital Governance

04 December 2020

Whilst schools should indeed focus on what is happening right now, provision should be made for what comes next.

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

Creative Leadership: Can We Transform the Future Of Education?

04 December 2020

“The most common way people give their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” Alice Walker

Edtech VR, AI and AR Leadership Strategy and Skills

Education Pandemic – Is there a cure? Is it time to stop taking risks?

This presentation discusses the current challenges of today's education systems, our education pandemic, and discuss some of the changes which need to…

Edtech Leadership Strategy and Skills

Ensuring an Equitable and Flexible Digital Strategy

Digital strategies typically lend themselves to pace setters within an organisation, this talk looks at how your strategy can improve efficiency and…

Edtech Leadership Strategy and Skills Distance / Remote Learning

Navigating a School Through a Pandemic: A Live Case Study

What it takes to be a school leader during a crisis: the talk will focus on how school leaders need to be brave yet empathetic when faced with a…

Edtech Leadership Strategy and Skills

Creative Leadership: A Leadership Mindset For a Complex World

This session highlights a leadership model that is based on respect, the orientation of technology solutions, engagement, effectively harness of…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

How to Leverage Leadership

Gaylord’s session examines seven highly effective, research- based ways to leverage teacher and administrator leadership to achieve high achievement…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Plan and design an outstanding international primary school from scratch

Plan and design an outstanding international primary school from scratch looking at the pedagogy, a creative curriculum, the facilities, the…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Positioning Yourself for a School Leadership Role

Dr. Helen Wright is a highly experienced International Education Advisor who challenges and coaches leaders and schools around the world to think and…

Wellbeing Leadership Strategy and Skills

The Heart of Education: How to create a culture of positivity in the

Teachers and parents have a great influence to empower or discourage young minds. Self-esteem is built through positive relationships, which in turn…

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Leadership Strategy and Skills

UAE has set the global benchmark on the reopening of schools

02 November 2020

On June 22nd, the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates declared the protocols for reopening schools in the country. I can end this piece…

Leadership Strategy and Skills Distance / Remote Learning

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