Founding School Principal
American School of Ahmadi
Total years of experience :26 years, 3 Months
Founded new American International School opened in Sep 2018 for PK-Grade 5
Founded a new Islamic School that follows US common core standards/Kuwait Arabic curriculum. Responsible for 100+ staff, 470 students from PK-Grade 7
● Established a leading school with an enrolment of 280 students in its opening year, and increasing to 470 students by the 3rd year of operation
● Responsible for advertising, recruitment and retention of staff
● Developed Staff Handbook, Orientation Guide, Policies and Procedures
● Chair for curriculum development following US Common Core Standards and NGSS
● Procurement of all school materials, resources and furnishings
● Implementing MAP (measure of academic progress) assessments from Grade 1 upwards with continuous assessment of student progress, data driven instruction with teachers
● Developed customised admissions testing
● Whole school scheduling
● Integration of Islamic Values within whole school program
● Establishing IT integration into student learning with elearning, IWB, centers with tablets within Kindergarten. Follett library system, ebooks, Google suite to manage school communication and storage systems, Class Dojo behavior and communication app for all staff and parents. Eportfolios of student progress and learning
● Marketing and raising school profile within the country
● Establishing a department for supporting students with Learning Difficulties which is approved by the Ministry of Education for funded student placements
● Introducing effective programs of learning utilising a variety of resources including: Jolly Phonics, Handwriting without Tears, Go Math, Journeys, Learning Journeys, Science Fusion, OnCore Math, Khan Academy, Holt Math, Starship to English, Learning A-Z programs (Headsprout, RAZ, Science A-Z and Reading A-Z), Elements of Literature
● After-school extra curricula program for academic and recreational activities
● Inter-school competitions participation with winning entries for Ministry of Education Social Studies Drama and Quran competitions and K’s Path as the most active school in Kuwait involved in its Conservation and Education challenges.
● Staff CPD: Delivering workshops to staff including topics such as Tiered Vocabulary and Assessment, Assessing, writing and reviewing progress of IEPs for Students with Learning Differences, Behavior management. Establishing online school program for staff webinars, coordination with professional development opportunities including Gulf University of Science and Technology, Pearsons, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Professional Educators in Kuwait (PEAK) conference, TESOL conference
● Introduced effective campus security access control systems
US common core standards/Kuwait Arabic curriculum
Responsible for 100+ staff, 775 students in the Elementary Division
● Working on accreditation through NEASC and AdvancED
● Implemented MAPs assessments for G3 and up
● Delivered in-service workshops on Developing Oral reading Fluency, Classroom management
● Whole school timetabling
● Implemented strategies to improve student attendance and punctuality
● Reduced Staff Absenteeism
● Teacher Evaluation and Appraisal using Charlotte Danielson protocols
● Implemented Intervention programs - Fastforword, FastMath, Academic support
● Curriculum mapping with Atlas Rubicon
● Reporting progress through Grade Quick and AdminPlus system
● Implemented positive discipline strategies to improve student behavior
US common core standards/Kuwait Arabic curriculum
Responsible for 100+ staff, 775 students in the Elementary Division
● Working on accreditation through NEASC and AdvancED
● Implemented MAPs assessments for G3 and up
● Delivered in-service workshops on Developing Oral reading Fluency, Classroom management
● Whole school timetabling
● Implemented strategies to improve student attendance and punctuality
● Reduced Staff Absenteeism
● Teacher Evaluation and Appraisal using Charlotte Danielson protocols
● Implemented Intervention programs - Fastforword, FastMath, Academic support
● Curriculum mapping with Atlas Rubicon
● Reporting progress through Grade Quick and AdminPlus system
● Implemented positive discipline strategies to improve student behavior
Responsible for 80+ staff, 560 students, duties include:
Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out.
Collaborate with teachers to develop and achieve curriculum standards, assess through APP, SATS and the EYFS portfolio profiles, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives.
Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques, and to determine areas where improvement is needed.
Organize and direct committees of specialists, volunteers, and staff to provide technical and advisory assistance for programmes.
Review and ensure current teaching materials and resources are used. Revise the company produced books to ensure they match curriculum targets.
Collect and analyse survey data, regulatory information, and data on demographic and employment trends to forecast enrolment patterns and curriculum change needs.
Confer, counsel and provide guidance with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavioural or learning problems.
Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment, and authorize purchases.
Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
Develop partnerships with businesses, communities, and other organizations to help meet identified educational needs and to provide school-to-work programs.
Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
Conduct performance appraisals
Prepare and submit budget requests and recommendations
Prepare, maintain, or oversee the preparation and maintenance of attendance, activity, planning, or personnel reports and records. .
Recruitment and retention.
Review and approve programmes
Adhere to Ministry regulations
Write promotional literature about facilities and programmes
American/Kuwaiti Curricula for KG - Grade 7
Responsible for 100+ staff, 700+ students
Responsibilities & Duties included:
▪ Public Relations
▪ Successfully introduced strategy to implement the American Curriculum
▪ Whole school timetabling
▪ Recruitment and Retention
▪ Performance Management
▪ In-service Training
▪ Improved staff attendance and punctuality
▪ Policy creation and implementation
▪ Discipline strategy
England & Wales Curriculum
Responsible for 101 staff, 154 students aged 3 - 18 years
Achievements include:
● Managed the process to gain the Inclusive Quality Mark from UK
● Is reported in an independent inspection report by the Centre for British Teachers as being a ‘highly motivated principal with clear leadership qualities’
● Successfully introduced strategy to implement the England & Wales National Curriculum
● Successfully introduced strategy to implement standardised achievement assessments of students
● Improved staff attendance and punctuality
England & Wales Curriculum
● Established the Work Related Learning Department
● Coordinating the Edexcel Entry Level Skills for Working Life Programme - for students with special needs and/or specific learning difficulties.
● Delivering Health & Safety, Business Administration, Literacy, Personal Presentation, Social skills, and Information Technology units.
● Teaching students with mild/moderate learning disabilities work skills (Catering & Hospitality, Sport & Recreation, Business, Administration and Retail, Office Services and Life Skills)
● Established new Vocational Department and programmes
● Main instigator for gaining centre approval from Edexcel to deliver Entry Level ‘Skills for Working Life’ BTEC programmes from UK
● Performed psychological assessments for special needs students admissions assessments including Stanford Binet, Woodcock Johnson, Raven Progressive Matrices
● Member of ECIS, Assessment and Discipline Committees as well as the PTA
● Delivered in-service staff training
• Taught students with specific speech and language disorders and mild/moderate learning disabilities as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Coordinator of City & guilds Wordpower/Numberpower, ASDAN and Young Enterprise schemes
• Established school bank run by students
• Delivered programmes in Food Hygiene, Driving Theory, Business Enterprise, English and Numeracy
Completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Education at Master's Level. Final award pending dissertation Papers submitted include: • The Effects of ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ (2003) on International Schools in Kuwait, and Implications for Effective Crisis Planning • Cultural Factors Influencing Management Decision-Making in International Schools • What is the Value of Bilingual Special Needs Education in Kuwait? • Critical Review of Weiss, Carol (1995) The Four “I’s” of School Reform: How Interests, Ideology, Information, and Institution Affect Teachers and Principals • Are Bilingual Schools Truly Bilingual?
D32/D33
Honours degree
Art Foundation Certificate. Studies included: Fine Art, Textiles, Ceramics and Sculpture
A' Levels
English Language English Literature Mathematics Chemistry Biology French History Art Textiles