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In this episode, I sit down with my friend and colleague, Donovan Hall, to have a discussion about his background playing professional rugby and how this led to his trajectory into educational leadership. Donovan is the Director of Educational Technology at The KAUST School in Saudi Arabia and, as you can imagine, was faced with the challenging task of getting the entire organization ready for distance learning during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Once distance learning was up and running, he and his team had to make sure that all stakeholders in the school had the support they needed to do their best work possible.

Donovan shares this experience, what he has learned about himself as a leader, and how he and his team continue to think about the next steps needed to keep the school moving in the right direction. Thank you Donovan for your time and willingness to share your journey.

Donovan Hall's Bio:
Born in the phenomenal South Island of NZ and I have been in education since 1999, and International Education in Africa & The Middle East for 12 years. In August 2019, I moved into the role of Educational Technology Director at a K12 International School in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

​On a personal note, I am married with two young children who are growing too fast for our liking! As a family we enjoy reading, beaches, biking and board games together. Core values that are important to me are commitment, humility & relationships.

​Growing up in NZ, I was always outdoors with brothers, whether playing sport or following outdoor pursuits. This remains a big part of my life and I try and stay on top of my fitness and well being by running, through team sports and connecting with the environment.

​Personal growth is a big part of my life as I look to iterate on myself in all areas. In July 2018 I gained a Certificate of International Education through The PTC. By connecting me with outstanding international educators and current research, these courses helped broaden my mind by asking me to examine my thinking around education. Currently, I am working my way towards a Masters In Education through Massey University, NZ which I am thoroughly enjoying. Getting back into the rigours of academic studies and balancing this with my new role as an Ed Tech Director and family life has certainly, and will continue to prove challenging.

Connect With Donovan:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/donovanhallnz

Special thanks to Bronx based band Conversing with Oceans and Alex Bondarev for creating the podcast music.
https://www.conversingwithoceans.com/