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We talk with Jeremy Newton, director of schools at the British International School Riyadh, about leading seven campuses during Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation and how a non-profit British model adapts to local needs and Vision 2030. We explore AI in the curriculum, enrichment that prepares students for an uncertain future, and the school’s unexpected cameo on the Riyadh Monopoly board.

• Jeremy’s path from East London to Riyadh
• Life and opportunity in Riyadh for families
• Vision 2030 as a practical guide for schools
• Non-profit identity and community service
• Balancing the British curriculum with Arabic and local history
• REACH 2030 strategic planning across campuses
• AI education, ethics and device use in schools
• Enrichment pillars, trips and real-world experiences
• Riyadh Monopoly board feature and school culture
• Advice to teachers considering roles in Saudi Arabia

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

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Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

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We meet Richard Drew, principal of Jumeira Baccalaureate School, and trace his path from sporty Nottingham kid and clarinettist to long-serving IB headteacher in Dubai. He shares why character, inclusion, and patient culture-building stay at the heart of JBS.

• shifting from football to rugby and the habits sport builds
• why learning an instrument strengthens patience and focus
• choosing a BEd in PE and finding purpose in teaching
• early rugby career, injury and lessons in resilience
• Australia exchange and the haves vs have-nots divide
• UAE PPP years, translators and cultural fluency
• stepping into JBS and leading through change
• IB identity and Character Mark Plus recognition
• Inspire and Aspire inclusion embedded in school life
• staff continuity, community trust and belonging
• philosophy of happiness, health and safety driving learning
• future plans to mentor leaders and give back locally
• life outside school: cycling, cooking and family sport

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

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Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

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We trace a candid journey from Wall Street to Riyadh, exploring how a family‑owned school group opened Saudi Arabia’s first international Reggio‑inspired preschool and a trilingual K‑12, while building bridges between global classrooms and responsible AI. Practical stories mix with philosophy, policy, and culture to show how human‑centred schools grow in a fast‑changing Kingdom.

• why Saudi Arabia’s education landscape is changing fast
• government support and the super licence pathway
• hiring leadership across Singapore, the UK and the UAE
• clearing resources, translations and curriculum approvals
• what Reggio Emilia is and how it differs from products
• atelieristas, light studios and environment as third teacher
• trilingual learning and Global Classroom exchanges
• AI Smart Planner boosting inquiry and minority languages
• scaling tech without losing teacher judgement
• head, heart, hands: a vision for Riyadh
• community engagement, climate realities and giving back

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

Connect with Leisa Grace:

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We explore how a flexible online and hybrid model supports anxious and neurodivergent learners, elite athletes, and mobile families, while helping schools expand subject options without new hires. Hugh Viney shares a student’s journey from school refusal to Oxford and outlines a GCC hub for trips, meetups, and community.

• Why some students thrive outside traditional classrooms
• Asynchronous and live teaching blend that boosts engagement
• Mentoring, community, clubs, trips, and regional meetups
• Attendance gains for emotionally based school avoidance
• Practical signs leaders can spot for alternative pathways
• Neurodivergent-friendly structure, breaks, sensory control
• Screen time addressed through fewer live lessons and routines
• Hybrid solutions to add GCSEs and A levels cost-effectively
• New models for sixth form and rescuing closing schools
• Teacher recruitment, standards, and flexible contracts
• GCC time zone launch and growth roadmap

Connect with Hugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-viney/

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

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We sit down with Dubai College headmaster Tomas Duckling to explore how a top school stays kind, rigorous, and human. From Watford roots and boarding school leadership to distributed decision-making and no emails after hours, Tom shares how he protects culture while moving forward.

• DC’s calm culture, high standards, and strict boundaries on after-hours email
• From Brunei and Switzerland to Dubai: lessons from boarding and international schools
• Reputation, demand for places, and misconceptions 
• Transitioning from deputy to head: decision-making and accountability
• Trusted autonomy and distributed leadership to grow future leaders
• Tradition with innovation: de-implementation to free teachers for learning
• Family life, music, travel goals, and simple joys that keep the balance
• Stoicism, humility, and values that shape leadership choices
• A turnaround framework: philosophy, people, process

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

Connect with Leisa Grace:

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Salma and Leisa explore how to build classrooms in the UAE where every student feels seen and valued, and where local culture is integrated alongside global learning. Practical steps, candid reflections on bias, and clear guidance on using AI as a co-creator make this a toolkit for real change.

• agreeing on a shared definition of culturally responsive practice
• recognising and reflecting on bias through confidential prompts
• creating learner profiles to understand language, history, and needs
• auditing libraries and curricula for representation and local relevance
• balancing Emirati identity with global exposure
• contrasting UAE inclusion with US/UK contexts and public school dynamics
• using AI critically as a co-creator, not a content consumer
• prioritising critical literacy, collaboration, and academic integrity
• designing teacher PD that matches context and future skills

Meet Salma: Dr Salma Waly, an Arab American 40 Under 40 honoree, is an award-winning global educator and EdTech leader dedicated to building inclusive, future-focused learning communities and expanding opportunity. With 20 years of experience across higher education, international schools, corporations, start-ups, and NGOs, she brings a global perspective shaped by work in the United States, Asia, the GCC, Africa, and South America. Her culturally hybrid identity fuels her commitment to equity and inclusion, ensuring all learners feel valued. Currently based in the UAE, she is an assistant professor at Sharjah Education Academy, founder of Universal Narratives LLC, and host of the Universal Narratives Podcast.

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

Connect with Leisa Grace:

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What does it take to rise from teaching assistant to Director of Education? In this candid conversation, Nikki Williams shares her remarkable journey through international education to her current role leading Taleem's educational vision across multiple schools and curricula.

Born into a nomadic life across Southeast Asia and the Middle East due to her father's career in oil and gas, Williams confesses she was never a model student. "Frankly, I couldn't have imagined any profession less likely to be on my CV than education," she reveals with refreshing honesty. Yet this background proved valuable, helping her connect with struggling students when she eventually found her calling in the classroom.

Williams offers practical advice for educators aspiring to leadership positions: show initiative, demonstrate passion, and contribute to the bigger picture. "A lot of times it can be driven by money, and that really can't be your motivator in education," she cautions. Instead, she looks for teachers who proactively share knowledge and take on responsibilities beyond their job description.

The conversation explores the unique challenges women face in educational leadership, with Williams noting how self-criticism and imposter syndrome can hold talented educators back. "You've got to have the courage to step up and put yourself forward and be uncomfortable sometimes in that role," she advises, while celebrating the increasing representation of women in senior positions.

As both a mother and leader, Williams speaks candidly about the emotional reality of having her three children leave home, while reflecting on the privileges of raising a family in the UAE. Her insights on maintaining wellbeing through scheduled self-care and exercise resonate with any busy professional juggling multiple responsibilities.

Perhaps most thought-provoking are Williams' reflections on education's future. She identifies the critical balance between embracing AI and technology while ensuring students develop the soft skills that machines cannot replicate. "Focusing entirely on rote learning and getting exams right is not going to be setting our students up for success," she warns, challenging educators to rethink how we prepare young people for a rapidly evolving world.

Subscribe to the Teach Middle East Podcast for more conversations with educational leaders shaping the future of learning across the region and beyond.

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

Connect with Leisa Grace:

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Dan Fitzpatrick returns to discuss the rapid evolution of AI in education since our last conversation in 2023, exploring how generative AI has moved from simple text-based tools to diverse applications creating music, videos, software and more. We examine the complex balance between embracing AI's educational potential while addressing growing concerns about safety, screen time, and the future of work.

• AI now speaks our language, making it more accessible than previous technologies
• Teachers already possess the core skills needed to leverage AI effectively
• Silicon Valley tech leaders often send their children to low-tech schools while developing AI for global use
• The economic framework is shifting toward entrepreneurial skills in what some call the "intelligence age"
• As AI automates more jobs, education may need to focus less on content acquisition and more on problem-solving and values
• Dan's new book, "The Educator's 2026 AI Guide", offers practical tools, case studies, and ethical considerations for implementing AI
• Notebook LM allows educators to create personalised research assistants by uploading source materials
• Finding balance between technological engagement and digital sanctuary remains crucial for student development

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

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Rosemary Campbell-Stevens, veteran educator and decolonisation advocate, shares her journey from the Investing in Diversity programme to her current work reimagining education systems worldwide through a decolonial lens.

• How the "Investing in Diversity" programme transformed leadership for global majority educators from 2003-2011
• The powerful shift from identifying as "ethnic minority" to embracing "global majority" identity
• Growing up in a "nationalistic Jamaican household" that fostered pride and global consciousness
• Why DEI initiatives often fail to create meaningful change in international schools
• The colonial roots of education systems designed to produce compliant workers rather than develop full humanity
• How parallel systems of self-determination can complement efforts to reform existing institutions
• The importance of creating education systems where no child leaves without a strong sense of self
• Current projects including decolonising corporate business models and establishing a CARICOM education commission

Contact Rosemary at [email protected] to learn more about her work in decolonising education systems.

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

Connect with Leisa Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leisagrace

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Nick Hart, Principal of Horizon English School in Dubai, shares his journey from aspiring footballer to educational leader and unpacks how school leadership must evolve beyond industrial models to embrace complexity and meaningful interactions.

• Nick's unconventional path to education began with a sports science degree and a semi-professional football career
• Horizon English School ranks among Dubai's top schools with exceptional academic achievement combined with happy children and staff
• Educational blogging became Nick's tool for clarifying thoughts and self-accountability in leadership
• Leadership has evolved from industrial "command and control" models to creating conditions where solutions emerge from interactions
• Schools should aim for coherence (aligned values with adaptable practices) rather than consistency (everyone doing the same thing)
• Effective leaders need extensive knowledge across multiple domains and an understanding of complexity
• New leaders should listen and understand before implementing changes
• School leadership teams benefit from diversity of thought, experience and perspective

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn or visit his blog at athttps://mrnickhart.wordpress.com/  to explore more of his insights on educational leadership.

Teach Middle East Magazine is the premier platform for educators and the entire education sector in the Middle East and beyond. Our vision is to equip educators with the materials and tools they need to function optimally in and out of the classroom. We provide a space for educators to connect and find inspiration, resources, and forums to enhance their teaching techniques, methodologies, and personal development. We connect education suppliers and service providers to the people who make the buying decisions in schools.

Visit our website https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/teachmiddleeast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmiddleeast/.

Hosted by Leisa Grace Wilson

Connect with Leisa Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leisagrace

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leisagrace/