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Head of PK-Grade 8

school
Taaleem - Al Mizhar American Academy
location
Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Start date
Start January 2019
1
  • Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School
  • Licensed Teacher
  • Master
  • 3 years of teaching experience
  • Education
  • Teaching Credential/License
  • Principal/educational management qualification
  • 3 years’ school management/leadership experience in a similar setting
  • Knowledge of international accreditation, inspection and evaluation frameworks
  • Excellent communication skills in spoken and written form
  • Educational leader and an outstanding teacher
  • Knowledge of child protection and health and safety
  • Experience in developing and/or sustaining high performance teams
  • Highly effective relationship management with a variety of stakeholders
  • Collaborative team player
  • Inspirational speaker
  • Empathetic listener
  • Possesses integrity
  • Strategic thinker
  • Able to convert vision into action
  • Internationally minded
  • Possesses emotional intelligence and intercultural awareness
  • Creative, persuasive, flexible and capable of managing growth and instilling high standards
  • Adept in multilingual settings
  • Spirited, pioneering, professional and nurturing

We are committed to developing our staff and run regular professional development workshops to ensure our teachers are equipped to provide students with the best possibly educational experience.

Taaleem provides excellent, high quality purpose built accommodation for teaching staff equipped with gym, pool and all amenities. We offer an attractive tax-free salary, medical insurance, free child places within selected schools and an annual flight allowance along with great corporate discounts with many service providers in Dubai.

Primary Purpose of Job

The core purpose of this role is to provide professional, highly effective leadership and management that will achieve outstanding results in all aspects of the PK-Grade 8  life. The Head of PK-Grade 8 promotes an inspiring vision and clear direction that is shared by all members of the PK-Grade 8 Division and the Senior Leadership Team. Ultimately, the Head of PK-Grade 8 is responsible for ensuring that the curriculum, teaching and assessment practices inspire high levels of engagement, achievement and progress for students of all abilities.

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

Inspirational and Strategic Leadership

  • Promote Taaleem’s mission of “inspiring young minds,” our vision of being the most respected provider of education in the Gulf and our core values and strategic platforms
  • Promote an inspiring vision dedicated to high standards that is shared by all members of the PK-8 School
  • Initiate, prioritize and lead PK-8 School improvement activities through effective strategic leadership and planning which supports the vision, mission and values of Taaleem
  • Display a high level of professional competence in all areas of responsibility
  • Communicate a clear view of the PK- 8 School and whole school’s aims so that all staff know what is required of them and are competent and committed to achieving the school’s goals
  • Distribute leadership effectively to achieve high standards of learning and personal development by creating an ethos of collective responsibility and mutual support
  • Inspire and empower middle leaders, teachers and support staff by clearly defining all roles and aligning these roles with school priorities
  • Be receptive and respond to external evaluation of the school and manage the process professionally and very efficiently with your senior colleagues
  • Work effectively with school governance teams (School Advisory Committee, and FAAM, Parents Association) and Taaleem Heads of Schools to ensure informed and responsive decision making, which help to direct change and effective management of school resources
  • Ensure that the levels of students’ attainment and the quality of teaching successfully align with the PK-8 Schools’ promise to parents
  • Clearly and comfortably delegates work, trusting and empowering others to perform
  • Provides regular feedback and motivation to others to successfully achieve their targets
  • Encourage others to contribute, creating a spirit of teamwork and opportunities of cooperation and collaboration between departments
  • Contribute time and expertise to the professional development of Taaleem teachers and leaders
  • Participate and lead professional development workshops in the UAE, including events run by the Knowledge Human Development Authority (KHDA) or Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC)

 

Self Evaluation and Improvement Planning

  • Ensure that the PK-8 School’s academic program is fit for purpose and challenges students of all abilities
  • Aim towards achieving and maintaining an “outstanding” rating in Phases 1, 2 and 3  on local inspections
  • Involve all PK-8 staff in systematic, rigorous self-evaluation with the explicit purpose of improving the quality of students’ experiences and their standards of attainment
  • Take positive steps to gather the views of PK-8 School parents, students and others about the quality of service provided by the school
  • Work collaboratively with external bodies and the Senior Leadership and Senior Strategic Leadership Team to achieve outstanding results on school accreditations, inspections and evaluations
  • Monitor teachers’ plans, evaluate students’ classroom experiences, track students’ attainment and evaluate progress towards meeting agreed targets
  • Monitor the performance of all teaching and support staff in Phases 1-3.
  • Ensure that self-evaluation provides valid, comprehensive and reliable analysis for identifying key priorities for the preparation of the improvement plan and involves PK-8 staff, parents and students as appropriate
  • Ensure that middle leaders and teachers collect and analyze appropriate and accurate information from within the school as well as data for external sources, including international assessments and stakeholder surveys
  • Ensure that Middle Leaders, Grade Level Coordinators and teachers set aspirational yet realistic goals aimed at improving students’ performance
  • Ensure that all improvement activities are focused on creating impact and raising quality in the PK-8 programs.
  • Monitor and manage change quickly, flexibly and successfully.
  • Prioritize and act upon a manageable number of key initiatives and involve stakeholders in the process
  • Ensure that all recommendations from previous inspections and evaluations are included in the schools’ improvement plans
  • Maintain an overview of all curriculum review and development activities; ensuring that teachers maintain current in their knowledge of the curriculum and best teaching practices

 

Effective and Efficient Management of Resources

  • Work closely with the Principal, Business Manager, Admissions Manager, other Head of High School and SLT to ensure that all policies, procedures and routines across the school are effective and efficient
  • Ensure that all PK-8 staff are well qualified and experienced, trained to do their roles and are deployed effectively to support the school
  • Ensure accountability of the school’s actions and outcomes with regards to compliance and health and safety issues
  • Comply with all regulations and guidelines issued by the local authorities and regulators
  • Monitor and evaluate the school’s performance on PK-8  students’ attainment and progress, students’ personal and social development, teaching and assessment, curriculum that meets the needs of students, health and safety, and student support services
  • Work collaboratively with the Principal and Admissions Manager to achieve enrolment targets and business objectives
  • Ensure that all schools policies, procedures and routines are effective, efficient and reviewed annually with appropriate staff members
  • Comply with all Taaleem policies and guidelines and submit high quality reports in a timely manner
  • Work collaboratively with the Principal to ensure proper identification and access to appropriate professional development activities for all members of the PK-8 staff
  • Ensure that teaching and learning is monitored closely and consistently using Proactive  to rate the quality of teaching practice across the school and identify areas of development
  • Promote peer modeling, team teaching and coaching within and across grade levels and departments
  • Ensure that all PK-8 School staff are appraised annually providing recognition for areas of strength and recommendations for areas of development and growth.
  • Work collaboratively with Principal, Business Manager and SLT to develop CAPEX and Consumable budgets and then monitor performance against the PK-8 School’s budget lines
  • Work collaboratively with the Facilities Manager to address any health and safety issues and ongoing maintenance requests.

 

Parent, Student and Community Relationships

  • Be responsible for the safety and well-being of all PK-8 students through positive recognition and high expectations for behavior and conduct
  • Monitor and promote outstanding attendance and punctuality across the PK-8 School
  • Inform the Principal of any serious student incidents or parent concerns and work collaboratively with the SLT to resolve issues in a timely and respectful manner
  • Build and maintain relationships with PK-8 School parents and the community by establishing regular and appropriate communications with all members of the school community, both internally and externally
  • Market the school to the local and wider community with the aim of recruiting new students and retaining existing students to achieve a full school roll.
  • Develop knowledge of the education market in Dubai, the UAE and the Gulf and monitor trends over time in order to remain competitive
  • Engage PK-8 parents as active partners in their children’s learning in a variety of ways
  • Encourage positive and regular participation of PK-8 parents at school events
  • Consult the parent community about the work of the PK-8 on a regular basis and ensure that parents views are received respectfully and help guide the school’s development
  • Ensure that the PK-8 use a wide range of effective methods, including technology, to communicate with parents taking into account the home language of parents by promoting two way communication
  • Ensure that parents receive regular reports of their children’s progress and attainment that include next steps for learning
  • Develop strong community partnerships that effectively support all students’ development and improve students’ learning experiences
  • Focus on identifying and meeting community (staff, parents, students) needs by taking their interests and complaints seriously
  • Consider the implications of decisions on the community (staff, parents, students, Taaleem) and act accordingly
  • Ensure a proactive approach in delivering operational excellence focused on extra-ordinary service across all aspects of school life
  • Connect school events to local community events so that students and parents have the opportunity to participate in the broader local events such as Dubai Literacy Festival, Art Festival, Music Festival, Taaleem Sporting and Academic competitions, etc.

 

This is a Direct to School Job
This is a Direct to School Job

Al-Mizhar American Acadedmy (AAM) is part of Taaleem, the United Arab Emirates’ second largest school provider for early years, primary and secondary schools founded in 2004. 

Taaleem is committed to:

Equipping children in the region holistically with the skills, knowledge and character to compete globally Offering a comprehensive range of outstanding international curricula Designing, building and managing the best educational facilities Creating and implementing benchmark educational initiatives Nurturing educational excellence through the attraction, retention and development of the   best educators Continuously evaluating and improving standards across our schools Establishing our schools as valued cornerstones of their communities


Taaleem schools offer a variety of international curricula including The National Curriculum for England, the American Curriculum, the International Baccalaureateand our custom-made, multi-lingual Early Years Programme. Taaleem is partially owned by the Government of Dubai and overseen by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rosamund Marshall. 

Our modern facilities include:

ICT suites Science laboratories Music rooms Art studios Pottery room Two state of the art Libraries Large outdoor sports field Shaded outdoor swimming pool Multi-purpose sports hall Kindergarten playrooms Shaded outdoor playground Wireless internet throughout Dining Hall

Education and Learning:

Al-Mizhar American Academy (AAM) offers students the same elite education that is offered at top American private schools and prepares its students for a multitude of universities worldwide. Today, more than ever, preparing students for university involves more than just pen and paper. It is also necessary to offer challenging extracurricular activities, broad exposure and interaction with myriad cultures. It is with great pride that AAM has created such an environment where students are challenged to excel academically, as well as develop into culturally aware citizens of the global community. In essence, AAM offers an accredited American education with traditional values.

But how does AAM create this unique environment? We begin by encouraging a mutual respect for all people. On a practical level, we celebrate different cultures by exploring and enjoying traditions unique to each. As our students learn more about various cultures and traditions, their outlook stretches and horizons broaden.

Community service is another vital part of AAM's unique environment. All students are expected to take part in charitable activities to encourage a sense of social responsibility and awareness of global issues. We offer students a range of options for undertaking charity work, from initiatives within the school where older students read with younger ones; to volunteering locally with orphanages and organizations, such as Red Crescent; to international efforts, including volunteering in developing nations, such as Malaysia and Tanzania.

Exposing our students to numerous cultures and involving them in community service activities to complement our rigorous academic curriculum has been highly successful in helping them to develop into well-rounded, caring leaders in our diverse world while preparing them for future opportunities.

This is a Direct to School Job
This is a Direct to School Job
Please note that Teach Away provides information on behalf of schools and cannot accept liability for information provided or policies schools may adopt. Be sure to verify all details that apply to you, and check for the latest visa and work permit requirements. For any questions regarding job postings, please contact the school directly. Teach Away believes in diversity and inclusivity, and that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and be considered fairly and equally for employment. We ensure all schools we work with adhere to our pledge to promote inclusivity and diversity in education and recruitment practices.

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