Teach Middle East Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Leisa Grace sat down with Fatma Martin, Principal and CEO of GEMS New Millennium School in Dubai, to trace her 31-year journey through UAE education and the city’s rapid transformation. We talk about leading with empathy and patience, building a school culture of belonging and designing learning that stays future-ready while still delivering results.  • living and working in the U...

Send us Fan Mail We get brutally honest about why schools end up buying shiny devices first and only later realise they never agreed on what better learning should look like. We map out what a digital strategy actually is, who must own it, how to measure impact, and how to handle screen time and AI without losing the thinking. • why device-first decisions feel easy but fail learning • what a digit...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Phil Lupton about teacher-centred AI and why the real win is consistent, evidence-based coaching rather than flashy lesson generation. We explore how AI can strengthen professional judgement, protect teacher time, and create better conversations between teachers, coaches, and leaders. • the pedagogical gap in international schools and why shared language matters • how...

Send us Fan Mail We catch up with Alex on what it really takes to build a life and a career in the UAE, from culture and community to the less-talked-about pressures that can knock teachers off balance. We also get hands-on about AI in education, including how we use it to cut planning time while protecting student thinking and keeping classrooms human first.  Connect with Alex here: https://www.d...

Send us Fan Mail Learn about the future of GEMS education in 2026 with Lisa Crausby OBE and Leisa Grace Wilson. Discover the strategic vision for learning. In this podcast session, we examine the upcoming initiatives shaping the direction of GEMS schools. Lisa Crausby OBE and Leisa Grace Wilson break down the core teaching models designed to enhance the classroom experience. By focusing on how we...

Send us Fan Mail A higher salary abroad can hide a brutal truth: many international teachers quietly fall behind on retirement cash flow. We unpack why with former teacher and financial educator Andrew Hallam, author of The Millionaire Expat, Millionaire Teacher, and Balance. From missing defined-benefit pension years to overestimating what “saving” can do against inflation, we talk honestly about...

Send us Fan Mail Leisa Grace sits down with Nathan Burns, “Mr Metacognition”, to clarify what metacognition really is and why it improves attainment when it is taught deliberately and embedded across school life. We explore how leaders can move beyond vague “thinking about thinking” to build independent, resilient learners through curriculum, routines and staff development.  • Metacognition as pla...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Adrianna Rose about teaching in Dubai, building a life in the UAE, and how content creation can help other teachers make an informed move. We compare UK and UAE schools, unpack day-to-day routines and wellbeing, and share honest thoughts on moving during uncertain news cycles.  • documenting UAE teacher life through content creation and why representation matters  • A...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew and Leisa Grace explore what it means to truly see students as whole people, not just as attainment points on a dashboard. Matthew Savage helps us rethink data and assessment as relational knowledge that supports equity, belonging and wellbeing.  • the equity problem behind performative data cultures  • the Mona Lisa Effect as what personalised learning should feel like  •...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Stephanie Holt about using AI in schools in ways that genuinely improve learning, from early years self-regulation to GCSE revision and teacher planning. We argue for purposeful screen use, better homework design, fairer assessment, and a school culture where curiosity and research are safe.  • introducing AI early with supervised, age-appropriate routines  • using to...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Neal Oates, Principal of Star International School in Mirdif, Dubai, about leading with kindness while still holding the line on standards.  We explore how resilient school teams are built long before a crisis, and why human connection matters more than any tool.  • Neal’s route into education from industry and why fulfilment matters  • Growing into leadership in the...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Yasser Naveed about the growing AI divide between students and the adults meant to guide them, and why the real danger is not AI but ungoverned use. We share clear guardrails for home and school, so children gain the benefits of AI without losing trust, judgment, or independence. • AI as a “Ferrari with no brakes” when there is no governance  • hallucinations, false c...

Send us Fan Mail We trace Mike Gilmour’s journey from Cape Town to Dubai, unpack how apartheid shaped his lens on inclusion, and dig into the daily mechanics of building a healthy school culture. We also explore AI’s pressure on old models and the human work that must endure. • early life in South Africa and university lessons on diversity • path from nonprofit sport to teaching and leadership • i...

Send us Fan Mail We explore what a 2040 job market means for schools, teachers, and teens, and why AI will force a reinvention of curriculum, space, and pedagogy. Practical steps help educators shift from content delivery to coaching human judgment, collaboration, and focus. • Why 2040 serves as a clear planning horizon • AI ubiquity across roles and daily life • gaps between industry needs and sc...

Send us Fan Mail We trace Alan’s path from rugby pitches and the Boys’ Brigade to classroom leadership and, later, stewarding one of the UAE’s fastest‑growing school groups. Along the way, we unpack Taaleem’s values, retention wins, Harrow’s authentic arrival in the UAE, and a balanced take on basics and AI. • Sport as a gateway to confidence and academic lift • relationships as the fourth R in te...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack what actually drives learning, why engagement is a poor proxy for understanding, and how to align curriculum, instruction, and assessment for long-term memory. Carl Hendrick challenges fads, makes a case for explicit instruction and retrieval, and explores where AI can help without doubling the workload. • Defining learning as change in long-term memory • Why learning st...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when school moves from vague ideas about “reimagining” to the nuts and bolts of design? We sit down with Russell John Cailey, founder of Elham Studio and former, to map a practical path from traditional classrooms to living, place-based learning that actually works. From 90s Manchester to Hiroshima, Boston, and Botswana, Russell shares the hard-won lessons that turned...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Monop...

Send us Fan Mail 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 •...

Send us Fan Mail 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. •...

Send us Fan Mail 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 •...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Sw...

Send us Fan Mail 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 r...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 ti...