Going back to school is exciting for teachers

Dubai, August 31 2008:  Taaleem, a leading school management organisation in the region, conducted the fourth annual professional development day for all their teaching staff from across the UAE.  The event, held at the Dubai Men's College, provided teachers from a variety of schools and curricula to network, share stories and get ready for the new school year.

As the name suggests, one of the major goals behind this event is to support the teaching staff with motivational presentations and education related information that will inspire them at the onset of the new academic year.  Many teachers have been hard at work for some time preparing for the first day students will attend school and this day is designed to start the year with fresh energy and vision.

Many teachers find the beginning of the academic year to be an exciting time filled with many triumphs and challenges.  Heath Ellis, a teacher at Taaleem's Uptown Primary is looking forward to his fourth year at the school.

"A big part of what I love about teaching is the constant change year after year," he explains. "Our school is continually growing, new teachers come on board and it can be a real challenge for them, the students and other teachers to help them make the most of resources and understand the curriculum. Every new school year we assess the students, understand their needs and build appropriate support networks. It is important to do this early in the year so that they are comfortable and happy, which positively affects their ability to learn."

Georgina Williams, a Teacher and Key Stage 1 Coordinator at Dubai British School agrees. "Every new year it is exciting meeting new staff and starting off fresh. It can be challenging integrating students who are new to an international school setting but we take pride in being able to create a comfortable atmosphere that is stimulating, challenging yet fun."

During the event a number of top speakers covered a variety of topics. Tricia Evans, a well-known local management coach, helped teams enhance their performance by discussing 'What successful people do differently' and 'Surviving and thriving in a multi-cultural environment'.  In addition a report prepared by McKinsey and Co. about the key differentiators of excellence in education around the world was presented.

Ziad Azzam, Taaleem's CEO, shaped the theme of the day by presenting the audience with personal stories of teachers he had growing up, which showed the importance of inspiration and leadership in the classroom. "Leadership is about involving and inspiring others, not just students, but colleagues and the community as well, to create the most positive environment where we can all thrive."

Speaking on the occasion, Melissa Jarvinen, Taaleem's Marketing Manager, described the professional day as another contribution to improving the overall education we offer within our group of schools.

"At Taaleem we value all our staff for their contribution to the great success of our schools.  Our teachers are extremely qualified and motivated individuals who lie at the heart of the high quality education our schools offer.  By holding this event annually we seek to equip our teachers with new skills, ideas and information as well as enable them to network with their peers from all our schools across the UAE," she added.

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About Taaleem
Taaleem is a school management organisation based in Dubai, with origins in 2004.  It establishes and operates early childhood facilities, and primary and secondary schools which are tailored to meet the specific educational needs of the communities in which they are based.  It offers a range of international curricula including the American, International Baccalaureate and the National Curriculum of England and Wales.  Currently Taaleem has the following schools in the UAE: Al-Mizhar American Academy for Girls, The Children's Garden, Dubai British School, Greenfield Community School, Uptown School, Uptown High School (opening September 2008) and Raha International School (Abu Dhabi).

For more information, please contact:
Melissa Jarvinen
Taaleem
Tel: +971 4 349 8806
Fax: +971 4 349 8807
E-mail: mjarvinen@taaleem.ae        
Website: www.taaleem.ae

© Press Release 2008