The Dubai Learning Summit was everything I hoped for and more!
Join me for a quick recap of the inaugural New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA) Dubai Learning Summit — a journey that began in wintry Germany (with a send‑off from some very vocal geese!) and ended in the warmth, energy, and connection of an international conference.
I had the privilege of presenting From Intent to Impact: Embedding Wellbeing in School Culture, exploring how leadership, communication, and context‑grounded parent engagement shape the conditions for wellbeing to truly take root in our learning communities. I’ll be sharing more insights from the session in the coming days.
But beyond the presentation, this summit was about people.
It was a joy to finally connect in person with Helen Morgan, Lindsie Boykin, Ed.S., Jon Nordmeyer, Engy Olama, Hoda Matar, Hanadi Dayyeh, PhD, Jean Claude El Chalouhi, and Victoria Placeres, and to spend time with mentors and friends including Darlene Fisher, Trillium Hibbeln, Carl Johnson, George Edwards, Athena Gerochristodoulou, M.Ed, Sharyn Skrtic, M.Ed., and many more.
A huge appreciation to Dubai Schools Al Barsha مدارس دبي البرشاء, Anita Stewart, and the incredible students and staff who created such a welcoming environment. And a special shout‑out to Dima AlZuhair for her mentorship of the brilliant speakers from her school.
Hearing participants share how much they valued the space to reflect, discuss, and learn from one another was truly heartwarming. The lineup of presenters was exceptional — I sincerely hope this becomes an annual event.
Thank you to Joseph Kotarski, Ed.D. for the invitation, the trust, and the opportunity to grow.
Until next time.
#Inclusivecircles #DEIJItsWhatWeDo #EachOneTeachOne
Please Note This is not an official representation of NEASC nor am I an employee or representative for NEASC. All opinions are my own and all images of or references to the schools visited are shared with consent and have no bearing on or indication of the results of their accreditation journey.
