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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 UAE for three decades, watching Dubai and Abu Dhabi evolve alongside schools
• moving from chalkboards to smart boards, and what that shift changes in teaching practice
• leadership emerging through taking responsibility, not chasing a title
• empathy and patience as the daily anchors for decision-making
• distributed leadership, balancing empowerment with accountability
• creating warmth and belonging in an expat community, linking culture to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
• innovation as a habit, keeping a beginner’s mindset and staying open to feedback
• investing in teacher professional development and upskilling to keep classroom practice consistent
• dual curriculum at GEMS New Millennium, offering CBSE and Cambridge pathways under one roof
• self-care as a leader, staying grounded, protecting energy and building healthy routines

Ms Martin has 31 years of distinguished experience in education. A Chemistry specialist with Master’s degrees in Literature and Business Administration, she has spent 16 years as an Executive Principal in Dubai, leading school communities toward excellence aligned with the UAE’s vision.
The achievements of our alumni, their scholarships, and global university placements reflect her inspiring leadership. Passionate about empowering young individuals, she nurtures resilience, empathy, and leadership, guiding students to pursue their aspirations and thrive as confident global citizens.

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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 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 digital strategy must answer in plain terms
• why SLT ownership matters more than any platform
• how leadership culture shapes classroom tech use
• the screen time swing and the passive vs active distinction
• how parents and schools can set healthy device habits
• auditing the “fruit bowl” of apps to remove duplication
• measuring effectiveness through outcomes, observation and student voice
• three immediate actions for leaders, including stopping spending
• AI as “assistive intelligence” and keeping thinking central

Download the Digital Strategy Toolkit here: https://linktr.ee/teachmiddleeast

If you're listening to this before October 8th and 9th, then get your tickets because it's happening at DIP1, the Millennium Lakeview Hotel.

https://aiineducationsummit.com/

Connect with Sabe here: Sabe Gnanam

Educational Consultant - EdTech Division

Apple Professional Learning Specialist

Apple Distinguished Educator

Tel: +97148808882 Ext: 7148

sabe@allprints.ae

Building # 598-1163

Dubai Investments Park 1 (DIP 1)

PO Box: 450722

United Arab Emirates

www.allprints.ae

Bio: Sabeshan (Sabe) Gnanam is an experienced education leader and EdTech consultant with a career spanning classroom teaching, digital transformation, curriculum innovation, and senior school leadership across New Zealand, Australia, and the UAE. As a former Deputy Principal at Victoria International School of Sharjah, he has led large-scale technology initiatives, curriculum innovation, professional learning, and the development of future-focused learning environments. Recognised by Apple as both an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) and Apple Professional Learning Specialist (APLS), Sabe has shared his expertise through professional learning, workshops and keynotes across the Gulf region and internationally. Today, as an Educational Consultant at All Prints, he works with schools and education partners to design sustainable digital strategies and professional learning experiences that turn technology investment into meaningful improvements in teaching and learning. At the heart of his work is a simple belief: technology should never be the destination - it should empower educators, inspire learners, and create possibilities that were not there before.

The second annual AI in Education Summit will take place in Dubai on October 8-9, 2026. Click this link to register: https://aiineducationsummit.com/

Support the show

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/

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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 myths and habits shape classroom practice across different systems
• evidence-based teaching foundations including memory, working memory, safety, and feedback
• why unguided AI tools can reproduce bad ideas at scale
• the risk of new teachers relying on AI without knowing what “good” looks like
• what AI coaching analyses and what it should not judge
• how video analysis can support richer instructional coaching conversations
• psychological safety, trust, and leadership responsibility when recording lessons
• the thinking behind Learnalize and scaling better practice across schools.

Connect with Philip: www.elmeducation.org

www.learnalyze.net

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDP6xAJN7Lg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-oKfKAFCXg

www.linkedin.com/in/phil-lupton

The second annual AI in Education Summit will take place in Dubai on October 8-9, 2026. Click this link to register: https://aiineducationsummit.com/

Support the show

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 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.deepeducationnetwork.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/

Download his apps here:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/family-jobs-chore-chart/id6806824839
audit.deepeducationnetwork.com
deepeducationnetwork.com
https://www.youtube.com/@deepeducationnetwork
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/duxa-tutors/id6757354523

• Moving abroad on a whim and why two years became ten
• Staying grounded in Dubai teaching life amid lifestyle pressure
• Using podcasts as practical CPD and why schools should make their own
• Overcoming fear of sharing online and choosing platforms wisely
• How AI becomes a daily teaching tool for ideation, feedback, and efficiency
• building an “EduOS” with trusted resources to reduce hallucinations
• designing lessons so students hold on to their thinking before using AI
• vibe coding and AI-assisted coding as a way to build useful tools
• low-cost “bring your own key” approaches to reduce edtech spend
• why in-person conferences matter for real classroom practice and networks
If you want to talk to Alex and see more of him, you have to come out to the AI and Education Summit. It's October 8th and 9th, and it's gonna be at the Lakeview, Millennium Lakeview Hotel, DIP1, Dubai. www.aiineducationsummit.com

The second annual AI in Education Summit will take place in Dubai on October 8-9, 2026. Click this link to register: https://aiineducationsummit.com/

Support the show

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/

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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 do things within the UAE education sector, the discussion highlights the importance of fostering trust between staff and leadership to drive student success.

Listeners will gain insights into how these new frameworks prioritise professional development and the overall impact on learning outcomes. Whether you are an educator or a parent, understanding these shifts is a vital part of staying informed about the academic landscape. We explore the specific values that will guide these institutions as they prepare for the next phase of development.

Subscribe for weekly educational leadership breakdowns, and comment below with your thoughts on these 2026 initiatives.

The second annual AI in Education Summit will take place in Dubai on October 8-9, 2026. Click this link to register: https://aiineducationsummit.com/

Support the show

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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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 the risks expats in the UAE and the wider Middle East face and what to do before another year slips by.

We get practical about retirement planning for expats: how to work backwards to your real number, how to factor in state pension or Social Security forecasts, and why there is no universal target that fits everyone.

Andrew explains how lifestyle creep and “expatitis” can sabotage even good intentions, and why tracking spending is the lowest-effort habit with the biggest payoff.

Bio: Andrew Hallam is a financial author, educator and speaker who taught high school and middle school English, as well as Personal Finance.

We are helping Andrew raise funds for the Al Jalila Foundation as he cycles across Europe. Please donate here: https://www.hopasports.com/en/andrewhallam

Support the show

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/

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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 planning, monitoring and evaluating learning
• Challenging information and checking ideas against prior knowledge
• Why research support is worldwide and linked to attainment
• Why teacher training and accountability can miss explicit metacognition
• Avoiding bolt on approaches and making it part of modelling, questioning and feedback
• What a metacognitive school looks like for all staff roles
• Designing staff training that starts with what is already working
• Evaluating impact at department or whole school level
• Using Perkins’ levels, surveys and stakeholder feedback carefully
• What gains schools see first in student resilience and better questions
“Drop Mr. Metacognition into any good search engine or pop Nathan Burns into social media, especially LinkedIn, um, and you will find me there.”

Purchase Nathan's Books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Nathan-Burns/author/B0BQZ5N6FN?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

The second annual AI in Education Summit will take place in Dubai on October 8-9, 2026. Click this link to register: https://aiineducationsummit.com/

Support the show

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/

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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
• Abu Dhabi versus Dubai for lifestyle, pace, and choosing the right area
• settling in during COVID and how the first six months can feel
• key differences between UK schools and UAE private schools, including scale and expectations
• diversity in international schools and how it changes classroom experience
• a realistic day-to-day routine in Dubai, including early starts and planning time
• managing fear and pupil reassurance during regional conflict and shifts online
• advice for teachers holding an offer letter and weighing up the move
• Adriana’s book I Take Up Space Two and her long-term writing goals
• hobbies, friendship groups, wellbeing activities, and travel opportunities from Dubai

People, if you want to buy the book or connect with Adrianna, see below,

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thatexpatteacher?igsh=MTExdmV2N2I2MTl5eQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Link to Adrinna's book:

https://www.amazon.ae/I-Take-Up-Space-Too/dp/1917846819/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

The second annual AI in Education Summit will take place in Dubai on October 8-9, 2026. Click this link to register: https://aiineducationsummit.com/

Support the show

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/