SUPERINTENDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

Dearest DAA Families,

Serving the Dubai American Academy Learning Community has been one of the highlights of my career. As a principal for nearly four decades with many stops along my journey, each day that I enter DAA the uniqueness of this school is never lost.

While I will be in a new position next year with GEMS Education, as Chief Education Officer, I will be overseeing and working closely with Team DAA and, of course, my heart will always be filled with fond memories of our students, staff and families. 

It is my honor to introduce you to your new superintendent, Dr. Ethan Hildreth.  After an extensive international search and finalist interviews that involved all constituencies of our community, Ethan quickly rose as the top candidate. He has an impressive 30-year career in education.  He has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent in Georgia, USA.  For over 4 years, he led the Henry County Schools, as superintendent in Atlanta, Georgia.  This school district of 40,000 students with 50 schools was awarded a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for personalized learning.  Ethan also spent 3 years with Nord Anglia Education as a superintendent and School Integration Leader assisting with the opening of schools in Tanzania, Switzerland, Hong Kong, London, Dubai, Rotterdam, Moscow and Prague.

Ethan will be at DAA from June 1 though June 17 before he officially begins the role on August 1, 2022.

Thank you in advance for welcoming him to the Leopard Den.

Please view Dr. Hildreth’s introductory video below.

My very best,

Tammy Murphy

Proud Superintendent/CEO

At Dubai American Academy, we regularly practice safety drills so that all staff and students know what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency. One of those procedures that DAA will be practicing is a "lockdown drill".

A lockdown drill is slightly different from a fire drill in that the children are kept inside the school and classrooms when circumstances make it safer to stay in the classroom rather than evacuate. Such events that might cause a lockdown could be a fire at an area building causing an environmental danger. Just as we prepare our children to properly respond to a fire drill, they also need to be aware of the proper response during a lockdown drill.

During a lockdown drill, classroom doors are secured and the children remain inside the room until instructed by the teacher to resume activities. All exterior doors are locked and no one is permitted to enter or leave the building.

Please be assured that staff at our school will spend time discussing the importance of this procedure with students prior to running a drill. We will also take time after the drill to remind them that is was only a practice and there was no danger.

The lockdown drill will take place on Thursday, March 24th at 8:10 am.

Please contact Jemma Lewis, Manager of School Operations, at j.lewis_daa@gemsedu.com if you have any questions about lockdown drills.

The below website showcases the vision for the program, as well as the 360-degree services being offered to support university transition, careers, alumni and everything in-between:

https://www.gemsforlife.net

This is where the GEMS for Life journey begins – and we look forward to giving families and students of GEMS a world of lifelong advantages and lifestyle benefits that are unparalleled.