Empowering our Saudi school teachers

Teaching at an international school like The KAUST School (TKS) can be challenging, as the program sets high expectations for students and because of the diverse mix of nationalities on campus. Students must be well-prepared to continue their educations in the Kingdom or abroad, with their teachers playing an important role in their success.

In 2012, the Teacher Development Program (TDP) was launched to give recent Saudi graduates a kick-start to their teaching careers in international schools. Since the beginning of the program, 14 teachers enrolled, among which seven are successful graduates who teach at TKS, whilst four are currently doing an internship to complete the program.

TDP is aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to stimulate a thriving economy and provide opportunities for all by building an education system aligned with market needs and creating economic opportunities.

“By selecting Saudi graduates—both men and women—TKS responds to Vision 2030 of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud by selecting talented and motivated graduates who have the desire to follow a career in international schools to follow the four-semester program,” noted Alanud Alfagir, Advancement Program lead. Upon successful completion of TDP, the candidates have the opportunity to teach at TKS and at other international schools in the Kingdom.

TDP includes a wide range of supportive teaching methods and techniques based on educational theory and proven good practice. Participants learn to keep their classroom environments and curricula engaging, exciting and highly educational, enabling students to improve their learning outcomes and achieve better results.

Future teachers are assigned to a mentor teacher at TKS who observes their performance in the classroom and gives feedback. Formal and informal assessments are also part of the curriculum, as well as coaching sessions and the submission of a final report. Moreover, TDP is fully accredited; participants need to attend the Principal Training Center in Miami, Florida, U.S., which provides training in instructional and assessment strategies uniquely tailored to the needs of educators working in the international school environment. TDP also works to empower Saudi teachers, preparing them to be leaders of education and giving them opportunities collaborate with other schools in the Kingdom.

“It’s a program that goes beyond training and skills formation—it’s a professional pathway that builds on your own strengths and develops your challenging points when it ones to teaching,” said Rawdhah O. Radwan, a current TDP participant. “I’m so proud to be part of this program that adds a lot to me personally, socially and professionally. It has made me a knowledgeable and skilled teacher.”

Spreading the knowledge gained during the TKS program is important for the future of Saudi Arabia. Each year, TKS holds an exchange program with the University’s neighboring city of Thuwal to empower the teachers there. The trainees convey new teaching techniques that put the focus on the children and their skills and self-expression. For example, last year, physical education was introduced into the girls’ school curriculum by the Education Ministry. The workshop held between TKS and the schools in Thuwal was extremely successful in assessing this new need.

This year, TKS will continue collaborating with Saudi Affairs to conduct the 8th Thuwal workshop for more than 100 teachers from nine schools in Thuwal. The workshops will be run by KAUST TDP participants and other Saudi teachers from TKS.

In August, TKS will welcome nine teacher assistants who will take part in the two-year Teacher Assistant Development Program (TADP) and will celebrate the graduation of two TDP teachers. Both programs—which are fully supported by the TKS School Director Leny de Ruijter—are a great success, and will continue to celebrate the talent and the values important to share across classrooms in Saudi Arabia.

As Wed Alsulaimani, a TDP graduate, stated, “TDP offered me the chance to be in a classroom from day one learning from experienced teachers. My two years hands-on training provided me with the foundations for an outstanding career in teaching.”