On January 31st, 2018, school leaders from schools across the emirate of Abu Dhabi gathered at the Telal Resort in Al Ain, for the first ever school leaders retreat. The retreat which was organised by the Al Ain Professional Learning Community (Al Ain PLC) under the theme Network, Share, Empower, was commended for being a ground breaking event. The event which was a first of its kind in the emirate, comprised of a full day of learning and networking followed by some fun desert adventure activities.
Participants benefited from workshops lead by colleagues and industry experts. There were sessions on the use of data in schools (Data wise), How to lead excellent professional development, as well as a look at the use of virtual reality in the classroom, among others. Participants praised the presenters, whose knowledge and experience working in the local context coupled with their expertise, made the sessions both engaging and relevant.
Delegates also enjoyed a sumptuous lunch.
The venue for the retreat was ideal as its location away from the city, allowed for maximum focus with little or no distractions.
Special thanks to the organising committee ( Heath Bailey, Juanita Duanoy, James Horspool, Marilene Shane, Dionne Pinckett Foy, Nathan Davis and Marcus Paris) for the fantastic job they did in putting on this event. We look forward to many more such events in the future.
