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Daniel Hollinger, PhD

Dynamic lifelong educator, founding head of school and leader of successful IB and US curriculum schools in the USA, UAE, India and Bahrain

    Positions, Projects and Accomplishments

    Executive Director

    2017Present
    Modern Knowledge Schools, Manama, Bahrain

    Leading an American curriculum and IB school serving 2,700 students from PK through Grade 12

    • Leading a comprehensive school improvement process and preparing for a government inspection
    • Developing active learning, differentiation and assessment to improve teaching and learning
    • Providing leadership to improve student culture, engagement and behavior
    • Providing professional development and ensuring a robust professional development program
    • Developing the curriculum by introducing project-based learning and interdisciplinary units of study
    • Empowering and coaching division principals to provide strong leadership for their schools
    • Raising the standards for teachers and students and holding them accountable
    • Implementing a Technology Plan to enhance teaching and learning with educational technology
    • Retaining and recruiting qualified and talented teachers and leaders worldwide
    • Providing school-wide leadership for operational improvements

    Head of School

    20162017
    New York Academy, Hyderabad, India

    Provided leadership to establish and lead a new, progressive American school

    • Led faculty in developing an interdisciplinary, inquiry- and project-based curriculum
    • Recruited, supervised and evaluated faculty and staff members
    • Organized and provided professional development services
    • Managed marketing and admission, and developed admission policies and procedures
    • Developed the annual budget
    • Developed policies and procedures for faculty, staff, students and parents
    • Lead the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS) accreditation process

    Head of School

    20152015
    Elite Private School, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Provided academic leadership for a major expansion and transition to a new purpose-built facility

    • Recruited division leaders, heads of department and faculty members
    • Provided faculty leadership to develop and modernize the curriculum
    • Organized and provided professional development services
    • Sourced equipment and curriculum materials
    • Wrote new policies and procedures
    • Managed a difficult transition caused by construction and licensing delays, and financial challenges

    School Startup Director

    20142015
    Amity Education Group, Dubai, UAE

    Led the start-up team to establish a new state-of-the-art British school

    • Wrote the Academic Plan and secured government authorization for the school
    • Recruited the principal, and faculty and staff members
    • Led the development of the marketing plan, wrote content and oversaw implementation
    • Developed admission criteria, policies and procedures
    • Developed a UK curriculum for Foundation Stage through Key Stage Four
    • Sourced furniture, equipment, materials, supplies and professional services
    • Represented Amity in weekly progress meetings during construction of a 3,000 student state-of-the-art school
    • Opened Amity’s second preschool, recruited preschool manager and teachers, and supervised two preschool managers

    Principal

    20122014
    Glenelg School of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Served as Male Campus Principal for grades six through twelve

    • Provided leadership to develop a standards-based curriculum based on Common Core Standards
    • Provided faculty leadership to transition from lecture-based teaching to project- and inquiry-based teaching and facilitated significant improvement in student learning
    • Led a transition from exam-based assessment to formative and summative assessment
    • Facilitated the development of a positive faculty culture and collaboration following a difficult period in the school’s history that led to low faculty morale and high faculty turnover
    • Served on the accreditation leadership team and obtained accreditation from the MSACS
    • Supervised, supported, coached and evaluated approximately 70 faculty and staff members, including department chairs, teachers and counselors

    President and Principal Consultant

    20082012
    Hollinger International, Maryland, USA

    School consultant and leadership coach serving private, public and charter schools

    • Designed comprehensive educational programs, including International Baccalaureate Programmes, management and staffing plans, business plans, and marketing, recruitment and admission plans for new private, international and charter schools
    • Conducted school evaluations, developed school improvement plans and provided ongoing consulting services to achieve school improvement goals
    • Conducted feasibility studies and developed business plans to start and expand schools
    • Inspected and evaluated schools for governmental and accrediting agencies

    Founder and Head of School

    19882008
    Rock Creek and Coeus International Schools

    Founded, developed and led two International Baccalaureate schools

    • Developed and offered dual-language immersion International Baccalaureate programmes in English and Arabic, French, Greek, Mandarin and Spanish, which achieved excellent academic, linguistic and social results for students from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds
    • Created a dynamic and engaging learning environment featuring a transdisciplinary curriculum, and inquiry-based, project-based and experiential learning
    • Structured schools so that high percentages of the student body were low-income students
    • Set up international exchange programs globally to promote cross-cultural understanding
    • Tailored curriculum and teaching to serve students with diverse learning styles
    • Designed and implemented strategic plans for organizational growth and development, including comprehensive marketing, branding, sales, financial, staffing and campus expansion strategies to compete successfully against significantly stronger schools
    • Developed distinctive school concept and brand, assessed the market and identified target markets
    • Conducted high-impact marketing campaigns
    • Created diverse school communities and a culture of respect for all students regardless of economic, cultural or linguistic backgrounds
    • Created and sustained a healthy faculty culture characterized by innovation, growth and teamwork
    • Designed, organized and provided professional development services
    • Designed an innovative “Faculty Support, Evaluation and Compensation System” that linked performance to compensation, resulting in significant performance improvement and revenue gains
    • Built partnerships with corporations, foundations, governments, NGOs, schools and universities in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America to enhance services and raise funds
    • Obtained authorization from the IB and accreditation from the MSACS, and received commendations for high quality programs from both organizations
    • Raised over $1M philanthropically from foundations, governments, corporations, NGOs and constituents, and over $1.4M in capital
    • Managed five campus acquisitions, zoning changes, architectural design and build-out, and delivered projects under deadlines and within budgets

    Director

    19871988
    FLOC Learning Center

    Directed K-12 school for seriously emotionally disturbed and learning disabled students.

    Lecturer

    19861987
    American University and Marymount University

    Taught university courses.

    Resource Teacher

    19831984
    US Virgin Islands Department of Education

    Assessed and taught students with special education needs, provided consultation for classroom teachers and developed IEPs

    Principal and Teacher

    19751976
    Wood Corner School

    Taught Amish and Mennonite children in grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse

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