Clarion School epitomises the future of education with its progressive American curriculum. At Clarion, they embrace a personalized learning approach that acknowledges and respects the individual journey of each student. Its community is vibrant and diverse, with students representing over 60 nationalities, fostering a rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences.
Central to its ethos is a focus on student well-being, ensuring that each child is not only academically nurtured but also emotionally and socially supported. At Clarion School, education is not just about knowledge but about instilling a lifelong love for learning.
Discover an exceptional learning experience at Clarion School. Its innovative curriculum fosters creativity, critical thinking, and global citizenship. State-of-the-art facilities, dedicated educators, and a diverse community prepare students for a dynamic future. The school recognises each child’s unique learning path, with its flexible environments catering to individual needs, whether they prefer a desk or a beanbag.
Learning extends beyond the classroom, making education relevant and engaging through real-world applications. Moreover, enrichment opportunities are designed to stimulate creative and physical development alongside intellectual curiosity.
Clarion School focuses on instilling a lifelong love for learning, going beyond mere test preparation to ensure relevance in a rapidly changing world. Teachers are not just instructors either; they are dedicated mentors who engage students deeply in the learning process through personalised guidance.
Clarion School is grounded in the belief that true education extends beyond academic excellence, cultivating a generation that is adaptable, curious, and equipped with the skills necessary for continuous personal and professional growth.
Clarion School is the only progressive American school in the UAE, placing at the forefront of educational excellence.
Welcome to Clarion School, where we are redefining the purpose of K-12 education in Dubai with our progressive American curriculum approach. Guided by over 45 years of visionary leadership, we are more than just a school; we are a catalyst for lifelong learning and growth.
Together, let’s inspire a lifelong love for learning and empower students to shape a brighter future for themselves and the world.
Larry Thaxter
Principal
“Education is the kindling of the flame, not the filling of the vessel.”
Larry brings twenty-seven years of experience as a school district administrator, including seven years as an Assistant Principal, fifteen years as a Principal and five years as a central office administrator (Director or Superintendent). He is a proven advocate for the success of all stakeholders, particularly students. He has also been a designated senior lead for Safeguarding since 2016.
Larry’s experiences include the American, Canadian and International Baccalaureate educational programs across K-12. He is Penta 3 Certified School Inspector and holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Education from the University of Lethbridge.
Larry believes that children at Clarion develop holistically, challenge themselves and will graduate being the best version of themselves.
His hobbies and passion include – weight training, sports (basketball, tennis, and ice hockey), and working on cars.
Suzanne Rodricks
Vice Principal
An educator for 31 years, Suzanne joins Clarion from our Scholars International Group sister school Dubai Scholars, where she has been Head of EYFS/Lower Primary since 2016. Her mission at Dubai Scholars was to challenge the status of teaching and learning in the EYFS/Lower Primary program, which has successfully resulted in the rise of the KHDA rating to “Very Good”.
Recently, Suzanne was invited to join the Harvard University Graduate School of Education beta program for planning and teaching for online learning at the Harvard Principal’s Center. In 2019, she received the 24th ICTEL best paper accommodation at the TERA (Teaching and Education Research Association) International Conference on Teaching, Education & Learning. This winter, Suzanne will present with Dr. Shafali Tsabary at the Global Tipping Point Summit on the topic “Nurturing Creativity with the Arts”.
Suzanne holds a Master’s of Special Education and a Bachelor of Education from S.N.D.T Women’s University, Mumbai, and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College, University of Bombay.
Janet O’ Keeffe
Executive Principal and Governor for Safeguarding & Inclusion
Janet O’ Keeffe is the Executive Principal & the Governor for Safeguarding and Inclusion across all Scholars International Group (SIG) schools. Her role is to support and hold school leadership to account in realizing the school’s improvement plans while fulfilling the school’s vision and mission as the leading progressive school in the UAE. Prior to joining SIG, Janet was the driving force leading accrediting qualifications and growth of the Fortes schools in Dubai, as well as the chain of Jumeirah International Nurseries.
She has lived and worked in Dubai for 20 years. During that time, she has taken on multiple leadership positions including Head of School, Head of School Operations and Corporate Advisor. The schools she oversaw achieved very good and outstanding inspection ratings from the KHDA and are recognized for delivering innovative curricula in the UAE.
Nada Iskandar
Phase Head of Early Years
Head of Student Assessment and Student Progress Designated Safeguarding Lead
“When we encourage children to question, we teach them the most powerful tool they will need in an ever-changing world.” An early years educator with thirteen years of teaching experience in Dubai, she brings her experience, knowledge of how children develop and UAE culture to her classroom. She is an innovator of learning spaces, a growth mindset enthusiast and a believer in the power of grit.
Nada joined Clarion in August 2019 as a classroom teacher and later joined Clarion’s Leadership Team as Head of School and Student Assessment. Her classroom teaching experiences and leadership positions held at progressive IB schools give her a unique background to add to Clarion as we strengthen our assessment and evaluation practices. In 2018, Nada was nominated for the GESS Education Award for Innovation in Education for the creativity of developing and utilizing outdoor learning areas. In 2021, Nada completed her NEASC visitor training and is very excited to start her journey as an ACE-approved visitor.
She holds a Master’s of Arts in Education, Education Leadership, Learning & Technology, from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan.
Aisha Brooks
Phase Head of Elementary
Head of Curriculum
Aisha is a highly qualified Educational Leader, Training Facilitator, Curriculum Coordinator, and Literacy Specialist. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Reading and Elementary Education Minor in Social Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC, U.S.A., and holds a Master’s Degree in Reading Education from the same institute. With a combined 20 years of experience as an educator, she is highly skilled to develop curriculum, policy, pacing, and cross-curricular guides. She is also experienced in strategic curriculum modeling, development, and implementation.
Blanca Hindle
Phase Head of Middle School
Head of Teaching and Learning
With over 20 years of experience in education, Blanca brings a wealth of expertise to our school. She has held several leadership positions in Florida, USA, including Vice Principal, Project Director, Math Coach, Design Head for Professional Development Programs, and Curriculum Support Specialist. Blanca also led the Curriculum Council responsible for all school-wide curriculum decisions for Grades K-12 at her previous school.
As an experienced educator for the gifted and talented students, Blanca emphasizes the importance of setting high targets for students to improve their learning outcomes. As a Project Director for STREAMing in action at the M-DCPS Department of Mathematics and Science, she successfully planned, developed, implemented, and evaluated programs, services, and activities to ensure they met state objectives.
Blanca holds a Master of Science in Sociology with an emphasis in Education and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, both from Grand Canyon University. In the new academic year, Blanca will serve as our Head of Teaching and Learning across the school, and the Phase Head for Grades 4 to 7.
We are thrilled to have Blanca as part of our warm community and believe that her valuable contributions, expertise, and leadership will significantly enhance our educational program, providing our students with even greater learning experience at Clarion.
