Dara Ryan

Hello, my name is Dara and I’m an Advanced Skills Teacher at GFS. I joined the school in February 2025, bringing with me a broad range of experience from teaching and leadership roles in Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, South Korea, and the UK. In my previous role as Deputy Head in Saudi Arabia, I worked to meaningfully align British curriculum standards with the local cultural and Islamic context – a responsibility that deepened my appreciation for culturally responsive leadership. I’ve always been drawn to school communities that value diversity, prioritise inclusion, and take the time to understand each child as an individual – which is exactly what I’ve found at GFS.

Originally from Ireland, I trained in the British system and have led teaching and learning across Early Years, Primary, and Lower Secondary. I recently completed a Master’s in Educational Leadership, with my research focusing on instructional coaching and the conditions that enable meaningful and sustainable improvements in classroom practice.

I’m passionate about supporting teachers to develop purposeful, engaging and adaptive classrooms where all students feel confident, curious and capable. In my role at GFS, I work across the school to strengthen teaching and learning through instructional coaching, professional development and collaboration. I particularly enjoy working alongside teachers and leaders to build leadership capacity, develop evidence-informed practice and translate school improvement priorities into practical strategies that make a genuine difference to students’ experiences and outcomes.