Dubai private schools focus attention on teacher selection and connection to students

According to Dr. Michael Gemma, Head of School at Bradenton Preparatory Academy, opening this September at Dubai Sports City, his main objective now is to find teachers who will embrace the Bradenton ethos: "Hiring high quality teachers is my biggest responsibility today. When that door closes, it's just the teacher and the students. That's where it happens. A school's strength is built on its teachers. Parents and students need to have confidence in the teaching faculty, and it is my job at Bradenton to ensure that they do."

"With over 30 years experience in the education sector, Michael Gemma says that enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge is key to being a successful teacher: "The best teachers bring a passion to everything they do, in and around the classroom. My role is to feed that passion and let them run with it. Students are successful in a significant way because of the person inspiring them,"

added Dr Gemma.

The learning environment at Bradenton Prep will provide students of all ages with a fully-rounded education that combines academic excellence and extra-curricular success. A key criterion for Bradenton is to ensure that classes have a comfortable student-teacher ratio. The school operates with a maximum of 18 students per teacher, thereby ensuring that students receive individualised attention," concluded Dr Gemma.

Parents also play a crucial role in their child's development through school. According to Michael Gemma, a true partnership between parents and teachers is a recipe for academic and extra-curricular success:

"Parents absolutely have to get involved and be supportive. The link between the school and the home is crucial. Once that's established, the student can achieve anything."

Bradenton Preparatory Academy students will have a unique and sought after opportunity to benefit from the accredited coaching programmes and excellent sporting facilities offered at the Dubai Sports City Academies Campus - which is situated immediately adjacent to Bradenton Preparatory Academy - thus providing a fully-integrated learning environment.

Bradenton Preparatory Academy in Florida has a documented success rate of placing 99 percent of its students in university, whilst the other one percent typically embarks on a career in professional sport.

The Dubai Campus spans more than 130,000 square feet and includes a kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, high school, auditorium, gymnasium, fully equipped science laboratories, a performing arts centre, and two art rooms.

The academy's American College Preparatory curriculum covers a wide range of subject areas including English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Performing Art, and Music. Arabic language and cultural studies will also be offered to all students.

Initial registrations are now being taken for the new school year starting in September 2009 for boys and girls from kindergarten, through to grade 9.