We enjoyed and learned so much from our first interview with Dave McMaster that we spoke with him a second time! If you missed the first interview on what it is like to start an international school, definitely take a listen to that one – it’s Episode 74. Dave also recorded two Going Global Stories for us so head to our Educators Going Global information hub to find those stories.
Dave McMaster has 35 years of K-12 education experience, primarily in leadership roles across Canada, Hong Kong, and Bahrain. He joined the Esol organization in Bahrain in September 2018, and led the founding team in establishing and constructing the American School of Bahrain, which opened its doors in September 2020. The school began with just over 100 students amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has grown to nearly 800 students in its first five years of operation.
Prior to this role, Dave served as Principal and Head of School at the Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) from 2002 to 2014. During his tenure, he spearheaded the authorization process for the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). Within six years of achieving DP status, CDNIS students ranked in the top 10% of IB schools worldwide, and CDNIS was recognized as the top international school in Hong Kong for seven consecutive years. Dave has founded three schools, with the most recent being the American School of Bahrain.
Dave’s authenticity as an educational leader is a recognized force that motivates students, teachers, parents, staff, and management to continually advance the status quo, ensuring excellence in educational provision and learning. With a lifelong passion for education, he strongly believes that cultivating a school culture based on mutual respect, happiness, and high yet realistic expectations will lead to a successful and fruitful educational experience for students. He emphasizes what he calls the "smile index" as a key barometer for assessing a school's success. Additionally, Dave possesses extensive experience in recruiting, hiring, and retaining top international educators, which he considers crucial to the success of founding ASB.
Dave holds a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education and a Bachelor of Education from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He also earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University.
Our Guiding Question was, “What is it like teaching and living in the Middle East?”
Here are a few of the topics covered in this episode:
What teachers can experience teaching in a fairly typical Middle Eastern international school
Some advantages of and expectations for living in the Middle East as expats, particularly in Bahrain
Other Bahrain-specific stories
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Dave's Contact Information:
The show was recorded on February 16, 2025.
Categories: School Life | Travel | Recruiting | Bahrain
