GESS Education to run webinar dedicated to mental resilience and wellbeing on 12 May
The webinar "Building Emotional and Mental Resilience in Uncertain Times" will be chaired and moderated by Gilda Scarfe, CEO and Founder, Positive ED and will feature Mark Samways, Head of Positive Education (Years 7-10), Dubai College, Natassja Williams, Deputy Head of Wellbeing (Whole School), Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and Ashley Green, Wellbeing Coordinator, JESS Dubai.
Taking place on 12 May 2020 13:00 BST, 16:00 GST, our speakers will discuss tips to persevere through difficult times and emerge with confidence. Attendees will also find out how some people just bounce back when they face any challenges or adversities and learn their secrets of how to roll with the blows life throws at them with an almost effortless ease. Listen in to find out what skills you can build to normalise challenges and become more mentally tough.
The webinar format will be a panel session and you will have the opportunity to ask questions to our experienced panel of eductors. Click here to sign up for the webinar
Gilda Scarfe, CEO and Founder, Positive ED
Gilda Scarfe is the CEO and Founder of Positive Ed a global and innovative educational consultancy using research to develop, implement and evaluate mental toughness, wellbeing and 21st century skills in schools through programme design and pedagogical approaches.With a master’s degree in educational leadership along with undergraduate degrees Comparative Literature and Law and post graduate degree in psychology and over 15 years facilitating in business performance and education contexts, Gilda specialises in creating curriculum that are evidence based, meaningful, make a powerful impression and have a long lasting effect. She is an expert in helping people understand and effectively play to their character strengths.
She has worked with teams across the private and state funded schools to promote and embed positive psychology interventions as a whole school approach. Her work has included strategic planning for designing, delivering and implementing wellbeing and mental toughness programmes in schools, framework redesign for primary and secondary schools, as well as strengths-based coaching using the VIA instrument. She has been responsible for the organisation and implementation of the Positive Psychology/Education strategy at several grammar schools in the UK, Singapore, UAE, Nigeria and Thailand and has supported the strategic direction and implementation of Illuminate Education a non-profit organisation promoting Positive Education initiatives. Gilda’s research focuses on character education, emotional intelligence in education, leading change, positive education, strategic planning in education and wellbeing education. In particular, she is interested in how school leaders establish cultures to enable positive learning and wellbeing environments
Mark Samways, Head of Positive Education (Years 7-10), Dubai College
Mark Samways is a CDA licensed Psychologist who works in a dual role of School Counsellor and Head of Positive Education (Years 7-10) at Dubai College. Dubai College has recently implemented a whole school approach to wellbeing with a bespoke Positive Education programme.
Natassja Williams, Deputy Head of Wellbeing (Whole School), Cranleigh Abu Dhabi
Natassja qualified with a BA Hons in Dance Studies from Roehampton University, and a PGCE in Secondary Dance from the University of Hertfordshire. She has taught in both Primary and Secondary schools in London, and also has been fully involved in the pastoral side of education since beginning her teaching career in 2009. No doubt Cranleighans will be inspired by her passionate and caring approach.
Natassja writes: “I am thrilled to be part of Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s learning community being able to combine my two passions of Dance and pastoral is truly an educational dream of mine. I believe the arts are an essential element of education; developing pupil’s confidence, creativity and imagination. This lead me into my pathway of pastoral and safeguarding support. Children can only learn when they are happy, supported, guided and nurtured through their educational journey. All teachers have a role in the social and emotional development of every child they teach and it is vital to ensure every child has access to a positive and progressive learning experience.
I have spent many years supporting and helping children to develop their self- belief, resilience and confidence through the medium of Dance but these “tools” are needed in any subject and in any situation. I am truly an advocate for a “holistic” educational experience and that is what I and the staffing body foster and create at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi. Learning is not just in the classroom and it is not just in books.
Creating 21st century learners who are all rounded global citizens is our priority. We ensure our children at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi develop, foster and embed the “tools for life” to ensure not just an outstanding learning experience but a successful journey into adult hood.”
Ashley Green, Wellbeing Coordinator, JESS Dubai
Ashley is a teacher from Scotland who graduated 12 years ago from the University of Glasgow. She moved to Dubai shortly after has been teaching in the Emirate for 9 years. Five of those years have been in JESS Dubai, an outstanding, prestigious school in the region where she is a class teacher and Well-Being coordinator. Passionate about well-being not just for the children but for the staff, Ashley often shares ideas about mindfulness, character strengths and many other positive psychology constructs to nurture the children and take steps towards multidimensional flourishing within the community. Her website www.mindfulteachinguae.com was created with educators and parents in mind; resources are available to support the children to enhance their well-being. Ashley has spoken at many conferences in Dubai about well-being. She has shared best practice at events such as GESS, IPSEF, MENA (now known as Teach to Lead) What Works and was part of a KHDA team who presented at the IPEN conference in China in 2017. Ashley has also delivered training sessions at other schools to support well-being journeys in the region. As part of ongoing research, Ashley is learning about supporting teachers to flourish in education. She also loves to speak to educators at the start of the well-being journey at their school and facilitate the sharing of practice between delegates.
