David Hutson is our Head of School. David has been a passionate educator for 20 years, starting as a Business and Economics teacher, before moving into senior leadership positions in two UK schools. In 2011, he moved to Abu Dhabi to join an international school, in its foundation year, as Vice Principal. David then spent six successful years at the same school as the Principal. 

David completed a BA (Honours) European Business degree, at the University of Leicester, which included one year studying at the University of Catania, Sicily, as part of a languages programme. This developed his interest in the field of Business and Economics inspiring his postgraduate certificate in teaching. After several years of teaching both subjects in the UK, he moved into senior leadership positions in two UK schools and enjoyed being a member of the Equality and Diversity Forum, an organisation working on equality, human rights and social justice issues. David has achieved an MSc in Education and Training Management, and holds the National Professional Qualification for Head Teachers. In addition, he is a certified School Inspector and a Council of International Schools Evaluator.

Martha Hirschman has joined Dwight School Dubai, as the Head of Lower School, for the remainder of the September 2021-2022  August academic year. 

Ms. Hirschman received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Michigan, and a Masters of Fine Arts from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

She has spent most of her professional life in the independent school community in New York City. Ms. Hirschman has taken on many positions of leadership that include Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Assistant Head of School, and most
recently the Head of Lower School of Dwight School New York. 

Miss Katie Hendry, who has previously taught at Dwight London for 3 years, is a trained international school educator. Miss Hendry has held teaching positions in grades 1, 3 and 5, and additionally has held middle leadership positions at both Dwight Schools.

Miss Hendry completed her bachelor degree in International Teaching Education for Primary Schools at the University of Applied Sciences in Meppel, the Netherlands. Following her bachelor degree, Miss Hendry completed the Newly Qualified Teacher training in London during her first year of teaching there.

Miss Hendry is a passionate IB PYP educator and has completed several IB Workshops to develop her professional practice. Additionally, Miss Hendry visited the Dwight New York campus in 2018 to participate in the Frontier Teacher Training, during which innovation and design in education was promoted.

Outside of work, Miss Hendry enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible. Whether that is long hikes in the mountains on the weekends, running around the marina, spending time at the beach, or travelling to exotic places. Miss Hendry also likes developing her language skills and she is currently taking Spanish lessons.

Over the last 20 years, Ms. Rachel Smyth has taught and held senior leadership positions in a variety of international settings; previously serving as a Director of Sport and Co-Curricular, Head of Pastoral Care, Head of Middle School and as Assistant Principal in a successful IB school in Abu Dhabi. Ms. Smyth began her career as a high school teacher in England, before travelling abroad and working in international schools in Botswana, China and the UAE. Committed to the notion of lifelong learning, Ms. Smyth holds a B.Ed. (honours) in Physical Education and Humanities from Bedford, an MA in Education from Liverpool University and is currently undertaking her Doctoral studies with the University of Bath, UK. She also holds an international qualification for school inspection. Ms. Smyth is passionate about creating a dynamic learning environment, characterised by high expectations and challenge, which enables students to flourish. An advocate of student voice and leadership, she believes strongly in promoting a holistic approach to education where student aspirations and wellbeing are at the forefront of their success.

Peter brings to his role more than 16 years of experience teaching the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and has held senior leadership positions in schools in the U.K., Italy and the UAE, with his subject specialisms being Business Management and Economics. Through his work as an IB Workshop Leader he has facilitated training for over 150+ IB Coordinators and Senior Leaders, as well as being a Senior Examiner for IB Business Management and the IB Extended Essay. 

Ms. Jaya Bhavnani is currently the Executive Director of Dwight Global Online School. Instrumental in founding the program with Chancellor Stephen Spahn, she works closely with all areas of Dwight School to ensure that Dwight's online program meets the standards of excellence for which the school is known and ignites the spark of genius in every online student.

Ms. Bhavnani came to Dwight in 2010 with extensive experience in international education in public and private schools in Bombay, Muscat, Dubai and Santiago. Ms. Bhavnani has been actively involved with the International Baccalaureate as a Workshop Leader, Site Evaluator, Consultant, Examiner and Curriculum Reviewer. She is the Lead Facilitator for the Group 5 and Continuum Online Workshops in the Diploma Programme. She serves on the Evaluation Team for the CIS (Council for International Schools). She has served as a frequent guest contributor for professional development and curriculum alignment and review.  She holds a BS in Education and Physics and a MS in Mathematics. She has an interest for learning languages and internationalism. A passionate educator, Ms. Bhavnani firmly believes in the power of life-long learning!

Dr. Neha Sharma has been living in the UAE for 25 years and has witnessed inclusion evolve tremendously during this period. She has previously held the senior leadership position as Head of Inclusion at an International IB Curriculum School.

Mrs. Sharma is currently employed in the position of Head of Inclusion at one of the most prestigious government schools following the UK curriculum in Dubai.

Mrs. Sharma graduated from the University of Bombay with a B.E (hons) in Engineering before obtaining a Masters in Inclusive and Special Education from the University of Birmingham (British University in Dubai campus). This unusual journey was inspired by her daughter, a person of determination. Following her passion for inclusion, she will be completing her PhD in Gifted Education from British University in Dubai soon and joining our school as Dr Sharma. Her passion includes setting up an exemplary Gifted Education Program at Dwight School Dubai.

Mrs. Sharma was rated as an ‘Exceptional’ Head of Inclusion by KHDA during their inspections in 2018. Under her leadership, the inclusion department won the 2nd best SEND team in the UAE award by Education Journal Middle East Awards in 2017. She is the recipient of the prestigious Prof. Indira Parikh Award for Women in Education Leaders organized by the World Education Congress in India in 2018. Mrs. Sharma presented her research proposal at the UAE Graduate Students Research Conference in 2019.

Mrs. Sharma has also completed the CPT3A qualification and is a licensed assessor with the British Psychological Society. She has chaired the CIS accreditation committee for the Access to Teaching and Learning section at her previous school. She has completed levels 1-3 in Safeguarding and child protection, first aid in mental health, positive education and ASDAN vocational programs.

Beyond work, Mrs. Sharma enjoys reading, cooking, and listening to Indian music.