New Senior Associate Bill Turner Leads Dubai Job Fair

Search Associates has struck gold again with the new addition of Senior Associate Bill Turner, who brings over 33 years’ experience in international education. Bill will take over from David Cope to lead the Search Associates Dubai Fair, supported by his wife Alison, who has been Primary Head Teacher and School Principal in five schools in the UK, Dubai and, presently, in Thailand. Her expertise at the primary level enables them as a team to cover the 3-18 range in their support of schools and teachers.

As a school head with so many years’ experience in meeting the recruitment needs of aspirational teachers and aspirational schools, Bill is excited about building great relationships with all parties and further developing his professional leadership. He believes that “international education is the single most important opportunity to teach people globally that our differences are far fewer than our similarities.” He explains, “It is a huge privilege and responsibility to be joining one of the world’s most established and successful education recruitment organizations. In Dubai alone more than 15 new schools will open this year. The world of international education needs great educators. My role is to support schools and teachers in finding the right matches in order to build the kind of globally-responsible and forward-thinking learning communities the world needs.”

Bill’s career started at age 22, when he had a revelation teaching his Sudanese secondary English class. A fire burned bright within him, and he recognized the profound influence that his words could have to better young lives. Recently, an English student from over 30 years ago confirmed this when she contacted Bill to tell him that his advice had helped inspire and shape her successful career as a published author. His optimism stems from his firm belief in Mandela’s statement, “I never lose. I either win or learn.”

Bill has a colorful career in leadership roles within reputable international schools. His three positions as Head Teacher/Principal covered two Middle Eastern countries and the British system, as well as the IB and American AP programs. Bill began his career in education in 1982, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of East Anglia. He later earned a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate from International House in London and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. After teaching for several years, he later completed his NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship), and became a GCSE examiner.

For the past 11 years, Bill has brought his school leadership skills to positions in the Middle East, where he has also become an accredited inspector with British Schools in the Middle East (BSME). From 2010-2014 Bill earned the rating “Outstanding Leadership” in all Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) inspections. He has held positions as the Secondary Head teacher/Deputy Principal at Al Khor International School, Qatar; Middle/High School Principal at GEMS World Academy-Dubai; Founding Secondary Head Teacher and School Principal at two sister-schools in Dubai: Kings’ School Al Barsha and Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba. He has been recognized in many articles in UAE newspapers and educational media, mostly regarding his expertise in Third Culture Kids and Emotional Intelligence.

Bill’s successful career was shaped by building wonderful staff rooms, a prerequisite to providing children with the outstanding lessons they deserve. However, Bill says his greatest learning experience comes from bringing up three boys. He is also a linguist–speaking Italian well, French not quite so well, and is a novice at Arabic. Bill’s favorite travel destinations include DR Congo, Jordan, Florence, Cornwall, and London. Aside from his love of the great outdoors, Bill enjoys art, literature, and sports. As an educator and a father, Bill advises, “Every single word you say has the potential to change a young person’s life for the better.”