Sean McGarvey

Sean is entering his seventh year at GEMS Dubai American Academy (DAA), having been involved in education since 2007. Prior to joining DAA, Sean served as a classroom teacher and Assistant Principal in a public school in Dublin, Ireland. Sean is passionate about student wellbeing and believes in the importance of fostering positive relationships within the entire school community.

Sean holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Dublin City University. During his time at DAA, he has earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership & Management.

Sean has taken on various roles at DAA, including Social Studies teacher, Head of Grade, and Middle School Dean of Students. After focusing on wellbeing and behavior management in his recent roles, he is excited to step into his current position as Middle School curriculum lead. His leadership is driven by a commitment to creating a supportive, engaging, and student-centered learning environment.

Sean’s wife, Lisa, is also part of the DAA community, working as an ELL teacher in the Middle School. They have two young children, Naoise, who will turn three in October, and Cadhla, who also celebrates her first birthday that month. Outside of school, Sean enjoys playing Gaelic Football with a local team in Dubai and loves to travel—particularly when it means returning to Ireland to visit family and friends.