The Leadership Series 2025 with Josh Doubleday
By The Leadership Series
Mr Josh Doubleday – Principal at iCademy Middle East

Ralph Recruitment were delighted to speak with Mr Doubleday, an experienced educational administrator with a demonstrated history of working in all divisions of the education management industry. Josh has many years in educational leadership experience in both American and British curriculum international schools.

Can you give us a sense of what life is like as an expat in Dubai?

Life as an expat in Dubai has been a very positive experience for my family and I. It is a very modern and cosmopolitan city with so many modern conveniences as well as a wide variety of extra curricular opportunities for my daughters.

My advice to new teachers or leaders moving to Dubai would be to watch your spending. That being said, if you are smart with your finances, there is great savings potential.

Tell us a little about your school and its values.

iCademy Middle East is an online and blended learning school dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized education to students worldwide. We aim to develop confident, lifelong learners and multilingual citizens who can thrive in today’s interconnected world. We believe that high-quality learning encompasses the following core characteristics, skills, and attributes: independence, self-discipline, critical thinking and collaboration.

Our vision is to create a dynamic and challenging learning environment that integrates technology with a rigorous and engaging curriculum. We are committed to delivering individualized education within a global context, inspiring students to reach the highest standards of intellectual and personal development.

How many years have you been in leadership? What is your leadership style?

I have been in leadership for more than 10 years now. I believe in the servant leadership style. I am here to serve my school community and feel strongly in being visible, approachable and an active listener. I also believe that I also need to lead by example to maintain a strong and positive school community.

What do you look for when hiring new teachers and/or leaders?

I look for enthusiastic, positive and outgoing individuals who will make our school a better place for our students and colleagues. I am looking for energy and professional drive. I also look for resumes that show varied and interesting experiences and interests.

What advice do you have for someone interviewing for an international teaching position?

Learn about the school before you interview.

I want to know if someone has taken the time and initiative to learn about iCademy before meeting us. I want the teacher to learn about what makes us unique and why they think our school would be a good fit for them professionally.

If the teacher hasn’t taken the time to learn about our iCademy prior to meeting with us, I would question how serious they are about joining our team.

What advice would you give to new teachers moving abroad for the first time?

Expect ups and downs. It will not always be easy, nor will it always be hard. You will miss family and friends and you will question your choices. But in the end, you will realize that this experience will enrich your life and change the perspective you had about the world and different cultures.

Where do you see the future of education headed? 5-10 years from now? Will there be a greater emphasis on technology, curriculum etc?

In the next five years and beyond, more schools will be attempting to offer a more personalized educational experience to their students and this may include offering a digital option. iCademy has been leading in this field for more than 15 years. We have developed an incredible bespoke platform and curriculum that is personalized to each learner and we continue to enhance aspects of the program to compliment the student experience.

Any personal motto or philosophy that you live by?

There are a couple that I live by and also pass along to my students.

The first is a quote by Plato who wrote: “Be kind and caring for everyone is fighting a battle.”

The second is a question that I often ask students, especially those in high school. I ask:” Are you trying your hardest? If not, why?” I ask these questions because our efforts in high school can have far reaching and long lasting effects on our future determining where we get accepted to College/University, and to what program which impacts our future careers and professions.