Farihan Abou Zanad
Al Khobar
Summary
Transformative Educational Leader with 30 years of experience in engineering educational systems and enhancing human capabilities. Established schools, designed innovative curricula, and spearheaded digital and academic transformations. Currently leveraging international expertise in the Science of Reading and instructional leadership to advance local education, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Training and Program Development Specialist / Literacy & Early Childhood Coach
Numou Center for Education
Al Khobar
01.2023 - Current
- Self-Renewing School Initiative (Public School, Dammam): Collaborated within a specialized expert team to empower the school leadership and teaching staff to adopt and construct the "Self-Renewing School" operational model.
- Academic Performance Elevation: Enabled teachers to boost academic performance by developing supportive learning environments tailored to students' needs.
- Al-Ula Education Development Initiative (2023): Co-designed professional certificates and delivered specialized training tracks for public school teachers, supervised by the Royal Commission for AlUla, delivering practical modern teaching strategies and monitoring field impact.
- Training Content Engineering: authored and customized specialized training portfolios in phonological awareness, behaviour management, and literacy instruction (including establishing classroom libraries), while delivering targeted coaching sessions for school teachers and leaders.
Educational Supervisor & Head of KG and Lower Elementary Department (Grades 1-3)
Admire International Academy
Dammam
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Restructuring & Capability Building: Led a comprehensive institutional turnaround plan to upgrade classroom environments and optimize teacher performance through tailored workshops on time management, classroom management, and active learning centers.
- Created after-school enrichment paths and specialised learning centres for struggling readers and advanced high-achievers, enhancing engagement through targeted reading, drama, and creative writing programmes.
- Developed and implemented digital archiving and documentation system for all academic and administrative files, ensuring quality control and accessibility.
Educational Supervisor & Head of KG and Lower Elementary Department (Grades 1-3)
Aspire International Academy
Al Khobar
01.2012 - 01.2022
- Established KG and lower elementary departments by selecting international curricula, provisioning textbooks, and sourcing pedagogical materials to create a cohesive educational framework.
- Directed full transition to digital learning, auditing academic processes and teacher strategies via "Classera" platform during distance learning to sustain student engagement.
- Managed and resolved student-centred educational conflicts while organising large-scale institutional events, school fairs, and annual graduation ceremonies to foster community involvement.
Academic Coordinator & Head of KG and Lower Elementary Department
Sun Gardens School
Al Khobar
01.2009 - 01.2012
- Supervised and embedded self-directed, project-based learning methodologies, overseeing student-led initiatives like the book series “Learning About My Homeland” and “My Rights and Duties,” fostering critical thinking and collaboration skills.
- Conceptualized, piloted, and launched high-impact student programs, including "The Life Triangle," "Children as Authors," and "Children Are the New Media," enhancing student engagement and creativity.
- Structured and established comprehensive administrative, educational, and storage frameworks for new facility, officially representing school in media, television broadcasts, and educational conferences, enhancing institutional visibility and community engagement.
Educational Supervisor / Head Teacher / Kindergarten Teacher
Gulf Girl Association (Early Childhood Centre)
Al Khobar
01.1993 - 01.2008
- Supervision & Empowerment (2001 – 2008): Led the academic supervision for KG1, KG2, and KG3 tiers, managing curriculum planning, transferring expert insights from international conferences, and running collaborative calibration workshops for the teaching staff.
- Founding the "LET US READ" Curriculum: Contributed as core architect to establishment of original "LET US READ" (هيا نقرأ) literacy program and produced instructional videos for regional training reference.
- Individual Intervention Plans: Chaired professional learning community meetings to develop highly differentiated learning paths for struggling and gifted students, enhancing their academic engagement.
- Early Pedagogical Beginnings (1993 – 1994): Formulated daily lesson structures and created active learning aids within a collaborative team to foster children's cognitive and psychological growth across all developmental domains.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Kindergarten Management
College of Cambridge
Morocco01-2006
Educational Diploma - Kindergarten
Gulf Girl Association
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia01-1993
Skills
- Program development
- Curriculum development
- Coaching techniques
- Project-based learning
- Performance evaluation
- Educational leadership
- Strategic planning
- Innovative thinking
- Influential leadership
- Team Leadership
- Classroom management
Languages
Arabic
English
Custom
- Certified Professional in Standards-Based Education (CBCI), Mind Bridge
- Certified Educational Coach (Coaching Accreditation Program - CAP), Growth Coaching International (GCI)
- Diploma in Montessori Method of Education, American International Board for Professional Training (AIBPT)
- Licensed Trainer of Trainers (TOT), Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) / ATAD Knowledge Center, KSA
- TAMAM Leader for Sustainable School Development, American University of Beirut (AUB)
- Professional Certificate in Introduction to Literacy Development (PCILD-CQ), London School of Business & Administration (LSBA)
- Certified Instructional Coach, Instructional Coaching Institute, USA
- Effective Learning Environments Observation Tool (eleot 2.0) Certificant, Cognia (4.0)
- Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) Quality Auditor Certificate
- Cooperative Learning Training Program Certificate, Dhahran Ahliyya Schools
- Learning Outcomes Training Program Certificate, Dhahran Ahliyya Schools
Timeline
Training and Program Development Specialist / Literacy & Early Childhood Coach
Numou Center for Education
01.2023 - Current
Educational Supervisor & Head of KG and Lower Elementary Department (Grades 1-3)
Admire International Academy
01.2022 - 01.2023
Educational Supervisor & Head of KG and Lower Elementary Department (Grades 1-3)
Aspire International Academy
01.2012 - 01.2022
Academic Coordinator & Head of KG and Lower Elementary Department
Sun Gardens School
01.2009 - 01.2012
Educational Supervisor / Head Teacher / Kindergarten Teacher
Gulf Girl Association (Early Childhood Centre)
01.1993 - 01.2008
Bachelor of Science - Kindergarten Management
College of Cambridge
Educational Diploma - Kindergarten
Gulf Girl Association