Mr Chris Nitsche

Chris graduated from St. Mary’s University, London with an honours degree and Secondary PGCE qualification in 2008. After this, he went into his first teaching job as a Newly Qualified Teacher at Gunnersbury Boys School in London, where he gained his full Qualified Teacher Status. During his time at Gunnersbury School Chris began researching opportunities to teach internationally and took up his first position outside the UK in the summer of 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic, where he was employed as an English B and Theory of Knowledge teacher. After two wonderful years in Prague, Chris decided to move to Deira International School here in Dubai, where he held the position of Skills for Life Coordinator as well as teaching English in the senior school. Chris worked at DIS for three years before moving to work as an IB English Teacher and High School Advisor at International High School of San Francisco, where he also pursued and completed his master’s in International Education from University of Boston, Massachusetts. On completion of his time in California, Chris returned to his native UK and held the position of IB Coordinator at a secondary school on the outskirts of London before joining GEMS World Academy – Dubai in January 2021.

Chris is a very keen mountain biker and runner as well as an avid member of his local gym, where he leads HIIT classes for fellow members. His spare time is currently also taken up by his pursuit of a PhD in Education and Social Justice from the University of Lancaster, UK where he is in the final stages of writing his thesis, with a due completion date in the Summer of 2023. Chris believes the IB programme provides students with the very best opportunity to be intuitive, thoughtful and reflective global citizens, and that the role of the educator is to provide students with a nurturing environment in which they can flourish. He very much shares the view of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung who said: “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touch the human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and the soul of a child”.

In his role as IBDP/CP Coordinator, Chris enjoys warmly welcoming students to the GWA Senior School and working with all members of the local learning community including teachers, students and parents to ensure students leave GEMS World Academy – Dubai with the very best opportunities to succeed academically and as global citizens.