29 September - 1 October 2026
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The Arena, Riyadh | Saudi Arabia.
Chassie Selouane
CEO/ Founder - Appalachian American Academy & Principal - MLS International Riyadh
Chassie Selouane has 24 years of experience leading K–12 schools, multi-school networks, and education organizations across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Her work focuses on education systems transformation, accreditation readiness, curriculum design, and leadership development.
Chassie has served as Principal, Executive Director, Chief Academic Officer, and National Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction, overseeing school improvement, regulatory compliance, and instructional quality across diverse cultural and regulatory environments. She has led portfolios of up to 20 schools, guided successful accreditation and charter authorization processes, and supported institutions through growth, inspection, and transformation phases.
Recognized for her ability to bridge strategy and practice, Chassie partners with boards, ministries, NGOs, and education organizations to design scalable, student-centered education models. Her leadership is grounded in data-informed decision-making, inclusive education, and capacity-building for teachers and school leaders.
Chassie is licensed as a school principal in the United States and is a trained evaluator for CIS, Cognia, and NEASC. She is currently based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, supporting education initiatives aligned with international quality standards and national development priorities, including Saudi Vision 2030.
Speaker Sessions
GESS Talks Live
1525
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Beyond Academics: How School Leaders Can Nurture Creative & Performing Arts in Alignment with Vision 2030
Session Summary:
As Saudi Arabia advances Vision 2030's vision of a vibrant society and thriving economy, educational leaders face the strategic imperative of transforming creative and performing arts from peripheral activities into core learning experiences. This session addresses the leadership decisions required to elevate arts education as a driver of student agency, cultural identity, and innovation capability. Participants will explore systematic approaches to integrating performing arts into curriculum frameworks, assessment strategies, and school improvement planning whilst aligning with national competency development goals. The session provides actionable implementation models that demonstrate how arts-integrated education strengthens student engagement, community connection, and cultural pride whilst supporting Vision 2030's Human Capability Development objectives. Participants will be able to:
• Analyse leadership strategies for transforming school structures and systems to position creative and performing arts as integral learning pathways that support Vision 2030's cultural and economic development goals rather than supplementary activities
• Design sustainable arts integration frameworks that embed performance-based learning into curriculum delivery, authentic assessment practices, and school improvement planning whilst strengthening student identity, confidence, and community engagement
• Evaluate implementation approaches for building educator capacity in interdisciplinary arts education, developing community partnerships, and creating scalable models that align creative programming with national competencies and cultural relevance in Saudi educational contexts
Speakers
Chassie Selouane
|
CEO/ Founder - Appalachian American Academy & Principal - MLS International Riyadh
Categories
Leadership and Professional Development
Leaders in Education
1499
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Leadership Development for Digital-First School Principals: Why Human Connection Still Drives Innovation
Session Summary:
As educational institutions rapidly embrace digital-first environments, school leadership must evolve beyond technical proficiency to master relational intelligence. This session demonstrates how effective principals successfully integrate AI tools, data systems, and online learning platforms whilst preserving the foundational elements of trust, belonging, and institutional culture. Participants will discover that whilst technology enables transformation, human connection remains the critical factor determining engagement levels, academic achievement, and sustainable innovation. The session provides a practical leadership framework emphasising that in digital-first schools, relational competence is not merely a complementary skill—it is the essential infrastructure upon which all technological advancement depends. Participants will be able to:
• Evaluate leadership competencies essential for digital-first educational environments that extend beyond technical knowledge to encompass relational intelligence, change management, and culture preservation during rapid technological integration
• Apply evidence-based frameworks for maintaining institutional culture and community connection whilst implementing AI platforms, adaptive assessment systems, and hybrid learning environments that prioritise human-centred innovation approaches
• Design strategic communication and change management approaches that build educator confidence, increase technology adoption rates, and balance data-driven instructional decisions with student belonging, engagement, and holistic educational experiences
Speakers
Chassie Selouane
|
CEO/ Founder - Appalachian American Academy & Principal - MLS International Riyadh
Categories
AI and EdTech
// GESS EDUCATION INSIGHTS
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