Sean McGarvey

Sean Mc Garvey is entering his eighth year at GEMS Dubai American Academy and has been working in education since 2007. Before joining DAA, Sean served as a classroom teacher and Assistant Principal in a public school in Dublin, Ireland.

He is passionate about student wellbeing and strongly believes in fostering positive relationships across the entire school community. Sean holds a Bachelor of Arts from the National University of Ireland, Galway, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Dublin City University, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management from Middlesex University.

At DAA, Sean began as a Social Studies teacher and Head of Grade before moving into administration in 2020 as Middle School Dean of Students. In 2021, he was appointed Assistant Principal, initially overseeing student wellbeing and behavior, and now leading Middle School curriculum development. His leadership is grounded in a commitment to creating a supportive, engaging, and student-centered learning environment.

Sean also chairs DAA’s Health & Safety Committee and serves as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Sean’s wife, Lisa, is an ELL teacher in the Middle School, and together they are proud members of the DAA community. They have two young children, Naoise and Cadhla, who will turn four and two, respectively, in October. Outside of school, Sean enjoys playing Gaelic Football with a local team in Dubai and traveling—especially when it means visiting family and friends back home in Ireland.