Ms. Jaya Bhavnani, a respected global educator and Executive Director of Dwight Global Online School, is adding another leadership award to her expansive collection. In February, 2023, CEO Insights named Ms. Bhavnani one of the Top Ten Indian-Origin Educational Leaders in the United States. Ms. Bhavnani will be featured in the March, 2023, edition of the magazine.
The CEO Insights award recognizes exceptional Indian-origin leaders who guide the future of United States business by setting benchmarks across several key parameters, including education. Ms. Bhavnani, now part of the Senior Leadership Team and IB Coordinator at Dwight School Dubai, has long been an esteemed school leader, administrator, and respected mathematics and science teacher.
“I’m extremely thankful for the CEO Insights award, and I share this honor with my Dwight colleagues. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Chancellor Stephen Spahn for his continual inspiration and trust along my journey” said Ms. Bhavnani, who began at Dwight School NY in 2010 and then collaborated closely with Chancellor Spahn in 2014 to start Dwight Open World, which later became Dwight Global Online School.
Today, Dwight Global Online School is a world leader in online education for students in grades 6-12. Accredited, established, and highly ranked, Dwight Global was selected by the International Baccalaureate in 2022 as one of two schools in the world to pilot the prestigious online IB Diploma Program.
Dwight Global Online School is unique in that it is part of the Dwight Global Network of Schools, and Dwight Global students have numerous opportunities to take part in programs at physical Dwight campuses in New York, London, Shanghai, Seoul, Dubai, and Hanoi (opening 2024).
All the Dwight Schools promote and encourage each student’s “Spark of Genius,” a goal close to Ms. Bhavnani’s heart. She loves her work and strongly believes in quality education that can support students with skills to develop innovative solutions to global challenges.
Her educational mission has always been to foster a culture of nurturing positive relationships. “Spending quality time with students, colleagues and parents makes a significant difference in building trust,” said Ms. Bhavnani. “Communication becomes easier if that good connection is there.”
Ms. Bhavnani’s efforts advance her personal and pedagogical goals, as well. She serves on the Evaluation Team for the Council of International Schools and has been long involved in training teachers on the implementation and delivery of the IB program in more than 30 countries on five continents.
Recently, Ms. Bhavnani said she had the privilege to work with a passionate and dedicated group of teachers as part of the Delhi Board of School Education collaboration with the IB. “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was a pleasure having productive conversations with the team in both English and Hindi.”
Ms. Louisa Childs, Head of School at Dwight Global, said “Jaya is a brilliant teacher and leader whose breadth of knowledge, empathetic approach, and belief in personalized learning has been instrumental in helping Dwight Global reach the pinnacle of online education. The Dwight Global community joins me in congratulating her!”
By Caroline Crosson Gilpin
