Hi. I'm Paul Brocklehurst and welcome to paulbrocklehurst.com. I built this site in order to allow people to get to know me a little and also for me to connect a little better to people that I already know. Please roam around and also contact me with comments, questions, or to talk about anything I haven't included on this site.

ABOUT ME
I grew up in Davenport, IA, although I usually identify myself as being from Chicago where I lived for some years and where my family is now located. I am now part of a teaching couple currently residing in Abu Dhabi working at the American Community School. It has been a real change in many ways after teaching three years in Mexico and also those special formative years as a teacher at Carmel. I was fortunate to learn the trade in a well-established high-level college preparatory institution like Carmel, and then to follow that up with building a real differentiated program by my own design in Mexico. But when I began talking with George Robinson, the former superintendent at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi, I started what would become a second beginning in my career as a teacher. I would describe ACS at the time as a school looking and working to make it to the "A league". And George was putting together teams to get it there. A former HS math teacher himself, he found himself in the difficult situation of losing his entire HS math department in the same year. I was one of the lucky benefaciaries that resulted. I joined what I consider to be the first dream team of math teachers of my career. One of four like-minded, experienced, and refined math teachers with common goals and ambitions for the department and more importantly, its graduates. Under the vision and mentorship of department head Glenda Frank, I have helped ACS truly transform and raise the level of students taking high school math at ACS. This cohesive math team is a standout in terms of collaborating, innovating, and connecting with our students. Difficult as the change has been, we have absolutely built a new culture of learning in math class. And we are relentless in continually reevaluting, enhancing effectiveness, streamlining and deepening our own progress in facilitating learning. Now in my third year, we are pushing through to the top of the A league and not looking back.

I am lucky to feel loved and appreciated by admin, faculty, and students alike wherever I have gone. But this is the best job I've ever had, and I would be foolish not to recognize how special a situation I have found. At the same time, I was reminded last night about how in flux international schools can be. My dream team can't and shouldn't last forever. And so I remind myself that it is responsible to prepare, even before I'm ready. I'm looking forward to continuing the work we have started here in Abu Dhabi. I came here with a four year plan, plus or minus one. Then, look to asia. I still think that's a good plan. The rationale in its formation has not changed, but I can't help but feel a little bit of sadness as I begin to enter that plus or minus one range.

As an IB teacher and a Grade Level Leader, I consistently try to encourage students to take risks, try new things, and to embrace thinking and analysis. These habits have served me well and led to the successes I have found. I will continue in these habits, and be grateful for the opportunities they have and will provide me.

Brock October 7, 2011.