Elizabeth Anne Kennedy is a dedicated and visionary leader in progressive education, currently serving as the Director of Academyati, Qatar’s first leading school for progressive education. With a career spanning over 18 impactful years, Elizabeth has been a long-standing contributor to the Qatar Foundation (QF) Learning Ecosystem, where she has previously held roles as both the Associate Director of Early Years Education and Assistant Principal at Qatar Academy Doha (QAD).
Elizabeth holds a Master of Science in 21st Century Teaching and Learning from the State University of New York, which has greatly influenced her innovative approach to education. Throughout her professional career within the QF educational ecosystem, Elizabeth has been instrumental in fostering a dramatic shift towards student leadership, empowerment, and agency. She is a passionate community builder who believes in the power of youth and continues to drive initiatives that focus on learning through community engagement.
Elizabeth's commitment to student empowerment and sustainability saw her driving Qatar Foundation’s Strategic Committee on Sustainability in Education from 2022 to 2023. Since then, she continues to serve in an advisory capacity to the Committee. Her expertise also extends to her role as a Senior Eco-Schools Evaluator for Earthna, where she has mentored and supported several Qatar-based schools in achieving green flag certification.
As Director of Academyati, Elizabeth shapes the school’s culture and builds a vibrant community through its unique multiversity approach to learning. The school's vision is to nurture children into ethical creators who are aware, confident, and empowered to bring positive change to their world. Academyati's progressive education approach is rooted in evidence-based research and tailored to the needs of children in Qatar, ensuring that learning is culturally relevant, development is holistic and encompasses both socio-emotional and academic growth.
Under Elizabeth’s visionary leadership, Academyati aims to become the regional center of excellence in progressive education. Her goals include expanding the school's innovative practices and fostering a community where students are empowered to become ethical creators, confident in their abilities to bring positive change to their world.