Learning to Lead in International Education
How Role Models and International Experience Shaped a Career in Global Education
Learning to Lead in International Education
By Denise Albrecht Sullivan
9/22/2026
The Importance of Role Models
We all have role models who have inspired us to pursue or extend our careers in ways we could have never imagined we would go. My career as an international educator is no exception.
I started out as a Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (Arabic) and Religious Studies double major, graduating from Indiana University in the early 1990s. As a college senior looking forward to graduation, I really had little idea what career I wanted to pursue. I planned to go to graduate school, possibly Georgetown, to extend my studies and see where that path led me. I thought I might become a career diplomat or perhaps a college professor. I had no interest in becoming a national security advisor, though they were the only agency actively recruiting me at the time. Now that I look back, it might not have been such a bad career choice after all.
Instead, my missionary father sent me an application for employment at Schutz American School (SAS) in Alexandria, Egypt. Although I had grown up in Egypt from the age of 10, I had no idea this would be the move that would change the course of my life forever. My now-husband was finishing his BA at the American University in Cairo (AUC), where I later ended up pursuing my master's degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Teaching in Alexandria didn't seem like such a bad option.
As it turned out, the headmaster of the school did a phone interview and decided to hire me as registrar and part-time religious studies teacher in the high school. I had no training for either position, but he assured me I would learn on the job, which I did. I had wonderful role models who guided me along the way and taught me everything I knew about teaching and learning up to that point. I fell in love with international school education, having attended one of the best international schools in Egypt (Cairo American College - CAC) and now working at SAS. I decided to apply for the MA in TEFL program at AUC, and the rest is history.
Fast-forward a few years, and I managed to land a job at CAC in Cairo, where my husband already worked and where I graduated from high school in the mid-1980s at the foot of the Giza Pyramids. I felt fortunate to become an elementary ESL teacher at such a prestigious institution, surrounded by experienced international school educators. Among the many inspirational leaders who guided me as a young teacher, one couple in particular stands out among the rest. Susan Young and Tim Boyer were my principals, from Minnesota, but having lived and taught internationally for many years.
Susan taught me a lesson I will never forget: Keep students at the heart of every decision you make. These words have been my compass point throughout my career, which brought me out of Egypt to Saudi Arabia, China, Kuwait, and now Indiana. This advice has guided me through my career as a teacher, team leader, department head, and program developer and coordinator. It has influenced my interactions with students, parents, and other educators and administrators. Always put students first, even when it is so tempting to let other considerations, such as budgeting, scheduling, or convenience, get in the way. After all, students are at the center of what we do. They are the reason we are here.
I feel blessed to have worked with amazing international school leaders, colleagues, parents, and students who have taught me so much throughout my career and life journey. It has not always been an easy path, and adults can be challenging to work with, but despite it all, the advantages of my career choice have outweighed the downfalls. I cannot imagine having ever done something else with my life because I have learned so much from those around me, not the least of whom are my students, who continue to teach me on a daily basis. I am learning Spanish from them as I teach them to speak English, and I continue to practice my Arabic on a daily basis.
Living Overseas
Living overseas taught me so much about languages, respecting differences, and life in general. The opportunities to travel opened a window to the world that I would not trade for anything. Our three grown children grew up overseas and received the gift of an international school education. They are Third Culture Kids (now adults), as are my husband and I.
Women in Leadership
Being a woman in leadership always has its challenges, no matter where you are in the world. Being a woman in leadership in some of the countries I have worked in is even more elusive. My husband became a high school principal and worked in the same schools that I did. At times, he was my "boss." I had thought I wanted to pursue a career as a principal at one point, but I soon realized this was not going to be possible when he was also part of the leadership team. The opportunities for me looked different when I took on other leadership roles.
Follow Your Dreams
As a college graduate of 21, I could not have dreamed my life would take me down this path, but I feel so lucky that it did. Despite the obstacles I encountered along the way, I owe my success to the teachers and administrators who came before me and influenced who I have become. My advice to young women: Never give up on your dreams. You never know where they might take you.
