Director
Dresden International School (Germany)

Dear Search Associates Colleagues,

On behalf of the Dresden International School (DIS) Search Committee, we are pleased to announce that Dr. James Brightman has been appointed as the new Director beginning in August 2025. 

Dr. Brightman is currently serving in his third year as the High School Principal at the International Community School of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. In his past leadership roles, Dr. Brightman served as Founding Director at the International School Carinthia in Austria from 2013 to 2022, during which time he served as a Board Member for the Association of Central European IB Schools (ACES). Prior to this, Dr. Brightman held the position of Secondary Principal at Strothoff International School in Germany from 2010 to 2013, and International Education Coordinator / Assistant Director for Study Abroad at La Salle University and St. Joseph University in Philadelphia PA from 2003 to 2007.

Dr. Brightman holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Indiana University in Bloomington (USA), a Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame (USA), a Master of Arts in History from LaSalle University (USA), and a Doctor of Education from Wilkes University (USA).

The DIS Search Committee selected Dr. Brightman from a highly experienced and qualified group of candidates based on his considerable past leadership experience both Internationally and in the US.  Professor, Constanze Geiert, DIS Board Chair and Chair of the DIS Search Committee, shared the following about Dr. Brightman’s candidacy and appointment:

 “After a challenging search for a new headmaster with many very good candidates and excellent support from the Search Associates, we have found the best candidate for the challenges of our school in Dr James Brightman. We are delighted that he has accepted our offer as our top candidate. James and his wife are very friendly, open-minded, and have a wonderful positive attitude. We feel he is a very good communicator on one side and a structured leader on the other. It is precisely these skills that we will need for the coming years, and we are already looking forward to an intensive and good collaboration.”

Dr. Brightman is eager to join DIS and looks forward to serving as the next Director. In response to his appointment, Dr. Brightman shared “I am humbled and honored to join the DIS community and contribute to its ongoing success and growth. The opportunity to lead the school through its next phase of development – welcoming 100 new students, overseeing a building project, and launching a new strategic plan – is an exciting opportunity. In the year ahead, I look forward to working closely with Carla, the board, and the DIS leadership team to make a smooth transition and support the excellent work the community is doing to inspire, move forward, and give back. Together, we will continue to develop amazing world citizens made in Dresden.”

Search Associates extends thanks to the DIS Search Committee members for their effective partnership and continued support during the search process for the Director. Moreover, Search Associates thanks all the candidates who applied for the Director position at DIS, and also everyone who played a part in the successful search process.

We wish Dr. Brightman all the best with his new position at DIS and his transition to Germany.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lana Al-Aghbar, Senior Search Consultant

Dr. Eric Sands, Senior Search Consultant

Please click here for full position details and application instructions.