Head of School
International School of Belgrade (Serbia)

Dear Search Associates Colleagues,

On behalf of the International School of Belgrade (ISB), Belgrade, Serbia Search Committee, we are pleased to announce that Mr. Graham Howell has been appointed as the new Director beginning in July 2027.

Mr. Howell has more than 27 years of international school leadership experience including serving as the Founding Principal of PACE Modern British School, Dubai, where he led the school’s growth from 16 students to more than 1,250 students while developing a reputation for academic excellence strong community culture, and strategic leadership. In his previous leadership role, he served as the Principal at King Faisal School, Riyadh, KSA from 2019 – 2021. From 2016 to 2019 he was the Deputy Head of School at Nord Anglia School, Dubai. From 2007 to 2016 he was the Assistant Head at John Taylor High School, United Kingdom.

Mr. Howell holds a MA in Education (with distinction) from Derby University, and a BSc (Honors) in Design Technology Education from Nottingham Trent University.

The ISB Search Committee selected Mr. Howell from a highly experienced and qualified group of candidates based on his considerable past leadership experience in Educational Administration. Ms. Danijela Cemovic Mecklenburg, Chair of the ISB Board of Trustees shared the following about Mr. Howell’s candidacy and appointment:

Throughout the search process, Mr. Howell consistently demonstrated the qualities that we believe are essential for leading our school into its next chapter. His extensive experience in international education, thoughtful leadership style, and clear commitment to student learning distinguished him as an outstanding candidate.

Equally important, Graham impressed us with his integrity, warmth, and ability to build meaningful relationships within a school community. He is a thoughtful listener, a collaborative leader, and someone who approaches challenges with both professionalism and optimism. These personal qualities, combined with his educational expertise, give us great confidence in his ability to lead ISB successfully.

As our school prepares for important developments and opportunities in the years ahead, including the continued growth of our community, we believe Graham is exceptionally well positioned to guide ISB through this exciting period.

Mr. Howell is eager to join ISB, Belgrade, Serbia and looks forward to serving as the Director. In response to his appointment, Mr. Howell shared the following:

I am exceptionally honored to be appointed as Director of the International School of Belgrade, and deeply grateful to the ISB Board of Trustees and Search Committee for the trust they have placed in me.

From my very first conversations during the interview process, I was struck by the warmth, openness, and genuine care that radiated from everyone I spoke with. These were not simply impressive interview questions but were authentic expressions of a community that clearly lives its values every day. When I had the privilege of visiting ISB and meeting staff, students, and families in person, those impressions were not just confirmed, they were exceeded. The energy, the relationships, and the obvious pride people have in their school left a lasting impression on me, and I knew then that ISB was somewhere truly special.

ISB has a proud history and a remarkable community, and I look forward to building on its strong foundations. My career has been defined by a belief that great schools are built on meaningful relationships, between leaders, teachers, students and their families. Everything I have seen and heard tells me that this belief is already deeply embedded in the ISB culture.

Sharon and I, along with our family, are looking forward enormously to becoming part of the ISB community and to life in Belgrade. We arrive with open minds, genuine curiosity, and a deep commitment to ensuring every student at ISB is known, valued, and inspired to reach their potential.

Search Associates extends thanks to the ISB 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 ISB, Belgrade, Serbia and also everyone who played a part in the successful search process.

We wish Mr. Howell all the best with his new position at ISB, Belgrade, Serbia.

Sincerely,

Dr. Eric Sands, Senior Search Consultant

Ms. Barbara Powers, Senior Search Consultant

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