About Lana
With a 28-year career in international schools dedicated to learning-focused leadership, curriculum development, and instructional advancement, Dr. Lana Al-Aghbar brings a richly layered perspective to her work as a Senior Consultant with Search Associates. Her consulting focus areas encompass Leadership Searches, Leadership Development, Mentoring and Coaching, and Curriculum and Instruction, with a particular strength in academic and senior leadership roles.
Dr. Al-Aghbar’s international experience is centered in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf. Her roles include divisional Principal, Associate Principal, and IB PYP Coordinator. In her most recent position as Lower Elementary Principal at the American School of Doha, she provided leadership for numerous school-wide initiatives, including the expansion of the Lower Elementary division to encompass a Pre-K 3 program. Dr. Al-Aghbar holds a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education (McGill University), a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (McGill University), and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (University of Western Ontario).
Dr. Al-Aghbar specializes in Head of School searches, Elementary, Middle, and High School Principal searches, and Senior Academic Leadership searches including Directors of Curriculum and Instruction, Directors of Teaching and Learning, Chief Academic Officers, and Directors of World Languages. Since joining Search Associates, she has successfully facilitated 25 senior leadership searches across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Her work is anchored in leadership excellence, and she is particularly skilled at identifying outstanding leaders who are learning-focused and strategic in both the academic and operational domains.
Dr. Al-Aghbar has presented at WISE and NESA Conferences. Her doctoral research focused on improving the learning experiences of English Language Learners and internationally minded leadership for cultural and linguistic inclusion. Her publications include “Whose Normal Is Normal? International Mindedness in International Schools” in The Leader Reader: Narratives of Experiences, and “A Review of Leadership Case Studies” in the Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy.
As a former TCK (Third Culture Kid), Dr. Al-Aghbar has lived in six countries and travelled extensively worldwide. In addition to a deep commitment to professional growth and development, she enjoys reading, silk painting, and engaging in cultural learning, passions that reflect the curiosity and global-mindedness she values most in the leaders she places.
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