Safeguarding our Community

Barry Dequanne is the Director of the International School of Zug and Luzern.

Before moving to Switzerland, he worked at schools in Brasilia, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Swaziland.

Originally from Canada, Barry has worked in the field of international education for over thirty years. Barry’s academic background is in mathematics and computer science. Shortly after graduation, he realised where his professional passion was to be found.

Barry is married and the proud father of two young children. Their home languages are English and Portuguese.

In addition to his work at ISZL, Barry also served or is serving in the following roles:

• President-Elect, Board of Trustees for the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE)
• Treasurer, Board of Trustees for the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS)
• Member of School and University Leaders Summits, Council of International Schools (CIS)

Learn more about Barry on his LinkedIn profile and personal blog.

Maria arrived at ISZL in 2023 as our new Deputy Director. She joined us from Atlanta International School, a K-12 International Baccalaureate institution. During her tenure at AIS, Maria founded the school’s full immersion Early Years programme and later led the Primary community as Head of Primary School. Maria has taught and led in China, Thailand, Korea, Canada, and the US.

Maria is a strategic thinker, community builder, trained Restorative Practitioner and Intercultural Development Inventory administrator, and an effective communicator who is thrilled to be learning alongside the ISZL community. Maria has a background in Early Childhood and Elementary Education as well as a Master’s Degree in International Education.

Maria is originally from Canada, where her father immigrated from Greece. As such Maria speaks English, French, and Greek. She enjoys travelling with her wife Tina, who works as an educator in the Primary School, and their dog Sacha.

Linsey Lawrence worked as High School Principal and High School Vice Principal at UWCSEA (Dover) in Singapore for 7 years before arriving at ISZL in 2022. She has also worked as an international educator in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Linsey loves teaching Global Politics and Sociology, History, and Personal and Social Education. She is passionate about holistic education and nurturing wellbeing.

Linsey has two children at ISZL and her husband works as an educator in the Primary School. In her free time Linsey enjoys reading, cooking (and eating), cycling, yoga, weights, but mostly movie/ Nintendo and ice cream nights with her daughters.

Stuart has been a member of the ISZL community since joining in 2010 as Grade 7 Team leader and teacher of mathematics. He served as Assistant Principal of the Middle School working closely with staff, students and parents for seven years before taking on the Middle School Principal Role in 2019.

Previously, he was part of the senior leadership team at Ranby House School in the UK, with responsibility for curriculum development and leading a traditional preparatory school towards a more modern and student-focused approach to teaching and learning.

Stuart is married to Nikki, who runs an arts and craft business within the Swiss community, and they have three boys.

Mel joined ISZL in 2024 as the new Primary School Principal.

Her previous role was Foundation Principal at Te Uho o te Nikau Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand. Mel led her former school from its establishment to an enrolment of over 1,000 students.

Mel’s experience spans from New Zealand to international schools globally [Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan], to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme. She has also worked leading early childhood centres, as her belief is that a primary principal needs to know the whole journey for our youngest learners.

The children are the best part of a school day for her and she thrives when she feels connected with those she works with and the community in which she is based.

Mel is here with her partner Mike and their dog Nikau. The kids are all grown up — one in Melbourne and one in Brisbane. They are also grandparents to the “Tornado,” Halo, who is three years old. Mike is a Health & PE teacher with a passion for coaching.

Mel was born and raised in New Zealand however she is also deeply rooted in her Fijian heritage from her mother’s side of the family. In her free time, Mel loves to go for long dog walks, go shoe shopping and watch the game of rugby in any form.

Since joining ISZL in 2008, Philip has taught across the MYP and DP programmes in both the Middle and High School, led the High School Language and Literature department, taught Theory of Knowledge and English Language & Literature, served as an MYP Coordinator, and contributed to a range of whole-school initiatives focused on curriculum alignment, assessment, and internal data systems.

Philip holds a degree in English Language and Literature and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Oxford, alongside a Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principals’ Training Centre. He believes in the power of thinking deeply, the necessity of an open, inquiring mind, and the importance of supporting students, families, and colleagues with empathy, integrity, and purpose. He is valued by students and peers alike for his care, creativity, and systematic approach to teaching, learning, and leadership.

Outside of school, Philip enjoys reading, spending time with his family, and running through the beautiful Swiss outdoors.

Originally from Palmer, Alaska, Pete LaFrance brings a diverse background in education to his role. Now a proud ISZL parent with a child in the Primary School, he has previously taught Science, Design, and Technology in middle and high schools across California, Alaska, and Mexico, and has served as both a teacher and administrator at a project-based school in Minnesota.

Before joining ISZL, Pete spent four years as the Technology Manager at the International School of Luxembourg.

Outside the classroom, Pete is committed to community service, having served for five years on the Palmer Alaska City Council, including two years as Deputy Mayor. In his free time, you’ll likely find him exploring the outdoors through backcountry skiing and mountain biking.

Sarah Osborne has been teaching internationally and working with the IB PYP curriculum for over 22 years. She has served the ISZL community for the last 17 years as an Early Years teacher and team leader, PYP Coordinator and now as the Assistant Principal for Early Years.

Sarah holds postgraduate certification in Primary Education, a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and a certificate in International School Leadership. Sarah has worked with the IB to develop teacher support materials and curriculum guidance, and has presented parent workshops and at conferences on topics such as early literacy, learning environments and documenting children’s learning.

Her passions are using the arts as tools for expression and thinking with students, and supporting teaching teams to work collaboratively to meet the needs of students. She believes in the power of compassionate individuals and organisations to take meaningful action to make the world a better place.

Christine has teaching and leading experience spanning private, public and international schools. A former PYP Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal, she has taught every age in primary and Early Years. She is an active member of the IB Educator Network as a consultant, workshop leader and site visitor and a trained Cognitive Coach.

Christine is a United Nations Sustainable Development Group Ambassador and fervent advocate for sustainability in all compass directions (Well-Being, Society, Nature, Education). Above all, she believes that relationships matter and are the key towards understanding, interdependence, and compassion and the foundation needed for learning to occur. Christine is looking forward to forming new connections within the ISZL community and serving to the best of her ability as your Assistant Principal for Grades 3-5.

Christine says, “I have always been happiest when outdoors and so became an outdoor educator. Through this work I learned that I love facilitating groups and individuals towards shared and personal discovery and isn’t this what teaching is all about?  After obtaining my teaching degree I began my career as a public school teacher in Colorado. By becoming a teacher, I found the joy and sense of purpose I had been looking for”.