If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what your teaching career might look like somewhere new, you’re not alone.
Most teachers reach a point where something inside nudges them and says, maybe there’s more for me than this.
That small, almost throwaway thought was the beginning of Joshua Henry’s entire journey. What started as curiosity grew into a new home, a new career path, and a completely different sense of who he could be as an educator.
His story is inspiring, but here’s the real takeaway: everything he experienced is fully within reach for any teacher who’s open to exploring it.
If you’re thinking about taking the leap, but not sure yet, you’re going to want to read Joshua’s story. His experience quietly answers the questions teachers everywhere ask before going abroad, offering a look at what’s possible when someone takes a chance and builds a life on the other side.
Why Do Teachers Explore Teaching Abroad?
Every teacher’s story is different, but a common thread runs through many of them: a desire for something more—more balance, more fulfillment, more room to grow.
For Joshua, an administrator in Dallas, that journey began unexpectedly when his wife submitted an application to Teach Away and included them both.
“The next day they called me,” he laughed. “I thought I was just being supportive. Suddenly I was in an interview.”
When the Right School Brings Back Your Love of Teaching
For many teachers who move abroad, the biggest change isn’t the new city or the new curriculum. It’s the feeling of being supported in a way that makes the work lighter. When the expectations are reasonable and the culture is collaborative, teaching starts to feel steady again instead of draining.
Joshua noticed this almost right away.
“I felt free,” he said. “I could put my energy back into my students instead of managing constant testing stress.”
In his sixth grade math classroom in Kuwait, the atmosphere was noticeably different. Students were curious and ready to engage. He had the time and space to teach in ways that felt thoughtful and creative. Without a heavy testing schedule dictating his day, he could focus on what students needed and how they were growing.
When he stepped into the instructional coach role, that feeling carried through. Coaching cycles encouraged real collaboration. Professional learning felt useful, not overwhelming. Planning meetings left room for ideas rather than checklists. It was the kind of environment where the work made sense, and where teachers could find a rhythm that felt sustainable.
For many teachers abroad, this is where their connection to teaching begins to return. Not in dramatic moments, but in the everyday experience of having support, trust, and enough space to do the job well. It’s a slow, steady reminder of why they chose this path and how good teaching can feel when the conditions are right.
How Joshua Built Leadership Experience Abroad
Many teachers wonder if moving abroad might hold their career back. For Joshua, it became the very thing that propelled him forward.
He started teaching, settled into his new school, and within two years stepped into the role of Assistant Principal. Two years later, he was promoted again, this time to Lead Principal. He’s now been leading his school community for five years and counting.
What made the difference wasn’t chasing promotions or checking boxes. It was the environment. International schools often create space for teachers to stretch, lead, and discover what they’re capable of. The progression feels steady and supportive, not rushed.
Teachers Settle In Faster Than They Expect
Every teacher asks the same question before moving abroad. What if I feel out of place?
Joshua had the same concern, but it disappeared quickly.
“My school has over fifty nationalities,” he said. “You hear several languages before you reach your office. Everyone understands what it feels like to start fresh.”
What surprised him most was how quickly community built itself around them. Parents invited them over for meals. Colleagues helped them navigate everything from grocery stores to doctor visits. Students showed them pieces of their culture with pride.
Even small moments became meaningful. Joshua remembers walking through the courtyard and being greeted with cheerful hellos from students speaking different languages.
He remembers the first time a parent stopped him just to say thank you. He remembers teachers stepping in to help his family during their first weeks when everything was still new.
He and his wife welcomed two sons in Kuwait. Their boys now grow up with classmates from around the world, celebrating birthdays with piñatas one week and traditional Kuwaiti sweets the next. It’s a childhood shaped by connection, diversity, and kindness.
You don’t lose community when you move abroad. You gain a bigger one.
How Living Overseas Can Improve Your Quality of Life
Kuwait became much more than a destination for Joshua. It became a lifestyle that supported him in ways he didn’t expect.
“It’s safe, family friendly, and tax free,” he said. “And the travel is amazing. Dubai is close, Europe is a few hours away. You get to see the world.”
Even his mother, who had never flown before, visited him in Kuwait.
Many teachers find that their quality of life improves overseas. Weekends feel longer. Evenings feel calmer. And travel becomes part of everyday life, not a once-a-year luxury.
When One Small Yes Creates a Full Circle Moment
Joshua and his wife originally expected to stay two years. That turned into nine years, two children, and a leadership role that has become a true calling.
Today, Joshua hires new teachers for the American United School of Kuwait (AUS). Many of them come through Teach Away, just like he did.
“I love interviewing,” he said. “Teachers walk in nervous and leave excited. I know that feeling. I’ve lived it.”
He understands the questions teachers are afraid to ask. He knows what reassurance sounds like. He sees the moment a candidate lights up at the idea of starting fresh in a new country. He remembers being exactly where they are.
His story has come full circle because he’s now guiding other teachers toward the same sense of possibility that once changed his life.
What Teachers Can Learn From Joshua’s Journey
Joshua’s path is uniquely his, but the possibilities inside it apply to anyone thinking about teaching abroad.
Teaching overseas can offer:
- a fresh start when you need new energy
- freedom to teach with creativity and confidence
- opportunities for leadership and growth
- balance between work, travel, and life
- a global community that expands your world
Most importantly, it can give you back the version of teaching you fell in love with.
Thinking About Teaching Abroad?
Teaching abroad is more than a change of scenery. It’s a chance to rediscover your purpose, your confidence, and your excitement for what comes next.
Every journey starts with curiosity. Sometimes all it takes is one step to find out where your future could lead.
Explore teaching jobs abroad with Teach Away.
Thank you Joshua, for sharing your story!
