The success of Tunde Olah, Principal, at Avalon International School, Miskolc, Hungary, in educational leadership business represents a fusion of an entrepreneur, a determined personality, and a passion to mold young lives. Since she took a position as an assistant leader at age 27 and formed her own enterprise prior to the age of 30, Olah gained the viable leadership aptitudes and problem solving attitude that further characterise her competencies in work as a principal.
Her greatest achievement has been shaping and nurturing the culture of Avalon International School in Hungary, guiding its growth and values since the school opened under its owners in 2019. Parents at the time were unfamiliar with the concept of international or private education and the town was not used to having any. "What began as a vision quickly became a thriving institution, built on my conviction that a school must articulate and live its values from the very first day," says Olah.
A Leader Shaped by Experience
Olah credits her growth as a leader to learning from every encounter. She values the lessons she gains daily from her students, colleagues, board members and her coach, Stephen Burnage. Her teaching career has spanned kindergarten through university level, offering a perspective on the needs of learners at every stage. She also participated in an exchange program in United States with representatives of 16 countries as a teenager. The experience made her have a permanent appreciation of cultural diversity and the importance of global views which up to date are the focal point to her leadership approach as an educator.
Her leadership philosophy rests on trust, transparency and collaboration. She believes values such as respect, honesty and open-mindedness cannot be confined to the classroom. They must guide every lesson, every interaction and every decision a school makes. For Olah, leadership means creating an environment where staffs feel supported, students are engaged and values are lived rather than merely taught.
Building Teams and Nurturing Growth
Olah views quality teaching as the heartbeat of a school. She invests in professional development through mentoring, coaching, observation and open dialogue, recognising that every teacher responds differently to support. Collaboration among staff is strongly encouraged, and she places equal importance on fostering strong student-teacher relationships. Her strategy has helped to develop a culture where professional development never stops and at the same time teachers and students learn simultaneously.
Her focus extends beyond academic achievement. She believes schools must prepare children socially, emotionally and practically for life. She sees 21st-century education as needing to have a balance between academics and curricula that allow one to foster curiosity, creativity and strength. The end goal in Olah’s view is to empower the students to acquire skills and experience that would allow them to succeed in the broader environment.
Leadership in Action
While Avalon International School, Hungary, provides the platform for her work, it is Olah’s leadership that drives its impact. Under her guidance, the school not only achieved Cambridge accreditation for its Primary, Lower Secondary and Early Years programs, but also became Hungary’s first Cambridge Professional Development Centre, a recognition made possible by her completion of Cambridge leadership training programs. She has also strengthened the school through international partnerships and professional networks, seeing these connections as ways to broaden opportunities for both staff and students.
Reflecting on her journey, Olah shares a message shaped by her experiences. She believes that when leaders invest in people and foster cultures of trust while keeping the ultimate goal in mind, education achieves its true purpose: preparing future generations to live meaningful lives and contribute positively to their communities and to the world.
