Dr Steffen Sommer

Director General Misk Schools

Dr Steffen Sommer is an exceptional school leader and academic, with a proven track record in senior roles both in the Middle East and across Europe. He has a profound knowledge of the international K-12 education sector and a particular expertise/experience in High Performance Learning (HPL) – an approach which encourages every child/student to be at their best at all times.

Dr Sommer joined Misk Schools in August 2022 from Doha College in Qatar, having been Principal there since 2015. During his seven-year tenure, Doha College became the first school in the world to receive the highly prestigious title of ‘HPL World Class School’ and grew to be one of the largest and most successful schools in the region. A fluent speaker of six languages, Dr Sommer has a strong understanding of and love for the Middle East and its culture, as well as for the Arabic language.

Born in Germany, Dr Sommer gained his first degree in Language and Linguistics at the University of Leipzig. After a period of military service and teacher training, he left to work in business in France with the car maker Peugeot, and studied for a PhD in Birmingham, UK, before finding his vocation in teaching.

His educational career has been stellar. Before moving to Riyadh, he led top international schools in The Hague, Paris, Lausanne and Doha. He is also well versed in the British boarding sector having been Head of Languages and a Housemaster at Rugby School, one of the UK’s top independent boarding schools.

Dr Sommer is a board member of Outstanding Schools of the Middle East, a co-founder of the international division of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), Vice Chair of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and a Fellow of High Performance Learning (HPL).

Events Dr Steffen Sommer has attended as a speaker: