Making A World of Difference: Sam Lebow ’04 reflects on experience at McLean and beyondSam Lebow ’04

A McLean School “lifer” – student from kindergarten through graduation – Sam Lebow ’04 credits the School with providing the support and opportunities for success, that made him who he is today.

“Knowing what I know about myself, I can’t imagine how I would have survived in a more traditional setting,” says the man who went on to college, graduate school, and a career helping young people from around the world find academic opportunities and success of their own.

Growing up in Chevy Chase, DC, Sam’s parents planned to enroll him in the local public school for kindergarten. Right around that time, however, he showed some signs that led to testing and a diagnosis of Tourette’s and ADHD—and they decided Sam would benefit from a smaller environment and a more personal education. For the boy who once forgot his raincoat in a hurricane, McLean proved to be a port in a storm.

“What I remember most about McLean are the teachers—their kindness and willingness to help me tap into my strengths and support me through my struggles,” says Sam. He cites his meaningful bond with grade one teacher, Janice Genter; Brenda Crawley, who helped develop Sam’s love of music and singing; Roberta Schneider, who introduced him to the joys of creative writing; Kim Horworth, who recognized Sam’s aptitude for history and geography; John Neal who encouraged him to take AP US History as a junior. “I had so many great teachers who helped develop things back then that are assets for me today,” he says—assets that include strong writing skills, interest in other cultures around the world, and ability to put himself out there (including a competitive karaoke league!).

McLean also helped Sam persist through challenges with math and science. “Nobody ever made me feel bad about that,” he says, “which helped me to admit and accept what’s hard for me.” All the more reason he finds it interesting, if ironic, to be an advisor for high-achieving higher-ed students with STEM-based scholarships through a program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE). It’s a position Sam has held for the past five years in a field that’s been an interest of his for a long time.

Sam earned a BA in Political Economy in 2008 at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, where he had a positive study abroad experience he was eager to replicate. He taught at a Montessori kindergarten in China, volunteered at a school in the Republic of Georgia, and completed a Master’s in International and Comparative Education in 2014 through the School for International Training. After working more than four years at the Washington Center as an Academic Program Advisor and Instructor, Sam took the job at IIE.

In addition to a connection with international students, Sam loves the structure his current position provides and the ability to work from home in Kensington, Maryland, which he shares with his wife, Meghan, and their two-year-old daughter, Stella (and Australian Cattle Dog Callie). As life allows, Sam enjoys family outings, live music, and travel, most recently a trip to Paris for the 2024 Olympics.

“School was never great for me, but as I get older, I’ve developed a more positive association with it,” Sam says. “Sometimes I look back and wish I’d worked a little harder, but that’s just hindsight. The truth is, I was supported in being exactly who I am by people who were invested in me no matter what”—an experience that has meant the world.