“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are made for.” — the poster that hung outside his office as a high school principal, and the one he finally obeyed.

In 2014, Ethan retired from deeply satisfying work as superintendent of one of the fastest-growing school districts in the United States. His career had spanned the whole arc of American public education — classroom teacher, high school principal, assistant superintendent of operations, and finally CEO — all in the same school system. Standing at the crossroads of midlife, with five children reaching adulthood, he knew more existed before him.

After a year consulting for school districts on leadership, he departed for his first challenge abroad. A decade later, the résumé reads like a departures board: schools designed and opened in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Beijing; new campuses onboarded in Rotterdam, Moscow, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Vizag, and Mohali; colleagues in London, Doha, Delhi, Hong Kong, Greece, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Tanzania, Singapore, Switzerland, and Slovakia. Over forty countries visited — usually with a camera rolling.

“Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid.” Tropic Teacher exists to share why he took the leap — and why you might consider doing the same.