Meet our
Head of Primary
An adventurous and globally minded educator, Sarah has held various teaching, middle leadership, and senior leadership positions throughout her illustrious career in education. She spent her formative years in Boston, USA, before attending university in Canada. With a strong passion for travel, she relocated to the UAE over a decade ago and has been with GEMS Education since 2012.
Sarah believes in fostering student-driven inquiry and creating meaningful opportunities for integrating technology into the learning experience, encouraging students to push their boundaries and become well-rounded lifelong learners. She also supports teacher training and development programmes that best serve the needs of students and deeply values the extraordinary international community at GIS.
Qualifications & Leadership Experience
The Early Childhood PYP program fosters exploration and curiosity through engaging Units of Inquiry. Centered on science and social studies-based themes, these units inspire in-depth learning, critical thinking, and global awareness. Children develop key skills, values, and a love for discovery in a nurturing environment.
Approaches to Learning at GIS foster curiosity, critical thinking, and independence. By emphasising play-based, inquiry-driven learning, children develop essential skills like communication, collaboration, and self-management, preparing them for lifelong success.
The IB Learner Profile shapes Early Childhood education by nurturing globally minded, compassionate individuals. It instills values like curiosity, respect, and reflection, helping children develop as inquirers, thinkers, and communicators. These traits form a foundation for lifelong learning and global citizenship
In the lower primary, all students have the chance to lead through our Courageous Cubs classroom leadership initiative. This initiative offers students the opportunity to try different leadership roles through the year, expanding their leadership skills as they learn and grow. After all, there is a leader in all of us.
The Early Childhood PYP program fosters exploration and curiosity through engaging Units of Inquiry. Centered on science and social studies-based themes, these units inspire in-depth learning, critical thinking, and global awareness. Children develop key skills, values, and a love for discovery in a nurturing environment.
Social-emotional development is vital in Early Childhood at GIS. Children learn to build relationships, manage emotions, and develop empathy, fostering a sense of respect and belonging. These skills support resilience, collaboration, and self-awareness, forming a foundation for lifelong success.