CDS is very fortunate that Sara Rubinstein is able to assume her new role as Interim Head of School from a position of great strength and positive momentum.
MEET OUR INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Sara Rubinstein
Sara Rubinstein came to CDS in 2017 with a strong background in curriculum development and academic leadership having previously served as Assistant Headmaster for Academics and the Head of Upper School at Saint Andrew's School, a day and boarding school in Boca Raton, FL. In April 2019, she was appointed Assistant Head of School for Academics at CDS and was promoted to Assistant Head of School earlier this summer.
The three years of Sara Rubinstein's tenure as Head of Upper School at Carrollwood Day School have been transformative for the capstone division of our school. Determined to ensure that all students are given opportunities to find and develop their own particular talents, she worked with her academic leadership team to broaden the curriculum offerings in the upper school. She has built a strong innovation, entrepreneurship, and engineering program as well as added a non-IB college prep path to graduation. Just two years after her arrival, CDS became a member of Cum Laude Society, the most prestigious academic award a secondary school can earn and CDS graduates are now matriculating to Ivy League schools and other top tier institutions. Guided by her lifelong commitment to social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion Sara has supported powerful programs and initiatives that raise awareness about pertinent social issues, inspire action, and create positive change. From thought provoking performing arts productions to the Student Leader Action Planning Team – SLAP(T), students are given opportunities to explore and advocate for social change.
Recognized nationally as an allostatic academic leader, Sara was invited to participate in and was included in a publication of The NAIS 2025 and Beyond Initiative: An Invitation to Participate in Co-Creating Our Future, an NAIS project in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this year she was a presenter at the NAIS Speed Innovating program. Sara also participates in The NAIS Strategy Lab events and represents CDS as part of the Mastery Transcript Consortium®, a network of private and public schools who are building a mastery transcript that authentically and holistically captures student learning, progress, and interests.
When CDS, along with the rest of the academic world, was forced to implement an immediate response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Sara had the lead in developing the framework for Carrollwood Day School's Distance Learning Plans. Making the rapid switch to a digital learning platform required unprecedented agility, innovation, and collaboration. Working closely with the other division heads and faculty, CDS proved to be a leader in our community with our distance learning program, the outreach efforts to keep our community connected, and the personal and memorable graduation celebrations created for our seniors.
Sara is a leader who genuinely appreciates CDS's treasured traditions, holds our mission in high regard, and is ready to build on our outstanding school's legacy of excellence and character. As we head into this new school year, we look forward to providing opportunities for the CDS community to meet — or reconnect — with Sara.