Sarah Gradek is an experienced international educator and instructional leader who brings more than two decades of experience in teaching, curriculum design, and school leadership across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. She joins Desert Garden Montessori with a deep commitment to creating confident, autonomous learners who pursue their passions and make a positive difference in the world.
Most recently, Sarah has served as a Middle School Instructional Coach at United World College of Southeast Asia in Singapore, one of the world’s leading international schools. In this role, she partnered with teachers across disciplines to design concept-based curriculum, strengthen inquiry-driven instruction, and support professional growth through coaching cycles and collaborative learning communities. Her work has centered on helping schools move beyond tasks and coverage toward meaningful, connected learning experiences that promote student agency and deeper understanding.
Previously, Sarah served as an Upper School Assistant Principal and Dean of Students at the International School of Luxembourg, where she led student support services, advisory programming, and restorative discipline practices. She has also held leadership roles as a Middle School Coordinator and English Department Chair, guiding curriculum development, policy formation, and faculty collaboration.
Sarah’s leadership philosophy is grounded in Montessori principles, concept-based inquiry, restorative practices, and research on deeper learning. She believes that rigorous academics and strong relationships are not competing priorities — they are inseparable. Her work focuses on building coherence across curriculum, assessment, and student experience while ensuring that families understand and value the richness of their child’s educational journey.
At Desert Garden, Sarah is committed to strengthening academic integrity across the entire school, supporting faculty growth, expanding experiential and interdisciplinary learning pathways, and partnering with families to ensure every student is prepared for purposeful future study and meaningful contribution to the world.