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 Head of School in August 2020.

The three years of Sara Rubinstein's tenure as Head of Upper School at Carrollwood Day School were transformative for the capstone division of our school. Determined to ensure that all students are given opportunities to find and develop their particular talents, she worked with her academic leadership team to broaden the curriculum offerings in the Upper School. She 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. Recognized nationally as an allostatic academic leader, Ms. Rubinstein 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. In 2020 she was a presenter at the NAIS Speed Innovating program. Ms. Rubinstein 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 that are building a mastery transcript that authentically and holistically captures student learning, progress, and interests.

In her first three years as Head of School, she navigated our return after COVID-19 while opening the new Center for Innovation facility. She led our acceptance into Round Square International, a coalition of schools around the globe that work together to foster authentic, international education that develops global competence, character, and confidence in students. She worked with our community and Board of Trustees to complete our strategic plan, Patriot Promise: Prepared and Inspired, a vision for a road map to our school's future.  Under her leadership, CDS has reached full enrollment and a retention rate of over 96%. 

Ms. Rubinstein is a leader who genuinely appreciates CDS' treasured traditions, holds our mission in high regard, and is ready to build on our outstanding school's legacy of excellence and character.