Harsha Gandhi

Visionary international school leader with 12+ years of progressive experience across IB and Cambridge educational frameworks.

Established

Head of Primary as Senior Leadership Team member at Oakridge International School, Hyderabad, overseeing three verticals (IBPYP, Cambridge Primary, Sports) and leading a high-performing team of 70+ staff while nurturing the holistic development of approximately 850 students and families. Demonstrated track record of transforming school cultures, driving institutional credibility, and delivering measurable academic outcomes. Certified IBEN Workshop Leader, NEASC-CIE Accredited Visitor, and IB Evaluation Leader, with deep expertise in school improvement, strategic planning, and sustainable organisational change.

A committed champion of safe and equitable workplaces, having served as both IC Member and Presiding Officer under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. Equipped with IIM Indore Leadership and Change Management credentials and a published thought leader with Nord Anglia Education.

Head of Primary - Oakridge International School - Hyderabad, India

(2022-08 - 2026-05)

• NPS -48 to +3: Delivered landmark perception turnaround within one academic year, strengthening parent trust and institutional credibility.
• Led strategic alignment of three verticals — IBPYP, Cambridge Primary, and Sports — managing 62+ staff across diverse operational and pedagogical profiles.
• Oversaw holistic development and wellbeing of approximately 850 students and families; fostered community partnerships and welfare initiatives.
• Exceeded Cambridge international benchmarks across four Checkpoint cycles; redesigned Programme of Inquiry within IBPYP; administered annual departmental budget.
• Built psychologically safe, high-accountability culture; implemented IB and school policies; approved NEASC-CIE Accredited Visitor.

IBDP Business Management Facilitator - Oakridge International School - Hyderabad, India

(2023-02 - 2023-04)

• Delivered DP1 and DP2 classes using exclusive case studies and visible thinking routines to deepen conceptual understanding and analytical skills.

IBEN Evaluation Leader (Freelance) - International Baccalaureate Organisation - Asia-Pacific

(2024-11)

• Conducts school programme evaluations ensuring fidelity to IB standards; completed official IBEN Evaluation Leader Training (Nov 2024).

IBEN Workshop Leader (Freelance) - International Baccalaureate Organisation - Asia-Pacific

(2024-09)

• Facilitated 7+ IB workshops across regional, national, international face-to-face and virtual formats; coached participants in inquiry-based pedagogy and IB frameworks.
• CAT 3- Regional-India-November 2024 (Mumbai-Face to Face)
• CAT 1- International-January 2025 (Vietnam-Virtual)
• CAT 1-International-January 2026 (Australia- Face to Face)

NEASC-CIE Accredited Visitor - NEASC

(2026-03)

• Conducting accreditation reviews aligned with NEASC-CIE international standards for school evaluation.

Presiding Officer — Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) - Oakridge International School - Hyderabad, India

(2023-06 - 2026-01)

• Ensured institutional compliance and regulatory adherence under the POSH framework; oversaw complaint mechanisms, procedural excellence, and stakeholder communication.

IC Member — Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) - Oakridge International School - Hyderabad, India

(2022-12 - 2023-05)

• Contributed to safe, equitable workplace under the POSH Act; ensured procedural fairness, confidentiality, and statutory compliance in complaint review processes.

Head of Primary & IBPYP Coordinator - DRS International School - Hyderabad, India

(2021-04 - 2022-08)

• Dual leadership role: oversaw full primary school operations and curriculum direction while leading IBPYP implementation from the ground up per PSP 2020 standards.
• Guided educator professional development to enhance inquiry-based teaching; cultivated a culture of collaborative inquiry and holistic student growth.

IBPYP Teacher - Mount Litera School International - Mumbai, India

(2019-07 - 2021-02)

• Taught upper primary; facilitated Grade 5 PYP Exhibition; championed inquiry-based learning with visible thinking routines and data-driven assessment.

A Levels and IGCSE Teacher - RIMS International School and Junior College - Mumbai, India

(2019-03 - 2019-05)

• Deliver the Cambridge syllabus for A Levels and IGCSE, enhancing student understanding of complex concepts
• Personalized instruction, focusing on effective paper solving techniques and targeted support, particularly in grammar
• Empower students to build confidence and achieve academic success

Cambridge Primary Homeroom Teacher - JBCN International School - Mumbai, India

(2016-02 - 2019-02)

• Managed classes of up to 29 students (Grades 2 to 8); Examination In-Charge, Silver Zone Science Olympiad; mentored diverse learners across Maths, Science, and Global Perspectives.

Leadership & Change Management - Leadership & Change Management - IIM Indore (2024 - 2024)

Bachelor of Education - Education - University of Mumbai (2020 - 2020)

MA in Economics - Economics - University of Mumbai (2019 - 2019)

Masters in Commerce (Acct. & Tax) - Commerce - University of Mumbai (2018 - 2018)

Early Child Care Education (ECCED) - Early Childhood Education - Vidhya Nidhi Education Society (2015 - 2015)

Bachelor of Commerce - Commerce - RD National College, Mumbai (2000 - 2000)

HSC & SSC - Secondary Education - The Indian School Bahrain (1994 - 1996)