Board of Governors

As Founding Principal, Sasha has been fully invested in the vision and culture of Victory Heights Primary right from inception. She has been able to help design the building, the curriculum, uniform and ethos. As one of the longest serving Principals in Dubai, she has an invested passion and genuine care for the school and this is because she is concerned for each and every child. She completed her NPQH in 2006 and has led other leadership programs with the UCL. Sasha is heavily invested in professional development, leadership research and coaching to develop others to be the best that they can be. Throughout her career over the last 27 years, she has been committed to reducing teacher workload and for the community to have a strong sense of happiness. Before Dubai Sasha worked as an Educational leader in Egypt, London and Wales. She is inspired by creating purposeful projects that give children a depth of learning. She was awarded Principal of the Year by Educational Journal Magazine in 2017 and by Schools Compared in the UAE in 2019. Sasha loves being part of a family community school where everyone knows her name.

Her autobiography would be called - Method to The Madness.

Mr. Dinesh C. Kothari is the Chairman of Victory Heights Primary School. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with his own financial consultancy practice, as well as a range of other business and educational interests. Mr. Kothari has been successfully managing the operations of schools both in India and UAE since 1998, with a proven track record in the field of education and is considered a leading educationalist. He is also a shareholder and the Managing Director of Delhi Private School in Sharjah, Delhi Private School in Discovery Gardens and Delhi Public School in Jodhpur, India.

Mr Kothari is the designated governor for Student Wellbeing.

Email: [email protected]

Victory Heights Primary School is owned and operated by Interstar Education (Interstar Advisory Services DMCC)

Interstar Advisory Services
Office 902-903, JBC 4
Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT)

Mr. Amit Kothari is a Director of Interstar Education and on the Board of Governors of South View School, Victory Heights Primary’s sister School. Amit is responsible for all new business development, strategy and finance for Interstar Education. Amit is a corporate finance specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in corporate treasury, mergers & acquisitions and in private equity. He worked with Abraaj Capital in Dubai for 5 years, and prior to that, with the Holcim group in Zurich, Switzerland for over a decade. In addition to his role as a Director with Interstar Education, Amit has now set up his own strategic consulting practice and advises a range of MNCs on corporate strategy and development. Amit holds a B.A. (Hons) degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in the U.S., as well as an MBA from the University of Cambridge, in the U.K

Amit is the designated governor for Information Technology.

Marion Sinclair is an international educator and manager with over 30 years’ experience in the profession.  As a lifelong learner she has pursued many opportunities in education as a teacher, a principal and an investor. Marion has guided and managed schools from inception through design and build projects and, as part of the British Schools in the Middle East organisation, led her school through UK government (British Schools Overseas), BSME accreditation and KHDA/DSIB inspection with outstanding status awarded.

She is a graduate and post graduate of both British and American Universities in education and educational management.

Marion is the designated governor for EYFS and Teaching & Learning.

Jolene Palmer is a  professional Masters Graduate, with over fifteen years experience in South Africa, US and UAE. She is a registered Psychologist with the Community Development Authority Dubai. Jolene is a senior and supervising Psychologist at Insights, with oversight of the assessment team and supervision of complex assessment cases. Jolene also holds a limited caseload of counselling clients.

Naomi is the Principal at South View School, bringing over 20 years of experience in education with a strong focus on school improvement and the advancement of high-quality teaching and learning. She has successfully led schools in both the UK and Dubai, consistently championing pedagogy that meets the diverse needs of learners and drives exceptional student progress.

Naomi has held senior leadership roles, including Headteacher and Principal, in well-regarded preparatory schools. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding how children learn, culminating in a Master’s degree in Psychology in 2020.

She currently has two children in VHPS attending Year 3 and Year 1 respectively. She came to the UAE 18 years ago as a child with her parents and went to school here. After the birth of her first child she decided to leave full time employment and focus on my family. She's currently working  part time as a HR consultant with Fujairah Media Group. When she has spare time, she usually down at the stables working with her beloved horses.

Sandra is the designated governor for Islamic Studies.

Natasha Smart is an accomplished educator originally from the United Kingdom, who has called Dubai home for over 11 years. Natasha, along with her husband and their 6-year-old daughter, values quality family time spent at the beach with a captivating book.

With a wealth of experience in early childhood education, Natasha has skilfully led teams as a middle leader and, in recent years, focused on supporting Students of Determination within Inclusion teams. Her passion lies in nurturing early language development and cultivating a culture of complete inclusivity within the Foundation Stage, a role that extends to her leadership of the Classroom Assistant team.

Natasha's approach to education takes a holistic view of challenges, with the well-being of all stakeholders at its core. She is deeply committed to the overall well-being of the entire school community and fully embraces the unique character of the Victory Heights Primary School family.

Natasha holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Primary Education from The University of Worcester. Additionally, she has earned accolades such as the National Award for SEN Coordination at a Master's level and an Elklan Level 4 certification in Supporting Speech and Language Development.

With her unwavering dedication to education and the well-being of every student, Natasha serves as a Staff Representative in the governor body for Victory Heights Primary School, working tirelessly to nurture an inclusive and thriving learning environment for all.

Dominique Rodgers studied at Edgehill University in 2014, where she obtained a First Class Honours Degree in Primary Education with English. Following a ten year career in the Legal fraternity in the UK, Dominique moved to Dubai with her husband in 2017, taking up a Class Teacher post in Victory Heights Primary School. Working across the EYFS and Upper Key Stages, Dominique has a breadth of understanding of the school curriculum and has been an integral member of the school Middle Leaders Team for the last four years. With a particular interest in Leadership and Management, Dominique is currently undertaking a MA in Leadership and Education at Middlesex University, Dubai. 

With a keen interest in fostering the growth of well-rounded individuals, Dominique consistently goes above and beyond to provide a comprehensive educational experience. She approaches teaching as a multifaceted endeavour, recognising that academic knowledge is just one facet of a child's development. Dominique is passionate about instilling not only a thirst for knowledge but also essential life skills, character virtues, and a strong sense of social responsibility in her students.

With her firsthand experience in the classroom providing a valuable insight into curriculum development, teaching methods and educational trends, Dominique is delighted to sit as a member of the Board of Governors, advocating policies and practices that prioritise the best interests of students and educators at Victory Heights.