Emma Baker

Founding Principal at Rushmore American School, Sharjah

Speaker

Emma is the Founding Principal of Rushmore American School in Sharjah, where she leads the strategic vision, culture, and academic direction of the school. With over 17 years of experience in education across the UK and the UAE, she brings a wealth of expertise in school leadership, teaching and learning, and whole-school improvement. She holds a degree from Liverpool John Moores University and has a proven track record of leading high-performing schools and driving sustained improvement. Prior to founding Rushmore, she served as Principal of Ormiston Rivers Academy, recognised as one of the top three schools in Essex for student outcomes according to Department for Education rankings. Her leadership focused on raising standards, strengthening teaching quality, and ensuring excellent outcomes for students.

Emma’s leadership has been recognised nationally. She has been nominated twice for Headteacher of the Year and was proud to receive a national Headteacher of the Year award, reflecting her commitment to transformational leadership and student success. At Rushmore, she is passionate about creating a school where every child feels inspired, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential. She believes education extends beyond academics to include character, creativity, wellbeing, and global citizenship, and she is committed to building a warm, inclusive, and future-ready school community that families are proud to be part of.