Head of School
Gaia School (Costa Rica)

Dear Search Associates Colleagues,

On behalf of the Gaia School community in Costa Rica, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Brayan Muñoz as the next Head of School, beginning July 2026. This appointment follows an extensive international search conducted by Search Associates in collaboration with the Board of Gaia School.

A proud Costa Rican with extensive international experience, Mr. Muñoz brings a unique blend of local understanding and global vision to this leadership role. Over the past decade, he has held senior leadership positions in several international and bilingual schools. Most recently, he has been serving as Executive Manager for School Improvement with the ISA International Education Group in China, where he works closely with school leaders and boards to design and implement systems for strategic growth, academic excellence, and organizational sustainability. In addition to this role, Mr. Muñoz serves as Director of Data and Assessment at one of the group’s schools, ISA Science City International School.

Earlier in his career, he served as Executive Principal at Hefei IVY Experimental Academy, successfully leading the establishment of two international schools, developing an integrated Chinese–American curriculum, and guiding them through accreditation and expansion. His leadership has consistently emphasized student well-being, professional collaboration, and sustainable improvement rooted in shared purpose. Prior to his international experience, Mr. Muñoz served as MYP and Department Coordinator at Pan-American School in Costa Rica.

Mr. Muñoz holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas, a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Westminster College (USA). He is also an alum of the Red Cross Nordic United World College in Norway.

Deeply aligned with Gaia’s Waldorf-inspired, bilingual, and nature-connected philosophy, Mr. Muñoz is passionate about whole-child education, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. Reflecting on his appointment, he shared:

“Visiting Gaia and meeting the community truly felt like coming home, and I’m very happy to know that the feeling was mutual. I’m genuinely excited about this next chapter and the opportunity to contribute to such an amazing school.”

Search Associates joins the Gaia School community in congratulating Brayan Muñoz on his appointment and thanking all candidates and community members whose thoughtful engagement contributed to this successful search.

Sincerely,
Dr. Diana Martelly