About the Founder

President of the Founding Board – Zorana Bodiroga

Zorana Bodiroga serves as President of the Founding Board of the K–12 system comprising Savremena Elementary School, Savremena Gymnasium, and International School. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic leadership and long-term development of the educational system, the advancement of quality standards, the development of teaching practice and faculty, as well as oversight of key processes that shape academic achievement, student safety, and overall well-being.

She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. She began her career as a Philosophy teacher and later taught Cambridge International Global Perspectives, guiding students in the development of critical thinking, argumentation, ethical reasoning, and the understanding of contemporary global issues.

Her professional path within Savremena Education Group has been marked by the continuous assumption of strategic and leadership responsibilities. After her initial teaching role, she took on coordination and management of the Cambridge program at the system level. In 2020, she was appointed Director of International School, where she led a comprehensive institutional reform process and ensured the school’s stable development. Since 2022, she has served as President of the Founding Board of all three schools, focusing on systemic quality management, educational policy development, and the long-term sustainability of academic standards.

In the public and professional sphere, she represents the elementary and secondary education system through expert presentations, conferences, and professional forums, contributing to the exchange of contemporary educational practices and standards.

Within her role, she is particularly focused on:

  • Strategic planning for the development of schools, programs, and human resource capacities

  • Quality management through clearly defined standards, indicators, and internal monitoring mechanisms

  • Supporting school principals and teaching teams in the development of professional standards and modern teaching practice

  • Building a school culture grounded in accountability, empathy, belonging, and high expectations

She is the recipient of the prestigious international award Education Hero of the Year (2021) for her exceptional contribution to ensuring continuity and quality of instruction during the pandemic. She has also been nominated for the Woman of the Year Award (2026) for her outstanding contribution to the field of education.

Through her direct work with students, teachers, and school practice, she has developed a holistic quality evaluation model, translated into official standards and performance indicators for schools, leadership, and faculty, accompanied by comprehensive documentation that clearly defines expectations and professional frameworks for students, parents, and staff.

She is currently pursuing doctoral studies with a research focus on the prevention of peer violence. The findings of her research are directly integrated into the advancement of school policies and student protection through the development of preventive programs, response protocols, and mentoring support models. Her academic and professional work connects modern educational technologies, developmental learning models, and the concept of the “school of the future,” with a clear emphasis on student well-being.

At the core of her work lies a clear commitment to ensuring that school is a space where high academic achievement and strong life values are developed simultaneously. Through systemic enhancement of teaching quality, a safe and stimulating environment, and the development of competencies that extend beyond the classroom, her goal is for every child to have the opportunity to realize their full potential — as a successful student, a responsible individual, and a confident person prepared for the challenges of the modern world. Such an approach forms the foundation of long-term educational and life success for students within Savremena Education Group.

Savremena gimnazija

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I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.