The Leadership team at Neev Academy is a large network of individuals and teams, working together to ensure that students are receiving the best possible educational experience every day.
The senior leadership teams consist of the Educational Leadership Team (ELT) and the Operations Leadership Team (OLT)
Educational Leadership Team (ELT)
Ms. Shanthi Raghunath
Associate Director
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela
The ultimate goal of education is to help children navigate life and contribute. This gives young learners a sense of purpose and motivates them intrinsically to make a difference. To achieve this we need to create a balanced learning ecosystem where we value diversity and recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge and culture; and believe that differences bring great strength to our school community.
After many years in education my beliefs on teaching and learning have evolved. I began my teaching career wanting to explore young minds and understand how children learn. As I continue to learn, I believe, education is to develop lifelong learners who engage in meaningful learning experience, build compassion, resilience and understand their role in this changing world.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad and a Teaching Diploma from Cambridge International for Teachers and Learners, UK. I started my teaching career at Air Force school Kumbhigram, Assam and later moved to Presidency school Bangalore. In 2008 I joined Neev as an Early Years teacher and moved to Neev Academy in 2011. I’ve grown with Neev, my journey from teacher to leader strongly emphasises on reflection, respect, and commitment.
Shilpi Nagpal
Head - Primary School
“I firmly believe in reimagining education where I see myself as a facilitator in the growth and development of every learner. It's my responsibility to empower learners with all the possible opportunities that will broaden the horizons of mind, build their character and impart them skills to thrive in this ever changing environment. Each child is blessed with unique gifts and it's on me to nurture them with care and empathy. My mission is to make education a catalyst to make students the best version of themselves.”
With this mission, Ms. Shilpi has given over 15 years to education.She has taught CBSE, ICSE and IB curriculum and was privileged to work in prestigious institutions -Ryan International School (Delhi), Sophia High School (Bangalore) before joining Neev Academy in 2015. She holds a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University. Being a passionate educator, she has also completed M.A and M.phil in Education. She takes pride in being a student centric instructor, academic facilitator and a coach.
She has been with Neev Academy for over seven years where first as a Home Room Teacher and later as Grade Level Coordinator, she implemented best practices for education and drove key initiatives that align with Neev’s philosophy of nurturing the thinking through whole child approach.
She regularly meditates, practises yoga and unwinds by listening to music.
Gouri Kar
Head - Senior School
"I believe in an education that will create intrinsic motivation to all students by providing opportunities to stimulate their passion for learning. I should be able to provide students with a nurturing and enriching environment."
Ms. Gouri holds a Master’s degree in Geography and Bachelor’s degree of Arts specialised in Geography, English and Political Science from Lucknow University and was awarded certificate of merit for distinction in Geography. She has also completed Bachelor in Education from MES Teacher’s College, Bangalore University. Ms. Gouri last worked at Redbridge International Academy, Bangalore as ‘Academic Coordinator’. Before which she was with National Public School, HSR as Social Science Teacher, teaching higher grades. She also gained experience in IB teaching at Indus International School as a Geography Teacher. She was a lead teacher for grade 8 and was handling responsibilities of Areas of Interaction Coordinator for Middle Years Programme. Her early teaching years were with St. Francis Xavier Girls High School, Bangalore and St. Agnes Loreto High School, Lucknow as Geography Teacher. Ms Gouri joined Neev Academy in 2014.
Madhura Kashikar
Head - ICSE
"Education should lead to self-awareness and self-motivation among children. It should inspire them to strive to develop all their faculties and ultimately apply them for greater good."
Having completed her Graduation in English Literature and Master of Education from the Savitribai Phule Pune University, Madhura Kashikar Kashikar started her career in education as early as 2003. She worked at Jnana Prabodhini, an esteemed organization based in Pune, Maharashtra. She worked as a teacher in the experimental school Gurukul, rooted in the Indian philosophy of education. She later shifted to the English medium school affiliated to the Maharashtra state board, teaching English and History subjects for 14 years. In 2014, she was selected to be the supervisor of the school. She led the school in conducting many innovative experiments regarding holistic education, leadership development, project-based learning, collaborative learning, experiential learning and reflective thinking. As a part of her doctoral research, she developed a teacher training program to equip secondary level teachers to implement the Flipped Classroom model in teaching. She has conducted teacher training workshops across schools in Maharashtra. She also has a rich experience of working in the youth organization, rural development and research wings of Jnana Prabodhini. In 2020, she was a part of the three-member committee who presented recommendations for textbook reforms to a Parliamentary Committee in Delhi.
Karthika Gopalakrishnan
Head - Reading
As author-illustrator Chris Riddell says, “Children’s books are engines for empathy. They allow us to see through the eyes of others. By transporting us to other worlds they help us to understand our own
"I believe in helping students discover the wealth of knowledge that lies in books. By reading, we expand our horizons, delve deep into different disciplines, and view the world from varied perspectives"
Karthika has worked with schools across south India to help students develop a love for reading in her position as a project manager with Multistory Learning. She has curated book lists, created content to use in the classroom, conducted storytelling, and teacher training sessions. Karthika has also written and edited children's books for Ms Moochie Books, Pratham Books' Storyweaver, and Pattam (an imprint that publishes high-quality children's books in Tamil).
Prior to this, she worked as a journalist with The Times of India and The New Indian Express in Chennai. Karthika holds a post-graduate diploma in New Media from the Asian College of Journalism and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Communication from MOP Vaishnav College for Women.
Parull Khanna
Head - Student Advancement Cell (SAC)
"We believe all students reach their potential when offered the right combination of opportunities, support and services to help them develop in a positive way. Our mission is to ensure that all Neev students graduate - college, career and citizen ready."
Ms Parull has a background in college guidance and has worked in the EdTech space where she was involved in product development and brand building. She holds a degree in Mathematics from Delhi University. Having pursued actuarial science for a brief period before entering the education line, Parull holds a diverse skillset making her a versatile member of the team. As a consulting college counselor in New Delhi, she advised students on effective profile building, managed the university application process, and developed relationships with university admission offices.
She joined Neev Academy in April 2021 as the Associate Director of the Student Advancement Cell to bring together already functioning divisions in the school under one umbrella. Her previous experience in project management, team development and college counseling equip her to bring together the student advancement cell with its 4 main domains - Learning Enrichment & Support, Social Emotional Wellbeing, Student Life Opportunities and College Counseling with a small group of fantastic specialists ranging from special educators, psychologists, college counselors and experiential learning coordinator, stringing the journey's of our students from Grade 1 to Grade 12 and beyond.
Soumya Anil
PYP Coordinator
"As a facilitator, I see education being most effective when it is learner centric. It should be driven by the child’s own curiosity, where the child takes complete ownership for enriching one’s learning, understanding significant ideas, working towards individual goals and moulding themselves into resilient life long learners. It is upto us, to facilitate and equip them with the necessary tools of strong inquiry base and learning practices. We should focus, on what works best to help them master a range of skills, develop personal attitudes and most importantly, emerge as compassionate human beings."
Ms. Soumya holds a Master’s in Management Studies (Marketing) and a Bachelor’s in Life Sciences and Chemistry from Mumbai University. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Education degree from Al-Ameen College of Education, Bangalore University. After a brief corporate stint, Ms. Soumya began her teaching career by teaching the ICSE curriculum in the subjects of Biology, English and Social Studies to the high school students of Parikrama Humanity Foundation, Bangalore. She started at Neev Academy, teaching Maths, Novel Study and Units of Inquiry for Grade 5. She later moved to the MYP (Middle Years Program) to teach Individuals and Societies to Grades 6 and 7. At present, she handles the role of PYP coordinator and teaches Grade 5. She joined Neev Academy in 2013.
Vineet Singh
MYP Coordinator
"Currently, at the junction at which we (at Neev) are, there are limitless possibilities that we have to ace to truly become the excellence in reimagining education in a changing India. We have to stay hungry and stay foolish as an ecology of learners, with a big craving for new learning journeys, sound, and sustainable practice. For me, the role of MYPC at Neev is of a practitioner, who should truly be a connector or an umbilical cord between teaching and learning practices of PYP and DP, with the celebration of interdisciplinary and international mindedness."
A mechanical engineer by qualification and currently pursuing his MA in Education (M.Ed) from Bath University, Mr. Vineet has developed a logical mind with his indulgence in science and mathematics during his school education and engineering degree, but at the same time, also cherishes the free limitless thoughts and diverse perspectives of humanities, arts, and literature. In the last 15 years of his career, he has adapted multiple times, starting as mechanical engineering, to a software programmer, further on to become a full-time social entrepreneur in art education sector, to a drama teacher, to the HOD for performing arts, and finally to be the MYP Coordinator at Neev. He has always been eager towards learning the ways of doing the job most effectively and efficiently as his strength lies in deep inquiry, research, documentation, operations, and solution design.
A scientific thinker and a creative facilitator at heart, he is a learner who appreciates the depth and width of knowledge and skill-based inquiry, which are designed to be rigorous and sustainable in practice. He believes in making students informed and capable of taking ownership of their learning and constantly reflecting on how they are changing and evolving to lead an impactful life with blissful nourishment at every moment. He loves the transdisciplinary approach of PYP and is constantly seeking all inspiration and appetite for the depth from DP, it's structured and meaningfully planned rigor, which truly prepares students for a challenging and constantly changing future.
Also, to truly sustain these two programs of IB, he as the MYP coordinator believes in the need for the right balance of curriculum design, assessments, pedagogical practices, pastoral care, and understanding of our learners in an international-minded context through MYP. The right balance of nurture and challenge, of care and push, of wondering and deep thinking, reading and experiencing, of focus and perspectives.
Sai Bhavya Prabhu
DP Coordinator
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” —Maimonides.
Sai Bhavya Prabu started her career as a researcher at the Oral Cancer Institute (ACTREC) and moved into teaching over a decade ago with the aim of enhancing equity in education. In her previous roles, she worked as Accreditation Coordinator, MYP Coordinator, ATL Coordinator, HOD Sciences, and Grade head in various International schools in India.
As a practitioner of Concept-based Curriculum, Sai Bhavya has built her own repertoire of practices for teaching and learning. She started her journey with IBEN (International Baccalaureate Educator Network) started as an examiner and currently associated with IB in multiple roles as IB Workshop resource developer, IB Online Workshop Facilitator, IB Continuum Workshop leader, IB Programme Leader - Evaluation leader, MYP BQC Reviewer, ESS IA Team leader, MYP curriculum Developer (assessments) and EE/TOK Curriculum review member, also an examiner for CAIE, an approved NEASC-CIE, joint NEASC-CIS accreditation team visitor. Through all of her experiences she has learned how each school is a living ecosystem in which people have agency to change, transform, adapt and grow through a dynamic and symbiotic relationship between the school and the IB.
GRIT HONOUR GRACE - the core values and ethos of NEEV, stimulate our students to Be - who they are, Believe - why they are, Become - What they are.
Operations Leadership Team (OLT)
Kalpita Jain
Head - Admissions and Accreditation
"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose
Helen Keller"
This quote resonates with me and the ultimate questions we ask ourselves at different stages of life and while we play different roles. What is the purpose of my existence? What is the purpose of education? What gives me happiness? While I discover myself in this magical field of education, I sincerely believe in the importance of nurturing an ecosystem of learning and teaching where learners believe in themselves and develop their unique identity through the process of play, discovery, collaboration, and community building; while being compassionate individuals. How can the education system we design and build should provide opportunities and experiences for our learners to develop the essential competencies and the right values that support them to contribute positively to the lives of others and the planet to find the ‘purpose of life?
My education in Electronics and Computer Science has provided me with the necessary academic knowledge, skills, and the importance of cutting-edge technology in the changing world. A certified Montessori diploma and various education philosophies, and research-based courses further helped me make the right choice for my career.
The past fourteen years of experience at Neev provided me an opportunity to work with young minds from Early Years. Experiencing their innate curiosity, and creativity, and thinking of ways to support and engage them in relevant yet challenging experiences is my passion. Designing and planning the curriculum framework with the educators, helping them gain understanding and provide essential training, and being an active member of IB education from Primary to senior school. A strong believer in Reggio Emilia's philosophy I worked as a Curriculum Coordinator, Head of the Primary School, and NEASC accreditation coordinator, and was an active part of strategic planning, creating and documenting systems and processes, and teacher coaching and mentoring.
My goal is to help learners find answers to their own questions, support them to discover themselves, take ownership of their life, find out what brings them joy and happiness, embrace acceptance, connect to their identity, explore their inner selves, and most importantly see themselves as part of the whole and be the change-makers of today!
Shipra Sharma
Head - Human Resources
“We rise by lifting others.”
A results-oriented leadership development professional, with over 14 years of progressive career having managed different facets of HR functions across geographies. Passionate about driving organization priorities and leading transformational changes and agility by enabling it through simple and effective HR strategy.
Shipra excel at managing diverse teams, collaborating with organization in building a high-performance culture, achieve organizational imperatives through fostering a culture of transparency, upskilling, problem solving & aligning associate efforts to overall vision.
Prior to this, she worked as a Director- Learning and development with OdessaInc. and holds an MBA degree in Human resources from IMS Dehradun.
My inclination towards building capabilities and relationships pushed me towards coaching. I am a certified NLP practitioner and pursuing ICF journey.
Joseph Innocent Babola
Head - Finance
Joseph is a seasoned Finance Professional with an overall 26 years of rich experience in Finance & Accounting, and for the last 14 years with US based Corporation leading strong revenue and EBITDA growth, from start-up stage thru leading due diligence for acquisition by a $40 billion global MNC. He was heading the finance team and responsible for Indian & US GAAP financial reporting, and managing HR & Admin functions. A proven track record of developing & implementing key metrics, policies, and business strategies across organizations. In his previous assignments, he was associated with the service, manufacturing and trading industry.
He holds a Master's degree in Commerce from M.S. University, Tamilnadu and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Financial Management from IMT, Ghaziabad. Most recently, become a certified CMA (US), a globally recognized certification conducted by Institute of Certified Management Accountants- USA, in his first attempt. He is also a “Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt” holder.
His hobbies include playing cricket, music especially live concerts, billiards, bowling and watching movies.
Rajat Bhatnagar
Head - Administration
Rajat is an Army veteran with 25 years of experience. He has shouldered many appointments, both in operations and logistics. He has a background in Cyber technology and intelligence besides his technical role. He has also worked with the Ministry of External Affairs as Officer on Special Duty for Public Diplomacy promoting "India" abroad.
Rajat holds a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur and completed Defence General Management Program from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow.
He loves reading, enjoys cycling, playing table tennis, travelling and listening to music is his panacea for everything.
