Ms. Shanthi Raghunath

"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

“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.

Priya Kerkar

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows."
Sydney J. Harris

To me, education is about transforming individuals from being self-centered to caring for others and striving to make an impact, whether big or small.
Ms. Priya began her teaching career at a college in Goa. With over fifteen years of experience, she has worked at NPS Koramangala, TISB, and Indus International Bangalore before joining Neev Academy in June 2017. Ms. Priya holds a Master’s degree in Geography from Mumbai University and a Bachelor’s in Education from Goa University. She has been involved in the IB curriculum for the past 14 years, teaching middle years and diploma students. Additionally, she is an IB MYP examiner for Personal Project and IDU.

Rini Ghosh

Dear Neevites,

I am thrilled to join Neev Academy as the Head- IB Diploma Programme. I am deeply impressed by the school's philosophy of fostering identity, relationships, and the core values of Grit, Honour, and Grace. These values resonate deeply with my own educational beliefs, and I believe they provide a strong foundation for preparing our students to be successful in the 21st century.

As Sir Ken Robinson states in his book "Out of Our Minds," "The more complex the world becomes, the more creative we need to be to meet its challenges." Education for Gen Z extends far beyond the classroom walls. We must equip our students with the critical thinking skills, creative problem-solving abilities, and practical experiences needed to navigate an ever-changing landscape, both real and virtual.

At Neev, we believe in a collaborative approach to learning. We are not just educators; we are mentors who partner with students to co-create their success stories. This means understanding their strengths, fostering their areas for growth, and empowering them to embrace new ideas and perspectives. Our mission of building knowledge, self-awareness, and strong relationships forms the core of this collaborative journey.

This approach allows students to develop into well-rounded individuals who not only possess a strong academic foundation but also understand themselves and their place in the world. They become builders of communities, capable of navigating complex challenges and making meaningful contributions.

I am excited to work with all of you – students, faculty, staff, and parents – to create a vibrant and enriching learning environment that prepares our students to thrive in the 21st century. I look forward to getting to know each of you and collaborating to build upon the existing legacy of excellence at Neev.

Rini Ghosh holds her Master’s Degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Delhi University, followed by her teaching certification on Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from University of Salamanca, Spain, International House Barcelona and Universidad Autonoma of Madrid, Spain. She has co-authored in creating curriculum for the Teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language under E-PG Pathshala, a project of Government of India, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) under its National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technologies (NME-ICT). She has also successfully completed Teaching and Learning courses from University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education.

She forms a part of the Latin American Women Authors Association where she engages in discourses on Hispanic Culture and Literature. She is an examiner to the International Baccalaureate and also an Evaluation Leader for IBEN. 

Somdatta Mukherjee

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
- John Dewey

I believe that every child is unique and possesses the innate potential to learn and grow.  A holistic and stimulating environment is essential for nurturing the intellectual, emotional, social, and creative development of our students. At ICSE@NEEV We are committed to providing personalized and innovative learning experiences that celebrate individuality and foster a lifelong love of learning, empowering each child to thrive and succeed.

Somdatta Mukherjee, Head of ICSE, holds a Master's Degree in Computer Applications and has more than 15 years of experience in some of the country's most prestigious schools. Her tenure at DPS International School in Singapore saw her play a pivotal role in fostering an inclusive educational environment. Throughout her career as an educator, she has taught diverse boards CISCE, CBSE, Cambridge and IB, she has been captivated by children's curiosity and eagerness to explore and learn, gaining profound insights into their perspectives.

One of the youngest Supervising Examiner to be appointed by CISCE, Somdatta is deeply committed to the principles of Neev and collaborates closely with teachers to guide, plan, and implement curricular experiences that cater to children's interests, their innate need for exploration, and their keen sense of inquiry. Her dedication ensures that each child's educational journey is both enriching and responsive to their natural curiosity.

In her spare time, Somdatta likes to read, dance, travel, and learn more about the world around her. 

Karthika Gopalakrishnan

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

"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.

Meera Mohan

I am committed to being  part of a community of educators who want to build a safe and peaceful environment for future generations and guide our learners to grow up believing in the power of humanity.

I believe that education opens a child’s mind to the wonders of the world through a journey of self-discovery. It is the tool that enables children to think , question assumptions, foster reflective thinking, marvel at the mysteries of the world around them while striving to find answers. Education does not mean providing an answer but endowing the students with avenues to find an answer for themselves within themselves.

For me, school is not just a place of learning and teaching. It is a safe haven where taking risks and making mistakes are encouraged. It is an environment where the students feel invested. Providing student agency instills a greater sense of ownership and trust and ensures that each member is valued, seen and heard.

Ms. Meera holds a Master’s in Arts (Language and Literature) and a Bachelor’s in Pure Sciences from Ravi Shankar University, Raipur. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Education degree from Singhania University. After a corporate stint, Ms. Meera began her teaching career by teaching Language for Middle Years and Upper Elementary in the IGCSE curriculum.

She has been with Neev Academy for over nine years, first as a Home Room Teacher and later as a Grade Level Coordinator for Grade 5. 

 

Ramya Vijayan

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself"
- John Dewey

Ramya comes with over 15 years of rich international experience having worked in Oman, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and in multi-cultural environments before relocating to India in 2019. She had served in multi-faceted leadership positions covering Administration, Operations, Marketing, Technology and Consulting functions. Passionate towards education vertical, Ramya holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in Strategic Educational Leadership from the University of Dundee, Scotland, Master's in Marketing Management from Alagappa University and Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of India.

A highly energetic professional with eye for detail, she is a change agent with the tact to bring about result-oriented transformation. Ramya joined Neev in 2022 and she enjoys jaunting, cooking and engages in animal welfare activities.

Kalpita Jain

"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

“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.

Rama Kasiram

I am a finance professional with approximately 15 years of experience in the IT Products and Services industry. My expertise lies in driving business profitability, fostering financial discipline, managing investor relations, and ensuring best-in-class governance. Throughout my career, I have successfully led and steered key projects, negotiated complex commercial contracts, and built strong partnerships with C-suite executives.

In my various roles across leading organizations, I have expanded my scope beyond traditional financial responsibilities. I have played a pivotal role in revenue accounting, pricing and contract structuring, system design, and strategic reporting, all aimed at delivering value to the organization. I am passionate about continuous learning and adapting to both changing customer landscapes and evolving financial environments.

My commitment to fostering high-performance teams and a collaborative work culture is evident in my approach to team management and mentoring finance professionals. I take pride in creating agile and efficient teams that drive business excellence.

Skilled in managing large-scale transformational initiatives across cross-functional teams, I thrive in dynamic, challenging environments.

Outside of work, I enjoy listening to music, traveling extensively, and practicing embroidery.

Mr. Venkataraju V A

Venkat is an Army veteran with 18 years of distinguished service in administration, operations, and logistics across India. Transitioning from the military, he has spent over a decade in educational administration, contributing his expertise to institutions like Indus International School and Alliance University in Bangalore.

With an MBA in Operations Management from Manipal University, Jaipur, and dual postgraduate diplomas in Educational Administration and Personnel Management from Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, Venkat brings a wealth of leadership and strategic insight.

Beyond his professional endeavors, he enjoys staying active, going on long drives, reading, watching movies, and listening to music.