• Curriculum and Resource Development
• Instructional Supervision
• Leadership and Group Dynamics
• Creating and Administering an Effective school

Mr. Parth Sarwate
Director - ITARI

Parth Sarwate has been working in the education sector over the last 10 years and has a deep passion for educational reform and change. Parth holds Masters degrees’ in Education from the Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and in Management from the Institute of Management & Development Research, Pune. In his previous roles, Parth has worked with some of India’s most respected social sector Foundations, Azim Premji Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

At the Azim Premji Foundation, Parth played a significant role in setting up and leading various ideas, functions, strategy and was the part of the core team that set up Azim Premji University at Bangalore. He led the conceptualization, legal and academic design, partnerships and the initial curriculum design work for development of Azim Premji University. Before beginning work on setting up of the new University, he also led the People Function and the Advocacy & Communications Function at Azim Premji Foundation.

At the Ford Foundation, Parth assisted Program Officers in grant making in two program areas - ‘Education, Arts & Culture’ and ‘Economic Development’. After completing his MBA, he worked with the corporate sector in areas of Finance and Marketing but after a few years there, decided to take up a larger cause to bring about reform in India’s education system.

Dr. Moses Satralkar
Curriculum Coordinator, Indus Trust

Dr. Moses Satralkar is involved in teacher education, interdisciplinary research, curriculum development and planning academic projects at ITARI. He is the course coordinator for the Keele University (U.K.) Professional Graduate Diploma in International Education (PGCE/PGDIE, U.K.). He teaches various Keele University P.G. Diploma and Cambridge International Diploma modules, and conducts workshops on Human Learning, New Literacy and Pedagogy for International Baccalaureate as well as Community Schools. He works on the CEO's staff at the Indus Trust to develop international collaborations, recruitment, marketing, research and administration. He joined Indus in 2007 and was in the core team that setup ITARI in 2008. Holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Pune, specializing in Chronobiology. Earlier, he taught Microbiology to Postgraduate students at College level for four years and is the author of twelve scientific research papers published in peer reviewed journals. His areas of interest include Integrated Education, Cognitive Neuroscience, Educational Leadership, Future Studies and Connect and Develop collaborations. He is a member of the Transformative Education Forum (U.S.A) organized annually by the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in association with the Global Challenges Forum (Switzerland).

Ms. Meenakshi Myer
Coordinator International Education, Indus Trust

Ms. Meenakshi Myer has a Master’s degree in History and a Bachelor’s in Education. She has been in the teaching profession for over twenty years, having spanned both National and International curricula, traversing global curricula like the International Baccalaureate and Cambridge International Education. This enriching experience has helped her tremendously in understanding the nuances of international education, with its focus both on localism and internationalism. She is also a certified Master Trainer for the CIE Teacher Diploma Programme. Ms. Myer has been the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator for Indus International School, Bangalore. She strongly believes that education is the most important agent of change and progress in an individual’s life.

Ms. Pritam Benjamin
Education Consultant, Indus Trust

Pritam Lena Benjamin has an M.A. in English from Allahabad University and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Calcutta. Over a 35 year teaching career, she has served as Vice Principal of Bangalore International School, founding Principal of National Academy for Learning(NAFL), Indus International School, Bangalore and Inventure Academy, Bangalore. Earlier she taught at Sishya in Chennai and La Martiniere for Girls in Kolkata. These were opportunities for her to observe and implement major paradigm shifts in education, in both International and National contexts.

Dr. Anita Rao
Faculty

Dr. Anita Rao worked as an Assistant Professor in the Teacher Education Department at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, USA. Prior she was a Curriculum Materials Developer in the Special Collections Department at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, USA. Anita received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, majoring in Multicultural Education. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, she taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Curriculum and Instruction. Anita worked as a Research Assistant for a cultural psychology project of Dr. Joan Miller of Yale University and University of Michigan, on the Indian side at Mysore. Her M.Ed. in Educational Technology and B.Ed. (Secondary Physical Science) degrees are from Regional College (now, Institute) of Education, Mysore of the NCERT. She has over two decades of experience working with children and youth in K-16 school as well as other educational settings both in India and in the US. Anita is a member of several professional organizations related to Curriculum Development, Teacher Educators, Educational Research, and Multicultural Education. Apart from academics, Anita is a connoisseur of Indian classical music and Indian classical dance. She is currently exploring the concept of "Happiness" in the fields of Positive Psychology and Philosophy.

Ms. Sandhya Gatti
Faculty

Ms. Sandhya has taught Social Sciences and English at primary and high school for about twelve years. She has been involved in designing and conducting teacher training modules at a reputed teacher training organization in Bangalore. She moderated an online teacher training network for the organization and was the chief editor of their quarterly magazine. She also headed an experimental, research-based project that looked at changing the culture of interaction in Indian schools using the Whole School Quality Circle Time Model. Earlier, she was a coordinator of educational programs for an NGO. During this period, she designed educational projects and workshops incorporating emerging technology and creative facets of art, music and theater for school children and teachers. She has contributed content for a Manual on English Speaking Skills for Teachers which is being published by the Cambridge University Press.

Mr. Ankur Rupani
Faculty

Ankur Rupani holds a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland and a Masters in Spirituality and Education from University of Naropa, both in the U.S.A. In his previous roles, Ankur has worked at the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Learning Centre, an initiative of SSRVM Trust, and as Faculty head of Jamboree Education, an overseas education company. At SSRLC, Ankur developed an after school program for children called Talent Club to nurture and develop the overall personality of the child. At Jamboree, he was in charge of content development and training to ensure student and trainer performance. Ankur has also developed a unique program called Empower where he uses his skills, research and talent in the areas of personal development. Empower facilitates accelerated learning and peak performance through emotional mastery and mind power techniques, tools and processes such as meditation, focusing, visualization and affirmations. Ankur's Masters research focused on the key question how can education be made more holistic, practical and integral and he researched on the education system of Sri Aurobindo's Education Society in Pondicherry during this Masters project.

Ms. Rochna Pant
Faculty

Ms. Rochna Pant has worked in the corporate recruitment industry in Pune and Bangalore which honed her people skills. Earlier, with the Parikrma Humanity Foundation; an NGO for under privileged children she was a coordinator and mentor, addressing issues of de-addiction and substance abuse. Rochna has a M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, and a B.Sc. from Banaras Hindu University. During her Master’s programme she has published a research dissertation and a paper in an International Journal. Keen on Teacher Education and Interdisciplinary Studies, she strongly believes that Education is the most important agent of change.

Ms. Monita Sen
Workshop Leader

Monita Sen is the Head of Primary at Indus International School and has 11 years experience working with the IB PYP programme. She is a qualified and experienced IB workshop leader who conducts workshops for teachers across the Asia Pacific region on various aspects of PYP Pedagogy and International Education.