Masterclass With Fearless Educator

Having completed my training in Waldorf education at Emerson College, Forest Road, East Sussex, U.K in 1986, I returned to India and worked in a mainstream school for three years. As a Waldorf educator I found a need to make changes in the method and delivery of education. I wished to implement an alternative way of education based on the teachings of the philosopher Rudolf Steiner and the philosophy of Waldorf education.

Keshar Academy of Learning was born in 1992. It began with a playgroup which grew organically into a kindergarten and then into class 1 and subsequently all the way up to class 12, adding a class every year. In 2005 we became a Cambridge accredited school enabling us to offer the IGCSE, and the AS/A Levels Cambridge examinations.

Achyuta Samanta, after obtaining Master’s Degree in Chemistry in 1987 from Utkal University, started his career at 22 years of age. He has 30 years of teaching experience to his credit so far. Prof. Samanta went on to serve KIIT  as its first Chancellor and has had the distinction of being the youngest Chancellor of any Indian University. He served University Grants Commission (UGC) as Member for two consecutive terms (2008-11 & 2011-2014) and was a Member of the Executive Committee of All Indian Council for Technical Education (AICTE). He was also a member of several other Government of India bodies like, NCTE, ISTE, ISCA, COIR BOARD, CAPART and many more. He has been a Member of the Academic Council of Central University, Silchar, Assam and the Central University, Odisha. He was the first Indian to be Member of both UGC and AICTE simultaneously and the first Odia to become Member of UGC and many other statutory bodies. Currently he is the President of World Congress of Poets 2019. He has delivered nearly 100 motivational speeches, including convocation addresses and foundation day lectures, in different institutions and organizations across the country and the globe. Prof. Samanta has been conferred with 33 Honoris Causa Doctorate awards from different Universities across the globe. He has also been decorated with prestigious Civilian Awards from many countries including, Gusi Peace Prize International, the highest Civilian Award from Bahrain besides over 50 national and international and over 200 State honors and accolades. He is the Founder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT ) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar – the fully free and fully residential tribal institute. Starting modestly with an initial seed capital of Rs 5000/-, KIIT has grown into one of the most promising Universities imparting professional education in the Country with global acclaim having 27,000 students from across the country and abroad. KIIT also runs a 2000 bedded multispeciality hospital and an attached Medical College. KISS has become the largest Residential Tribal Institute in the World and is home for 50,000 tribal children (30,000 pursuing education and 20,000 passed out). Both KIIT and KISS found a place in the Limca Book of Records as well as Guinness World Records in many counts. Prof. Achyuta Samanta, who had lost his father at the age of four, before he could know the significance of the world, was pushed into the mire of abject poverty.  Today, he is a legend, an iconic educationist, an emblem of service to humanity, a beacon of light for social transformation, and a redeemer of the fallen, the oppressed and the marginalized. With huge contributions in the field of education, health, art, culture, literature, rural development, social service and spiritualism his journey in life is not only awe-inspiring but soul-awakening for millions of poverty-stricken youths all over the globe. He has converted the remote village ‘Kalarabank’, Cuttack into a Smart Village and the entire Manpur Panchayat into a model Panchayat (cluster of villages). He has already started working to establish 12 branches of KISS in different districts, besides establishing KISS-Delhi for the underprivileged sections of the society. Besides providing around 10,000 direct employment in KIIT and KISS, he has created over 1,00,000 indirect employment and more than 100 successful entrepreneurs across the country. His hobby is to give happiness and a smiling face to the millions of poor. Prof. Samanta has been working relentlessly for Zero Poverty, Zero Hunger and Zero Illiteracy.

Mr. Prabhakaran has been in the education sector for 34 years. His rich experience in National (CBSE and ICSE) and International Curriculum (IB and IGCSE) has impacted not just the students but teachers too.  With his diverse knowledge in various academics feats, he has served as the Assistant Headmaster and Dean of Academics of Doon School, Dehradun. He actively enjoys curriculum development, pastoral care and counselling for students. Apart  from teaching   and school  administration,  Mr. Prabhakaran has been deeply involved in social  and  community   services,  including   Round  Square  programmes,   for  helping underprivileged   students.   He has led the students and teachers of the in setting up and re-building damaged    schools in the   earthquake     and    flash-flood    affected     areas   of   Uttarkashi,   Chamoli, Rudra Prayag, areas of Himalayas (Uttarkahnd)   and Wayaad, Gudalur and other parts of Western ghats (Kerala and  Tamilnadu ).  Mr. Prabhakaran is a post graduate in Geography with a degree in education.  He was the university rank holder during graduation and a recipient of the National Merit Scholarship for post-graduation. He started his career as a Lecturer, and later worked as the resource person for Kerala State Institute of Education.  He believes in motivating and assisting students to reach their full academic potentials. For Mr. Prabhakaran, values such as humility, self-discipline, spirit of service are important in shaping the character of the individual and the nation.  Mr. Prabhakaran is an avid trekker and has organized student expeditions through the length and breadth of the Himalayas.  Mr. Prabhakaran is the 20th Headmaster of The Lawrence School, Lovedale and is now impacting and changing students to be global leaders.

Craig has family connections with Asia which stretch back over five generations. His great grandmother was involved with the famous Chefoo School in northern China.

Craig earned his BA degree in Intercultural Studies at Biola University, California, in 1984. He completed his M.Div. in Theology from the same university in 1986. He has a Ph.D. in Sociology from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. His doctoral dissertation focused on the introduction of women’s basketball to the Philippines by American educators, entitled The Social Construction of Bodies through Basketball during the American Occupation: 1906-1922, and was awarded the John F. Doherty, S.J. Award for Social Justice. Craig’s research interests lie at the intersection of sociology of the body, gender, and sport.  He currently serves as President of the International Sociological Association’s Research Committee on Sociology of the Body. He started his teaching career as a High School Teacher in La Habra, California.

From 1988-1992 he worked in community development in a Muslim majority area of the southern Philippines, where he learned both Tagalog and the local language, Maguindanao. 

From 1992 until 2004 he worked at Faith Academy, Manila, Philippines, first teaching Humanities in the High School, then as High School Principal and, for five years, as Superintendent of the entire school, guiding a team of  130 faculty staff and 700 students in K-12, one third of whom were boarding students. 

From 2004 until 2012 he was Chair of the Social Sciences and Humanities Departments at Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. He returned to Asia 2012-2016 to work as Deputy Dean and High School Principal at UPH University and High School, a flagship Christian institution in Jakarta, Indonesia with some 15,000 students at High School and University.

From 2016-June 2019, Dr Cook was Dean of the School of Education at Simpson University, Redding, California, where he successfully led the school through complex accreditation procedures.

Dr Cook is married to Jamie Williams, J.D.  They met in Indonesia, where she was teaching International Law in the Faculty of Law at Universitas Pelita Harapan.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Literature and Letters from the University of Oklahoma and her Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School.  A licensed attorney in the states of New York and Texas, she has practiced family, criminal, and commercial law. Prior to joining Woodstock, Jamie was a professor in the History and Political Science Department at Simpson University in Redding, California, where she taught Political Science and Criminology. She was also an adjunct professor teaching Restorative Justice and International Law at Le Tourneau University in Longview, Texas. In addition, she served as Program Coordinator for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a nonprofit organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the foster care system.

In Craig’s own words: “I have been an athlete and participant in vigorous physical exercise for the whole of my adult life, being a regular basketball and tennis player and a tennis coach for many years. We live at present in a mountainous area of Northern California, where we enjoy hiking on the many beautiful trails… The heart of Christian leadership is being a servant to others, as evidenced by Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet and commanding us to do the same.”

Mr Peter Bird originates from a small rural village in South Cambridgeshire, UK. His humble beginnings started in Corporation housing and his father was known locally as the Professor because he was the only one they knew that had attended Technical College in Cambridge. Until the age of 16 he attended school within his village and had never traveled outside of the UK. Mr Bird left school with minimum qualification and was in a real sense a school failure. Why did a modern day successful school Superintendent fail school? Well in Mr Bird’s opinion he did not fail school, the education system failed him. The memory game of traditional education kills children's creativity and passion to learn which is why he hated school. Mr Bird then started on a long road to prove his intelligence despite his school results resulting in a varied career in many fields which he will share with you.

The connecting factor in all his career successes has been his sheer determination to not accept the current system or the situation he has encountered. Instead he has forged on to achieve and now pioneers to bring about change in education which he remains passionate about. During his career in educational leadership, Mr Bird has been the founding Principal in several countries including England, Qatar and currently The International Village School,Channi, India. IVS opened its doors in August 2018 and by JUne 2020 achieved IB World School statues in under two years, and during a global pandemic. Mr Bird’s message is simple, education IS the gateway to personal growth and career success, BUT only if the education system fits the pupils and not forces the pupils to fit the education system.

Originally from Denmark, Allan has over four decades of experience as an educator; and over three decades of experience in senior administrative positions in Denmark. He is armed with an M.A. in Danish language, literature and history as well as a Master’s in Public Administration. He has taught Danish language and literature as well as communication and IT.

Allan is a visionary leader in the field of education and believes that Preparing students to succeed in a rapidly changing 21st-century environment begins in schools. He is the Founder and Principal of the globally recognised Orestad Gymnasium School in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is recognised amongst the 15 most innovative schools globally. The school was the first globally to go 100% digital and has been visited by eminent personalities like Prince Harry. The school is renowned for its’ innovative learning environment with open spaces instead of traditional classrooms, its strong emphasis on media skills, fully digitalised teaching material and innovative teaching practices.

According to him non- traditional teaching environments form the backbone of the teaching-learning process. The digital environment also encourages a more personalised style of teaching. He has been an active participant in public debate in Denmark on topics related to education and challenges faced by youth. He has also presented at international seminars and conferences on 21st-century learning spaces and learning, technology in teaching and the “why of education” in the 21st century. He is one of the founders of the Global Schools Alliance, which is a select gathering of innovative schools. Allan is also a member of the Academy of the Finnish organization HundrEd, which collects, shares and rewards innovative school projects from all over the world.  

Allan is one of the founding members of the Chaman Bhartiya School . The school will prepare students for living and leading in India in the 21st century. To realise this vision Allan is one of the key contributors towards the development of the unique “We Lead” curriculum which incorporates development of academic competencies along with 21st century competencies as well as leadership skills. The school will also incorporate best practices on open learning spaces, innovative teaching practices as well as incorporate technology to personalise learning.

“What’s important is for the teacher to talk less and let the students work more. The teacher has to organise processes that encourage that to happen. The architecture of the school forces the teacher to do just that.” says Allan.

Qualification: M. Sc., B. Ed. (special education), Diploma in counselling Work experience: 1. Head teacher, at Marudam farm school since June, 2009 2. Science, Maths and language teacher at primary, middle and secondary levels at Olcott memorial High school from 1996 – 2009 3. Worked with street children in Dharavi, Mumbai, 1993 -1996 Languages: Tamizh, English, Hindi, Malayalam (only speaking) Interests: Dance, Music, Theatre, Crafts, all traditional art and craft forms, Environment

"A social entrepreneur from heart, Shibani is the Co founder of ‘Parvarish - The Museum School’, an innovative education Project of OASiS.

As a Founding Member of OASiS - A Social Innovations Lab, Shibani has been at the core of all education innovations in the organisation. After completing her Masters in English Literature, and Bachelor in Education, she thought of doing something different, to educate masses, not classes. She started a Museum based School to teach underprivileged children through Museum Exhibits in the year 2005. She collaborated with 5 museums of her city and began the journey. Her journey began with 40 children 15 years back, and today there are approx 100 children from 10 slums of Bhopal attending her school regularly. More than 4500 children have benefitted from this initiative of her. Some of them are now pursuing Engineering, Science, Commerce, Arts, Pharmacy and Fashion Designing undergraduate courses, some are pursuing Performing Arts, some have started their own Businesses, and some have joined back as Teachers.

She has received many awards, out of which the project ‘The Museum School’ won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific EDUCATION INNOVATION AWARD 2016 in Beijing, and has been listed under '100 inspiring Global Innovations in Education’ by HundrEd Finland.

Vaibhav Chhabra is a mechanical engineer by education but a carpenter by passion. A graduate from Boston University, Vaibhav spent the first 2 years of his career at EyeNetra, a startup from MIT Media Labs, building portable Virtual Reality based eye diagnostic devices. While working with the rural community in India for his eye diagnostic prototype, Vaibhav founded ‘Makers Asylum.’ Maker’s Asylum is a community space focussed on fostering innovation through hands-on learning. It also provides access to an ecosystem of stakeholders which includes Governments, Businesses, Incubators/Accelerators, Investors and subject matter experts. The space houses various labs that are co-located in order to facilitate prototyping of ideas that are interdisciplinary in nature. Vaibhav essentially coupled his degree with his passion to create the first community Makerspace in India. The key focus of this space is to foster education in areas of sustainability and disability. The flagship program of Maker’s Asylum, STEAM school, running for the last 2 years in collaboration with the French embassy in India, brings together 150 global participants that solve and prototype for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He also runs a similar program for the differently abled community. Both programs together have resulted in 29 high impact global projects that are in various phases of prototyping. The space has trained over 3000 people in the area of digital fabrication globally. The French President and the government has accredited him as a Young leader in this regard. In his leisure time Vaibhav enjoys making furniture, photography and winning at ping pong. He is also the Chair for innovation and entrepreneurship at Young Indians – Confederation of Indian Industries and a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum.

Dr Urvashi Sahni is a social entrepreneur, women rights activist and educationist. Through her various organizations, she has been working for the rights of children and women for over three decades. She is a leading expert in school governance, curriculum reform and teacher training with a special focus on girls’ education and the use of technology in education. Dr Sahni is a non-resident fellow at the Center for Universal Education - Brookings Institution. She has been recognized by the Obama Foundation Global Girls Alliance and the Clinton Foundation as a Change Maker. In 2017, she was declared the Social Entrepreneur of the Year India by the Schwab-Jubilant Bhartiya Foundation, and joined the international fellowship of Schwab social entrepreneurs. Dr Sahni was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship in the year 2011. She received Berkeley’s Haas International Award for her efforts to reform education in India and bolster education for girls in the year 1994. Dr Sahni was also invited to be an honorary member of the Clinton Global Initiative. She was also a member of the sub-committee on school education of the Chief Minister's Advisory Council in Rajasthan (2013 - 18). She founded Suraksha, a women rights organisation, in 1983 in Uttar Pradesh, India. She is the founding president and CEO of the Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF), under which she has established three K-12 schools including Prerna Girls School, providing affordable high quality rights-based education to over 1000 girls from urban slums. SHEF directly provides education to over 4000 students including middle class urban children, disadvantaged girls and boys from poor areas, out-of-school children, and rural children. She is the co-founder and director of the Digital Study Hall, which extends the pedagogical practices developed by the foundation to rural and urban schools in Uttar Pradesh and reaches out to over 1,00,000 students and teachers. A prolific social entrepreneur, Dr Sahni also founded DiDi’s, a social enterprise generating sustainable livelihoods for women, where she employs 65 Prerna graduates and their mothers. She has a Masters and a PhD in Education from the Graduate School of Education in UC Berkeley. She has presented academic papers at many national and international forums and universities, including Columbia, NYU, Chicago, and Berkeley, and has given Keynote addresses at international drama and education conferences in Edinburgh, Jamaica, Plymouth, Toronto, Northern Ireland and New York. She has published extensively on Critical Pedagogy, Theatre in Education, Feminist Pedagogy, Child Cultures, and Girls’ Education and Empowerment. Her current research focuses on developing and scaling her Girls’ Empowerment Program in India with the help of curricular reform, teacher training, and affordable technology. Her latest book – Reaching for the Sky: Empowering Girls through Education – draws on her 14 years of work with Prerna Girls School, and argues that education can be truly transformative if it addresses the everyday reality of girls’ lives and responds to their special needs and challenges with respect and care