Team Bodhana & Learning Tree
Uma Sankaran
Founder and Principal / Adolescent Program Directress
As a young software engineer, I was drawn to logic and algorithms. However, my life took a metamorphic change during my primary Montessori course at IMC, Chennai. The wonders of childhood fascinated me, and I soon found myself setting up Montessori environments in corporation schools.
In 2012, I founded Bodhana Montessori House of Children with a vision to provide a nurturing learning environment based on the Montessori Method. We began with just two children and gradually grew to touch more lives. As our primary students were ready for elementary education, we embarked on the elementary journey in June 2016. I completed my Montessori Elementary course at the Indian Montessori Academy, Chennai.
My team is my strength, and our organic growth has allowed us to develop a unique culture that stays close to nature. With a keen interest in extending Montessori beyond elementary years, I pursued a course on the Montessori program for adolescents at IMTI, Iowa, USA.
To support Bodhana Montessori's vertical growth, we acquired Learning Tree Montessori School in January 2022. In June 2024, we merged Bodhana and Learning Tree at new premises on OMR, marking the beginning of our adolescent program. We plan to grow with our first batch of middle school students up to Class X, following the Cambridge curriculum and preparing them for IGCSE exams.
As Dr. Maria Montessori said, 'Development is a series of rebirths.' A child is like a plant, undergoing many stages of life, with each stage being a discovery of human life. We, Team Bodhana and Team Learning Tree, are honored to create a nurturing environment for children, witnessing their growth and rebirth at every stage.
We thank you, dear parents, for entrusting us with the care of your children. It gives me immense pleasure to invite you to meet our team and learn more about our work, striving to nurture the love of learning in every child.
Sunitha Subramaniam
Montessori Consultant and Mentor
Ms. Sunitha Subramaniam holds a Diploma in Music from the College of Fine Arts, Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, and Primary and Elementary Diplomas from the Association Montessori Internationale, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
She began her teaching career in 1991. In the span of these years besides working with children from the ages of 18 months to 13 years, from different socio-economic backgrounds, she has mentored teachers, conducted workshops for teachers and Parents, was a resource person at workshops.
She has been associated with Bodhana since 2012 and has been mentoring the team in following all the tenets of Montessori. She has been part of the faculty for the training of teachers for the Chennai Schools, Corporation of Chennai by the Sri Ramcharan Trust, Chennai. She has spoken at conferences conducted by the Indian Montessori Centre.
She co-authored an article for the commemoration of the centenary of the opening of the first Casa dei bambini which was published in The Hindu.
Viola R Krishnamani
Cambridge Consultant and Mentor
Viola is a dynamic entrepreneur who has seamlessly transitioned from academia to the business world, carving out a niche as a highly successful education strategist and advisor.
With a proactive connection in both the educational and voluntary sectors, Viola focuses on launching new institutions, designing training programs, and implementing quality assurance systems.
Her proficiency lies in creating customized & robust academic and administrative frameworks within schools, particularly those affiliated with international boards like Cambridge and Edexcel. She collaborates closely with school management and educators to streamline academic processes, enhance professional development opportunities, refine assessment methodologies, and ensure institutional quality standards.
In addition to her role as an Exams Inspector with Pearson Edexcel and Standards Verifier for Pearson's BTEC qualifications, Viola serves as a trusted management consultant in the burgeoning edtech sector. She offers strategic advice to businesses on product development, service offerings, and fostering strong client partnerships.
Viola has been our Cambridge consultant mentoring Team Bodhana and Learning Tree.
Krithika Anand
Toddler and Primary Program Directress, Adolescent Program Coordinator
Krithika's life journey has been a transformative one, evolving from an independent teenager to a young nutritionist, efficient slimming manager, and loving homemaker and mother.
As an AMI-trained Montessori adult, Krithika has explored working with children across various age groups, from 2 to 16 years. As a Montessori Directress, she finds joy in working with children, expanding her knowledge alongside them, and supporting their self-construction and development.
Krithika's dedication and passion make her the biggest strength of Team Bodhana and Learning Tree. Her versatility has refined her thoughts and ideas, enabling her to adapt to any situation. She cherishes the fact that Bodhana respects her ideas and suggestions, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration.
With her experience, Krithika has mentored numerous parents and remains motivated to take on new roles in the school's growth journey. She believes that Bodhana and its children have taught her an invaluable lesson: 'Believe in yourself.' Sharing the school's vision, she works relentlessly to sculpt this beautiful learning space in every possible way.
Prashanthi Poosarla
Elementary Program Directress
Born and raised in a small town in an Orthodox family, her life's journey is a unique and captivating blend of tradition and innovation.
With nearly 15 years of experience in education and academics, she is a seasoned academician who has gained valuable knowledge and expertise in supporting children across various stages, from toddlers to elementary schooling, both abroad and in India.
Holding an MBA degree, she possesses excellent communication and finance skills. She began her career in the Knowledge Processing industry, specializing in contract management, before transitioning to work with toddlers, inspired by her Father-In-Law, an academic professional.
Drawn to the vision of her friend in creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive, she joined Bodhana. Over the past decade, she has consistently touched the lives of hundreds of children. She pursued an intensive course on Montessori Elementary from the Indian Montessori Academy and played a key role in shaping the Elementary program at Bodhana.
Children are her source of energy, and she feels blessed to be able to learn alongside them. She excels in collaborating with parents to support the holistic growth of her environment children.
Vidya Narayanan
Middle School Curriculum Coordinator
Vidya Narayanan holds an M.A. and M.Phil in English Literature. She started her career as an English Lecturer at Gujarat College in Ahmedabad.
For a brief while, she worked as a journalist and as a language editor in e-publishing. She resumed her career in teaching and has been with our school for the past 10 years. She teaches English for the middle school classes and Hindi for the elementary classes.
Her strengths are her emotional intelligence, mental tenacity, and empathy.
Pavithra Vasudevan
Head of Administration
Pavithra, a seasoned HR professional with a Master's diploma in Human Resource Management, has played a pivotal role in establishing the administrative processes at Bodhana & Learning Tree.
Her exceptional people skills have enabled her to foster seamless communication between the team, parents, and vendors.
With a deep affinity for the school, Pavithra has worked tirelessly to drive its growth.
Anusha A.N
Elementary Coordinator
With a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Diploma in Montessori Primary Education, Anusha began her career in finance at Integrated Enterprises before transitioning to Montessori education.
As a Montessori educator, Anusha started working with our primary children from 2011. She was then the Primary coordinator for a few years, before she moved to guiding elementary students in 2022. Her experience and insight enable her to mentor elementary children effectively.
Currently, Anusha oversees the elementary program, fostering a supportive learning environment that acknowledges each child's strengths and needs. Her approach focuses on nurturing the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally.
Anusha excels at guiding and inspiring children during their formative years, laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Raja Rajeswari
Primary Coordinator
Raja Rajeswari, fondly known as Rajji Aunty, is an Engineering graduate who turned passionate educator. Her teaching journey began with a desire to understand her child better, leading her to explore various pedagogical approaches. She discovered the Montessori method and was captivated by its child-centred philosophy.
Rajji completed her Montessori Primary Course from IMTC in 2014 and has been an integral part of our team since then. To further support the school's growth, she also earned her Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) from NIOS.
Rajji firmly believes that fostering independence and providing a nurturing environment are essential for children to reach their full potential. Her dedication to holistic education and child development continues to inspire our community.
Gayatri Jayaraman
Primary Coordinator
Gayatri's life took a transformative turn when she discovered the Montessori system of education while searching for a school for her daughter. Leaving behind her career as a Research Associate in a Pharma company, she pursued her passion for Montessori education, completing her course with IMTC-C.
Since 2017, Gayatri has been a cornerstone of our Primary program, inspiring children with her love for the Montessori method. Her creativity, passion for animals, and artistic skills have helped foster a connection with nature among our children.
With years of experience guiding children from toddlerhood to adolescence, Gayatri has witnessed the profound impact of Montessori education. She firmly believes that with the right nourishment, independence, and choices, every child can gain the strength and confidence to soar.
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