Long before screens brought stories to life, there was the art of storytelling: a magical passage into forgotten lands, distant kingdoms and worlds that existed only in the imagination. Through words, a storyteller could transport listeners across oceans, into enchanted forests and towards adventures where the impossible seemed entirely within reach. Passed down orally from one generation to the next, these stories entertained, educated and helped children make sense of the w

Naman Kandoi, Director of Mayoor School Jaipur and CEO of Global Institute of Technology, brings an engineering perspective to education. An alumnus of Purdue University and Imperial College London, he champions experiential learning, design thinking and critical inquiry. He has collaborated with CBSE on national assessment reforms and was recognised among India’s Elite 50 Eduicons for advancing future-ready education.

Shivika Gupta is a career counsellor with over eight years of experience. Beginning her career in the UK, she later worked in Canada and across North America with universities and schools and currently works with schools in India. She holds an MBA in Strategy from the UK and an LLB & a B.Com. (Hons.) from Delhi University. Earlier, she practised law in India, with experience at the District Courts of Delhi and the Delhi High Court and law firms across Delhi.

Satarupa Majumder is the Founder and Secretary of Katakhali Swapnopuron Welfare Society (KSWS), a nonprofit advancing educational equity across the Sundarbans in West Bengal. Since 2012, she has led the growth of Swapnopuron’s education initiatives, creating opportunities for children in remote island communities through inclusive, holistic and community-centred education.

Vikram Narvekar is an experienced educationist with qualifications in M.A., B.Ed. and PGDCT, and a D.Litt. from American University. Having worked across Mysore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Bijapur and Bagalkot, he currently serves as Principal at CISCE BLDE, Vijayapura. He is also a National Resource Person for CBSE, with specialised training in school health through Delhi–South Asia UNESCO.

Dr. Kavya Shree Basappa is a biotechnology scholar, educator and Principal with over a decade of experience. She champions inclusive, technology-enabled learning and mentors teachers. Her honours include the G20-recognised Best Education Article award and the Shiksha Bhushan Puraskar 2023. She authored Biology Made Easy.

Ms. Mena Mittal, State Awardee and Vice Principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, has served the school for 35 years and as a CBSE Resource Person. Through experiential learning, student clubs and community initiatives like Roti Bank and Nav Chetna Shiksha Kendra, she promotes holistic development and social responsibility.

Satwant Palekar is an accomplished education leader with 28 years of experience across India and internationally. Holding postgraduate degrees in Physical Chemistry and Solid State Physics, she specialises in curriculum development, educator training, and international education. A NABET assessor, she has evaluated 180+ schools and currently leads academics at Birla Open Minds, overseeing 120+ schools.

Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi is the Director of the AISECT Group of Universities and oversees the organisation’s skill development, research and documentation initiatives. With a background in Electronics and Computer Technology and Rural Management, she contributes to advancing inclusive education, skill development and research-driven learning.

Every principal has met this student. Top of the class. Board results framed in the school foyer. A confident speech at the farewell assembly. And then, a year or two later, a telephone call from a worried parent. The first real setback at university has become a crisis. The first decision taken without a teacher or parent in the room has become paralysis. Nobody failed that child in the way our report cards measure failure. And yet something was missed. That student was on m

Humankind is a race that was given the gift of gab, but much of our tribe seems remarkably inept at using it. We mistake speaking for communication, filling silences for conversation, and having something to say for knowing how to say it. We have never had more ways to talk to one another, and yet, somehow, we seem to be getting worse at actually talking. Conversation is an art. And like any art, it requires more than simply showing up with a voice. To communicate is to make

Dr. Nicole Bien joined the International Baccalaureate (IB) in 2016, bringing nearly two decades of experience in equitable and inclusive education. She has held senior leadership roles including Global Director of Learning and Teaching and Chief Schools Officer. She currently serves as Chief Community Partnership & Development Officer, advancing global partnerships and transformative educational initiatives.

Victoria Pugh is Director of Education and Professional Learning at the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), having previously served as Assistant Director of Accreditation. A former Senior Lecturer at the University of Worcester, she specialises in PSHE, RSE, diversity and inclusion. Victoria leads teacher development and professional learning programmes, championing inclusive education and strong professional cultures.

Darlene Fisher, EdD, has over 40 years of experience in education. She is a Senior International Accreditation Leader with NEASC and a Lead Educator and workshop designer with the IB. She also represents NEASC in developing the Collaborative Learning Protocol and is designing a coaching based leadership programme for NEASC Lead Visitors.

Capt. Rohit Sen Bajaj, Head of Pathways School Gurgaon, is an internationally recognised educational leader with extensive experience in IB education, school leadership and curricular transformation. A former Indian Army officer, he has served as IB Recognition Ambassador, IBEN Evaluation Leader, and President of the Association for Heads of IB World Schools India. He has also contributed to CIS and NEASC accreditation and AIU initiatives.

Misbah has been a PYP educator for the past 5 years. He is the co-founder of Toddle as well as Toddler's Den, a network of Reggio Inspired preschools. An engineer at heart and passionate about education, he leads school success and sales at Toddle. Prior to co-founding Toddle and Toddler's Den, Misbah led innovation for South Asia in Unilever.

Kam Chohan is Executive Director of ECIS, having joined the organisation in 2018 as Chief Operating Officer. With a background in education and leadership, she is committed to social justice, diversity, inclusion and intercultural understanding. A former mathematics and business lecturer, Kam has championed innovation and inclusive leadership, earning the 1885 NEASC Award and the Kam Chohan Global Inclusion Award.

Conor Burns is an international education consultant at Renaissance, working with schools and education communities across India and South Asia. His work focuses on assessment, teaching and student development, combining international perspectives with regional insights. He supports educators in making evidence-informed decisions and developing practical approaches to evolving learning needs.

Nikhil Taneja is an award-winning writer, producer, podcaster, entrepreneur and youth mental health advocate. He co-founded Yuvaa, serves on Girl Rising’s board, and has advised the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers initiative. His honors include the 2024 Kamla Bhasin and Laadli Foundation Media Awards.

Walk into a staff room during Teacher’s Month and you will probably see a familiar scene. Cards on the desk. A cake in the corner. A student’s handwritten note tucked into a diary already crowded with lesson plans, worksheets and reminders. The teacher smiles, says thank you, and goes back to correcting forty notebooks before the next bell rings. We are very good at thanking teachers. I am not sure we are equally good at asking what we owe them. The Job We Keep Expanding Teac

For years, the classroom has been built around a familiar equation: the teacher knows, the student learns. But artificial intelligence is quietly rewriting that equation. Today, a teacher can ask an AI tool to draft a lesson plan, differentiate an activity for different learning levels, translate a resource, generate assessment questions or suggest ways to explain a difficult concept. The question, then, is no longer whether AI will enter the classroom. It already has. The mo

Archana Patil is an accomplished education leader and Vice Principal at Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur, with over 18 years of experience in the field of education. As a CBSE Resource Person, she is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, teacher empowerment, and joyful, meaningful learning experiences that nurture students into confident and responsible individuals.

Anubha Srivastava, Principal, Delhi International School Edge, Dwarka, is an educator and leader with 25+ years’ experience. A CBSE Master Trainer and Resource Person, she contributed to CBSE’s Storytelling Pedagogy Module and championed NEP 2020’s play-based learning. Pursuing a PhD at IIT Delhi on storytelling and values, she is a five-time Green School Award recipient and Adobe Creativity Challenge-winning leader.

Chetan Tiwari, Principal of St. Anthony’s School, began his journey in 1995. A dedicated educator, he holds a B.Ed and a Master’s in Ecology & Environment. He served as Secretary of AHLIS, Asst. Secretary of ASISC (North Bengal & Northeast), and CISCE Inspector since 2018. A believer in inclusive, progressive education, he embraces growth with his motto: “Hustle with heart and soul.”