Bangalore Steiner School Trust has initiated an independent, co-educational school project. The Board of Trustees, Management Council and College of Teachers work together to provide the happy and healthy education that we envisage for our children. These groups make up the school community and the resulting sense of 'connectedness' is an important expression of the school's vision.
Board of TrusteesThe Board of Trustees guides the school’s financial and legal matters. The current members of the Board of Trustees are:
Gopa BoseGopa is the Class Teacher for our current Grade 3. In addition she is also a teacher trainer and will be involved in all aspects of the pedagogy. Gopa has done her M.A.(English) B.Ed. and has 19 years teaching experience in mainstream schools as class teacher as well as teaching English, for the High school, Lower and Middle school. She has taught at Loreto (Kolkata), The Frank Anthony Public schools (Kolkata and Bangalore ), Bishop Cotton Boys’ School and Sophia High School for Girls (Bangalore). From 1990 to 1991 she volunteered with the Child Life Programme at the Paediatrics Department of the University of Massachusetts Hospital, U.S.A to support families of terminally ill children and help children with schoolwork, play with them, and be part of the child study programmes. Gopa has a deep belief in Waldorf education and has been attending and participating in Steiner workshops in Bangalore & Hyderabad.
Gopa's Motivation for Bangalore Steiner School:"I believe in Steiner’s philosophy and his views on education. The Bangalore Steiner School is fulfilment of a wish that I have that education should meet the needs of a child. I also have a larger vision of starting a curative unit within the school for children with special needs and those with learning difficulties."
Jyotsna Mandana
Jyotsna is the Class Teacher for the current Grade 1 at Bangalore Steiner School. She has helped build the curriculum for the school and is also involved in all aspects of the pedagogy. She has done her a B.A. In Child Psychology, English and Journalism and completed AMI (Association Montessori International). She has taught at Vasant Valley School, Delhi and Presidency school in Bangalore. She has also worked as an Education consultant and Children's Camp Co-ordinator for Erehwon India Consulting Pvt. Ltd. She has been a Steiner class teacher at Promise Centre prior to its integration with Bangalore Steiner School. She has been part of the Steiner community since 2004 and has participated and organized several workshops for both faculty and parents. She helps conduct regular readings and studies on Steiner with the existing teacher fraternity in Bangalore. She also introduced Waldorf elements to the existing Kindergarten at Promise Centre from 2005 and helped train the Kindergarten teachers in the Steiner way since 2007. Her hobbies include Trekking & Mountaineering (Completed the Adventure and Basic course in mountaineering from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling/ Uttarkashi), Silk painting, Pottery & Reiki.
Jo's Motivation for Bangalore Steiner School:
"In Steiner I have found the philosophy pragmatic for all human beings and I want my/all children to experience a Steiner education. I believe Steiner Education helps children to be free thinking, independent & motivated adults. In addition I want to be a better person and the journey of being a Steiner teacher is helping me do that. Last but not the least Bangalore needs a Steiner school."
Lalitha is Chairperson of the Board. She is also mentor, all round supervisor and facilitator in education and founder of a Steiner inspired Kindergarten community. She has over 45 years of teaching experience. Since 2006 she has done Study and Observation of Kindergarten education as a Steiner Initiative. Lalitha has done her Bachelor of Education in Bangalore. She has also completed AMI (Association Montessori International), Masters in History of World Art, Architecture, sculpture and painting and a Cambridge overseas certificate from the UK. In previous roles she was the Head Kindergarten teacher at the Bangalore International School and Head Mistress at Chennama Memorial school. She has also taught at Loretto, Darjeeling, Vana vani Primary School, IIT Chennai and Stella Maris, College Chennai. She has done extensive training in Steiner education. Lalitha's other interests include Homeopathy where she has done a Basic and Advanced courses in Homeopathy Art and Science of healing in Bangalore
Lalitha's Motivation for Bangalore Steiner School:
"Through Bangalore Steiner School I want to help the child help itself and society."
Latha, in addition to her role as Trustee will be involved in all aspects of the pedagogy including material research for curriculum development. She has done her MSC in Psychology and B.Ed, Diploma in Montessori education. Her other certifications include Creative KG Teaching, Value-based education & De Bono Thinking Skills. She has over 12 years of teaching experience and has established and managed a Teachers Training Institute for Early Childhood Education – Euro Kids Teacher Training Institute – Bangalore. She has also been a consultant in Curriculum Development for preschools, Conducting Teacher Training in Classroom Management, Preschool administration, Workshops & seminars on Parenting for major preschools, Training on Creative Thinking (Edward De Bono) for Corporates. Latha has over 4 years of Steiner (Waldorf) education experience. She has also undergone several training & workshops in Steiner education. Her conviction about Steiner education has led her to founding Prakriti , a Waldorf inspired preschool.
Latha's Motivation for Bangalore Steiner School:
"I want to see a full-fledged Waldorf – Steiner school in Bangalore and contribute in every possible way towards its success."
Manivannan is in addition to being a Trustee, a teacher trainer and will also be involved in parent education. Passionate about Steiner education he spends considerable time in research and training for the same. He did his early schooling from the Sri Kumaran Children's Home, under graduation in science at the National College and graduation in Arts from the Mysore University, specialising in English and Sanskrit literature. He later did an MBA from the AMC College. After mainstream education, he started attending workshops in theatre, filmmaking and therapeutic courses for special needs' children. He then did his RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) qualified course in special education and later a three year course in the art of curative education and socio-therapy. His greatest joy is pursuing teaching as a spiritual task by directly involving himself in classroom observation and mentoring and offering hands-on help with the children in front of him. As an educationist he is also a teacher trainer inspiring in them an inner attitude to work and help them explore their creative best with the children and also help them deal with children with different temperaments and behaviours. His other interests include counselling, art & theatre and music. He also has a great passion for curative education for special needs children.
Mani's Motivation for Bangalore Steiner School:
" I was searching in life for something that I thought I knew. My destiny brought me to where I think I belong.”
Smitha is the Managing Trustee. She looks after the business, operational and community building aspects of the school. Her work positions in the past have included study tour organizing and event management for Peace Boat, a Japan-based NGO; Entrepreneur of Yatra, a theme-tour boutique, International banking at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Tokyo and Management Trainee at Unilever India. Her educational qualifications include MBA (IUJ, Japan); PGDIM (IIFT, New Delhi), B.Com (Hons.) SRCC and Advanced Diploma in Japanese language, Delhi University. Smitha came in contact with Steiner education in 2005 when she attended an information evening at Glenaeon Steiner School, Sydney, Australia. After enrolling her daughter at Glenaeon’s preschool, and subsequently at Sophia Mundi in Melbourne, she became actively involved in the parent community of the schools and attended numerous events, seminars, workshops on Steiner education and parenting right through to April 2010. The family having relocated, Smitha has been a part of the founding group starting Bangalore Steiner School. Her interests include languages, travel (has visited more than 35 countries), conscious consumer culture, the Organic food movement and the spiritual task of a mother.
Smitha's Motivation for Bangalore Steiner School:
"Meeting Steiner education was a turning point in my journey as a Mother. Not having a Steiner school in Bangalore for my daughter was not an option I was willing to settle for."
The administration and operational management of the school is delegated to the Management Council. Membership of the Council comprises a wide variety of skills and usually involves current and past parents, staff and other interested supporters of the school. The current members of the Management Council are: Smitha Mallya, Kim Smet, Sundeep Kamath, and Usha Chandrachood.
College of TeachersAll pedagogical concerns are the responsibility of the faculty, under the leadership of the College of Teachers. The College Of Teachers is responsible for the ongoing development & enrichment of the Curriculum, developing & maintaining curriculum documentation and teacher training and ongoing professional development.
Parents & Friends AssociationThe Parents and Friends of the school are integral to the structure and the Parents and Friends Association is the vehicle by which the parent body contributes its time, energy and support to the teachers and students of the school. Parents commit, on school entry, to active participation and support in many practical areas. Participation is welcomed at many levels and in various ways: as class parents, as rostered helpers for parent meetings, school functions and fundraising events, as members of committees, and as classroom helpers for reading, craft and other activities.
