Personal Statement:

"A great leader walks behind the people" is the belief that has brought success in my role as a leader in the empowerment of my team for the last 34 years. As an educationist and having Worked in the capacity as Teacher, Head of Department, Principal, Administrator, Director, Chairman, Trustee, I Can offer strategic direction to any programme in education and the methods to scale up the activities that may lead to the fulfillment of the Vision of the organization and further expansion. Monitoring, Evaluation, scrutinizing the adaptability of any educational program, innovations and value additions to the job at hand come as a part of the experience. Am at best as a Leadership Mentor and instructional specialist, innovating unique curriculum, transaction and delivery. Have an investigative approach to any issues, with specialization and excellence in teaching support, promoting thus student achievement.

Overview of Skills:

Over the last 34 years:

1. Have established as a great and beloved teacher
2. Curriculum Development for Schools that is unique
3. Leadership development in Schools through Mentorship
4. Motivating and empowering the teaching faculty to perform and own their students, assuring accountability
5. School Assessment and School Improvement
6. Institutionalizing systems and practices for Schools and designing policies
7. Giving guidance for Management of schools, designing the thought processes

Work Experience

1. Dr Vijayam Ravi's Educational Consultancy,
   (From 1st May 2013, through)
   I own this proprietary firm, continues to assist educational Managements to start, run K12 schools, advising them for strategic plan development and methods for implementation. Also involved in the refinement of curriculum for schools, and developing new ones, designing a different approach to teaching, mentoring Principals, help managements design policies formation, and help them form the management committees and guiding on arriving at Vision statement for managements


2. Chairman and Managing Director
   (From June 2008 to April 2013)
   As CMD for Academy for Global Education Services Pvt. Ltd-Founded the company, designed the model, business plans, activities, created policies for educational activities and HR of the company, brought in several innovations into teacher empowerment programs, Leadership development programs, Curriculum development for Schools and refinement of quality of their texts, Assessing Academic performance and excellence of schools, Mentoring for leadership in the organization itself. Left the company after creating succession plans and after the company achieving the status of an accrediting agency for all CBSE schools in the country on behalf of CBSE board. Left the company for spreading still bigger thoughts to others.
   Engaged simultaneously as Director of Education and Founding Trustee, for a model School namely India First Foundation School, Karjat-a residential school, making it absolutely unique in its infrastructure, academic programs and social status and emotional quotient. Developed systems and practices there, capacity building and engagement of staffing the right direction in order to meet the vision. Left the association with the school also after making it on its own, in the month of April 2013.


3. Director of Education, Raymond Ltd,
   (From 2001 to May 2008)
   Gained the corporate experience by working as the Director for education of all their educational programs and Community Out reach programs, Leading the Principals, starting new ventures in education, Innovations in curriculum, establishing structured approach to programs, Curriculum development, Designing and implementation of HR Practices, leading a team of about 400 teachers through engaged skill development programs, Organizing training and development programs.
   Principal, Singhania School, Thane (from 1998-2001)-this also is part of the Raymond Group-a school that caters to 600 students, growing this school from its earlier capacity of 2000 students to about 6000, expanding its infrastructure, facilities, engaging the teachers in all types of professional development activities and guiding them, creating succession plans. From this position got the escalation in to the Position as Director of education through an appointment in the corporate Raymond Ltd.


4. Principal, GD Matriculation and Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
   (September 1994 to April 1998)
   Started the first stint of Principal ship here-Led a team, a very unique School in its teaching approaches, student centered and with high demands for better performance, organized many events for teacher development, student enhancement and curriculum writing .


5. Head of the Department, Chemistry, for Avila Convent Matriculation School, Coimbatore
   (From June 1980 to September 1994)
   Started the teaching career hereby teaching Chemistry to Higher Secondary Classes, Produced cent percent results and state awards, responsible for setting a huge chemistry laboratory, leading adolescent students through various science projects and engagements, winning, State, National awards.

Education:

Qualifications:
M.Sc (Chemistry), M. Ed, M.A (Philosophy), M.Phil, PhD (Education) , PhD (Philosophy)

Details:

• PhD in Leadership studies that connect Indian Philosophy and Management from Mumbai University, India. Topic was "Principles of Leadership for all times from ancient philosophical treatises). It involved an extensive study of Indian Philosophy, Bagavad Gita, Dharma sastras, Chankaya neeti, Vidhura neeti, Manu Smriti, Bhagavatam, Jainism and Buddism)
• Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Bharatiyar University, Tamil Nadu, India
• M.A - Masters in Philosophy, University of Mumbai, India
• M.Phil. In Education, Bharatiyar University, Tamil Nadu, India
• M.Sc. Chemistry, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India
• M.Ed. in Education, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India, with (Focus on Educational Planning, Supervision, Curriculum development, Institutional development etc)
• B.Ed. in Education, , Calicut University , Kerala, India, ( Focus on skills in teaching, educational psychology and educational philosophy)
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, Calicut University, Kerala, India,

Other Professional Training

• Certificate course in Educational Management from Xavier's Labor Research Institute, Jamshedpur
• Certificate Course in Transformational Leadership on Transforming style of Leadership from Xavier's Labor Research Institute, Jamshedpur (XLRI), India.
• Certificate course in Leadership styles emphasizing on leadership styles such as 1, 1 style, 1, 9 style, 9, 1 style, and 9, 9 style from Grid Organization Development, LLC.

A Special note: I am associated with AMET University, Chennai, one of the Deemed Universities first of its kind in India, engaged in ship manufacturing and Maritime Courses, as External guide for Educational philosophy and Philosophy.

Also had been invited to many conferences that are engaged in Spiritual discourses linked with education, Management of education, as Key note speaker, or Chief guest, and in parent forums to address their issues in handling children in very crucial moments, Addressing Adult students for professionalism etc.

Accomplishments: Awards and Accolades

• International awards for mentoring Science projects-patented project
• Singhania School was awarded the International School Award by the British government –Global School Exchange Program with Lillington Primary School and Myton School, Warwickshire, UK.
• 'Adult leader achievement award' from World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Asia Pacific region
• Guided a wining science project on 'Producing Methane from bagasse' held by NCSTC (National Congress for Science Talent Council), New Delhi.
• Received 'Excellence in School Administration' award from Bharat Vikas Parishad & SIES Institute of Arts Science & Commerce, Mumbai, India, 2003.
• Received the best Educator award "Dr Radhakrishnan Puraskar"from Avantika Trust
• Best teacher award twice from the Association of Principals of Nilgiri and Coimbatore districts, T. Nadu
• Recipient of appreciation letters from the Education minister of T. Nadu for producing best results in Hr Secondary examinations.
• As a student several awards for Debates, Cultural and Literary activities
• Was Member of the inspection team for the Council for Secondary Examinations from 2004-2008, New Delhi

Papers Presented at conferences:

• Presented a paper at an international conference on "Science and Spirituality in the Age of Technology", organized by Institute of Science and Religion in Association with Mumbai University, in October 2012-the topic was " From Innocence to Inner sense"
• Presented a paper and talk on "Sustaining excellence in education Need for the 21st century", in the National conference organized by National Council for Quality Management, in April 2012.
• Presented a Paper and talk at a Rotary club Meeting on " Parenting-the challenges" - to a varied genre of parents from Society, 2012
• "Awakening of Élan vital - A pressing need for Higher Education - 2020" at South Gujarat University", 2012
• "Government Policies/Acts / Schemes in Education and their impact on schools and colleges" paper presented at Chamber of Commerce, Surat , Gujarat, India in 2011
• Presented a Paper and talked on a topic namely "From Innocence to Inner Sense" in a National Conference in October 2012, to a mass gathering of research scholars in Philosophy and Science, organized by the Institute of Science and Religion during their theme presentation on Science and Spirituality in the age of Technology"
• Presented and gave a Key note Address to a group of Professors at a National level conference in October 2012 on the topic, "Sustaining excellence in Higher Education for the 21st century"
• Presented a Paper on Inclusion on a Seminar for Principals across Maharashtra on a topic" Inclusion-the Blue Berry way "in October 2012
• Revitalizing Gandhian values in 21st century" in July 2011, addressing a group of educators at a National conference and presenting a paper
• 'Pedagogy for 21st century schools', organized by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), 2011, Mumbai, India.
• "Paradigm shift in Educational standards" –and 'Looking beyond conventional education' in the rotary clubs of south Mumbai
• 'Moving beyond human excellence', organized by SIES, management studies, 2010, Mumbai, India
• 'Learning and skill development as a business strategy', organized by All India Trainers Association, 2010, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
• 'Crafting the Leadership- an all wheel-drive for 21st century', organized SIES Institute of Management Studies, 2009, Mumbai, India.
• 'School Governance – A trait for Educational Leadership', Quality council of India (QCI) in collaboration with Dayanand Institute of Education Management and Research (DIEMR), 2009, Mumbai, India.
• Practical ways of sustaining excellence in educational institutions', educational world conference, 2009, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• 'Leadership styles of tomorrow and thereafter', Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai, 2008, Mumbai, India
• 'Anger and development of children' association for psychological counseling in collaboration with Dayanand institute of Education Management and Research, counselors association of India and department of psychology SNDT Mumbai, 2008, Mumbai, India.
• 'Innovations in curriculum-to make it global' held at Delhi, organized by Dayanand Anglo-Vedic schools,(DAV) group,2008, Mumbai, India.
• 'Emotional literacy-a missing priority', St. Teresa's College of Teacher Education, 2008, Mumbai, India.
• 'Trends in education' Rotary club of Mumbai, 2007, Mumbai, India.
• 'Global Perspectives of Curriculum Design – emerging needs', Global Indian International School, 2007, Singapore
• 'Education -From a merely cosmetic approach to a fiercely intrinsic objective' AIMS international conference on management held at IIM Ahmadabad 2006.
• 'Towards Lifelong Learning' paper presented in World Education Fellowship International conference in Mumbai, 2005
• 'Spiritual perspective of Nanotechnology' at an International conference held in Mumbai by Chemtech foundation - 2004
• 'Education 2050, alternate learning organizations-future challenges' by Management and Research wing of DAV, Mumbai, 2003.
• 'Teacher education and Challenges of Change', National conference held by St Xavier's institute of Teacher Education, 2003.
• 'Developing Human Resources', presented at DAV, Mumbai, 2003
• 'Quality in education', presented at Association of Principals of ICSE, 2003
• 'Perspectives of Integrated education' by DAV Centre for Creative Education, Mumbai, 2002
• 'Holistic education', Annual conference of DAV Public School, Mumbai, 2002
• 'How to make environment education interesting and relevant outside the classroom'-paper presented at the Principal's summit organized by Trailblazers company, 1999
• 'Spirituality in Education' at an International conference held at Mt Abu, organized by Brahmakumaris, 1999.
• 'Decision making' published by Tax India online
• 'Inclusive education' presented at a National conference held by St. Xaviers Institute of Teacher Education, Mumbai.

Associations

• Part of the Higher Education Group Google forum, as life member
• Was a member of the Inspection panel of the Indian Council for School Education (ICSE), Delhi which awards affiliation to secondary schools in India.
• Have served as an Executive Member of Bombay Association for Science Education (BASE), a unit of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Homi Bhabha research centre's, Mumbai, India.
• Was Founder Trustee and mentor, India First Foundation School, Karjat
• Was Associated with Raymond's Rehabilitation Centre -Have been instrumental in creating an institutional set up under the aegis of Raymond group, a textile corporate sector in India, for vocational training of under privileged group of the society as a part of CSR. This institute was passing out 45 students in the age group of 14+ to 17+, who could be equipped for self-employment, once in 3 months. These students were given training in Air conditioning, Car tyre treading, Electrical wiring and plumbing courses.

Some of the Links of Media coverage

• Education: Business or Responsibility?
• Inclusion by Exclusion?
• A study on Dr. Vijayam Ravi's transformational leadership style - By Dr. Venkat R. Krishnan
• The Hindu reports on her visit to Sadhbhavana World School, Calicut
• The Indian Express reports on her visit to Sadhbhavana World School, Calicut
• Dr. Vijayam Ravi joins Sadhbhavana as its Chief Mentor - http://www.theinternationalindian.com/current_issue_flash.html#/10/
  This is an Interview in the International Indian Magazine published from UAE, on 'Teacher with a Passion', September Issue, 2013

Some of the Publications:

• From Innocence to Inner sense- published in the proceedings of the international conference on science and spirituality in the age of technology conference.
• 'Redefining Quality in School Education' DAV Public School, Mumbai, 2002.
• 'Creativity and Excellence in School and Health of Educational institutions', Esha journal, pg 29, Bangalore, India, 2005.
• 'Decision making - An Art or Science?', 7th international conference on operations and quantitative management, 2006, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, in association with AIIMS international association of Indian management scholars , Houston, Texas, USA
• 'Clarifying Boundaries' Institute of Management (IMT), Ghaziabad, Utter Pradesh, India, in association with George Mason University Virginia USA, 2006.
• "Inclusion by Exclusion" Article published in the Daily " Chronicle"-daily newspaper at Assam and Manipur, India, 2012

Hobbies and interests:

Music, Reading, Writing