Deepa Chandrasekaran
IBDP Coordinator
She is the guardian of the IB graduates. With her guidance, they touch the skies.
I've been an educator for twenty-two years, thirteen of them here at GIIS. Currently, I'm the Diploma Programme Coordinator at our Mark Campus. I started out teaching computer programming, but I have my master's degree in Economics, and that's the subject I teach now.
Before I began working with students, I served as a lab assistant. With my computer science background, I've done a lot of coding. Then, I had the opportunity to teach it; that's how I found my way into the classroom.
Making a difference beyond the classroom
Teaching is about so much more than presenting a particular subject. Sometimes, parents come to me, concerned that their children are succumbing to peer pressure. As teachers, we go the extra mile to help these students get back on track. For me, the most meaningful part of the job is moulding citizens who are honest, humble and motivated to achieve their goals.
Working with teenagers can be a challenge (my students are 16-18 years old), but I've learned it's important not to be harsh with them. I try to listen to them and understand where they're coming from. Whilst I often must be firm with my students, I'm also kind to them.
Defining Moments
It's so rewarding when students tell me how much they enjoy my class. I've had a few students start out taking engineering courses, only to decide that an economics-related field was their calling. Students sometimes come back and tell me that taking my class influenced their career choice. "Mom," they'll say, "you have created that much of (an) interest in the subject."
Meeting My Students Where They Are
As an educator, I've learned that traditional approaches to relating to teenagers aren't a good fit for today's students. Our youth are growing up surrounded by sophisticated technology.
Monitoring their digital activities — at home and in school — is necessary to teach them to engage with mobile devices responsibly. I've had the opportunity to provide guidance to some students, even after they finish school. For me, the greatest reward has been seeing my students graduate and continue on the path to success
Advice to Students
To students, I would say, "Respect your parents." You don't have to be on the same wavelength as them, but it's important to try and find common ground. I believe strong families create a better, more peaceful world.
Sheeja K P
Academic Supervisor, CBSE
With GIIS from the start, she is the unsung hero behind many of our CBSE graduates.
I come from a family of educators, so it was no surprise when I decided that I wanted to pursue a career as a teacher. Now, I have been working with students in the classroom for twenty-five years. My job title is teacher, but I also consider myself to be a mentor and even a friend to my students.
More Than Just a Teacher
One day, I stood in front of the classroom and asked each student to take out a piece of paper. They were required to write their name on top, and fold it up. Then, they had to pass that piece of paper around the classroom. Every one of their classmates took the time to write a positive comment about them, and once it was complete, it was returned to them.
It was a moving moment in my classroom because many of my students did not realise that their peers thought so highly of them. This simple exercise helped them to feel valued, appreciated and loved. I asked my students to save that special piece of paper, and keep it for a day when they were feeling down, or they were struggling with something. It would always serve as a reminder that there is goodness inside of them, and that other people see that goodness.
They're More Than Just a Student
I liked this exercise in particular because it taught students that they were worth more than the scores they received on exams. Their academic progress, while important in its own regard, is not the only thing that matters.
Labelling students based on their scores can be detrimental to their overall self-esteem. It can prevent them from feeling like they can achieve their dreams, and it can add pressure to an already challenging stage of life.
Inspiring Students to Inspire Others
As a teacher, I love sharing my knowledge and my passions with my students. However, I feel that the most important thing I can instil in them is confidence. I frequently tell my students that there's a big, beautiful world out there, and it will embrace them no matter what talents or interests they have. I don't want my students to wallow in doubt.
Instead, I want them to stride confidently into the world with a positive attitude and a desire to be a good human being. I know that when they do this, they will bring forth the changes that our world so desperately needs.
S Sundarmoorthy
Academic Coordinator, CBSE
Students flock to his Math class, like bees to honey. He is that good!
I arrived in Singapore in 2009, having just left a position as a principal at another Indian school. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work as a teacher in the classroom at Global Indian International School. When I'm inside the classroom, I am able to connect with my students on an individual level. I can customise my teaching strategies to meet their needs, and as a result, I get the satisfaction of watching them succeed.
Making an Effort
I have watched thirty-eight different sets of students graduate over the course of the last four decades, and I'm proud to say that I have learned the names of every single student who has been in my class. Usually, within a week of starting a new course, I know everyone's name in the class. It's this personal connection that I build upon throughout the entire learning experience.
Defining Moment
Once, I had a student return to my classroom and visit me a few years after graduation. He brought his mother and brother along with him, and they all touched my feet, declaring me their role model. This was one of my proudest moments as a teacher because it helped me realise that I had a lasting impact on the lives of my students.
Beyond the Fame
I admit I have become a little famous among my former and current students. They know me as the teacher that can tell by their body language if they need extra help. It brings them comfort to know that I can sense when they feel stressed, frustrated or overwhelmed.
They know I will provide them with the support that they need. It seems this approach has made me popular, but I stay humble as I focus on the important task at hand: educating my students.
Teacher, Mentor & Friend
I feel that connecting with students is a crucial part of my job. Students need to know that they can come to you and that you will offer access to the resources they need to succeed.
When my students do not perform well on their exams, I contact them outside of the classroom. We talk about the scores they received, and I reassure them that they are more than their scores.
I eliminate the doubts that they have about themselves, and I actively work to bolster their self-confidence. I do this because I truly believe that when they work hard and believe in themselves, they can achieve anything.
Deepika Sodhi
Academic Supervisor, International Curricula
With her help, IGCSE students are the A-Stars of their cohort.
I've been teaching physics for twenty-two years — half that time at GIIS, where I'm the Supervisor for International Curricula.
An Unlikely Career Path
Ironically, physics was the subject I enjoyed least. I was originally planning a career in medicine. I cleared my exams but ranked for physiotherapy, which I wasn't interested in.
I took on physics as a personal challenge. People warned me it would be dull, but I find it intriguing because it's the basis of life.
Adapting to Challenges
Originally from Delhi, I'm the eldest of my siblings. I had to start working as soon as possible to help my family. I completed my education and eventually got married. I've been in many leadership positions — gold medalist in physics, college president and more.
Eleven years ago, my family moved to Singapore. Because I'm outgoing and maintain a positive attitude in all situations, I didn't experience any culture shock.
Making Real-World Connections in the Classroom
Because I detested physics initially but grew to love the subject, I know how to make it come alive for my students — by relating scientific principles to everyday life. Many students report that they enjoy my classes. Alumni come back and tell me that when they got to university, they taught their peers what they had learnt in my classroom.
As teachers, we're building the future by providing students with a 21st-century education. In my role, I'm constantly "unlearning" old ideas and learning new ones as technology and worldviews change.
Triumphs in Teaching
One unforgettable moment I had was with a student who only took my class because it was required to pursue computer science. She just wanted to pass. I encouraged her to excel, and she did. We still keep in touch. Another of my students is now a leading physician in Chennai.
Interests Beyond The Classroom
I enjoy cooking (especially butter chicken), sharing potluck with my colleagues, decorating my home and dressing fashionably — just for myself.
Outlook on Life
Teaching hasn't affected my parenting, but parenting has impacted my teaching. I apply what I've learnt raising my own children to the teenagers in my classes.
My motto is, "Nothing is impossible." We can overcome the challenges we face each day. As educators, we support not only our students' academics but their personal growth, too. My message to students: believe in yourself.
Seema Kaushik
Career Counsellor
Students swear by the guidance of a counsellor who has helped them get universities of their choice.
I have enjoyed a career as an educator that has lasted for more than a decade. As I reflect on the last ten years, I can honestly say that there is not one moment that sticks out to me. Rather, the endless positive experiences that I have shared with my students have reminded me that I play an important role in their dreams coming true.
Going The Extra Mile
Students are a part of my classroom during a special period of their lives. It is during this time that they are beginning to dream about their own futures and decide which career path to pursue.
I work with each student closely, and I strive to provide them with the individualised attention that they need to accomplish the goals that they have set for themselves.
Triumphs in Teaching
For me, all of that hard work pays off when they receive an acceptance letter from the university that was their top choice. There is nothing like experiencing that moment of joy with them, that moment when their motivation, discipline and aspiration results in their dreams coming true.
As a teacher, I have worked with students who were accepted to Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, Brown, University College London, UC Berkeley amongst many renowned others. These are elite institutions that have very high standards, and I am always filled with pride when my students are admitted to these exclusive programmes.
Defining Moment
Contributing to my students' success is the most meaningful part of my job. I am constantly reminding my students that they need to do what is best for them. I want them to pursue their own passions, and not feel forced to follow a career path just because it may lead to lucrative or powerful positions.
I think that the best thing a student can do is use their time in school to discover what interests them, and to forge a path forward that allows them to delve deeper into their interests. I believe that when they are dedicated and motivated, they will be able to uncover opportunities for themselves in the future.
A Teacher And More
As a teacher, my job extends beyond instilling knowledge in my students. I also have a unique opportunity to support my students, and help them accomplish their goals.
The best part is, I always have a front-row seat to their success. I get to share in their smiles and feel just as excited as they are about the opportunities that lie ahead.