Team | Acres Foundation

TGAA Hosts B.Ed students of Smt. Kapila Khandvala College of Education

January 2026

The Acres Foundation hosted B.Ed student-teachers and faculty from Smt. Kapila Khandvala College of Education at our schoolThe Green Acres Academy (TGAA), Chembur, for an academic exposure visit focused on classroom practice and school culture. Through initiatives like this, we work towards our vision of contributing to the transformation of education in India.

The visit opened with a session by Radhika Zahedi, Co-CEO (Education). The session introduced student-teachers to the Academy’s approach to teaching as an integrated system, where curriculum, instruction, and technology reinforce one another. This was followed by structured classroom observations across Grades 4-7 in English, Mathematics, Science, Hindi, and Computer Science.

During these live lessons, visitors observed how teachers engage students, use ongoing checks for understanding to guide instruction, and apply technology purposefully to support learning.

The programme also included sessions led by Noella Samuel, Head of Special Education, on inclusive schooling in practice, and Pooja Harlalka, Head of Socio-Emotional Learning, on how socio-emotional skills are built into everyday classroom routines. The visit was thoughtfully organised by Suparna Mukherjee, Head of Instruction, with many teachers supporting classroom observations and helping guide student-teachers through the school.

By opening its classrooms to student-teachers, TGAA continues to support the preparation of future educators and contribute to the wider education community.

Social and Emotional Learning

December 2025

On 12th December 2025, Pooja Harlalka facilitated an online webinar on Social and Emotional Learning(SEL) for Every Classroom, in partnership with the Unaided Schools Forum (USF). The session positioned SEL as a foundational pillar of holistic education, essential for academic achievement, emotional well-being, and lifelong success.

The webinar highlighted that SEL skills are learnable and can be intentionally integrated into daily classroom practice. Participants were guided to consider the impact of strong SEL practices on both students and adults, including improved self-regulation, stronger relationships, enhanced collaboration, and healthier classroom environments. By grounding SEL in an evidence-based framework, the webinar underscored how schools can build coherent, sustainable SEL practices that support both learning and well-being.

Designed for an audience of primary and secondary teachers, novice and experienced, the session highlighted the importance of SEL in our classrooms and how an effective SEL program can be designed using a research-backed, established framework aligned with global standards and competencies. Practical examples illustrated how emotionally regulated classrooms experience fewer disruptions and more effective learning time and participants were provided with some ready to use activities in their classrooms and an assessment to test their understanding and the opportunity to earn a certificate for the same.

You may do the free online PD course with an opportunity to earn a certificate here

You can watch full recording of the webinar here

Acres Foundation Team leads session on evidence-based practice with B.Ed Students

August 2025

On August 19, 2025, the Acres Foundation hosted two practitioner-focused sessions for B.Ed students at Smt. Kapila Khandvala College of Education, Mumbai. Led by Siamack Zahedi, principal investigator of both studies, with contributions from Sanyukta Bafna and Radhika Zahedi, the conversations connected research findings to day-to-day teacher practice.

The two hour session followed a clear arc: a brief study recap, examples from implementation, and an interactive Q&A-centering on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). The team shared strategies to start small and sustain momentum: aligning goals, structuring meeting norms, using data to inform improvement and decisions, and documenting evidence of change.

Designed for an audience preparing to enter classrooms, the sessions highlighted how practice grows when research is translated into routines teachers can actually use – PLC Meeting templates, reflection prompts, and school-level supports that make collaboration routine rather than extra. The result was a grounded conversation that invited emerging educators to lead improvement with clarity, humility, and data.

TGAA x USF Collaboration Brings Classroom Management 101 to Educators

January 2025

In January 2025, the Acres Foundation Centre for Teaching and Educational Leadership, in collaboration with the Unaided Schools Forum, hosted a workshop on “Classroom Management 101” facilitated by Nikhat Aga. The session focused on building positive and engaging classroom environments and was designed for educators across primary and middle school grades.

Participants explored effective strategies for managing student behaviors, establishing clear routines and habits, and promoting positive behavior to regulate classroom energy. Practical techniques such as setting consistent expectations, reinforcing routines, and using proactive management strategies were shared, along with real-life classroom examples that made the content directly applicable.

Attendees also received access to a free online course and a certificate of completion. The workshop has received 1,253 views so far, with positive feedback highlighting its actionable strategies, clarity, and relevance to everyday teaching practice.

Group Work for Learning Workshop

December 2024

On 7th December 2024, Smriti Parikh, Vice President of the Center for Teaching and Learning at The Green Acres Academy (TGAA), in collaboration with the Unaided Schools Forum (USF), conducted an online workshop titled “Group Work for Learning.”

The session explored what quality group work looks like in classrooms and offered teachers practical strategies to structure and nurture collaborative learning. Participants examined how differences in authority and task rigor shape the effectiveness of group work, and learned how to use protocols and supportive classroom environments to make student collaboration purposeful and engaging.

Teachers left the workshop with a comprehensive toolkit of resources to immediately apply in their classrooms. They also gained access to a free self-paced online course, designed to deepen their learning and culminating in an e-certificate upon completion of a summative assessment.

The workshop drew strong interest across the teaching community, with the live session and subsequent recordings reaching over 1,200 educators. By combining research insights with actionable strategies, the session reinforced the importance of structured group work as a powerful driver of deeper learning.

TGAA Facilitates Workshop on School Development Planning for B.Ed Students

August 2025

As part of its ongoing efforts to support and strengthen the education ecosystem, The Green Acres Academy conducted a workshop on Building a School Development Plan for B.Ed students at the KJ Somaiya College of Education on August 1, 2025.

The session was led by Bonny Bhansali (Head of Educational Operations, AF & Principal , TGAA), who introduced the concept of school development and its critical role in creating effective, inclusive, and future-ready learning environments. The discussion focused on why school development planning matters, not just for infrastructure or academics, but for setting a shared vision, aligning goals, and improving outcomes for all stakeholders.

Participants were also introduced to the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle, a structured framework that helps schools implement and sustain continuous improvement. Through practical examples and reflective discussion, the session emphasized how student-teachers can use this model to lead meaningful change in their future institutions.

The workshop was an enriching opportunity to engage with the next generation of educators and to share strategies and approaches that support thoughtful, data-driven school transformation.

Explicit Instruction Workshop

August 2025

Noella Samuel from the The Acres Foundation Centre for Teaching and Learning conducted a workshop on “Explicit Instruction – Building Knowledge, Confidence, and Equity in the Classroom” in collaboration with the Unaided Schools Forum. The online session focused on debunking common misconceptions about explicit instruction versus discovery learning and was designed for educators teaching Early childhood to grade 10, including those supporting students with diverse learning needs.

Participants explored cognitive science principles, learned how to reduce cognitive overload, and engaged in practical strategies such as crafting clear learning goals, anticipating misconceptions, and applying the “I Do – We Do – You Do” model. Real classroom scenarios and “example vs. non-example” activities ensured the strategies were immediately applicable.
The session has received 600+ views so far, with positive feedback highlighting the workshop’s clarity, practicality, and relevance to everyday teaching.

Mehernaz Eshraghi

Curriculum Advisor

Ed.M., Harvard University

Mehernaz began her career in education in 2015 as a Special Educator at The Gateway School of Mumbai, where she worked with children with special needs. During her time there, she was engaged in classroom teaching and curriculum development as the lead teacher, followed by mentoring new educators.

Encouraged by this experience and a keen passion for Language Arts, Mehernaz pursued a Master’s in Education from Harvard University, with a specialization in Language and Literacy. She later served as the Instructional Head at The Green Acres Academy, where she led professional development for teachers and regularly engaged with parents, driven by her commitment to continuous learning and growth. She went on to design the English Hybrid Curriculum, with a focus on deep, meaningful learning.

Since then, Mehernaz has worked as an elementary teacher at a renowned private school in the United States. Continuing her mission to empower students as agents of positive transformation in their communities, she focuses on creating engaging, impactful and inclusive learning environments.

Rhea Jaffer

Senior Researcher

Ed.D. Columbia University (2026)

Rhea began her career in education as a teacher and has since worked with schools across India and in diverse global contexts to strengthen teaching practices, implement technology-enabled programs, and drive innovation in resource-constrained settings. She has worked with organizations such as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Ashoka, and Adhyayan to advance educational innovation and school improvement.

At the Acres Foundation, she works with the research team and previously taught Citizenship and Social Change, and supported the development of innovative schooling models. Most recently, Rhea interned with Yellowdig and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, contributing to research on educational technology and learner engagement.

She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Communications, Media, and Learning Technology Design at Teachers College, Columbia University and works with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), exploring how technology can be leveraged to improve schools across varied geographies and socio-economic contexts.

TGAA Shares Best Practices at Google for Education Training Series

March 2025

The Green Acres Academy was proud to participate in Google for Education’s training series, presenting to over 110 IT professionals from schools across the region.

As part of the 8-part Google for Education Training Program—designed for education professionals working to digitally transform learning environments—Radhika Zahedi (Director – Teaching and Curriculum) and Irfan Shaikh (Deputy Manager – IT) shared insights from TGAA’s digital journey.

Radhika spoke about the school’s transition to a personal device model and the powerful role student Chromebooks play in enhancing teaching and learning. Irfan highlighted the systems in place to manage device security across campuses, ensuring a safe and seamless digital experience for all users.

The session offered an opportunity to exchange ideas with professionals from across the region and contribute to the growing conversation around purposeful, secure, and innovative tech integration in schools

‘Supersearchers in the Time of AI’ Session by Mahatattva

February 2025

Supersearchers in the Time of AI,” hosted by Mahatattva, gathered 250 teachers from our school and others. The session focused on enhancing digital literacy among educators, empowering them with essential skills to find relevant and trustworthy information. Teachers were introduced to the SIFT framework, a tool designed to assess the authenticity and accuracy of online content. The workshop emphasized the importance of critical thinking in the digital age, equipping educators with the knowledge and tools to navigate the vast information landscape and ensure that the resources they use are reliable for both teaching and learning.

In addition to the main session, a short workshop curated by Google for Education focused on using Gemini to integrate AI into classrooms. Teachers gained hands-on experience in designing assessments and crafting effective prompts to maximize AI’s potential. This session helped educators enhance their digital teaching toolkit, ensuring better engagement and outcomes for students.

TGAA Showcase at the Google Champions Learning Series 2.0

December 2024

Google for Education, in collaboration with Mahattattva, conducted the final and 6th session of an eight-day interactive workshop series designed to upskill Google for Education Trainers, Innovators, and Coaches across India! 🇮🇳✨

This session featured an inspiring showcase by Ms. Radhika Zahedi, Google Champion and Director at The Green Acres Academy, Mumbai, who demonstrated how their organization has built a platform for self-paced teacher professional development. Following this, Mr. Anuj Iyer, Chief Analytics Officer at The Green Acres Academy, shared their journey of making data-driven decisions with Looker Studio. The innovative use of Edu Plus licenses and Looker Studio has transformed their institution’s methodologies and outcomes.

The presentations left educators full of innovative ideas and new perspectives!

TGAA shares practices at the Google Reference School Summit, Taiwan

December 2024

TGAA was invited to exchange learning with Google Reference Schools around the Asia Pacific region in Taipei, Taiwan. Two of our Leaders, Ms. Sanyukta Bafna, VP of Curriculum, and Smriti Parikh, VP of Teacher Professional Development represented TGAA. They shared about the digital Teacher PD system that TGAA uses to empower its team and how we leverage Google workspace to build it. We are proud to share and learn with the vibrant community of Google Reference Schools!

Google for Education Premium Features Workshop: Enhancing Classroom Learning with Advanced Tools

November 2024

In an effort to advance digital learning, Google organized the “Google for Education, for Educators: Premium Features” workshop, bringing together Google trainers and educators from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. This event provided a collaborative platform for trainers to share insights on using Google’s premium features to enrich student learning experiences in the classroom.

The workshop was facilitated by Google’s team members along with Ms. Sangeeta Gulati, Leader of the Google Educator Group in Delhi. Together, they guided educators through best practices for integrating Google’s advanced tools in classroom settings.

TGAA’s Contribution
The Green Acres Academy (TGAA) played an active role in the event by demonstrating Google Classroom’s new “Practice Sets” feature. This tool empowers teachers by providing interactive lessons, enabling quicker feedback, and supporting more personalized learning. TGAA’s demonstration showcased how Practice Sets can enhance technology integration within classrooms, benefiting both students and teachers.

The demo showcased Practice Sets in action, demonstrating how TGAA teachers use them to receive real-time classroom insights and engage students in a more interactive learning process. With Practice Sets, students receive immediate feedback on their answers, helping them stay on track or seek additional hints through visual explainers and videos. Correct answers are celebrated with fun animations and confetti, further enhancing motivation and engagement. Over 94 educators engaged in learning how to incorporate Practice Sets into their classrooms.

Through this workshop, TGAA contributed to the ongoing movement towards technology-enhanced education, showcasing innovative tools that foster deeper engagement and support educators across the region.

Enhancing Reading Comprehension: A Webinar by Smriti Parikh

September 2024

On 27th September 2024, Smriti Parikh, Vice President of the Center for Teaching and Learning at The Green Acres Academy (TGAA), hosted an online webinar on Enhancing Reading Comprehension in collaboration with the Unaided Schools Forum (USF). The session focused on practical, research-driven techniques that teachers can implement immediately to help students engage more deeply with texts and improve their comprehension.

The webinar provided clear guidance on structuring lessons with pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading activities, enabling teachers to build a comprehensive reading framework. Participants explored key reading comprehension strategies such as predicting, questioning, and summarizing, and learned how to adapt these techniques for various types of texts, including both fiction and nonfiction.

The session was attended live by 460 participants and has since been viewed by 1,300 teachers. Additionally, we released an online self-paced course based on the webinar’s key concepts, allowing participants to engage further and earn an e-certificate upon completion.

TGAA Phonics Workshop: Empowering Teachers with Essential Skills

August 2024

On 12th August 2024, The Green Acres Academy hosted a Phonics Workshop designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach phonics to their students.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Phonics:
Participants gained a deep understanding of the relationship between sounds and letters, and how to apply this knowledge to improve reading and spelling instruction. The workshop provided practical strategies and techniques for teaching phonics in an engaging, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate manner.

The workshop was conducted online as a Webinar/YouTube Live, in collaboration with the Unaided School Forum (USF), and drew over 500 live participants and 2.5k viewers from schools across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. During the session, we also launched our dedicated phonics website.
Participants who completed the workshop received an e-certificate, with over 100 certificates issued so far.

Together, we are committed to empowering educators and fostering a love for reading and writing in the next generation of learners.

Lucille Bernard Pereira

Chief Brand Evangelist, Marketing

B.A. (Economics), St. Xaviers College

Lucille has been a part of the advertising industry for 18 years, immersing herself in every medium possible—ATL, BTL, and radio—until she found her home in the dynamic world of digital advertising. During her stints at FCB Kinnect (Sr. Creative Director), The Glitch, Lowe Lintas, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, and Wavemaker, she created compelling digital campaigns for global brands like LinkedIn (India & Global), Airtel, Lifebuoy (India & Global), Kwality Walls, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among many others. She brings her wealth of knowledge to the RAPG group with the aim of navigating the brand’s journey and showcasing its groundbreaking moves to the world.

Sandeep Vithal Karnale

Senior Manager, Information Technology

PgD (Computer Science & Management), Kohinoor Technical Institute
BCA, Dr. C V Raman University

Sandeep has built a successful 17-year career in IT, consistently demonstrating growth and leadership potential throughout his journey. He has transitioned from IT Officer roles to Senior Management positions. He currently serves as Senior Manager, IT, where he provides strategic direction and leadership for the IT team, ensuring a high-performing and efficient environment. Additionally, he collaborates with stakeholders to define the technical vision and roadmap in alignment with the overall business goals.

Rohit Ruparel

Associate Director Commercial, Sales & Marketing

MBA, Warwick Business School
BE, Mumbai University

Rohit Ruparel is a seasoned sales leader with over 17 years of experience in sales, strategy, and business development. At The Green Acres Academy (TGAA), Rohit oversees commercial strategy and growth, managing revenue for school admissions. He excels in developing innovative sales and marketing strategies, launching new business ventures, and expanding markets. Rohit is dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and achieve organizational goals.

Professional Development Session at Matrix School, Virar: Enhancing Phonics-Based Instruction

May 2024

At Acres Foundation’s Green Acres Academy, we have revolutionized our Early Childhood Curriculum by adopting an active learning approach. Our primary focus is on laying robust foundations during the formative years, emphasizing the development of literacy, language, communication, and fundamental numeracy skills. A cornerstone of our curriculum is phonics learning, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing literacy, language acquisition, and communication skills among our early learners. By incorporating phonics into our teaching practices and providing comprehensive training to our educators, we empower them with the knowledge and pedagogical techniques necessary for effective phonics instruction.

Recognizing the widespread adoption of similar teaching methodologies in ICSE, CBSE, and SSC schools, we are committed to knowledge sharing and collaboration within the educational community. To facilitate this exchange, we recently conducted a professional development session for 30 early childhood educators at Matrix School, Virar. This session was led by our Head of Academics for Early Childhood. This hybrid outreach session comprised an online course supplemented by a hands-on, face-to-face workshop. Participants engaged in lively discussions, dispelling myths, and delving deeper into effective phonics practices, alongside exploring innovative playway methodologies to enhance phonemic and phonological awareness. Teachers were afforded the opportunity to create teaching resources using minimal stationery and cost-effective materials, fostering creativity and resourcefulness in instructional design.
Through continued collaboration and knowledge exchange, we aim to further enrich the learning experiences of young learners across educational institutions.

Lighthouse Schools Visit to TGAA

April 2024

As a Google Reference School, we serve as a learning site and extend invitations to other schools to learn from our practices. Since 2022, we have transitioned into a 1:1 device school, leveraging technology to benefit our students. Our focus is on building digital literacy, accessing information effectively and responsibly, utilizing 21st-century tools for learning, and fostering active student engagement in the learning process.

Recognizing that several schools are currently undertaking a similar journey, we believe that sharing our practical learning and insights can help them be effective in their own paths. To facilitate this knowledge exchange, we welcomed eight educators from Lighthouse Learning to learn from our experiences with digital transformation. Among the schools affiliated with Lighthouse are EuroKids International, Kangaroo Kids International (pre-school), Mother’s Pet Kindergarten, EuroSchool, Billabong High International School, Centre Point School, Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Heritage International Xperiential School, and Heritage International Xperiential School.

A half-day outreach session was organized, led by our Vice-President of Professional Development at CenTEL, who also serves as an instructional leader at TGAA, Chembur. This session included classroom observations to witness implementation in action, as well as consultations with our academic and IT team leaders who shared their insights and answered questions.

The observers spent their time in primary classrooms to gain a better understanding of how routines were established to ensure the safekeeping of devices. Across primary and secondary classrooms, the visiting school team also studied the use of 1:1 device integration for the purpose of engaging students in assessments for learning through the use of Kahoot and Peardeck extensions found on Google Workspace. This helped them see how students receive real-time feedback on student mastery and empowers them to course-correct during the course of study. In higher secondary classrooms, the students showcased the use of devices for collaboration and student-led learning as well as the responsible use of ChatGPT. They experienced students delivering instructional presentations and participating in Model United Nations, which required the students to conduct extensive guided research with their peers. Each of the classroom observations was followed by a detailed debrief around structures that led to successful use, teacher training that empowered the educators, and a culture of continuous improvement in the use of technology to elevate student learning.

Overall, it was a very positive exchange of learning and ideas!

Session on Educational Leadership by The Green Acres Academy and The Acres Foundation

October 2023

The Green Acres Academy and The Acres Foundation held a session on Educational Leadership for B.Ed College Students from Pillai Chembur College of Education and Research.

The Acres Foundation’s long-term vision is to inspire educational transformation in India and so the team was glad to support this initiative. The goal was to share important theoretical knowledge from experts and practical knowledge from experience with the next generation of teachers and teacher leaders in education.

Siamack Zahedi, our Director of Education and Research shared key leadership ideas from our schools in an interactive session. They discussed the essential qualities that educational leaders need and how schools might structure this leadership.

Dakshata Kadam

Vice President, Early Childhood

Diploma in Montessori Education, AMI – Association Montessori Internationale, ECCED., Asian International College
B.A. (Psychology & Education), Mumbai University

Dakshata embarked on her educational journey in 2007, starting as an English teacher in an Indian Education Society vernacular medium school.

She carries extensive experience in Early Childhood Education, encompassing teaching and curriculum development. She has served in both teaching and leadership roles at renowned Cambridge and IB schools, including JBCN International and Oberoi International School. In addition, she has worked in Montessori and Reggio-inspired schools during her international ventures in Singapore and Canada, where she dedicated over four years to exploring diverse educational cultures and systems.

Dakshata has been a valued member of the Green Acres Academy team since 2019. She curates Early Childhood Curriculum and Teaching practices, conducts Professional Development for teachers and team members, and conducts parent webinars on various topics.

Daskhata pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education at Mumbai University, earned an International Certificate in Education Preschool Teaching from Asian International College, Singapore, and holds a diploma in Montessori education from AMI-Association Montessori Internationale.

Acres Foundation Team works with Bangkok School for the Blind

June 2022

The Acres Foundation Outreach Team has been spearheading the transformation of the Bangkok School for the Blind (BSB) since 2019. To this end, we have helped BSB establish partnerships with the world’s premier institution for blind education – Perkins International (USA), and we have been charged with driving the Strategic Improvement Planning process of this project. In pic – Acres Foundation Outreach: The Minister of Education of Thailand, a Board Member at Bangkok School For the Blind, Experts from Perkins School for the Blind USA, President of the Foundation of the Queen of Thailand along with our Acres Foundation Leaders, Siamack Zahedi – Executive Director of Education and Research and Anuj Iyer, Chief Analytics Officer.

Panel Discussion at SELebrating Inclusion Summit 2023

April 2023

The Acres Foundation had the opportunity to share practices at the ‘SELebrating Inclusion Summit’ organised by Ummeed and Apni Shala. The summit aims to explore “Culture, Policy, and Practices to build Social Emotional Learning informed Inclusive Education”. Our school was invited to share our TGAA practices related to SEL and inclusion with the wider Education community. Radhika Zahedi, our School director, represented TGAA in a panel discussion on ‘SEL Informed practices for Inclusive Schools’ on 27th of April. She shared our LEAPED program and MTSS (Multi-tiered Systems of Support) practices, especially related to building Social Emotional Skills.

Assessing Learning Online Workshop

July 2021

Radhika Zahedi with Mehernaz Eshragi and Nikhat Aga from the The Acres Foundation Centre for Teaching and Learning conducted a workshop in ‘Assessing Learning Online’ in collaboration with Unaided Schools Forum. It was an interactive, online session conducted via livestream for teachers across India. Our session was viewed live by over 5.5K teachers (eventually 11K) from over 150 schools. Out of these 1559 teachers successfully completed the assessment at the end and received a certification. We also reviewed feedback filled in by 1500+ participants which was overwhelmingly positive.
Workshop | Video

EduTECH Asia 2021: Fireside chat with Google for Education: Leveraging technology to achieve 21st century skills

February 2022

At the EduTECH Asia Conference 2021, Radhika Zahedi presented our TGAA’s (Mumbai’s 1st Google Reference School) Digital Transformation and specifically how Data and ongoing progress tracking using Google Classroom Assignments can empower learners. After her presentation she was interviewed by Nikita from Google along with Sidharth Rajgaria from DPS Schools about how it impacted the teaching and learning at school.
Webinar

Leader Lab: Empowering Teachers with Technology with FICCI ARISE and Google for Education

December 2021

This workshop was conducted by the Acres Foundation Team for School Leaders around India to share how Digital Tools can be used to Empower all stakeholders (Students, Teachers, Parents) across the school. The workshop was lead by Radhika Zahedi, Smriti Parikh, Mehernaz Eshraghi and Sanyukta Bafna.

Google Education Groups APAC Webinar Conducted by Suparna Mukherjee in collaboration with GEG Delhi NCR

July 2022

Suparna Mukherjee, our Head of Digital Literacy and Computers at TGAA along with 4 of our TGAA Students shared their learning about Google for Educations Applied Digital Skills Program. This was done in collaboration with Google Educator Group for the APAC “Staying Connected 6.0” Event. Even more exciting, they presented in Hindi to share this knowledge with a wider audience! This was done in collaboration with GEG Delhi NCR. Webinar

Google Innovator Program

October 2022

Radhika Zahedi was a Coach for the Google Innovator Program for Virtual Innovator Academy APAC 2022. The Google for Education Certified Innovator Program recognizes and supports top educators who are excited to grow professionally, advocate for impactful technology, and innovate to improve classrooms, schools and local communities. As an Innovator Coach, Radhika mentored 6 Innovators from this year’s cohort through their innovator projects using the design thinking process. We also had 2 leaders – Suparna Mukherjee and Sanyukta Bafna who were innovators building projects in the program.

Workshops conducted at OIS (Oberoi International School) EdTech – Celebration of Learning 2022.

November 2022

Smriti Parikh conducted a workshop on ‘Learner-Centred Approach to a Language Arts Classroom’ for educators which focused on how digital tools can be leveraged to promote more expression and exchange of ideas in Language Arts Classrooms. Suparna Mukherjee conducted a workshop on ‘Google’s CS First Curriculum’ for educators to learn how they might best use the free computer science curriculum platform provided by google for students.

Surendranath Chidambaranath

General Manager, Business Transformation Team

MBA (Finance & Business Analysis), Liverpool Business School
B.Com. (Accounts & Finance), Mumbai University

Surendranath has over 9 years of experience in business research and management consulting. He has an MBA in Finance and Business analysis from Liverpool Business School and a Master’s Degree in Commerce from Mumbai University. Over the years, he has worked on projects across diverse sectors such as education, engineering, financial services, automotive, chemical, packaging, and IT. Prior to joining ANPG, he worked as a Senior Consultant with Aranca – a Global Research and Analytics Firm where he conducted business research and provided strategic recommendations to clients in the Middle East, the US, Europe, and Asia. He joined APNG in 2017 and is currently the Deputy General Manager of Administration at the Acres Foundation. In this capacity, he manages both the business development and operations related to setting up new schools and provides research-based analysis for key decision-making and strategy.

Ashutosh Bhiwande

General Manager, Finance & Accounts

F.C.A, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
M.Com., Mumbai University,
B.Com., Mumbai University

Ashutosh is a seasoned finance and accounting professional with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has worked with prominent organisations like MTDC, PNB Bank, and Runwal Group. Currently, he serves as General Manager – Accounts and Finance, providing strategic financial guidance to senior management, managing budgets, and overseeing financial operations. Ashutosh’s financial management, reporting, and risk management expertise has been critical in driving profitability and ensuring financial health.

Shailesh Laxman Suvarna

Assistant General Manager, Operations & Administration

BHTM, Mumbai University
MBA (Administration), Mumbai University

Shailesh is an experienced operations professional with five years in school operations and nine years in the hospitality industry. As an AGM for Operations and Administration, he oversees the organisation’s day-to-day operations and ensures efficient systems and protocols. In his previous roles in hospitality, he managed staff, maintained excellent customer relations, and ensured compliance with local regulations. In school operations, he focuses on managing resources, supervising staff, and developing protocols for student and faculty safety. Shailesh takes pride in working with a team of dedicated professionals committed to providing exceptional services to all stakeholders. When not at work, he enjoys playing cricket and going on bike rides to recharge.

Jehangir Hilloona

Vice President, Operations & Administration

B.Com., Maneckji Cooper Junior College

Jehangir started his career in hospitality in 1987. It was his natural interest in people’s well-being and a passion for the industry that led him to devote over 3 decades to it. He completed his managerial training at Holiday Inn and has worked with multiple hotels in India and Africa in the capacity of General Manager such as Avion Hotel in Mumbai, the Karibu Hotel in Tanzania, and Simmer’s Restaurant in Nairobi. He has also worked as the Senior General Manager of the Acres Club where he managed and supervised operations for over seven years. In 2019, Jehangir joined The Green Acres Academy where he currently serves as the Vice President of Administration and Operations, and oversees the development and implementation of operational systems and protocols in the organisation.

Priyanka Venkat

Senior Researcher

Ed.M., Harvard University (2026)

Priyanka has been working in the field of education since 2017, initially as a teacher and teacher trainer, and now as an educational researcher. She previously worked with Teach for India (TFI), a non-profit with over 3000 members working towards eliminating education inequity. She spent three years as a full-time teacher in low-income communities in public and low-cost private schools. She also served as a Program Manager, responsible for the instructional coaching of Grade 8 teachers in TFI’s schools in Mumbai, and led and managed key projects.

Currently, she holds the position of Project Manager, Research, supporting the design and implementation of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies related to educational reform in the Indian K-12 schooling context. Additionally, she contributes to the design and implementation of needs assessment exercises and strategic improvement planning for non-profit schools across India.

Bonny Bhansali

Head of Education Operations

M.A. (History), Mumbai University
B. Ed., Mumbai University

Bonny serves as the Principal at The Green Acres Academy and Head of Academic Operations at AF. She holds a Master’s Degree in History and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Mumbai University.

She has over 18 years of teaching and leadership experience in CBSE and ICSE schools, including her work as Assistant Centre Superintendent for UGC-NET, NEET and JEE, and the Examiner and Coordinator for AISSE (Grade 10 CBSE Exam) for which she even received a Letter of Appreciation from the Ministry of HRD, Government of India, for the stellar performance of her students in AISSE 2014.

Bonny is passionate about teaching and moulding young minds and loves being in the classroom, exploring new teaching strategies and tools, inspiring the team to strive for excellence and empowering her students to become changemakers.

Noella Samuel

Head of Special Education

M.Ed. (Special Education), Flinders University
B.Ed., St. Xavier’s Institute of Education

Noella has been involved in the field of education since 2011. She served three years teaching at state board low-cost and non-profit general education schools before moving on to the Gateway School of Mumbai for students with special needs, where she worked for three years mentoring new teachers and coordinating IGCSE Cambridge examinations.

She has worked with students across age groups K-12. Today, Noella serves as the Head of Department of Special Education Needs (SEN) at The Green Acres Academy school, where she supports and coaches a team of special educators and counsellors within the SEN department. She also serves as the SEN Academics Head across the Acres Foundation Network, where she is a key driver behind the development of the unique multi-tiered systems of support that Acres schools are implementing in order to effectively support the inclusion of students with disabilities.

Noella has a Masters of Education degree in Special Education from Flinders University (Australia) and a Bachelor’s of Education degree from St. Xavier’s Institute of Education (Mumbai).

Mehernaz Eshraghi

Hybrid Digital Curriculum Designer

M.Ed (Language and Literacy), Harvard University

Mehernaz has been engaged in the field of education since 2015 and spent the first 4 years of her career as a lead teacher and special educator at the Gateway School of Mumbai. During this time, she designed and implemented Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs), including academic and therapy programs by fostering active partnerships with parents, therapists and other teachers. Her role also included coaching homeroom teachers and supporting teacher professional development for English Language Arts. With this experience and a keen passion for Language Arts, Mehernaz pursued a Master’s in Education from Harvard University (USA), with a specialization in Language and Literacy. In addition to Literacy coaching and curriculum, Mehernaz is passionate about empowering children and youth to be agents of positive change within their communities. She volunteers to mentor them through purposefully organized community service learning projects that include identifying and facilitating change projects aimed at developing their powers of expression, capacities for moral reasoning, and the vision of service to others. Mehernaz currently serves as the Instructional Head at The Green Acres Academy, Mulund, which in her role includes leading professional development, coaching teachers and facilitating work towards a shared vision of impacting student learning. She also serves as an expert consultant on the Acres Foundation Literacy Team.

Pooja Harlalka

Head of Counselling

M. Ed. (Mental Health Counselling), Columbia University
M.A. (Psychological Counselling), Columbia University

Pooja has been working in the field of education and mental health since 2011. She started her career as a teacher at the Gateway School of Mumbai, supporting students with behavioural issues and counselling needs.

Pooja then moved to the US to complete her dual Master’s Degree in Education and Counselling at Columbia University. While studying and working in New York for five years, she also worked with special needs schools, clinical psychologists, public jails, and multiple psychotherapy and counselling centres, to serve children and adults with mental health disorders.

Pooja currently serves as the Head of Counselling at the Acres Foundation, where she is a key driver behind the development of the multi-tiered systems of support approach to inclusion of students with disabilities. She is also the lead designer of the social-emotional learning (SEL) program at the Acres Foundation called LEAPED (Leadership, Ethics & Awareness of Personal & Emotional Development).

Sanyukta Bafna

Vice President, Curriculum

M. Ed. (Teaching & Curriculum), Columbia University

Sanyukta’s experience in the field of educational reform began in 2011 with three years at Teach for India (Mumbai). During this time, she engaged in classroom teaching at a municipal school in Mumbai, followed by training TFI fellows, and leading and managing teams on specific projects.

Subsequently, Sanyukta joined A2Q Education consultancy and supported a diverse set of formal and informal schools in and around India. Her areas of expertise include school design and leadership, curriculum design, teaching, auditing schools and programs. Some of her accomplishments include creating an alternative school model for high-school dropout girls in urban India, mentoring the school leadership at a CBSE School in Pune for two years, implementing an award-winning service learning project at an ICSE school in Mumbai, and many more.

Today, Sanyukta is the lead designer of the Acres Foundation Citizenship Program, and also supports partner organizations as a School Mentor. She has a Master’s in Education from Columbia University, and she has also worked closely with professors as a Research and Teaching Assistant during her time there.

Smriti Parikh

Vice President,Teacher and Leader Professional Development

M.Ed.(Learning and Teaching), Harvard University

Smriti began her career in education in 2014 at Teach for India. For the first two years, she taught middle-grade students at a public school in Mumbai. Simultaneously, she conceptualized and designed the Good to Great program, based on the book of a similar name by James Collins, and Skillful Teacher by Jon Saphier. The program was directed at professional development of high potential first year TFI Fellows. She then transitioned into the role of a coach and manager for two years. During this time, she coached higher secondary Fellows, led projects on curriculum design for English and Social Sciences, and trained incoming cohorts at the 6 week-long summer institute.

Smriti is passionate about designing language learning experiences rooted in cultural contexts, which aim at developing essential academic and life skills. Her expertise is in creating rigorous and integrated academic programs for students that foster safe spaces and promote authentic engagement. She is also enthusiastic about teacher professional development and coaching, and works on generating opportunities for the same.

Smriti completed her Master’s Degree in Learning & Teaching from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2019. During her studies, she also interned at Making Caring Common, where she analysed qualitative data on school climate in order to produce school-based programs that develop empathy, kindness, and safety among students. Smriti currently serves as the Head of Humanities and Literacy at the Acres Foundation Network.

Anuj Iyer

Chief Analytics Officer, Data Analytics

M.Ed., Harvard University

Anuj started his career in education in 2010, and worked in key capacities with non-profit schools in Uttarakhand (CHIRAG School), Tripura (Brilliant Stars School) and Mumbai (Gateway School of Mumbai) for five years. His roles spanned classroom teaching, curriculum development, leading professional development, coaching teachers and leaders, and school administration.

Following these initial experiences, Anuj completed his Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University (USA). He then returned to India and co-founded an educational consultancy, A2Q Education in 2016. This supported a diverse set of formal and informal schools in and around India that served over 7,00,000 students. A2Q merged with the Acres Foundation (AF) in 2018, and today, Anuj heads the Data Analytics Team for the AF Schools.

He is passionate about helping schools gather and use meaningful evidence from data & research to inform their educational practices and benchmarks. He specializes in designing and implementing frameworks to evaluate specific programs in educational settings, as well as systems for 360-degree monitoring and evaluation to support data-driven decision-making at the institutional level. Additionally, he supports the design and authoring of empirical research studies being carried out and published by the Acres Research Centre.

Aaditya Lohana

Executive Director, Bus. Dev.

F.C.A., The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
LL.B., Government Law College

Aaditya started his career in education in 1987 as a faculty member at Mumbai’s renowned Mithibai College. Since then, he has served in a multitude of leadership capacities across leading schools and colleges in India.

He was also the founder of the Lohana’s Test Series for Grade X, XII and TY BCom students, which had gained popularity across Maharashtra.

Aaditya is a qualified chartered accountant and also completed a degree in law. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Business Development at the Acres Foundation, where he spearheads education partnerships and outreach.

Radhika Zahedi

Co-CEO, Education

M.A. (Mathematics Education), Columbia University
B.E. (Engineering), Mumbai University

Radhika has been working in the field of education since 2005 and currently serves as the Co-CEO at The Green Acres Academy.

She has experience as a school Principal, math teacher-coach, math and science teacher, and curriculum designer in a variety of settings including IB, IGCSE, municipal schools in Mumbai, public schools in New York City, a rural school in Tripura, and a special needs school too.

Radhika is passionate about building learning organisations such as schools with a culture of continuous learning and innovation filled with empowered leaders, teachers, parents and students. As a school leader, she has supported this empowerment of all stakeholders through professional development programs and a shared vision, one that focuses all efforts towards improving student learning.

Also, she has used her decade of classroom teaching experience to champion curricular programs that focus on deep, meaningful learning and teacher development programs that improve not just teacher knowledge but also their teaching practices quickly.

Radhika has a Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia University (USA), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Mumbai University.

Tejas Parekh

Co-CEO, Operations

Masters in Marketing & Management, Southampton Solent University
B.Bus. (Marketing & Economics), RMIT University

Tejas Parekh has a Master’s Degree in Marketing & Management from Solent Business School, UK, and a Bachelor of Business Degree in Marketing from RMIT, Australia.

He is currently serving as the Group CEO of the ANP Group where he is responsible for the overall functioning of the organisation. He has over 20 years of global work experience, having worked in Australia, China, The United Kingdom, Canada and India. He is a proponent of ‘distributed leadership’, and he oversees a group of talented teams of H.R., I.T., Administration, Finance & Accounts, Legal & Construction.

Tejas enjoys spending time with his wife and two young boys. He is an ardent F1 fan in addition to following Tennis, Football and Basketball. He enjoys science fiction, reading business biographies, and he has an ear for music. He is deeply passionate and involved in the well-being of impoverished and underprivileged children and supports charities in India for the same.

Siamack Zahedi

Co-Founder, Education & Research

Ed.D., Johns Hopkins University
M.Ed., Columbia University

Siamack has been engaged in the field of education since 2004. He spent his first two years on full-time voluntary informal educational reform, working with communities from over 30 villages and 13 cities across 12 states in India.

He established his first formal school in 2007 in a small township in Tripura, with the vision of empowering students to become agents of positive transformation for their communities. Next, he established the Gateway School of Mumbai, a special education needs school. Both schools have been recognized for their innovative practices in pedagogy and leadership by the International Ashoka ‘ChangeMaker School’ network.

Siamack then founded A2Q Education, an educational consultancy, in 2016. His team worked on a diverse set of projects in and around India, including strategising the turnaround of failing schools, designing low-cost research-based teacher development strategies, conceptualising and overseeing the establishment of alternative schools for marginalised populations, and supporting dozens of educational improvement projects that served over 7,00,000 students.

A2Q merged with the Acres Foundation in 2018. Siamack took up the role of Director of Education and Research wherein he spearheads the design and implementation of the unique Acres K-12 educational model along with initiatives of the Acres Research Centre.

Siamack has earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Columbia University (USA), and his Doctorate degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education from Johns Hopkins University (USA).

Rohan Parikh

Co-Founder, Chairperson

M.Ed., Johns Hopkins University
MBA, INSEAD
B.Sc. (Economics), The Wharton School of Business

Rohan serves as the Managing Director of the Apurva Natvar Parikh Group (ANPG), which has interests in Real Estate, Education, Transportation and Hospitality. He has more than 20+ years of experience as a businessman and entrepreneur.

Rohan chose to foray in education by founding The Acres Foundation, an educational group that brings together the finest educators to chart out new pathways in education. In 2013, they founded the highly acclaimed The Green Acres Academy, an ICSE curriculum school, that aims to provide affordable yet holistic and well-rounded education by adapting the latest research in teaching and learning techniques within the Indian context.

Rohan sits on the board of Action Against Hunger, India’s foremost anti-malnutrition charity, and is the founder of the Citizens Archive of India. He also writes opinion columns for the Indian Express in his spare time.

Rohan has a BSc in Economics from Wharton Business School, an MBA from INSEAD, and has earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University.

Leadership Team