Nandini Priyakumari is a passionate teacher and teacher-trainer with more than 25 years of experience in teaching, special education, curriculum development, teacher training and school leadership. She has worked with several academic institutions, giving them guidance on handling children with special needs. An ardent believer of the theory of “Multiple Intelligences”, she loves facilitating experiential learning of concepts to children that pave way for their academic excellence by developing their Higher Order Thinking Skills. With the belief that every child can learn just not in the same way, she passionately trains teachers on different innovative teaching methodologies involving Music, Puppetry and Theatre to make “Learning” interesting and effective for all types of learners. She has been in many senior positions such as “Academic Director” for tribal children, “Head – Accelerated Learning” across 26 CBSE schools, “Program Manager” for Government schools across districts of TamilNadu, “Product Manager” of an E-Learning Company, to name a few. Her shift from the mainstream educational background to the world of special education has its emotional roots with her personal experience of witnessing many children with dyslexic and autistic traits struggling to cope with the mainstream expectations, often ending up with social stigma and strained relationships with their own respective beloved circle. Her strong concern for such special children, who can definitely learn and prosper but just not in the usual way, is successfully leading her journey in the less-trodden but a priceless path as a special educator. Her experience and passion for special education will bring great value to Swabodhini.
