Faculty

Pre-Primary

Vidhi Bhalakia is a preprimary teacher, working with the nursery. Vidhi believes that as early childhood educators and first school teachers, pre-primary teachers play a crucial role in laying the foundation for a child’s future, making a positive impact that lasts a lifetime.

Vidhi has been dedicated to teaching for over 15 years. She began her career as an interview trainer for children and has since found fulfillment as an educator. Vidhi is grateful to be a part of Finland International School, where she has the opportunity to support children's learning processes and positively shape their futures.

Pre-Primary

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Vidhi Bhalakia

Preprimary Teacher

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Archita Jhunjhunwala

Playgroup Teacher

Archita brings over 20 years of rich teaching experience, with a strong foundation in English, Math, and thematic learning across diverse classroom settings. For her, teaching isn’t just a profession, it’s a lifelong commitment to nurturing young minds, fostering curiosity, and helping shape the leaders of tomorrow.A lifelong learner herself, Archita actively pursues professional development and believes that a good teacher never stops learning. Her enthusiasm, empathy, and dedication to both her students and fellow educators make her a valuable addition to our FIS community.

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Elina Kataja

Vice Principal, Pre-primary

Head of Teacher Training

Elina Kataja, an early childhood education specialist, works at Finland International School as the Head of Teacher Training. She is responsible for teacher professional development and curriculum development in particular.

Elina has a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked 18 years in various positions in the field of Education, being a preprimary teacher, leader and project manager in various development projects, as well as a mentor and an academic coordinator. Elina has trained thousands of preprimary teachers in Finland prior to coming to India. 

Early childhood education is Elina’s professional passion. She believes that there is hardly anything more important than supporting young children in building good social skills, comprehensive learning readiness, a healthy self-esteem, and a positive outlook on the future. In early childhood education, in addition to laying the foundation for strong academic skills, Elina wants to support the child's right to play, hear stories and fairytales, use their imagination, dream, and express themselves through various ways of art. Childhood lasts only a short moment, and Elina firmly believes that we must remember to cherish that unique time.

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Rinal Padia

Junior KG Teacher

Rinal brings with her 8 years of experience teaching pre-primary children. She is known for her calm nature and incredible patience, she’s someone who truly listens, an essential quality when working with our tiny tots. She’s also passionate about dance and loves weaving creativity and movement into her classroom to make learning joyful and dynamic. Rinal shares that the warmth of the environment, the support from her peers, and the smiles of our students made her feel at home from day one. She’s embraced each day with gratitude and excitement and is looking forward to everything that lies ahead.

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Erika Raito

Pre-Primary Teacher

Erika is one of the youngest teachers travelling all the way from Finland to be part of our vibrant learning community. She is a Bachelor of Educational Sciences, majoring in Early Childhood Education, at the University of Helsinki, Finland. She is a true animal lover with a dog named Emma and a fun fact is that she is the 18th teacher in her family! With teaching running through generations, we’re thrilled to have her continue that legacy at FIS.

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Afiya Shaikh

Senior KG Teacher

With over 8 years of enriching experience, including a stint in the UAE — Afiya comes with a strong foundation across CBSE, ICSE, and Cambridge curricula. She’s deeply passionate about early years education and is all about creating playful, inclusive, and joyful classrooms where little ones feel safe, inspired, and ready to explore. She believes learning should be full of laughter, curiosity and the occasional glitter explosion and we couldn’t agree more!

Grades 1-5

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Grades 1-5

Kajal Baria

Shadow Teacher

Kajal brings with her over 3 years of rich experience in early years and primary education. With a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) and a graduate degree, she is deeply passionate about nurturing young minds and creating positive, inclusive classroom experiences. Kajal takes pride in supporting students not just academically, but also in their emotional and social development, helping them grow into confident, kind, and independent individuals. Her warmth, sincerity, and child-centered approach make her a valuable addition to the team. Outside the classroom, Kajal enjoys exploring her creative side through fashion styling, home décor, and DIY projects. Music helps her relax, and she treasures the time she spends with her family, which keeps her grounded and inspired.

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Hetal Kantariya

Learning Assistant

Hetal is excited to begin her journey as a learning assistant. As a recent graduate with a passion for early childhood education with a ECEC Certification, Hetal is eager to create a nurturing and engaging environment for young learners. Hetal believes that play is a vital part of learning and she aims to inspire curiosity and creativity in her students through fun and interactive activities. She is committed to fostering a love for learning and helping each child develop their unique potential. Hetal looks forward to making a positive impact in the lives of her students!

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Grades 1-5

Dikshi Kamdar Shah

Grade 1 & 2 ClassTeacher

With over 8 years of teaching experience, Dikshi brings with her a deep love for working with young learners. She believes in learning from every interaction  especially with children, who offer the most unexpected and refreshing perspectives. Her classroom is a space of curiosity, creativity, and connection, where learning is made fun and memorable.Outside of school, she enjoys diving into books, café-hopping in search of the perfect brew, and spending quality time with her family. She also finds joy in deep conversations that spark reflection and growth.After two years away from home, she’s thrilled to be back and to begin this new chapter at FIS.

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Shika Shah

Grade 3 & 4 Class Teacher

Shikha is a passionate and dynamic educator with a wealth of experience across multiple curricula, including IGCSE and the IB PYP. She is known for her student-centered approach. She embraces change with a calm mind and a structured plan, turning ambiguity into opportunity with grace and grit. With a strong command of both technology and inquiry-based learning, she’s a valuable resource for students and colleagues alike. Her colleagues describe her as dependable, thoughtful, and always ready to lend a hand. She’s also a confident speaker who brings great energy to every event she leads. And as a certified energy healer, she brings a little extra magic to the mix—whether it’s a Wi-Fi glitch or a retrograde kind of day!

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Sheetal Sheth

Primary Years Coordinator,

Grade 5 Class Teacher

Sheetal Sheth is a member of the founding staff at Finland International School Race Course, Primary Years Coordinator and Grade 3-5 Class teacher with experience spanning over 15 years. Throughout her career, Sheetal has worked with diverse socio-economic groups and has taught across various Boards/Curricula in the K-12 education sector. Sheetal obtained her degree in Bachelor of Commerce, post which she pursued her degree in Web Centric Computing (Web programming) from NIIT, in the field of  Information Technology. Her passion for teaching led Sheetal to pursue her Bachelor's in Education. Taking her career forward, she also completed IB workshops which have strengthened her knowledge and understanding of inquiry based learning.

Sheetal has also worked as Content Developer and Editor (School Curriculum and Books for Children) for various renowned publications like Chetana and Oxford. She has expertise in developing comprehensive, standards-aligned curricula that cater to diverse learning styles and promote student engagement. She is proficient in collaborating with teachers to integrate technology, differentiated instruction, and project-based learning into the curriculum.

Grades 6-10

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Grades 6-10

Khadija Baranwala

Learning Support and Creative Assistant

Khadija has already become an integral part of our team. Reflecting on her journey so far, she shares:

“There were so many moments during the past four months when I found myself thinking, ‘I wish I had been a student at a place like this.’ Students actually look forward to coming back to school — a place they truly enjoy. I’m grateful to be part of a team that believes in the kind of education that stays with you long after the classroom. I can’t wait to contribute in my own way. It’s not just a workplace — it’s a space where real growth happens, and I’m honored to be part of that journey.”

We’re so glad to have Khadija with us, bringing creativity, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose to her role every day.

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Rajani Naik

Vice Principal (Middle Years) & MYP Coordinator

Rajani Naik is the Middle Years Vice Principal and on the founding team at FIS Race Course. With an unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive and transformative educational environments, Rajani's academic journey and professional trajectory reflect her dedication to educational leadership. With a Master’s Degree in Educational Sciences focusing on Educational Leadership from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, she has delved deeply into innovative pedagogical approaches such as Phenomenon Based Learning (PhBL). 

Rajani’s role as the Director of Teaching and Learning at Hasanat High School in Mumbai coupled with her impactful contributions at the India School Leadership Institute and Teach For India, have equipped her with a robust understanding of educational systems and the effective implementation of transformative learning practices. In her free time, Rajani enjoys deep sea diving, pottery making, reading and of course spending time with teenagers!

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Mohini Pandey

Mathematics & SEL

Mohini Pandey is a dedicated and passionate educator with over 13 years of experience in the education sector. Holding a master's degree in bioinformatics, a bachelor's degree in education, and a postgraduate diploma in Inclusive Education from Azim Premji University. She has experience in teaching mathematics and science in various curricula like IGCSE, CBSE and state boards along with IB. Throughout her career, Mohini has been driven by the belief that education is a powerful tool that can give children the voice and choice they need to shape their futures and the communities around them.

Mohini's passion extends beyond traditional academic boundaries, she is deeply committed to fostering social and emotional learning (SEL) among students. She understands that emotional intelligence and social skills are crucial for the holistic development of children. Her initiatives in SEL aim to equip students with the skills they need to manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and navigate social complexities with confidence. She understands that every child deserves a champion—someone who believes in them, advocates for them, and helps them realise their potential. Mohini aspires to be that champion for every student she encounters. Mohini's approach is rooted in the understanding that inclusivity in education is not just about accommodating differences but celebrating them, fostering an environment where every child feels valued and supported.

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Meeri Shenoy

Individuals & Societies

Meeri Annika Kiviluoto is the Middle Years Individuals & Societies subject teacher at FIS Race Course, teaching humanities and social sciences in an interdisciplinary manner.  Alongside her academic work as a teacher, she works with admissions and marketing.

Meeri has completed her bachelor’s degree in Global Humanities at the Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, after which she joined the Global Leaders’ Alliance postgraduate program at the Alliance University in Bengaluru, India. As a lover of humanities and social sciences, her passion throughout her work and studies has been to understand the importance of knowing our history to understand the interconnected world in which we live. This is reflected in her long-standing work with a social enterprise run by the Santhal tribal people in West Bengal. Meeri’s professional purpose is to bring counternarratives and pluralism into the study of humanities and social sciences.
Meeri loves India and has dreamed of settling down here since childhood, traveling around and learning about the country since 2019. In her free time she enjoys running, yoga, spending time with dogs and drinking really good coffee!

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Babita Srivastava

Sciences & Home Economics

Babita Srivastava is our vibrant science and interdisciplinary teacher in the MYP, bringing over 20 years of enriching experience from schools across India. She holds a B.Sc. in Physics, Maths & Statistics, an MSc in Statistics from the University of Gorakhpur and a Bachelor's in Education from IGNOU, Delhi.

With a passion for immersing students in the wonders of science, Babita thrives on the exhilarating 'AHA' moments when concepts resonate. Her student-centered philosophy fosters a vibrant, engaging environment where active participation, curiosity, and critical thinking flourish through hands-on learning and real-world applications.

A lifelong learner and avid reader, Babita also enjoys exploring Mumbai's bustling streets by cycling or walking. Her creative pursuits include stitching and knitting, which provide her with a sense of relaxation and fulfilment.

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Abhinandan Garg

Spanish

Abhinandan Garg is a passionate educator of Spanish language and culture, with a background in Spanish and International Relations. He has experience teaching MYP and IBDP students, focusing on language acquisition, global politics, and cultural studies. He believes in connecting learning with real-world issues and intercultural understanding.He is deeply committed to professional growth and is currently pursuing further studies in education, aspiring to contribute meaningfully to the field of international academia.

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Purva Holkar

Design & Technology Specialist &

Technology Integration Specialist.

Purva is a passionate educator, tech enthusiast, and lifelong learner with a strong background in Design Technology. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the integration of Augmented Reality in classrooms, demonstrating her commitment to making learning more immersive and future-ready. She brings with her a spirit of creativity, innovation, and a strong belief in empowering students to solve real-world problems. Outside of the classroom, Purva enjoys swimming, solo travelling, and exploring fresh perspectives through every experience.

Grades 11-12

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Grades 11-12

Abhinandan Bhattacharya

Assistant CP Coordinator, TOK Coordinator, CP PPS Coordinator, and Secondary School English Teacher

Mr. Abhinandan brings with him over 18 years of experience in teaching and mentoring students across CIE and IBDP curricula, with a strong focus on English Language, Literature, and Theory of Knowledge. He is also a published author and serves as an academic content reviewer for CIE English under Harper Collins Publishers. In addition, he is an IBDP English A Language and Literature examiner and is known for his commitment to academic excellence and innovation in education.

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Amruta Ghayal

CP Reflective Project Coordinator,

Secondary School Biology & ESS Teacher.

With over 8 years of rich IB experience, Amruta has taught across IBDP, MYP, and IGCSE students and has previously served as an Assistant MYP Coordinator and IGCSE Coordinator. She holds a Master’s in Biotechnology and a Bachelor of Education in Sciences. A passionate Global Schools Advocate and Mentor, Amruta brings with her a deep commitment to education for sustainable development. Outside the classroom, she enjoys music, movies, traveling, and exploring dance. While she may not be a sports enthusiast, she finds joy and balance in swimming which is also her favourite way to unwind and stay fit.

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Mangesh Gulgule

Economics and Business Management

Mangesh brings over 11 years of IB experience, having taught IBDP, MYP, and IGCSE curricula and previously served as an Assistant DP Coordinator. He is also an IBDP Economics Examiner, with a strong academic foundation—MBA and a Bachelor's in Engineering.

Beyond the classroom, Mangesh is a passionate reader who draws inspiration from diverse genres to enrich his teaching. A devoted football fan, he enjoys watching sports and spending time with podcasts and YouTube channels that feed his curiosity and learning.

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Dr. Pranav Joshirao

CP Reflective Project Coordinator,

Secondary School Biology & ESS Teacher.

Dr. Pranav has been teaching Chemistry since 2015, and his academic journey has taken him across South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia, enriching his teaching practice with global insights and diverse experiences.

Beyond his passion for Chemistry, he’s equally enthusiastic about music and cricket. When not in the lab or classroom, you’ll likely find him strumming a musical instrument or out on the cricket field. 

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Rituraj Kumar

Physics

Rituraj brings with him over 14 years of rich academic experience in leadership roles such as Head of Department, Academic Coordinator, and Examination Controller, across various educational frameworks—IBDP, Cambridge (CIA/IGCSE), CBSE, and college-level institutions in Uganda, Myanmar, and India.

He holds a Master's degree in Physics and a Bachelor’s in Education (B.Ed.), with strong expertise in performance standards, teacher mentoring, school safety, and scientific development. His commitment to nurturing a school culture that supports both student learning and staff professional growth is truly commendable.

A unique facet of Rituraj’s personality is his deep love for Sanskrit and his keen interest in Meta Vedics, a passion rooted in his family's strong linguistic and cultural heritage.

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Meet Sachde

Mathematics

With over a decade of experience teaching Maths across IBDP, IGCSE, and CBSE curricula, Meet brings not only expertise but a contagious love for numbers and problem-solving. Though he started his academic path in Civil Engineering, he soon realized that Maths had “too many problems” — and solving them made him genuinely happy!

Since 2014, he has been on what he calls “Mission Maths,” training and guiding students to face Maths with curiosity rather than fear. One of his proudest moments? Training 12 students for the prestigious World Mathematics Team Championship (WMTC) in Qatar last year — and 11 of them returned with gold medals!

At FIS, we know many students carry an anxiety around Maths, and we’re confident that Meet’s engaging teaching style, sense of humour, and ability to turn even the trickiest problems into light-hearted fun will help turn that fear into fascination. Beyond the classroom, Meet is a cricket enthusiast and a Garba lover.

Ms. Manju brings with her over 20 years of teaching experience, including 10 years of IBDP Hindi teaching, and has worked extensively in IBDP and IGCSE curricula across reputed international schools. She is also a certified IBDP Hindi educator and examiner.She has a thoughtful understanding of cultural nuances in language learning. Her innovative teaching techniques, deep literature background, make her a valuable addition to our team.

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Manju Singh

CAS Coordinator, Secondary School Hindi Teacher and CP Sports Management Supervisor.

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Radha Trivady

DPCP Coordinator, Head of curriculum development, Vice Principal (Upper Secondary)

Radha Trivady has recently joined our team as the DP/CP Coordinator, Head of Curriculum, and Vice Principal for High School Years. With over 18 years of experience in IB Schools, Radha has served as both a teacher and a leader. She brings a wealth of knowledge from teaching various curricula including the American curriculum, IGCSE, and IB. Radha's teaching journey has led her to international schools in Conakry, Guinea, and Abidjan, Ivory Coast, before she began teaching at IB schools in India.

Throughout her career, Radha has held numerous roles such as MYP Personal Project Coordinator, DP CAS Coordinator, MYP Service Coordinator, MYP Coordinator, and Whole School Head of Curriculum. She also contributes to the Asia-Pacific region as a Site Visitor and Consultant for School Visiting Teams. Radha is extremely passionate about student-centred learning and the well-being of both students and teachers.

Specialists

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Jessica Gohil

School Counsellor

Jessica brings with her a rich and diverse background in mental health, having worked in both school and hospital settings in London, as well as in private practice. Her expertise spans emotional wellbeing, executive functioning, and creative therapeutic approaches all of which will greatly benefit our students and school community.
She is passionate about creating safe and supportive spaces for children to express themselves, and is known for making mental health accessible and engaging through tools like LEGO therapy, emotional regulation sessions, and meaningful conversations.
Jessica enjoys reading, reflecting, and planning her next travel adventure preferably to a place with great coffee and warm smiles!

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Specialists

From a young age, Haresh’s heart has been set on sports, igniting a passion that has guided his journey ever since. He has had the privilege of playing at the Senior National level for soccer, an experience that fuelled my love for the game and instilled in him a drive for excellence.

With more then 10 years of teaching experience, Haresh has had the opportunity to work with various boards and curricula. For the past six years, he has dedicated himself to shaping young minds as a Physical and Health Education (PHE) teacher in the esteemed IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). Haresh’s journey has been equally enriching, culminating in a degree in Sports Management, a football Diploma and a CAT 2 in IB PHE program. These qualifications, coupled with his hands-on experience, equip him to guide and support each learner on their path to success.

Beyond the classroom, Haresh is the proud founder of GIFA Sports—a venture close to his heart. Alongside his dedicated team, he strives to create opportunities for learners to explore and enjoy sports to the fullest at Finland International School, Racecourse.

With his infectious enthusiasm and unwavering dedication, Haresh is committed to inspiring and empowering each learner to reach their full potential, both on and off the field.

Haresh Golar

Physical & Health Education

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John Hart

Director of Digital Learning & Innovation

John holds a BSc in Psychology in addition to his post-graduate teaching qualifications from the UK. He has experience of a wide range of curricula, including the IB PYP, the English National Curriculum, the IPC and, of course the Finnish National Core Curriculum.  Before moving to India, he held the dual roles of Primary Coordinator and Lead Teacher for Digital Learning at the European School of Helsinki.

John is a keen advocate for the meaningful, considered integration of technology in school and was one of the first cohort of seven teachers in Finland to be recognised as an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2015. Since then he has attended, run workshops or spoken at ADE Institutes in Amsterdam, Berlin and London as well as providing in-service training for teachers at a range of schools across Finland and the Middle East. In 2017 he was also awarded as one of the top two ‘tech-savvy’ teachers in Finland (Suomen Digiosaavin Opettaja) for his work with the Helsinki City Museum. Since moving to India, he has been certified as an Apple Professional Learning Specialist, ensuring that he remains at the cutting edge of advances in education technology and teacher training.

Aside from his work in school, John has guest-written on the topic of education for the Guardian newspaper in the UK and acted as a mentor for xEdu, which is Europe's leading business accelerator for edtech startups. John is a keen footballer, distance runner and cyclist. He and his wife, Anna, have three teenage boys together.

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Tejal Jadhav

Hindi

Tejal brings infectious enthusiasm, creativity, and a deep commitment to inquiry-based learning and student-centered education. She loves crafting creative and engaging lesson plans, reading fiction and self-help books, travelling and exploring new cultures, music, nature walks, and the thrill of a good bike ride. She avoids procrastination, negativity and dishonesty. She aspires to grow as an IB educator and step into future leadership roles, to foster a joyful and meaningful learning environment for her students to pursue continuous professional development.

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Faezeh Jalali

Performing Arts

Faezeh is the Founder and Artistic Director of FATS Thearts, Mumbai. She is an award-winning actor, director, and writer, as well as a teacher, kalaripayattu practitioner, choreographer, runner, artivist and aerialist. She has a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Performance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, U.S.A and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre Arts (Acting and Directing) from Beloit College, Wisconsin U.S.A. She also has a Diploma in Kalaripayattu from Kalarigram, Auroville, Tamil Nadu.

Faezeh is the recipient of the prestigious Tanveer Natyadharme Puraskar 2017 (presented by the Dr. Sriram Lagoo’s Roopwedh Pratishthan Trust) for her contribution to the field, and the Dubey-Tendulkar Fellowship 2017. She has also been a META awardee (Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards) for her plays/performances in 2016, 2017 and 2018, Sultan Padamsee Playwriting awardee 2016, and Laadli Media Award for Gender Diversity 2017.

Faezeh has been working professionally for the last couple of decades on stage, in film, TV and, web-series. She has written and directed several well acclaimed plays, like, Shikhandi-The Story of the Inbetweens, Bone of Contention, 777, Strictly Unconventional, Afterlies, among others. She is very cool - ask anyone.

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Johanna Häkkinen

Special Education Needs Teacher

Johanna’s passion for helping individuals discover and reach their fullest potential truly resonates with the core values we uphold at FIS. As a Special Educational Needs (SEN) teacher, her role carries deep meaning, and we are confident that her empathy, curiosity, and eagerness to learn will leave a positive and lasting impact on both students and colleagues.Johanna’s love for cultural experiences, time in nature, and good books brings a beautiful touch to our diverse team and we’re excited to see how her unique presence will enrich our shared learning environment.

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Ville Minkkinen

Physical education, Music and Woodcraft specialist

Ville Minkkinen graduated as a primary teacher from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. He also holds a Bachelor of sports degree from Lapland University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Ville combines his competence in teaching and sports to educate children to acquire skills and enthusiasm for a wide range of Indian and international sports. Ville’s lifelong goal is to help people to find motivation and competence in taking care of their own health by establishing a physically active lifestyle, developing healthy nutrition habits, sleeping well and taking care of their own mental health.

Ville has experience teaching both music and crafts (hard materials) in Finland. He has a passion for music, in his free time and plays the guitar, the piano and drums as well as singing and writing his own songs. In music his goal is to help every student to find their own passion regarding listening and producing music. Ville also teaches crafts with hard materials, which is part of the subject ‘Design and crafts’. Ville encourages students to use various materials for developing their design and production skills, and he believes that learning is the most effective when the student is taking responsibility in setting their own goals and proactively creating plans to reach them.

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Archana Tiwari

Hindi & Marathi

Archana is a dedicated and experienced Hindi and Marathi teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience. She has authored two student work books in the Marathi subject for classes 5 and 6. Her academic credentials include a Master of Arts in Hindi Literature, a Diploma in school management, a Diploma in Education, a Bachelor in Education and a Marathi Certification Course along with proficiency in computer skills through an MSCIT Certification course. Archana’s passion for teaching and her love for being around children have driven her to pursue a career in education and she is currently enjoying her role at Finland International School.

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Aditi Torani

Spanish

With many years of professional experience, Aditi has a diverse career that spans across the education sector. Her journey began with a role as an Education Counselor with Campus France at The Alliance Française de Bombay, advising students on pursuing education in France. Her French language skills further developed when she was with Lycée Français de Mumbai. Her experience as a French language teacher at an International School dedicated over a decade to fostering language proficiency in students.

In addition to her expertise in French, she has a strong command of Spanish which allows her to work in multilingual environments. She brings her passion for languages into the classroom by creating interactive and engaging lessons that cater to different learning styles. Through a mix of grammar, vocabulary, conversational practice, and cultural insights, she ensures that students grasp the fundamentals of Spanish in a fun and memorable way.

Besides French and Spanish, she has taught English as a foreign language to non-English-speaking students helping them build a strong foundation in both spoken and written English. Evidently, her communication and organisational skills, allow her to contribute creatively and practically to any educational team.