Asian College of Teachers - Academic Body

Asian College of Teachers - Academic Body

Asian College of Teachers' Academic Board is comprised of accomplished and experienced teaching professionals from diverse backgrounds as Associate Academic Directors who not only lend their expertise in all academic matters but also assure academic integrity and high quality. The Academic Board is aligned with the institutional mission, and plays a significant role in bringing new developments in a range of academic areas.

Associate Academic Directors comprising of the Academic Board are as follows :-

Dr. Janat Blackmon

Director of Academics

Dr. Janat Blackmon is an international educator, speaker, and trainer from Canada. She has a doctorate in Education Leadership and has a wealth of knowledge of international training, teaching, and culturally responsive leadership. She currently resides in Texas and works as IB Coordinator. She is a Certified Teacher in Canada, Thailand, and Texas, a certified Montessori Teacher, a Texas Certified Principal, a certified ICF coach, and a Google Certified Educator. Janat has worked internationally for over 16 years as an administrator, teacher, reading interventionist, and as a workshop presenter, keynote speaker, guest lecturer, and trainer on leadership, differentiation, assessment, and worked with organizations in developing democracy in education. She is working with challenging change in education for our globalized society and working to develop education for the 21st century. She is passionate about working with staff and students to help them develop their unique talents and confidence to be leaders in society and work for justice and equity for all. She is passionate about student agency, leadership, and working with healing Trauma. Janat works for change in education so our children can be leaders in creating a society that values diverse perspectives and who can communicate and collaborate to innovate.

Dr Margaret Davitt Maughan

Associate Director – Curriculum and Instructions

Dr Margaret Davitt Maughan is a Senior Educator with Ed.D. Leadership, from the University of San Francisco and 35 years of experience in classrooms, curriculum development and interdisciplinary studies. She has the expertise in instructional organization and the ability to make the subject useful. She has taught varied courses over the course of her long teaching career like Curriculum and Instruction for Secondary Schools, Historical and Social Foundations, Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers, Physical Education, Curriculum and Methods for Elementary Social Studies Teachers, Contemporary Educational Issues, Diversity in the Classroom, Ethics and Leadership, Philosophy of Education, Organizational Management.

As a teacher she has always put emphasis on student-centered learning and creative implementation of curriculum and methodology. With a deep understanding of current theory and practice, she has always been open to contemporary programs of revitalization in teaching. She has always been into facilitating quality teaching and has been conferred with several professional honors, scholarships and grants.

Dr Maughan has also been into academic research and her dissertation topic was "An investigation of the relationship between espoused values, shared assumptions, and specific demographic factors among faculty in selected secondary schools". She also has several professional presentations and publications to her credit.

Dr Kuldeep Agarwal

Associate Dean

Dr. Kuldeep Agarwal is a seasoned Educationist/Teacher Educator having 37 years of experience in the field of education – as Educator, Teacher Educator as well as Educational Administrator. He is a product of two premier institutions of India - the prestigious St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, where he studied English Literature and completed his B.A. (Hons.) English and M. A. English and the Department of Education, Delhi University (popularly known as CIE or Central Institute of Education), where he studied Education and did B.Ed., M.Ed., M.Phil. (Education) and Ph.D. (Education). He started his career as an English teacher in the well known Modern School of Delhi and later became a teacher educator and taught at CIE, Delhi University. He became Director (Academic & Open School), State Board of School Education Haryana, India where he established Haryana State Open School as a part of the Board. Finally, he retired as Director (Academic) from NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) - an autonomous institute under the MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development), Govt. of India. Currently he is Member, Board of Studies, University School of Education, GGSIP University, Delhi, India and President, SPACE (Society for the Perpetuation of Art, Culture & Education) India.
He has authored/co-authored several books; presented papers at several national/international conferences; traveled widely to countries like Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai), USA, etc.; has been a Resource Person at several workshops for teacher development; worked closely with international organizations like COL (Commonwealth of Learning) Canada, UNESCO, UNDP, ITU, Amnesty International, etc.; Consultant/Resource Person with national organizations in India like NCERT, NCTE, IGNOU, CBSE, COBSE, NUEPA, etc. He has been a part of the highest policy making group in the country as Director (Academic), NIOS; delivered innumerable lectures/talks for teachers in many schools. He was a recipient of the prestigious Endeavour Executive Award of the Government of Australia in 2008.
He has expertise in various fields of Education like Teacher Education, Curriculum Development, Language Education/ELT, Educational Evaluation, Educational Technology, Environmental Education, Human Rights Education, Open & Distance Learning, Women's Studies, Value Education, Educational Policy/Administration/Management, ESD (Education for Sustainable Development), etc.

Ms. Kuhurina Basu

Associate Director - Board of Academics

A passionate, competent, dynamic and highly motivated professional with a rich and varied teaching experience who has gained experience within different practical and development roles along with over thirty years of teaching experience in English, Psychology and Economics and ten years of administrative experience in leading a team, including school project management, content and curriculum development, teaching special needs students and teacher training. Ms. Kuhurina has relevant and excellent teaching experience of A-Level and IGCSE English, Literature, Economics and Psychology and has coached students and prepared them for examinations. She has a rich experience of classroom teaching both in Mumbai, India and London, UK. She has worked as a senior teacher with several reputed schools in Mumbai and has been a tutor with Tutor (ESOL) – East London Business College, London and worked as Supply Teacher in High Schools in London. She has also been a teacher trainer with Cambridge International Diploma for Teachers and Trainers. Presently she is associated with Asian College of Teachers (ACT) as an Academic Head.

Dr Sanjib Chakraborty

Founder – Asian College of Teachers

Dr Sanjib Chakraborty (Neil) is a PhD in Management Science from University of Hertfordshire, UK with two Masters - in Education (M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction Design) and in Business Administration. He is a Diploma holder in Learning & Development, CIPD, UK, a Certified L&D Practitioner from British Institute of Learning & Development, UK and a Certified Trainer from Singapore Institute of Management, Singapore. Dr Chakraborty has been a lecturer at a University in Bangkok, Thailand and presently lectures at several international universities in Asia. He is an ardent facilitator and an avid traveler who has been to more than 35 countries conducting workshops and creating engaging learning experiences through custom-made Learning and Development programs. He is adept at adult learning methodologies who is well-versed in the instructional design and delivery process to meet individual needs and organizational demands. He conducts Learning and Development and Train the Trainer courses in India and across Asia and has imparted training for organizations like Indian Navy, Spice Jet, Sony, BPCL, Citibank to name a few.

Mr David Bourke

Associate Director - Academics

David is a fully qualified Secondary Teacher with over 25 years’ experience and holds Bachelor of Asian Studies, Graduate Diploma in Education, Graduate Certificate in Education (Special Needs), TESOL/TEFL Qualification. During his years of teaching, he has performed the role English, ESL, Special Needs teacher and Literacy coordinator both in Primary and Secondary Schooling. He has taught both in the Government and private systems in Australia and many countries including: Mexico, UAE, Saudi Arabia, East Africa, India, Vietnam and Spain. David has experience in IEP’s, EAP’s, ascertaining students, assessing students’ academic abilities, coordinating a team of teacher aids, Guidance Officers, School Counsellor and outside agencies. He has taught English and English language for Primary and Secondary Schools as well as Adult Education in a College. He has performed the role as English Communication coordinator (an alternative to Senior English), Years 11 and 12 Legal studies, Intercultural Communication, Geography and History. Currently he is an English Language teacher in Spain for school students as well as Adults.

Dr Thomas James Miller

Associate Director

Dr Thomas James Miller is a passionate educator with 30+ years of experience at the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels. He has achieved exemplary success demonstrated in multicultural contexts gained from having worked on 5 continents. He has Doctorate of Philosophy in Education, Educational Administration, Theory and Policy Studies, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto (OISE/UT); Master of Education, Modern Language Centre, Curriculum, OISE/UT; Bachelor of Education: Intermediate/Senior Qualifications, York University and Honours, Bachelor of Arts: French and English, Glendon College, York University. He has taught and worked all over the world at: -

• York Region District School Board, Canada as ESL, FSL, Classical and International Language Department Head
• Ontario College of Teachers, Canada as Bilingual (English-French) Program Officer
• Toronto French School, Canada as Principal, Senior School
• Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), Canada as Coordinator, Postsecondary Education
• United Nations Education, Science & Culture Organization (UNESCO), France & Chile as International Civil Servant, Section Head, Teachers & Cross-cutting Themes
• Universidad SEK, Faculty of Education, Chile as Professor of English Language and Methodology
• British International School Cairo, Egypt as Teacher of English, French and Special Education
• Chengdu Foreign Language Schools, China as Principal
• GEMS Education Foundation / MFI Education & Training Solutions, Uganda as Director of Education and Training
• VINSCHOOL, Vietnam as Director of ESL

Mr. Mervin Strome

Associate Director – Counselling Courses

Mervin has a Master’s Degree in Counselling and worked as a counsellor in private practice and for professional counselling agencies. Mervin has taught for different colleges and has written accredited courses at these institutions. He has been working in education, counselling and psychology for over 30 years.

Ms. Ann Bale

Associate Director – Counselling Courses

Ann has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, a Diploma in Clinical and Pastoral Counselling, and has completed a year of psychotherapy training. She has worked as a counsellor in private practice, and has taught in schools and colleges (both online and in classroom settings.) In addition to this, she has written accredited certificate, diploma and degree courses in counselling and psychology, in the UK and in North America. Ann has been working in education, counselling and psychology for over 30 years.

Dr. Ranjini Krishnaswamy

Associate Director

Dr. Ranjini Krishnaswamy is an academician with over 4 decades in academia, having been involved at all levels: High School, Middle School, Higher Secondary and Teacher Training both ECCEd and B.Ed. She has received the National Award for Teachers/Principals from the government of India. She is also a recipient of the Jijamata Puraskar for women achievers. She has received the Bharat Vikas Parishad award for her contribution to education. She is currently the Director - Education for the Dosti Foundation, the only ICSE school in Mumbai where she was involved in setting it up right from the drawing board to the accreditation. She is associated very closely with Global Scholars - a distance Linked Educational Programme of the Bloomberg Philanthropies. She has been instrumental in setting up schools, designing school curricula and working with officials in the government departments in maintaining standards of effective schooling and has written books on environmental education, English language and poetry.

Dr Anita Jain

Associate Director

Dr Anita Jain, MBBS, MRCGP [INT] is a Family Physician and Lead Trainer, Heartbeats First Aid with special interest in child health and preventive medicine. She manages medical care for children at Salam Balak Trust shelters in Mumbai. Dr Anita is the founder and lead trainer of Heartbeats First Aid - an initiative to empower people in health and safety at schools, workplace and communities.
She is an expert speaker and has conducted several workshops at schools and medical conferences. She is a clinical editor with The British Medical Journal. She trained as a doctor at KEM Hospital in Mumbai and has done her Master's in Health Administration from the University of Michigan. Dr. Jain is certified as a first aid and emergency response professional with St. John’s Ambulance and BLS/ACLS certified with the American Heart Association. She is trained in mental health first aid with MHFA England.

Ms. Papiya Rozario

Associate Academic Director

Ms. Papiya Rozario, M Ed (Sp. Ed), MA, B Com, B Ed is a highly inspired primary and secondary school teacher with over 15 years’ experience in children’s education as well as with special needs children in international schools across the globe. She is currently working in Modern International School, Bangkok with a dual responsibility as the A-level (Sixth Form) coordinator and Head of the Languages Division (English and Foreign Languages) with an additional profile of Secondary SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). She will soon be joining the London Metropolitan University to pursue double master’s in Education Leadership and curriculum in 2020 for accentuating her career in Education leadership and Curriculum management.

Mr Joseph David Thyparambil

Associate Director – UAE

Mr Joseph David Thyparambil (BA in Education with Certificate in Teaching English as Foreign Language TEFL) has been a passionate educator whose teaching journey has been very fulfilling as it took him to many different countries where he shared and disseminated knowledge extending learning and exploring more. Presently based in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates as a Chief Academic Officer with Creative Educational Services. He has had an extensive experience as a teaching professional within Academia in not only teaching but administration, researching, designing curriculum, liaising and coordinating teachers training and administrative training, conducting numerous workshops and being involved in several P R activities. He has also been the recipient of Best Principal’s Award, 2014, endowed by Students Development Society, India and is on the Advisory Board of Global Aero Sports and STEM Trainers.

Dr Atreyi Datta

Academic Associate - SEN Courses

Dr Atreyi Datta is a PhD holder in Psychology (Cal) and has also completed Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology (RCI). She is attached as a Consulting Psychologist with the training unit of a Special School in Kolkata. Her forte lies in psychological assessment and counseling clients suffering from varied psychological problems and learning disabilities.

Ms. Suparna Ghosh

Academic Associate - Counselling Courses

Ms. Suparna Ghosh, MSc Psychology, is keenly interested in studying the workings of the human mind and has more than 20 years of experience in teaching and counselling. She is appreciated for her therapy sessions with adolescents and life coaching sessions with adults. She also holds workshops on different relevant modern day issues in schools as well as corporate organisations. Her clients are from different walks of life & works with other trainers as well to facilitate them with psychological inputs and interpretations. Some of the institutions she was associated with were Garden High School, Kolkata; Marble Arch School, Mumbai; Jankidevi Public School, Mumbai. She is also an in house psychologist and consultant for Yashashwini Films, Mumbai for holding regular motivational workshops for their actors.

Ms. Moumita Ganguly

Academic Associate - Counselling Courses

Moumita Ganguly has graduated with Psychology Honours and has a Masters in Clinical Psychology. She has also pursued BEd in special education, Post Graduate Diploma in Performing Arts Therapy. In addition to that, she has also done an advanced course in graphology and RCI recognised course of FCED,and is working in the field of psychological counseling for 5 years. In her journey of pursuing this noble profession she has given her utmost dedication in upgrading herself with each passing year and has always maintained a healthy relation with all her clients including the special children she has treated. She believes in giving each individual a bit of relief through her dedicated efforts she puts in her counselling.

Ms. Mala Dasgupta

Associate Director – Teaching and Development

Ms. Mala Dasgupta(MA, BEd) has worked as a teacher and examiner for 25 years with a commitment to high quality teaching and pedagogical practices. Over the years, she has served as an English teacher (classes VII to XII) with an ICSE/ISC school and as an examiner with several professional institutions like SUMMIT and PATHFINDER and Engineering College under WBUT. She is also proficient in setting curriculum,syllabus,study material,students’ time table, teachers’ timetable,conducting exams, counselling students, parents, teachers, conducting workshops and training teachers.

Ms. Radhika Ramamoorthy

Associate Director – E-Learning Technology

Ms. Radhika Ramamoorthy who has a Masters in English Literature with B.Ed in English and Social Studies and P G Diploma in TEFL/TESOL, has been a dedicated educator for 25 years with teaching experience in CBSE, ICSE and IGCSE schools. Besides being a teacher, she has also been a college lecturer and an able administrator, heading a reputed school in Mumbai for 7 years.She is also adept at conducting workshops on topics like Classroom Management,Value based education, Interactive approach to teaching of English, Teacher Development Programme and E-Learning for Continuous Education.

Ms. Anita Khanna

Associate Director – Curriculum Design and Content Management

Ms. Anita Khanna who has completed her Post Graduation from Delhi University and MEd from Vinayak University, has been a successful educator with an extensive experience of more than 30 years which started with teaching at the pre and primary level. She has prepared and delivered lessons to a range of classes of different ages and capacities with effective classroom management abilities up her sleeve. She eventually switched over to educational administration and had been associated with different schools of repute as a Principal. She has always been passionate about teaching and presently enjoying her stint as a Principal effectively spearheading the administration of L.R College of Advance Studies in Delhi.