2 - IREX

and a daughter. Her hobbies include reading, writing poems, dancing and theater. She firmly
believes that TEA will help her to learn new classroom methodologies, assessment techniques,
and strategic activity models on a global scale which she can share with the teaching community
at large and continue her quest for excellence in education.
Vinoda Harikrishna Rao, English Teacher
Carmel High School
Bangalore, India (Population: 6.2 million)
U.S. Host University: University of North Dakota
Vinoda Rao has been teaching English language and literature at a private school for the past ten
years. Her total work experience includes twelve years. The age group of her students is 13-15
years old. There are 45 students on an average in each class. Vinoda participates periodically in
seminars, workshops, and training programs to upgrade her knowledge and teaching skills. She
conducts in-house training for her colleagues at school. Vinoda holds a Master’s degree in
English, Bachelor’s in education, a diploma in freelance journalism and a diploma in educational
management. She is married and has two sons. Her hobbies are reading, writing, music, acting.
Participation in the TEA program will enable her to learn, adopt, and implement new
methodologies.
Lakshmi Ravindran, Social Studies Teacher (History)
Lady Andal Venkatasubba RAO School
Chennai, India (Population: 4.34 million)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University
Lakshmi is an enthusiastic teacher of history at a secondary school, where she has taught for the
past 11 years. Her students are between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. She guides her student
in many inter-school competitions. She has attended many workshops on effective teaching.
Lakshmi received a pre-PhD. (Master of Philosophy) degree in history from the Madras
University in 1992. She is married with two children, and her hobbies include exploring the
unexplored. Her main objective for participating in the TEA program is to use technology for
effective teaching and also imbibe various teaching methodologies.
Pramila Achamma Sriram, Economics Teacher
Green Valley Mat. Hr. Sec. School
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (Population: 4.34 million)
U.S. Host University: Purdue University
Pramila A. Sriram has been teaching English, social studies, and economics at a private higher
secondary school for the past 5 years. Prior to this she taught in another private school. The ages
of her students range from 13-17 years and there are around 30 students in her class. She is in
charge of the morning assembly as well as the examination department. She is a post graduate in
economics and also has a teaching degree. She is a gold medalist and state rank holder in general
English and Hindi. Her interests include reading and spending time with her children. She is a
widow with a son and a daughter. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is for the
benefit of the less privileged children whom she teaches.