At Supraja Montessori Study Centre, AMI trainers, consultants, and mentors work with trainers-in-training, bringing rich experience to the programme. The office and support teams ensure the smooth running of the centre.

Rukmini Ramachandran leads Supraja Montessori Study Centre. She holds AMI Montessori diplomas at three age levels, as well as a Master’s in English. She entered Montessori education in 1991 when she trained under Zarin Malva in Mumbai. Before this, she worked as Assistant Editor of a children’s magazine, bringing with her a strong background in writing and publishing. Her editorial work includes preparing Creative Development in the Child, Dr. Montessori’s 1939 India lectures, into two volumes. Alongside her work as trainer, writer, and school leader, she has focused on building a strong centre, nurturing teams and supporting trainers in training to ensure that the skills of all who contribute to this work are strengthened and sustained.

Hemalatha Rangarajan, Director of Training (3–6), is a key member of the team. She holds an AMI Montessori diploma at two age levels. She trained at the 3–6 level under Zarin Malva in Chennai in 1995 and then trained under Ann Dunne to receive her 6–12 diploma in 2017. She started her career in Montessori education in Supraja Montessori School and then worked with children for ten years in Patasala Montessori School, where she eventually served as Vice Principal. Hemalatha holds a Masters in Psychology. She has been involved in mentoring schools. Extending her work beyond training, she is committed to research in classrooms. Her Tamil translation of Montessori’s The Child in the Family, soon to be released, is part of her continuing effort to support the wider community in understanding children and building an education centred on their development.

Ramya Sridhar is an AMI trainer at Supraja Montessori Study Centre. An alumna of the first course of our institute, Ramya now holds an AMI diploma for two age levels, receiving the AMI 3–6 diploma in 2005 and the AMI 6–12 diploma in 2017. She has assisted on the courses at Navadisha since 2012 and has served as an examiner and presented talks and workshops, sharing her growing pedagogical knowledge with the community. Alongside this work, Ramya has built wide-reaching administrative experience, developing strong skills in organisation and coordination. She entered Montessori work as a teacher at Navadisha Montessori School where she began her work in this field. She holds a Masters in Psychology, takes an interest in the work of several NGOs that serve a range of socio-economic, health and educational schemes, and is also interested in reaching Montessori principles to a wider public.

Ruby Lau, a 3-6 AMI Trainer, brings her multi-layered experience to mentor the training staff, teachers and students at AMI courses and Montessori schools. Currently retired from formal training Ruby currently continues to work with schools and alumni in an advisory capacity in many parts of South Asia, including India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China. Formerly Ruby was a senior member of the AMI faculty in China and served as a member of the Scientific Pedagogical Committee at AMI. She holds AMI diplomas at three age levels. Educated from an early age in the UK, Ruby joined the Maria Montessori Training Organisation in London in 1986. She started Little Acorns, a Montessori school that she ran for 15 years, while continuing to work on the course. Ruby started her career in advertising. She served as Chairman of the Montessori Society AMI UK, which promotes an awareness of Montessori education to a wider public.

With an AMI 3-6 Diploma in Montessori education which she received in 2014, Sukanya Gnananandhan brings over a decade of continuous experience in Montessori environments. At Navadisha Montessori School, Chennai, she has supported children’s growth and enriched pedagogy through her study and development of observational methods. She has also played key roles in parent engagement, admissions, and staff coordination. Committed to professional development, she regularly attends refresher courses and workshops. Her study of music brings language and culture into the classroom. Sukanya is currently a Course Assistant and is on the AMI Training of Trainers programme, expanding her role in mentoring educators.

Since earning her AMI 3-6 Diploma in Montessori Primary Education in 2012, Subha Ramasubramanian has gained over seven years of experience in Montessori work. At Navadisha Montessori School, Chennai, she undertook academic, administrative, and community roles, including parent support programmes, admissions, and multilingual material development. She currently serves as a Course Assistant. She is interested in the Montessori approach to adolescent education and has recently contributed to the translation of Montessori’s work into Tamil. Subha is on the AMI Training of Trainers programme, strengthening her contribution to the Montessori movement.

Ann Dunne, an AMI Trainer and educational consultant for the 6-12 age level. She served as the Director of Training in Dublin for over 30 years. Now she travels extensively as an AMI Examiner and consultant around the world. She brings a wide range of experience to her work, mentoring and supporting training staff, students and schools. She had over 8 years teaching experience at the 6-12 level before joining the training team in Ireland. She worked closely with senior Montessori professionals in Ireland training many students. Ann brings her lively enthusiasm to her work in India where she has visited often as an examiner, consultant and speaker. Ann has supported many AMI trainers through their training journey, helping them widen their experience and consolidate their understanding of elementary children.

Prasanna is currently on the AMI Elementary training of trainers programme. An alumna of the first primary and elementary courses in Navadisha, Prasanna holds AMI diplomas in both age levels. She received the AMI 3-6 diploma in 2005 and the AMI 6-12 diploma in 2009. She has been working with children at both levels since then. Prasanna holds Master’s degrees in Education and also in Mass communications and Journalism. She also holds a diploma in Elementary education from NIOS. She takes an interest in storytelling and reading stories for children.

With more than 14 years of experience in Montessori elementary environments, Shyamala Thirunavukkarasu received her AMI Elementary Diploma in 2010. At Navadisha Montessori School, Chennai, she has worked in both the 6-9 and 9-12 communities and believes in nurturing independence, cooperation, and respectful communication among children. Beyond the classroom, she has mentored new recruits, guided elementary trainees during practice, and contributed to parent support programmes that build strong community connections. Holding a Master’s in Computer Applications and earlier teaching experience in higher education, she brings a broad academic background to her Montessori work. Shyamala has joined the AMI Training of Trainers programme, deepening her role in serving the Montessori community.

Jenny Marie Höglund is an AMI trainer at the 6-12 and 12-18 levels. In 1995, Jenny founded a Montessori school in Sweden for children aged 1-12 years, near her home in Göteborg. The Montessori Centre for Work and Study offering a residential experience for adolescents. Her pioneering work with adolescents at this school has helped shape the Montessori approach for this important phase of the child’s development. Jenny has been part of the AMI NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies since 2003. Grounded in the practicalities of the living philosophy of the Erdkinder Jenny brings her expertise, enthusiasm and rigourous practice to the students of the 12-18 programme. With a Master’s in Education, she has an extraordinary ability to support the students during the course and beyond.

The support staff at Supraja work in the background and contribute toward the successful completion of all our courses. They help us with the care and maintenance of the environment.

Murugan

Pankajam

Rukmani

Easwari