7 Questions with Leaders in the Education Sector

Name: Devyani Kapoor

Current title: FOUNDER & MENTOR

Current organisation: EDUDEVS SCHOOL OF INSPIRED TEACHING AND LEARNING



Ms Devyani Kapoor is an educator, author, and thought leader. She is the Founder and CEO of Edudevs- The School of Inspired Teaching and Learning. An ex-principal, she carries over 30 years of experience with her in the education sector and has worked with key brands in the industry like D.A.V, Amity Heritage School, Educomp Solutions, KN. Modi Foundation, Extramarks. Cambridge University Press, The Great Place to Study and many others. She is credited with the introduction of a number of innovative pedagogical techniques for effective classroom management, quality circle time, lesson planning, experiential learning and student empowerment techniques. She is an author with Cambridge Publications. The United Kingdom and is credited to have authored several CBSE curriculum books. At present, she is an Academic Consultant with many leading educational institutions. She is a Senior Resource Person for Cambridge University Press and has conducted 100 Capacity Building Workshops for educators across the country.

Name: Bernii Godwin

Current title: Behaviour Education Consultant

Current organisation: Godwin Consulting


Bernii has been working in the field of education since 2002. She has a master’s qualification in Social Work and a Graduate Certificate in Neuropsychotherapy which complements her undergraduate study, Bachelor of Human Services/Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice (majoring in youth and family justice). In addition, Bernii is a Loving on Purpose Trainer.

A core component of social work in education is to assist students and families to improve their personal and social wellbeing. Bernii’s experience and qualifications have refined her ability to identify issues that require change, supporting clients through the referral process as they engage in the change cycle. In order to do this effectively, social workers have a breadth of knowledge of human behaviour and development, life cycles changes, families and social networks, disability and health, including mental health.

Bernii has had the privilege of working with a full spectrum of human services and behaviour ages including maternity through to aged care. This breadth of experience and education has provided her a unique opportunity to speak into the lives of individuals, families, schools and organisations to coach them in developing an understanding of their own needs and how to meet those needs effectively whilst respecting the rights of others.

Predominantly working in the educator sector, Bernii has applied her skills in helping schools, children, and families to develop their own internally responsible behaviour cultures. These internal cultures promote healthy boundaries, connection, love and respect. As a result, she has witnessed many cultural shifts in the lives of individuals and school communities from fear and control toward love, trust, honour and joyful responsibility.

Further to this, Bernii provides professional supervision using a reflective approach to both individuals and teams in the education sector. Professional supervision provides an opportunity for educators to reflect on their practice in an informal and safe environment in which the client has the freedom to set the agenda and direction of the discussions. It is widely documented that awareness and self-efficacy is the most effective tool in preventing vicarious trauma; awareness being the core ingredient to engaging in reflective practice.

Name: Maria Lourdes A. de Vera

Current title: Author - Artist

Current organisation: Rotary International Philippines


Maria Lourdes A. de Vera was an ICU Nurse and Psychologist. A former Nursing Clinical Instructor she handled Research as her main field of interest.

An accomplished writer at the age of 24, she established her niche writing articles about the importance of childhood, child development and the family. Her advocacy is to raise the awareness of the well being of abandoned, neglected and abused children through her published written articles and research. Marilou is a consistent awardee for social commitment since grade school. A member of the Rotary Club International, advocates social consciousness and social service.

A seasoned artist, she supports the significance of creative art as an effective approach to imaginative thinking, problem solving and positive channeling of behavior and skills.

She received the 2015 Catholic Mass Media Best Book Award for the Youth and Child. She is a licensed Professional Teacher promotes Restorative Education to facilitate the psycho social emotional abilities of the child.

Name: Dr. Syed Saeed

Current title: Authentic Leadership

Current organisation: Authentic Destitute Fund

Syed family

Name: Cameron Curry

Current title: CEO

Current organisation: The Classical Academies


Thinker, communicator, achiever, spouse of 29 years, father of three, best friend, businessman, educator, non-profit leader and author.

Name: Cathryn F. Lavery

Current title: Chair, Criminal Justice & Security

Current organisation: Pace University

Dr. Cathryn Lavery received her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the Graduate Center/CUNY and MS from Iona College. She is a certified mediator and a certified trainer from the Clery Center on Title IX. She received additional certifications on sexual victimization and trauma and forensic mental health issues. She is currently Chair for Pace University’s Criminal Justice and Security programs for the Westchester and NYC campuses. Before Pace she worked at Iona College, where she served as Chair & Graduate Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Department. She is contributor and co-editor of Socio-Political Risk Management: Assessing and Managing Global Insecurity (Lavery, Zaino, Engemann; DeGruyter Publications, 2022). She recently co-authored and published an article for Frontiers Journal, entitled, Caring for the Guardians – Exploring Needed Directions and Best Practices for Police Resilience, Practice and Research (Johnson, O., Grant, H. & C. Lavery, 2020). Dr. Lavery has published in various journals including Frontiers, Acta Psychopathologica, Journal of Behavioral Health, ACJS and the Journal of Law Enforcement.

Name: Dr. David A. Wells

Current title: Principal and Executive Consultant

Current organisation: GLOBAL School Consulting Group

David and his wife Lois live in the mountains of Ecuador, near the village of Nono, just a few miles from Quito. David devotes his time to consulting for school owners, boards, and executive leaders in international and national schools throughout Latin America, and beyond. David’s experience in educational and organizational leadership spans forty years, and includes serving as the head of schools in Puerto Rico, New York, and Ecuador, as well as management of a not-for-profit social services agency and a real estate group. In addition to consulting, David leads and manages a consulting group of twenty consultants based around the globe.

Name: Timothy Kelley

Current title: Director (Head of School)

Current organisation: International School of Stuttgart

Timothy Kelley, the Director of the International School of Stuttgart, an International Baccalaureate World School, has been an educator for 30 years. Formerly the Head of Ross School in East Hampton New York, Tim has also served as the Headmaster for the Leysin American School in Switzerland. He began his career at the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham Massachusetts (USA) where he was an award-winning teacher and served as Department Chair for both the History and Performing Arts departments. He subsequently became an international educator, visiting schools all over the world as both an advocate for 21st century education, an accreditation officer for the Commission on American and International Schools Abroad, and as the Director of Admissions, prior to his becoming Headmaster, in Leysin.
While at Ross School, Tim was privileged to work with some of the world’s leading educational experts including Howard Gardner and Kurt Fischer. In Switzerland, as a member of the Executive Committee for the Swiss Group of International Schools, he directed conferences and was responsible for in-depth studies of technology integration in the classroom and mother tongue proficiency. Some years ago, Tim was elected to the Board of the Association of German International Schools and currently serves as the Chair of the Board. He is also a member of the Board for the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (formerly the European Council of International Schools.) He is a member of the Academy for International School Heads and is a recipient of a Klingenstein Fellowship on Educational Leadership. Tim has been a speaker and presenter for TAISI (India), AAIE and AGIS conferences. He also frequently presents in schools throughout Europe and for the American Chamber of Commerce in Stuttgart and Atlanta GA. He is a founding member of the Stuttgart International Rotary Club and has worked with the International School of Stuttgart for nearly 12 years.

Name: Nathan Eva

Current title: Senior Lecturer

Current organisation: Monash Business School

Dr Nathan Eva is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Management at the Monash Business School. His research focuses on changing the conversation with respect to how people lead within organisations, by challenging dominant ego-centric leadership paradigms using the servant leadership framework. His work demonstrates that inclusive approaches to leadership have more profound and lasting effects on follower and organisational in-role and extra-role behaviours, than dominant paradigms of ego-centric leadership.

Name: Cathy Dotson, Ed.D.

Current title: Elementary Principal

Current organisation: Wilmington Christian Academy

Dr. Cathy Dotson has been in education as a teacher and principal for 28 years. She is currently the Elementary Principal at Wilmington Christian Academy in Wilmington, NC. Her degrees include a BS in Elementary Education from Pensacola Christian College, a MS in Educational Leadership from the University of Memphis, and an Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She enjoys teaching, administrating, serving on accreditation teams, and training teachers. Dr. Dotson has been married for 26 years to a high school math teacher.

Name: Marie Gordon

Current title: Principal

Current organisation: Hamilton Girls’ High School

Experienced Principal with a demonstrated history of working in the New Zealand Secondary School sector. Skilled in Curriculum Leadership, Pastoral and Guidance, Human Resource Management, Property and Financial Management. Strong education professional with a Master's degree focused in Educational Leadership and Administration, from Massey University.
Principal, Hamilton Girls’ High School - 2013-present
Deputy Principal, Palmerston North Girls’ High - 2002-2012
Assistant Principal-HOS, Middle Manager, Freyberg High School - 1994-2001
Teacher, Dean - Waiopehu College, 1991-1993

Name: Kaye Gillies

Current title: Mrs

Current organisation: Miramar Christian School

It has long been a dream of mine to lead a Christian school. After many years of teaching in secular then Catholic Schools I now have the privilege of leading Miramar Christian School. I am passionate about Christian Education - faith and quality student learning. I take pleasure in watching and supporting students as they gain new knowledge and skills. I have extensive knowledge of teaching and learning and the New Zealand Curriculum. This includes close to 30 years’ classroom teaching experience and 12 years senior management experience. I have taught in a range of schools, city, country, multi-cultural and not, Montessori, state and state-integrated.
I am always looking for ways to expand and grow my knowledge as a teacher and as a leader. As well as listening to audiobooks and podcasts and reading I have gained new insights through professional development and courses e.g. ‘Te Aro Reo Māori’ course and my ‘Masters in Educational Leadership’.