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There is an intuitive discrimination
which is more keen and precise in its sight than the reasoning intelligence. Love is an invisible, a sacred and ineffable spirit which traverses
the whole world with its rapid thoughts. |
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Prapanna Smith
- Founder/President of CIE and Principal of IES/LJ |
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Carla Swan Gerstein
- Board Member of CIE & Executive Administrator of IES/LJ |
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| Prapanna Smith holds a Masters Degree in Education Administration from the University of Redlands,a California Administrative Credential, and a California Teaching Credential. During a 5-year career in California public education he taught all the subjects of the curriculum with at-risk middle school children, and social studies in the regular and GATE programs. Prapanna lived at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram from 1998 to 2001 and, during that time, he was a teacher of History, Geography, Philosophy, and Study Skills at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre for Education (SAICE). During his tenure at SAICE, Prapanna was highly involved with the school's latest experiment in Free Progress Education, a truly student-centered approach to learning and teaching that is being developed and refined at the school. Prapanna is currently working towards a Doctorate in Educational Leadership in the joint doctoral program at UCSD and CSU San Marcos. | Carla Swan Gerstein is responsible for business operations, community relations, networking, school newsletters, and grant writing. Carla holds a California Teaching Credential and a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She spent 13 years as a computer programmer, project manager, department manager, and customer liaison. She acquired her teaching credential in 1999 and has had experience teaching second and third grades. She has two young girls of her own who are students at Integral Elementary. Carla also is a nationally competing athlete in barefoot water-skiing, ranked fifth in her age division in the United States in 2003. In 2000, she visited the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and attended the annual Cultural Program and Physical Education Demonstration, both of which moved her deeply. She is very committed to the new vision of education that CIE is creating in the US. | ||||||
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Mrunalini Patel - Board Member of CIE & Curriculum Coordinator IES/LJ and RKIS |
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Kari Strandstra - Elementary Teacher | ||||
| Mrunalini Patel, our Curriculum Coordinator, holds a BS in applied Chemistry form the De Montfort University, England. Mrunalini holds an Associate Credential in Early Childhood Education and has several years experience in teaching at the preschool level. She is also a private tutor for Kindergarten through third grade children. Mrunalini brings with her an extensive experience in education to our organization and has a strong understanding of Integral Education philosophy and aims. Her firm belief and practice in self-development and self-knowledge has brought her to the CIE and the RKIS. Mrunalini is delighted to be a part of the beginning stages of the Integral Education program here at RKIS. She is strongly committed to helping children develop the tools and knowledge they need to become pioneers of the future. | Kari Strandstra, our Section-A literacy teacher, has a California Multiple Subject CLAD teaching credential from National University. She holds a Bachelors Degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in cultural studies and an AA in liberal arts with an emphasis in environmental studies. Kari has units in early childhood education and has worked within the education field for seven years. She started out as an assistant in elementary school classes ranging from Kindergarten to sixth grade. She then became a teacher's assistant working with Pre-K at a Child Development Center within the San Diego School District. After getting her credential in elementary education, Kari spent two years substitute teaching with various grade levels and worked summer sessions as a primary teacher. She worked as a Montessori Pre-K teacher for two years before coming to Rainbow Kids School. | ||||||
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Sharmila Watts - Elementary Teacher |
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Wendy Cotton - Elementary Teacher |
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Originally from Bombay, India, Sharmila imigrated to the USA in 1998. She holds a BA in Commerce from Bombay University and a Montessori Teacher’s Certificate, and brings to IES a wealth of experience in the education of young children. During her extensive 16-year career in education Sharmila has taught in India, Africa, in Denver, Colorado, and at our Rainbow Kids Integral Preschool. Sharmila is excited to have become a member of the teaching staff at IES and is looking forward to refining her teaching skills in Integral Education and applying its principles and practices in her work with our students. |
Wendy Cotton holds a B.A. degree in education with an emphasis in early childhood development and fine arts, and a multiple subjects teaching credential. She also holds an A.A. degree in music, and is an accomplished cellist having performed in many southern California symphony orchestras over the past two decades. Her previous experience includes teaching kindergarten through third grade in the Oceanside School District for fifteen years. During that time she also enjoyed teaching various music and drama classes and produced many elementary school musical performances. She has most recently worked as a reading intervention specialist for the Carlsbad Unified School District. She is currently the owner/director of Curtain Call Kidz, a creative dramatics performing arts program for children located in San Diego County. Wendy appreciates the uniqueness, creativity, and beauty in every child. She loves to inspire children to push beyond their boundaries and reach for their greatest dreams. Wendy is excited to be part of the IES teaching team and is very dedicated to supporting the school in its continual growth and expansion. |
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| Nicole Rogers - Yoga and ATB Teacher |
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