Government Girls Senior Secondary School Archives

Mr. Dinesh Kumar teaches biology to grades 11 and 12 at a Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School in Ajnala, Amritsar, Punjab. With more than 20 years of teaching experience, he oversees the functioning of the science and biology laboratory in the school. He has a double master’s in zoology and English.

Mr. Kumar received the Malti Gyan Peeth Puraskar in 2018 from the Vice President of India for his contributions to the field of education. He participated in a professional development program at the University of Toronto sponsored by the Punjab Government. He served as a mentor teacher and a master resource person for teacher training programs. He actively participated in national and international training sessions, workshops, and seminars, covering a wide array of subjects and objectives.

Mr. Kumar sees the Fulbright TEA program as a transformative opportunity to enhance his teaching skills and bring new perspectives to his students and colleagues. During the program, he is exploring innovative approaches to biology education, incorporating technology in the classroom, and understanding global best practices.

Upon his return to India, Mr. Kumar plans to integrate the knowledge gained from the Fulbright TEA program into his teaching methods with a focus on creating a more engaging and interactive learning environment for his students. He envisions sharing his experiences with his fellow educators and contributing to the improvement of biology education in the local community and beyond.

Ms. Bhavna Sawnani is Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the head office of the Directorate of Education, Delhi and Lecturer of Biology. With master’s degrees in zoology, education, and English, Ms. Sawnani has worked in the field of education for the past 21 years and as a mentor teacher for six years.

During her tenure as a teacher, she worked on several science projects and her models were recognized at the state level for their innovative approach. She was awarded the State Teachers’ Award – Delhi and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award for her significant contributions in the field of education. Ms. Sawnani is Editor of Dilli Shiksha magazine and quarterly school science magazine; in-charge of the social media team of the Delhi Directorate of Education and alumni projects; and coordinator of all delegates from India and abroad. She has also represented Delhi at several international conferences and has served as a panelist in several educational programs. As a mentor teacher, Ms. Sawnani observed her colleagues’ classes, offered feedback for improvement, conducted staff meetings and workshops for teachers, developed curriculum for the Delhi Board of Education, and designed several books.

During her Fulbright TEA program, Ms. Sawnani is learning pedagogical tools used by teachers to make classrooms accessible and inclusive. She further intends to work with parents of children with disabilities and bring them together as a community. She aims to disseminate insights gained from her stay in the U.S. to parents and teachers in her communities back home.