Host City India: Lowell

Neel Kamal Mishra

Dr. Neel Kamal Mishra is a secondary school science educator teaching at a government school in Delhi. Originally from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Mishra has over 27 years of experience to the field of education. His students come from underprivileged families, many of whom are the children of daily wage workers. He transforms complex science concepts into interesting, engaging, and accessible lessons that resonate with his students’ lives.

His academic background is both diverse and profound, holding a Ph.D. in History, a B.Sc., and an M.A. in Education. This unique interdisciplinary foundation allows him to approach science pedagogy with a broad intellectual perspective, blending scientific inquiry with educational theory.
Dr. Mishra is a recipient of the Delhi State Award, an honor reflecting his excellence in teaching and commitment to student welfare. Beyond the classroom, he is the editor of a science magazine and a mentor and guide for student-led e-magazines across the state.

Through the FTEA program, Dr. Mishra is exploring how the U.S. and other participating countries integrate innovative science teaching methods that foster curiosity, logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills among students. He is committed to fostering an environment of curiosity and critical thinking, ensuring that every learner — regardless of their socio-economic background — has the opportunity to excel in the world of science.

GAGANDEEP KAUR

Dr. Gagandeep Kaur has been teaching science at a government school in Sensra Kalan, Amritsar for nine years. She has a PhD in computer supported cooperative learning from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She works closely with underprivileged learners, striving to make science education accessible and meaningful for all students.

She is actively involved in several national-level educational initiatives, including the NISHTHA program, National Achievement Survey (NAS), Ayushman Bharat Project, and has contributed by recording lectures for the DIKSHA and the NCERT e-PG Pathshala Project. She has participated in national-level workshops conducted by reputed organizations such as CSE, AAETI, Nimli, IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, and NCERT, New Delhi, and presented research papers at national and international conferences and published her work in reputed journals and edited books.

She serves as a resource person and a Block mentor for various STEM seminars, environmental and adolescent training programs, playing a significant role in mentoring educators and school heads. She has acted as an evaluator in the INSPIRE-MANAK program and the RAA science exhibitions. She has received several awards, including the Best Teacher Award, Best TLM Award, and received appreciation certificates from the Honorary Education Secretary, Punjab, in recognition of her efforts in enhancing the quality of education.

Through the Fulbright TEA program, she intends to learn new pedagogical skills and wants to share her knowledge with the whole community of teachers globally for fostering curiosity and critical thinking among young learners across the world.

Ashoshika Bhadoria

Ms. Ashoshika Bhadoria, a Lecturer in Political Science at a Delhi government school since 2008, is dedicated to making education accessible and inclusive. She organizes weekend classes for underprivileged children in suburban areas near her school, emphasizing that the size of one’s classroom is as big as one’s imagination allows it to be. Former students now pursuing higher education support this initiative. Together, they run these classes and manage a makeshift library in the community, promoting reading habits and constructive engagement among children.

As the school’s Teacher Development Coordinator, Ashoshika enhances the academic environment by encouraging innovative teaching strategies and fostering collaboration among colleagues to address common challenges. Her expertise extends to curriculum planning with institutions such as NCERT, CBSE, SCERT, and DIETs, aligning her work with the National Education Policy 2020.

As a participant in the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Ashoshika is developing student-centered strategies to bridge the digital divide and share her experiences in community-driven education. As a political science teacher, she strives to enable her students to understand global challenges and collaborate on sustainable solutions.

Rameez Ahmad

Mr. Rameez Ahmad is a progressive educator based out of Kashmir. He has 12 years of teaching experience in classroom teaching and teacher training. His areas of work include social-emotional learning (SEL), school safety, and Indian polity. He has a bachelor’s in science and a master’s in disaster management. He completed diplomas in remote sensing, mass communication and journalism.

Mr. Ahmad is passionate about community work and is associated with national and international organizations, such as the Indian Society of Red Cross (IRCS) and UNICEF. He has presented his work on education at various international and national conferences, including IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Bombay. He is also a recipient of a scholarship from Emory University, Atlanta to study cognitively based compassion training (CBCT).

The Fulbright TEA program has widened Mr. Ahmad’s imagination and helped him think of diverse methods and pedagogical interventions in education. He received rigorous training at UMass on best teaching practices. The major highlights of this training were collaboration within school systems, divergent thinking, and creative use of instructional technology. Since his return to India, Mr. Ahmad has been sharing his learnings with his community through workshops and training sessions. He has initiated an SEL project at his school. He has also initiated joint projects with the U.S. academia and students to facilitate cross-cultural understanding for the promotion of safety, peace, and well-being of children.

Syed Irshad Ali

Mr. Syed Irshad Ali teaches English at TS Model School and Government Junior College, Pegadapally, Jagtial, Telangana. He has 14 years of teaching experience. He has a master’s in arts and a bachelor’s in education.

Mr. Ali is a resource person for state-level training programs for English teachers. He participated in an eight-week online American English e-teacher program and MOOCs. He received the district-level best teacher award of 2022 for excellence in English teaching and his services during COVID-19.

Through his participation in the Fulbright TEA program, he is exploring new methodologies to engage students actively, emerge as a global teacher, and resolve local issues to serve the community. He wants to change the perspective of a conventional teacher. On his return, he would like to develop language skills of his students and colleagues by conducting language orientation programs. This, in turn, will enhance the confidence of his students and prepare them for educational and professional goals. He will share his Fulbright program learnings by participating in nationwide language forums.