Category Archives: Meet our Educators

Reena is a former software engineer who left her job and moved to the USA to raise her family. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Anna University and has 10 years of experience working as an IT professional at Cognizant and Oracle.
An avid reader of Tamil literature and novels, Reena believes that Tamil is a beautiful language and that it is essential for children to connect with their heritage. Passionate about sharing her love for the Tamil language and culture with the next generation, she has been volunteering as a Tamil teacher at Lakshmi Tamil School since 2017.

She has been teaching at Lakshmi Tamil School since 2017, working with students in 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th grades. She is committed to helping her students master the skills required at each level while fostering an appreciation for Tamil literature and history. She is grateful for the continuous support and guidance from the school leaders. Both of her daughters studied at the school for over 10 years and are proud graduates.

Meena holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Bharathidasan University, India. Prior to moving to the USA, she worked as a tutor. She has also worked as a preschool teacher in Atlanta.

Meena enjoys reading and studying Tamil Bhakti literature. She teaches Thiruvasagam and Thirupugazh to both adults and children.

Meena believes that even though families have moved away from Tamil Nadu, it’s important to help children maintain their cultural roots and a vital means of communication with family back home. This enduring interest in Tamil motivated her to join Lakshmi Tamil School, where she thoroughly enjoys working with children and is dedicated to their success as learners.

Sakthivel holds a Master’s Degree in Information Technology from Jamal Mohamed College, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. His passion for teaching led him to work as a part-time computer faculty member at various computer centers during his college years. He is currently employed as a software architect at a well-known IT company based in Atlanta.

A dedicated reader of Tamil literature and poetry, Sakthivel also maintains a blog in his native language on various forums. He enjoys spending time with children and embraced the opportunity to teach beginner classes, starting in the 2019 academic year.

He is highly motivated and aspires to develop the declamation and stage performance skills of his students, alongside their language acquisition. He firmly believes that nurturing an interest in the Tamil language will contribute to their future prosperity and success.

Lakshmi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Communications from the University of Madras. Prior to moving to the US, she worked as a lecturer in India.

During her school years, Lakshmi participated in debates and Thirukkural recitation competitions. A voracious reader, she hopes to eventually earn a degree in Tamil Literature.

Lakshmi’s deep interest in Tamil led her to teach at the Lakshmi Tamil School, where she thoroughly enjoys the experience.

Akila, an Electronics Engineering graduate of BMS College, Bangalore, also holds diplomas in Computer Science and Accounting from Gwinnett Tech, GA. She has worked at Margaret Winn Holt Elementary School since 2005, where she currently serves as Registrar.

Akila’s interest in Tamil was nurtured by her father, Dr. B. S. Mani, who has successfully run the Tamil daily Dinasudar in Bangalore for over 50 years. She pursued her Tamil studies independently, even when her college didn’t offer Tamil classes. Notably, she achieved first place in an exam conducted by the Bangalore Tamil Sangam.

Akila has been a supporter of Lakshmi Tamil School since 1999, contributing in various ways. She currently teaches beginner classes and plays a key role in planning and coordinating the school’s annual day celebrations each year.

Hema holds an M.Phil. in Chemistry from Pachaiyappa’s College, University of Madras, India. She began her career as a lecturer at Ethiraj College, Chennai, where she taught chemistry to undergraduate students. After moving to the United States, she worked in a preschool and is currently a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant at Brookwood Elementary in Cumming, Georgia. In addition to her work at Brookwood, Hema tutors students in a variety of subjects, including college-level chemistry and math, as well as providing academic support to younger students.

A native Tamil speaker, Hema has been teaching at our school since 2008. She currently teaches 7th and 6th grades. She is very proud of her students, who have graduated from Lakshmi Tamil School with high proficiency in speaking and writing Tamil.

Hema incorporates technology, such as PowerPoint presentations, into her lessons. She believes that strong teacher-student interaction and teacher-parent communication are essential for student success. She understands the individual strengths and challenges of each student and provides guidance tailored to their needs.

Hema is a valuable asset to our school programs, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills. A few years ago, she introduced a “Poster Display” during our Annual Day, providing students with an opportunity to showcase their talents. This initiative had a tremendous positive impact on their thinking and learning skills and has since become a key event in our annual celebrations. Her “Word Game,” conducted with the help of a parent for parents and teachers, also proved to be a memorable and enjoyable event.

Lakshmi’s academic background includes a Master of Arts in English Literature from Ethiraj College, University of Madras, India. She demonstrates a keen interest in languages, most notably Tamil. Her commitment to lifelong learning is evident in her pursuit of computer networking studies in Atlanta, undertaken after her move to the United States.

For over 15 years, Lakshmi single-handedly taught Tamil to aspiring students with unwavering dedication. In her early years of teaching, she researched various teaching methodologies to facilitate easier learning and developed her own unique style for beginner classes. Her approach focuses on teaching groups of letters and immediately applying them to word formation.

Similarly, Lakshmi dedicated considerable time to researching and standardizing syllabi for various grade levels. She introduced several innovative concepts, including application-based knowledge testing, listening comprehension exercises, and speech/essay topics that explored both historical culture and current affairs.

One of Lakshmi’s notable achievements was teaching Tamil to a group of Emory University students who subsequently won scholarships for a research project in India.

Raji, an electronics engineering graduate from MIT, Anna University, India, currently works as a software professional in Atlanta. A native Tamil speaker with a natural aptitude for the language and teaching, she volunteered to tutor students from diverse backgrounds even during her school years.

Raji has served Lakshmi Tamil School in various capacities since 2003. Her most notable and innovative contribution has been the development of teaching materials for the beginner class, including workbooks and numerous PowerPoint presentations designed to enhance students’ vocabulary and cognitive skills.

Raji also contributes significantly to administrative tasks, assisting the principal with various responsibilities such as class scheduling, student enrollment, teacher selection, and book procurement. She enjoys organizing programs and is largely responsible for planning and overseeing school events like annual days and competitions.