Leaders

In a world that often measures success by linear progress and loud milestones, a quiet revolution is being led women educators who dare to chart an extraordinary path. One such educator is A. Lakshmi Dharithri. Her journey into education wasn’t a choice, it was a calling, born from introspection, passion, and an unwavering desire to contribute meaningfully to society. Today, she serves as the Senior Principal and Trustee of Surya The Global School, a CBSE-affiliated institution that educates over 5,500 students across three branches.

With a master’s in commerce, an MBA, and later a diploma from the University of Cambridge, Dharithri’s academic path reflects a lifelong pursuit of learning. Her transition from the banking sector to education was sparked not by ambition but by a desire to understand how children learn, especially when her son entered preschool. What began as a quest to become a better mother evolved into a mission to shape young minds. Starting as a primary teacher, she soon handled IB diploma students in business studies and economics, navigating both ends of the age spectrum in the classroom. Over time, her leadership has transformed Surya The Global School from a modest 220-student institution into a thriving educational ecosystem.

Take us through your professional journey as an educator and crucial turning points in your professional journey.

I bring with me 25 years of rich teaching experience, during which I have witnessed and adapted to the evolving landscape of the Indian education system. My journey began at DRS International School in Hyderabad, an IB-affiliated institution. The professional development programs offered by the IB organization in Geneva played a key role in sharpening my critical thinking and shaping my pedagogical approach.

Subsequently, I joined Kennedy High – The Global School, where I worked extensively with the Cambridge curriculum. I served as both the program coordinator and exam officer for the IGCSE and Checkpoint programs. I also collaborated with the British Council on language proficiency assessments, including the YLE, KET, and PET.

Most recently, I transitioned into a leadership role at a CBSE institution, allowing me to apply my international experience in a national curriculum setting. This diverse exposure has equipped me with a deep understanding of multiple educational frameworks and has strengthened my ability to lead academic programs with clarity and vision.

 Introduce us to Surya The Global School.

Surya The Global School was established in 2012 under the BDR Educational Society, founded by B. Damodar Rao Garu. What began as a school with around 800 to 1,000 students in the academic year 2017–18 has grown significantly, with nearly 1,900 new admissions this year alone. Today, across its three branches, namely Ameenpur, Bachupally, and Sai Anurag Colony, the school serves over 5,500 students, supported by a dedicated team of 350 teachers and approximately 520 staff members.

 Surya The Global School functions under the RG Rao Educational Trust, with a strong focus on making quality education accessible to economically challenged students.

The school practices a model of sustainable charity in education. It reserves 30 percent of its seats for meritorious and underprivileged students, while fee-paying students help generate the resources required to support this initiative. This inclusive model ensures that excellence in education is not limited by financial constraints, aligning the school’s growth with its core values of equity and service.

 Tell us about your role at Surya The Global School.

I was a full-time academician, teacher trainer, parent guide, student friend, and principal, all rolled into one. But now, I have transitioned into finance, infrastructure, SOPs, policy making, and management-level implementation. It's been a journey from a pure academic role to an administrative and leadership one. I also conduct training programs, not just within Surya, but beyond the school as well.

How do you facilitate positive learning outcomes for students at Surya The Global School?

When we say Surya The Global School, the word “global” itself reflects our intention to deliver education at global standards. We offer the Cambridge curriculum too, but our core idea is to keep things simple and realistic for children.

We blend classic and modern approaches, using pedagogies like Rousseau, Dewey, and Playway. However, we also emphasize basic skills like memorizing tables and spellings, and homework for practice, especially for subjects like math. 

We stay current with technology, incorporating a tinkering lab for robotics, mechanics, engineering, IoT, and coding for senior students. We prioritize reading and hard copy books over screens and limit screen time. We believe in the importance of a teacher's presence, as digital tools cannot replace human connection. 

What challenges do you encounter while leading Surya The Global School? How do you navigate through these roadblocks?

Establishing Surya The Global School in Bachupally faced competition from nearby well-established schools. This competition pushed us to think beyond, do better, and prove ourselves differently to our stakeholders, parents who were smart, aware, and quick to evaluate.

To overcome this, we kept fees affordable for middle and upper-middle-class families while providing high-quality education. We also introduced innovative approaches like drama classes to boost language proficiency, which became our biggest marketing tool.

The generation gap also posed a challenge. A smart mix of senior and junior teachers, aligned with students and parents, created productive learning outcomes.

How do you foresee India’s early education landscape evolving? 

The National Education Policy (NEP) is expected to significantly shape India's education system by 2030. Although NEP's practicality and inspiration are still uncertain, alignment with it is crucial. However, educational institutions must focus on value-based education rather than just on academics, teaching basic ethics and responsibility from the start. Only then can we produce responsible citizens.

There is also an imbalance in promoting leadership among students, as society needs leaders, followers, and implementers. A strong research culture with application based, conceptual learning can encourage critical thinking. Grooming students to explore, research, and experiment in various fields will help India transition from a developing country to a developed one.

A. Lakshmi Dharithri, Principal, Surya The Global School

A. Lakshmi Dharithri, Principal of Surya The Global School, is a visionary education leader with over two decades of experience in teaching, teacher training, school operations, and strategic management. She joined the school in 2012 and has since expanded to three branches, serving over 5,500 students. She keeps a balanced approach to pedagogy with modern learning and human connection, focusing on affordable excellence