Our Staff
Prapanna Smith -
Founder/President of CIE and Principal of RKIS
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 on a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at UC San Diego and CSU San Marcos.
Carla Swan Gerstein -
Board Member and RKIS Executive Administrator
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 will become students in our elementary school. 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.
Mrunalini Patel -
Board Member and RKIS Curriculum Director
Mrunalini Patel, our Curriculum Director, 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.
Nancy Walsh -
Preschool Director
Nancy Walsh, our Preschool Director and Teacher, holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and will serve as a member of the administrative staff. She has experience teaching in preschools, with an emphasis on children with special needs. For 23 years, Nancy worked in post-secondary education administration holding positions in Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic support, Placement, Student/Alumni Services and as a Campus Director. She also served as secretary to the Board of Directors of a Non-Profit organization developing vocational training for adults. Helping young people reach their potential through education has always been her passion and the philosophy of integral education provides her with a new avenue to assist students in finding themselves and becoming what they want to be.
Ivy Lam -
Preschool Teacher
Ivy Lam was born in Hong Kong and came the USA when she was 8 years old. Her desire to help people led her to the study of Psychology at the UC San Diego, where she completed her BA this year with an emphasis in Child Psychology. She always had an interest in working with children that grew into a passion when she volunteered to work at a child day care center when she was in college. Ivy is in her second year of teaching with RKIS and plans to begin working on a Masters Degree in the near future.
Ambreen Saini -
Preschool Teacher
Ambreen Saini holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany/Zoology and a Bachelors of Education from Punjab University in Pakistan. She taught Biology to high school students there before coming to the United States in 1998. After giving birth to her son, Jason, she became intrigued with Early Childhood Education and returned to school where she decided to pursue a degree in Child Development. She is current attending Miramar college where she has completed 32 Early Childhood Education units and in currently completing the last 3 units required. She loves working with the Pre-K children. She hopes someday to purue a career in Elementary Education.
Aiza Chuck -
Preschool Teacher
Aiza Chuck was born in the Philippines. She moved here in the US at the age of 11. She is currenty attending Miramar College and majoring in Child Development. She has been working with RKIS since September 2006 as a teacher's aide. Aiza was recently promoted and became our new lower preschool teacher. She is excited about having the opportunity to have her own classroom and creating a wonderful, happy environment for her students.
Ilene Engle -
Preschool Teacher
Ilene Engle has a Bachelors of Science and 15 units in Early Childhood Education. She has followed her heart and is now working in a career that she loves. She is very experienced with 12 years of teaching and co- teaching in regular education in the New York City area and in Florida. She was a teaching assistant in Special Education at New York Medical Center, Rusk Institute and New York Foundling Hospital, and worked with hearing impaired and mentally challenged children at John A. Coleman School in New York City. Ilene is very excited about having a career at Rainbow Kids Integral School and aspires to help children be the best they can be.
Iliana Landa -
Preschool Teacher
Iliana Landa holds a BA in Administration and completed the Montessori Teacher Certificate program in Paris France. She has worked in the languages domain for over 20 years in the US, Mexico, and France teaching English and Spanish to adults and children. Her most recent experience has been teaching Spanish at a Montessori preschool in California. She is interested in meditation, yoga, free dance and has studied massage therapy. Iliana is very happy to be working at Rainbow Kids Integral School and looks forward to sharing moments of laughter, joy and marvel while learning together with her students.
Cendi Diaz -
Preschool Teacher's Assistant
Cendi Diaz has been part of the Staff at RKIS since May of 2007. She is currently working towards her degree in Early Child Development while working as a Teacher's Assistant with RKIS. Cendi has been working with young children for about four years, she worked as a nanny and as a teachers assistant in the state of Virginia. She also volunteered at Migrant Head Start while attending High School, it was there that she realized how much she could influence a childs life. She is very excited for the new school year and the new experiences that the new school year brings. She is also looking forward to further her career with RKIS!!!
Indu Smith is our teacher's assistant in the lower preschool class of 2-3 year-olds. Indu was born in Chidambarram, India, and was raised in Pondicherry, India. In 2001, she immigrated to the United States with her daughter. She brings a sweet presence and a radiant smile to the classroom and has a genuine love for all the children. Indu says that some of the best moments of her life are when she experiences the wonder and joy that working with small children brings.
Indu Smith -
Preschool Teacher's Assistant
Shells Lesher -
Preschool Teacher's Assistant
Shells Lesher is the newest addition to the RKIS staff. She works as a teacher's assistant in the upper Pre-Kindergarten class. She is currently studying early childhood education at Mesa College. She worked as a nanny for three years and taught water safety and swimming to children. She enjoys yoga and working with children. Shells is excited about her new position with RKIS and aspires to become a teacher with her own classroom in the future.
