COURSELEAP TEAM
ADVISORY BOARD
Mr. Hugh Pullan
Hugh Pullan was educated in the UK at Malvern College and Oxford University where he read English and, subsequently, took the Diploma of Education course. He taught English for thirty years at Sevenoaks School where he was at different times Head of the Middle School, a Boarding Housemaster, and a Deputy Headmaster. He taught English to students of all ages, including those following the International Baccalaureate, and was for some years an examiner for the IB Diploma Programme. After leaving Sevenoaks he was, in chronological order, Head of the Karachi Grammar School, the British School of Bahrain, the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, the British International School in Cairo, and assisted at the start up of the Mount Litera School in Mumbai. One of Hugh Pullan’s pro-active concerns has been the formal and informal mentoring of students in managing their time, planning their studies to ensure that each area of the IB Programme receives due attention and those deadlines are met.
Dr. Kees Windland
Kees Windland is a teacher in humanities subjects of thirty years’ experience, working with students in secondary and tertiary education in numerous countries around the world at diploma level (IGCSE, A level and IB) and degree level (BA in modern history and art history). His early teacher training was under the guidance of the Rudolf Steiner Fellowship (UK), which inspired in him a lifelong passion for student-centred and creative approaches to teaching. He holds a first-class BA in History and History of Art from Oxford Brookes University (UK), a Master of Studies degree in historical research and a D. Phil. in modern European history from St Cross College, University of Oxford.
From 2002 to 2006 he was a lecturer in modern European history at Oxford Brookes University and for the past seventeen years has conducted courses in history and literature for the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. Recent secondary school teaching positions include two years at the United World College, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, two years as head of history at Open Gate Grammar School in the Czech Republic and three years at Dhirubhai Ambani International School, teaching history and TOK. He currently divides his time between his home in North Wales and Oxford, where, in addition to his work for the University, he tutors history and politics students at Carfax College. He was also a CourseLeap Consultant at Heritage Xperiential Learning School (Gurgaon) (HIXS) in 2019 to 2020, training teachers and supporting students for IGCSE: GP (Global Perspectives) and History; IB History and TOK and research and academic skill writing programs.
Helen Wilkinson
Helen Wilkinson has taught English Literature, English Language and Drama for over 25 years. She is currently the Head of School at Brighton College Abu Dhabi. Formerly, she worked as Director of Studies and the Head of English and Drama at Le Régent Crans Montana College in the Bern Area in Switzerland. As an IBDP Examiner for English Language and Literature (A), she has valuable insight into the intricate nuances of the IBDP course. Helen is upskilled and experienced with the latest changes in the IB English syllabus from the year 20109. Helen’s experience as an IGCSE teacher, A Level and IB teacher and Head of English has enabled students to gain places at top universities around the world. Her roles as an appraiser and pedagogical leader have also led her to mentor, coach and develop excellent practice across whole schools – leading one department to become the 4th in the U.K. for value-added pupil achievement. As Lead English Teacher in the county of Somerset, Helen also developed curriculum approaches for English and she has tailored bespoke programmes for schools, small classes and individual students. She has been delivering the Pre-IB English Program at CourseLeap for the last two summers. Her experiences enable her to deliver high quality courses in both English Literature (A) and English Language and Literature (A) where her teaching methods and subject knowledge are first rate. Helen has an MA in Education (Leadership and Management), an Honours Degree in Philosophy and English (2:1) and the RSA Cert in TEFL.
At CourseLeap Helen was the lead instructor for Pre IB, Mid IB English, High School Accelerator courses and as a CourseLeap consultant for schools.
Namrata Arora
Namrata recently worked as a Member of the Board of Advisors for Chicago Policy Review till Jul 2021. She served as the Former Associate Director for Strategy and Special Projects at the Harvard Business School India Research Center, from 2007- 2019 and is based in Mumbai. As one of the founding members of the research center- founded in 2006- Namrata provides a complex range of administrative and strategic support to the IRC. This includes extensive mentorship and training to colleagues across the Global Initiative- global research centers in Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Istanbul that assist faculty in case writing and research, and deepen relationships with companies, universities, and governments worldwide to address the rapidly evolving demands of an increasingly global marketplace.
As the longest standing researcher at the Center, Namrata also has played an important role in leading the organization’s efforts to address the business challenges relevant to Indian companies through extensive research and has co-authored several HBS case studies. Beyond research, Namrata provides a complex range of administrative and strategic support to the IRC. Namrata holds a Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science (magna cum laude) from Wellesley College.
MANAGEMENT
Yogesh Dhingra
Founder, Academic Advisor & Chief Instructor
Yogesh’s career in education spans three decades within national and international curricula as well as educational services. The latter half of her educational experience has been in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). Her educational experiences encompass higher-level teaching in Mathematics, Theory of Knowledge, and Extended Essay initiatives. She has been the Academic Director and the Head of Mathematics at Dhirubhai Ambani International School from the time of its opening in 2002 until June 2016. Under her leadership, the Department implemented and maintained academic excellence with way above world averages for IBD and a few India and world toppers for IGCSE every year.
Yogesh is a workshop Leader for IB Diploma Higher Level Math in Asia Pacific Region and specialises in mentoring schools in designing curriculum, strengthening their standards for IB and CIS evaluation and accreditation. IB Math underwent significant changes in 2019 and Yogesh is one of the few workshop leaders who has conducted workshops in Shanghai and India for both the new IB syllabus Math AA (Analysis and Approaches) and AI (Application and Interpretation)
In June 2016, Yogesh established CourseLeap Education, which offers unique, tailored solutions for schools and students. Through CourseLeap Yogesh works as a consultant to various schools. She is currently the lead adviser for the international programmes at the Heritage Xperiential Learning School (Gurgaon).Yogesh’s efforts seek to develop critical thinking, and intellectually stimulating programs for students to fulfill their academic potential. She also delivers our Math Courses.
She has two Masters’ degrees, one in Education from University of Bath, UK with specialization in Educational Leadership and Management and the other in Mathematics from Delhi University. She also holds two bachelor’s degrees in Physics (Honours) and Education from Delhi University.
Yogesh is a workshop Leader for IB Diploma Higher Level Math in Asia Pacific Region and specialises in mentoring schools in designing curriculum, strengthening their standards for IB and CIS evaluation and accreditation. IB Math underwent significant changes in 2019 and Yogesh is one of the few workshop leaders who has conducted workshops in Shanghai and India for both the new IB syllabus Math AA (Analysis and Approaches) and AI (Application and Interpretation)
In June 2016, Yogesh established CourseLeap Education, which offers unique, tailored solutions for schools and students. Through CourseLeap Yogesh works as a consultant to various schools. She is currently the lead adviser for the international programmes at the Heritage Xperiential Learning School (Gurgaon).Yogesh’s efforts seek to develop critical thinking, and intellectually stimulating programs for students to fulfill their academic potential. She also delivers our Math Courses.
She has two Masters’ degrees, one in Education from University of Bath, UK with specialization in Educational Leadership and Management and the other in Mathematics from Delhi University. She also holds two bachelor’s degrees in Physics (Honours) and Education from Delhi University.
Chrisann Almeida Creado
Consultant & Lead Instructor
Chrisann’s aim is to help create best practice programs using research and knowledge gained from psychology and education to develop strategies that promote student centered, inquiry-based learning. She is committed to expand students’ potential through methods that foster creativity and critical thinking skills. Chrisann has extensive classroom experience of more than 11 years teaching Psychology and TOK to IB Students at Jamnabai Narsee school as well as the Dhirubhai Ambani School International School (DAIS) where she headed her subject. She is an IB examiner for the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay and Moderator for Internal Assessments (IA) in Psychology and also IB Examiner Paper 3 and writes courses in various schools across India. She has conducted sessions in Psychology and Theory of Knowledge with teachers and students at various schools in India, including Chinmaya International Residency School Coimbatore, Trivandrum International School, Podar International School Mumbai, Singapore International School Mumbai, Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai, Goldcrest International School Vashi. She now consults with Bombay International School supporting CourseLeap schools – Edubridge International School, Mumbai and Heritage school, Gurgaon.
At CourseLeap Chrisann is the lead instructor for Pre- IB Introduction to IB Core, Mid-IB TOK Exhibition and Essay, High School Accelerator (HSA), Information Literacy, Research & Critical Thinking, Pre-University Research & Academic Writing Skills Programmes.
Nick Pillow
Consultant & Lead Instructor
Nick Pillow is a consultant and teacher based in Mumbai. Originally from the UK, he is now the director of Laughing Pillow LLP, a theatre and English education consultancy, and a graduate of the University of Cambridge where he read English Literature. He has taught English and Drama for almost fifteen years, both in London and, for the last seven years, as head of Performing Arts at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai. He has also worked as an IGCSE, Pre-IB and IB English tutor for many years, helping students develop skills and prepare for their exams, both individually and in groups. He has an MTeach from the University of London Institute of Education, specialising in the place of drama in the English classroom; his thesis was on teaching Shakespeare to children who don’t have English as a first language. He also runs a youth acting programme at the Jeff Goldberg Acting Studio in Mumbai.
At CourseLeap Nick is the course instructor for High School Accelerator for Public Speaking, English Written Communication and Pre-IB English.
Ankush Jain
Consultant & Lead Instructor
Ankush has been mentoring and teaching students for (AMC, CEMC) and Advanced Placements (APs) for over 5 years now. He also takes courses for Programming Competitions (ZIO, INOI, Codechef tests etc). He is a Data Scientist by profession – working with a fast growing startup. He was also a Quantitative Associate with Morgan Stanley for 5 years. He holds a B.Tech. (Hons) degree in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay with Minors in School of Management. He placed IIT-Bombay in top 10 ranks at ACM-Inter College Programming Competition in 2010 at South-East Asia Level. He also secured All India Rank – 28 in the prestigious IIT-JEE exam in 2007. The same year he was awarded gold medals in Physics & Chemistry Olympiads. He was also invited to Orientation-cum-Selection Camps for respective International Olympiads-an opportunity provided to only 35 students across the country. He takes time out during weekends to fulfil his passion for teaching and love for these subjects. He always focuses on the origins and fundamentals of concepts to develop a thorough understanding and appreciation for them. This enables his students to think beyond a rote formula and look for patterns – thereby increasing their sense of abstraction and creativity.
At CourseLeap Ankush is the course instructor for American Math Competitions AMC 10 & 12 and High School Accelerator course for Math: Art of Problem Solving.
SUPPORT TEAM
Natasha Maheshwari
Programme Coordinator & Manager Communication: Student Services
Natasha graduated with a Mass Media degree in 2011 and now also has one in Early Childhood Education. She was previously teaching children for two years in the school that she studied in (Hill Spring International School). Natasha is our programme Coordinator and Manager Communication: students’ services..
Neha Bole
Sales & Marketing Coordinator: School Services and Programmes
Neha graduated with a Masters degree in Advertising & Marketing from the University of Leeds in 2016. She previously worked at Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), as a Client Solutions Associate and leveraged GLG’s platform & network to match thought leaders with financial institutions, management consultancies & corporates. She also worked at the travel firm SaffronStays and managed partnerships & collaborations with brands, services & corporates to increase brand outreach.