Leadership
Dr. Dayananda Pai - Honoris Causa, Mangalore University
Dr. Dayananda Pai is a prominent educationist, philanthropist and leading developer in Bangalore city. Apart from being the managing trustee of the school, Dr. Pai is also the Board Trustee of B.M.S college and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and is the syndicate member of Manipal Universities and the National Institute of Technology, Suratkal and the former syndicate member of Mangalore University.
Dr. Pai has been awarded the Karnataka Udyog Award and the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award for initiatives revolving social and charitable activities. He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Mangalore University for his exceptional contribution to the field of education and philanthropy.
Dr. Kiran Pai - Ed.D., University of Southern California
Dr.Kiran Pai (Ed.D.) is the director of Vidyashilp Academy and Vidyasagar Preschool, with a strong background in cognitive psychology and expertise in instructional design, and change management spanning 14 years. As a cognitive psychology scholar, she leverages research towards supporting learners in developing cognitive agility in order to help them navigate through the challenges of the future.
During her doctoral training at the University of Southern California, she designed courses in cognition and learning, in connection to its application to learner behaviors, K-12 pedagogy, instructional design and technology, and school management. Dr. Pai received the 2020 Honors from the U.S. based Kappa Delta Pi International Society in Education, which acknowledges only the top 20 percent of prominent international scholars in the field. Recently, she was the recipient of the 50 Innovative Leaders award in India awarded by the WorldEducation Congress and Prof. Indira Parikh. She is also the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
Ms. Kalai Selvi
Ms. Kalai Selvi’s association with the school, since its inception in 1997, as a founding teacher, Coordinator and Deputy Principal, has provided her with a thorough understanding of the nuances of school leadership. Ms. Selvi is a distinguished educationist, an outstanding instructional leader and a warm and compassionate mentor who is deeply engaged with students' aspirations and well-being.
Her personal educational beliefs align perfectly with Vidyashilp Academy’s core values, along with the school’s vision to enable children to do well and do good. To her new role, as the Head of School she brings not only experience and enthusiasm but also inclusive leadership and a commitment to strengthen students' ‘academic experience at school.
