If teachers got report cards, this traditional ‘Mylapore Maami’ would notch up an A- Plus with elan. When mentoring is in your DNA, barriers are broken, phobias shattered and complex problems solved with ease. By transforming the common fear of Math into centums, through simplification of concepts, visualization techniques and software like ‘Geogebra’, Chennai School Principal Dr.Revathy Parameswaran has earned a national epaulette.

Bagging the ‘Best Teacher Award’ instituted by the Education Ministry has almost become a trend for P.S. Senior Secondary School. So, when this present Principal strode into the lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan to be honoured by the President of India Droupadi Murmu on Teacher’s Day, she knew she was keeping a tradition of her institution alive, being the fourth recipient of this laurel.

In academic circles, this feat is not coincidental but providential. This year happens to be the school’s golden jubilee. That Dr. Revathy Parameswaran is also arguably the sole CBSE school principal to bag the distinction this year.

Holding the mantle of Principal, invariably comes with its share of administrative tasks that often eat into the mainstay of teaching. Not for this Math wizard. With close to three and a half decades of experience tucked under her Kancheevaram ‘pallu’, Dr. Revathy manages to juggle office assignments ensuring that her class time takes no hit.
This talented Principal may soon run out of space for feathers in her cap! Consider these achievements: A doctorate from the premier Chennai Mathematical Institute, one among four candidates to be selected from India for the Fullbright distinguished teacher award programme in U.S.A and the title of ‘Fullbright Distinguished Teacher, after four stimulating months at the University of Maryland in 2013. Add the ‘Best Teacher award’ from Ramanujan Academy of Math talent, ‘P.S. School Meritorious teacher award’ and Kola Perumal Schools’ award for Best Teacher on earlier occasions and the picture of consistent excellence shines through.

Cracking the formula to make Math simple is no mean task. It comes through a string of publications on mathematical education in international journals, not to speak of books for Macmillan and other publishing houses. Small wonder that the Centre of Excellence CBSE Chennai, ropes her in as a resource person for workshops on a regular basis on Mathematics, technology enabled learning, leadership and topics related to education.

After occupying the hot seat of Principal of the school in 2018, Dr. Revathy’s focus has also been on ensuring “a positive and effective learning environment, fostering relationships with students and their parents, managing staff, overseeing all school operations, conducting curriculum meetings and workshops for teachers.”

With hubby Parameswaran Sankaran, a mathematical research scientist, as her role model in life, you can imagine what most dinner table conversations revolve around.

Once a voracious reader of fiction and biographies, Dr. Revathy used to lap up the work of Vikram Seth. Of late, due to her busy schedule, she only gets time to watch the news on television. That is when she isn’t making news herself!

An animal lover with two pet dogs, helping stray dogs is also close to her heart.A lover of nature, she is fond of trekking and has taken around 80 students from her school to the Himalayas on four occasions.

Firm and affable, Dr. Revathy says her “doors are always open for students to walk in with their issues.”

For a Principal cum Math teacher, ‘solving problems’ takes on a whole new meaning!

– Juliana Sridhar is a lawyer and columnist.