VGS - Leadership Team

A strong woman driven by passion, humility, and compassion, Dr. Trupti Agarwal believes that education must be impartial. Regardless of gender, background, and ethnicity, all children deserve the opportunity to seek an education for a better future. Echoing this belief, she plays an active role in framing the Educational Policies of all the schools that she heads. Boldly leading these institutions with a current total strength of approximately 10,000 students and 700 educators, she takes on full responsibility for the entire infrastructural development and performance management of the Vishwakarma Group.

Affirming her passion for educational provisions and reformations, she obtained her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Vishwakarma University in July 2022. With a mission to make quality education accessible to India's children and youth, Dr. Agarwal has positively changed the lives of thousands of students who have studied in the educational institutions she leads. She is the Chairperson of the Vishwakarma Group of Schools, Vishwakarma Vidyalaya, and a member of the Bansilal Ramnath Agarwal Hindi Vidyalaya Managing Trust. Dr. Agarwal takes a personal interest in steering graduation courses in diverse streams like fashion designing, interior designing, animation, mass communication, and fine arts, which exhibits her commitment to providing industry-relevant, skill-based education to students.

Dr. Agarwal extends her involvement in education to the CISCE Board as the Co-Founder of Wisdom World School, Wakad and Hadapsar, and Universal Wisdom School, Balewadi, which offers international curricula, holding the position of Director on its Boards.

Ms. Sarabjeet Kaur has over twenty years of rich and diverse experience in education. A true-blue learning leader with strong interpersonal skills, Ms. Kaur is an expert in implementing national and international boards/ curricula like CBSE, CIE, and IB.

With a strong understanding of the fundamentals of education and related dynamics, she has been a valuable resource for numerous workshops on topics like Mental Health, Dolphin Parenting, Child Abuse Prevention, Stress Management, and NEP 2020.

Ms. Kaur’s ideology of proper education is inspired by and resonates with the profound words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” She accentuates that holistic education is incomplete without educating the mind and connecting to the soul within. For her, other than the hardware of the school, which is visible, it is equally poignant to emphasise the software known as life skills and value education.

Vishwakarma Group of Schools is honoured to be guided by Ms. Justine Simoes, Chief Mentor of the Vishwakarma Group of Schools. With over three decades of distinguished service in education, she brings unparalleled expertise driven with deep passion and commitment.

Before stepping into this role, she led with distinction as the Director of the Schools Program WWS Wakad & Hadapsar and served as the founding Principal of Wisdom World School, Wakad, Pune. Ms. Simoes has also dedicated twenty-four years of her career to St. Mary's School, Pune. Her roles included Vice Principal and Principal of the School, and Principal of St. Mary's Junior College (ISC).

Ms. Simoes is passionate about inspiring and empowering young minds. She believes in creating a holistic learning environment that nurtures students' intellectual, emotional, and social development.

At Wisdom World School, we believe that education goes far beyond textbooks and examinations. As an educator and school leader, I have always aimed to build meaningful learning experiences, whether in the classroom, on stage, on the field, or in moments of quiet reflection. These experiences may not always be captured on a marksheet, but they shape individuals who are confident, compassionate, and equipped to face the world.

Over the past decade, more than 1100 students have graduated from our school. Today, they are thriving across India and abroad—as doctors, engineers, researchers, architects, designers, artists and entrepreneurs. What they carry with them is not just academic strength, but the confidence, resilience, and values that define Wisdom World School.

We are committed to nurturing well-rounded, happy individuals who are ready to face the world with grit and grace. We firmly believe that every child at Wisdom World School, Wakad must walk out with the strength to live with purpose and lead with heart.

Mrs. Madhu Shitole brings a wealth of experience and unique expertise to her role. With a diverse academic background in Psychology, Education, Law, and Management, she has a deep understanding of the educational landscape. Her international experience at the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council in the UK further enriches her perspective. Since joining Vishwakarma Vidyalaya in 2010, she has held various positions, including Pre-Primary Principal and Assistant Director, before assuming the role of Director in 2023.

As a visionary leader, Mrs. Shitole is committed to driving innovation and excellence in education. She focuses on optimising resources, upgrading infrastructure, empowering teachers, leveraging technology, and ensuring regulatory compliance. By fostering strong relationships with students, parents, staff, and external stakeholders, she creates a supportive and nurturing environment. Her ultimate goal is to establish Vishwakarma Vidyalaya as a premier State Board School in Pune and expand the network of schools to make quality education accessible to all children.

Mrs. Sulbha Deshmukh joined as a teacher in Vishwakarma Vidyalaya in 1991 and has a total teaching experience of thirty-three years. She has headed Vishwakarma Vidyalaya as a Principal since 2001 and has seen its growth from its inception to junior college. She has encouraged, motivated, and worked for the careers of around 3,000+ students.

Mrs. Deshmukh has tried to motivate the staff and students and build confidence to utilise their potential to the maximum extent with a positive approach. Under her guidance, the team works hard to bring academic progress and the students' all-around development. She has taken the initiative to establish the ATAL Tinkering lab, where students perform STEM activities. The students have won many laurels in Science and Technology and Sports at National and International levels under her guidance. She believes that a stable mind is a way to progress. To keep their mental health in check, she takes meditation sessions – Sahajyoga - for students, staff, and parents and has helped many of them to overcome depression, health issues, and stress. She has also worked in the Inspection Panel of the Zilla Parishad for Enhancement of Quality Education. She is also the Centre Incharge of the H.S.C. Exam.

She is the recipient of awards like Guruvarya Puruskar, Sane Guruji Value-based Teacher Award, Best Teacher Award from the Zilla Parishad, Avantika Award, Dr. Abdul Kalam Inspirational Award, and Best and Ideal Principal Award from various organisations at the state and national levels.

Having served over twenty-seven years at Vishwakarma Vidyalaya, including twenty years as a teacher and seven as Principal, Mrs. Sunanda Sarde is a passionate educator committed to shaping young minds. She holds a D.Ed. from Parvatibai Hingane Training Institute, a B.Ed. from Pune University, and a D.S.M. and B.A. from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth. She was awarded the 'Best Principal' by the Maharashtra State Principal's Association.

Mrs. Sarde champions modern education through continuous professional development and innovative teaching practices, ensuring her staff and students stay ahead in an evolving world. Her leadership has transformed the school with initiatives like classroom reading corners, practical vegetable markets, and activity-based learning experiences.

She creates a culture of inclusivity and holistic development by involving parents, supporting underprivileged students, and fostering experiential education. Through her dedication and vision, Mrs. Sarde cultivates resilient, compassionate citizens ready to make meaningful contributions to society.

Mr Manoj Mahajan is a seasoned and dedicated educator with over 31 years of teaching experience at Vishwakarma Marathi Secondary and Higher Secondary School. He completed his schooling at Jawaharlal Nehru Vidyalaya and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science (Chemistry) from Pratap College, Chopda, Jalgaon. He further pursued a B.Ed. from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Diploma in School Management from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, strengthening both his academic and administrative expertise.

Known for his student-centric teaching style, Mr Mahajan emphasises conceptual clarity and practical learning. He encourages curiosity and critical thinking through hands-on demonstrations and provides additional academic support through extra classes. His calm, approachable nature and inclusive classroom environment make him a trusted mentor who focuses on the holistic development of every student.

He has undertaken key academic responsibilities, serving as Chief Moderator and Central In-Charge for SSC Board Examinations in Science, and as a Resource Person training teachers of Classes IX and X during new textbook implementations. His excellence in teaching has been recognised with the Best Science Teacher Award at the Pune District level. He has also guided students in national initiatives like the INSPIRE Awards, where they have achieved state-level recognition multiple times, and contributed as an examiner at district-level science exhibitions.

Beyond academics, Mr Mahajan has actively led Scout and Guide activities, participating in Jamboree camps at state, national, and international levels, including England and Sweden. He has been honoured with the prestigious “Medal of Merit” by the Maharashtra State Bharat Scouts and Guides. Additionally, he has served as a Nodal Teacher for Government of India Census programs, continuing to inspire students and educators through his dedication, leadership, and commitment to shaping responsible and future-ready individuals.

“Leading with heart, guiding with wisdom.”

Our Principal, Mrs. Surinder Sayan is an accomplished and visionary educational leader with over 30 years of distinguished experience in the field of education, including 2 years at the university level and 28 years within ICSE and ISC institutions.

With a strong academic background, holding an M.Sc. in Child Development and a B.Ed., she brings a deep and nuanced understanding of the intellectual, emotional, and social development of children. Her approach to education is firmly rooted in nurturing each child’s unique potential while fostering a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.

A strong advocate of innovation in education, she has successfully introduced experiential learning practices and progressive teaching methodologies that make learning engaging, relevant, and impactful. She is equally passionate about empowering educators, having strengthened teacher training and development programmes that enhance classroom.

Beyond academics, she has a keen interest in travelling, reading, cooking and painting. Her vision is to nurture confident, responsible, and compassionate individuals who are equipped to face the challenges of an ever-evolving global world.

Universal Wisdom School, Balewadi, is led by Ms. Ana Dominguez as Principal. She has over twenty-five years of experience in international education, having worked at all educational levels in Spain, Latin America, the Middle East, and China. She has been in India for over five years. Exposure to this wide array of environments has given her a multicultural perspective.

Ms. Dominguez is native to Spain and holds a University Expert Diploma in International Education and IB. She continues her learning journey with educational leadership and positive psychology courses. In addition, she has taught English, Spanish, Theatre, and Literature as a teacher.

Passionate about education, her profession is a way of life for her, not a job. She believes a school must be a happy place that encourages discovery and curiosity and prepares students for life with a combination of values, skills, and knowledge. She enjoys reading, theatre plays, movies, music, and sports. She is also an avid traveller who has visited over forty countries and has many more on her bucket list.