KIS has a diverse staff with currently over 20 nationalities represented. KIS staff totals 318 of which 136 are professional staff and 182 are operations and support staff. Most KIS academic staff hold advanced degrees and additionally bring other gifts to educational life at KIS. This cultural and academic richness is one of the most attractive parts of professional life at Kodaikanal International School.

Meet some KIS staff...

Pratap Chettri
Music Strings teacher, String Chamber Orchestra

Home: Darjeeling /10 Years at KIS: This is Pratap’s 10th year of teaching music at KIS. His wife, Suchitra teaches grade 1 & 2 at KIS Elementary School, and his children Noah (grade 12) and Caroline (grade 8) are students at KIS.

Sports & hobbies:  Soccer, volleyball, badminton, gardening

Music: cello, violin, guitar, piano

Languages:  Speaks Nepali, Hindi, Bengali and English.

“I would like to see KIS retain it’s identity as KodaiSchool….it is not like any other school, we are different and shouldn’t compare ourselves to other schools.”
- Pretap Chettri

Shekinah Truman
Admissions Officer

Hometown: Nellore, Andhra Pradesh

Years at KIS: 10 years as a student (grades 3 to 12), 3 years as KIS staff as Administrative Assistant for MYP / MSA, as ESL teacher, and currently in the Admissions Office

Organizations: Participates in SoEx (Social Experience) activities when time allows

Sports: Badminton, volleyball, field hockey

Hobbies: Relaxing and watching TV in the few spare moments she has from caring for her one year old baby girl, Shifra

Music: Loves listening to Reggae, Alternative, Hip Hop and Rap

Languages: Speaks Telugu, English

“KIS has given me a sense of independence and inner strength, which helped me face the world on my own.”
- Shekinah Truman

Mathew Joseph
Social Experience (SoEx), Head of Department

Hometown: Cochin / Kochi

Years at KIS: This is Mathew’s first year of teaching SoEx at KIS.
From 1986 to 1991, Mathew worked in Kodai for Van Allen Hospital, and also taught guitar at KIS during that time.

Clubs & organizations: He has been involved with Mercy Home since the
1980s.

Hobbies & sports: Hiking / trekking, yoga, reading

Music: Guitar, singer

Languages: Speaks Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and English

“I would like to see KIS become more committed to nurturing the global citizen and preparing students for the challenges facing our planet.”
- Mathew Joseph

Barbara Block - (Class of 1976)
IB Art Head of Department, KIS Hiking Coordinator

Home: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (but living in India since age of 3 with her missionary parents)

Years at KIS: Barbara attended school at KIS from 1967 to 1971. Her favorite teacher in those days was 6th grade teacher John Wiebe (Class of 1949 and former staff) whose 6th grade hikes instilled in Barbara the love of hiking. Her teaching career at KIS began in 1988 and continues today as Art teacher, Head of department and Hiking Coordinator.

Organizations: President of Bethania Association / Bethania Home for Children

Sports: Hiking, skiing, swimming, windsurfing

Music: Flute, church choir

Languages: Speaks English, bits of Tamil, Telegu and Hindi menu items

“I would like to see KIS strengthen its ties as a community, and know what it means to be Christian—committed yet open and understanding.”
- Barbara Block

Vasant Sarkar
Activities & Camping, Head of Department, Poondi Supervisor

Home: India

Years at KIS: Vasant began working at KIS in 2001 as Camping Supervisor, worked on the development of Poondi, and now is Activities HoD

Hobbies: Golf and fishing

Family: Vasant and his wife Malaini Devanandan (Class of 1986), KIS School Doctor, have two children Prashant (grade 2) and Maya (pre kindergarten)

Sports: Football, cricket, hockey, track & field

Music: Currently self-teaching himself to play guitar, with the help of a few students!

Languages: Speaks English, Hindi, Tamil, Telegu

“In my eyes, Kodai is the perfect place.”
- Vasant Sarkar