We are DENSA

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 Afraa Yusuf is an educator passionate about student success, equity, and building school communities where every student feels valued, included, and respected. She has been an educator for the past 10 years and has been with the Durham District School Board since 2018. She is currently the Vice Principal at Uxbridge Secondary School, where she is committed to supporting students, staff, and families in building inclusive and welcoming learning environments. As Secondary Co-Chair for DENSA, she aims to foster connection, support, and community among South Asian educators, students, and families across the Durham region. .

 Trissa Masih is an educator currently  as an Occasional Teacher with the Durham District School Board, She has been with the board since 2020. She is committed to supporting, motivating, and empowering students as they work toward their goals. Trissa strives to create a positive impact in the classroom and inspire a genuine love of learning in all students. This year, she is excited to serve as Co‑Chair for DENSA and is looking forward to supporting South Asian communities while uplifting and collaborating with other affinities and communities across the board and beyond. 

 Kavita Kanavalli is an educator who is passionate about student success and believes that every child has the right to equal opportunities in education.  She has been an educator for 25 years.  Kavita has been with the Durham District School Board since 2004.  During this time, she has had the opportunity to be part of a number of initiatives that helps bring equitable outcomes for students.  Kavita is currently the Principal at Sinclair Secondary School in Whitby. As a founding member of DENSA her goal is to provide outreach and support for educators, students and families in the community.  

 Tina (she/her) is a Principal with the Durham District School Board.  She believes that all students have the ability to succeed given the correct support.  She is passionate about working in partnership with families and the community to increase student achievement and engagement.  She has a passion for technology and uses technology to provide all students with equitable outcomes.  Tina is excited to be a part of DENSA, working collaboratively with students, the community, and other educators. 

Tharmila Apputhurai is an elementary ESL Coach. She has been a Primary/Junior teacher with the DDSB since 2005. Prior to her role as a coach, she was a Special Education Resource teacher at da Vinci P.S. in Ajax. In addition, Tharmila has experience teaching in South Korea, Macau, China, and Sri Lanka. She is passionate about collaborating with others to create spaces that reflect students' identities and lived experiences. She is dedicated to fostering inclusive, equitable, and caring practices so that learning is meaningful and engaging for all students. Tharmila strongly believes that education provides the opportunity for us to reflect, question, and find ways to improve the world that we live in. As an educator, she is continually learning and unlearning along with her students. Tharmila is excited to be a part of the DENSA network and it's initiatives to facilitate parent engagement, student achievement, and well-being.

  Krrisha Angel Gnanachchandran is currently a Vice Principal at Michaëlle Jean P.S. in Ajax. She has also been a French teacher with the Durham District School board for over six years and has experience teaching grades from 1-8, and experience as a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT). She firmly believes that student representation at all levels of the education system is vital to student growth and success. When students see themselves reflected in their learning, students feel empowered. Krrisha is excited to join DENSA this year as Co-chair and collaboratively work with other affinity groups in the board to build capacity among educators and promote inclusion and equity.

 Sruthi Abraham is a secondary teacher with Anderson CVI. Her goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for learners, educators and parents. She is also passionate about committing and working toward improving student achievement and well-being. She is looking forward to being a part of DENSA and contributing to facilitating opportunities to engage with students, parents and educators. 

Pragash Senathijah is a chemistry and science teacher at Pickering High School. He is passionate about DENSA to promote and express the rich culture of South Asia. His goal is to provide information about the  diverse South Asian community in DDSB while helping our students, parents, and community members to become more confident with learning our heritage.

 Since joining the Durham District School Board in 2013, Senthuran has been a dedicated educator and leader. Currently serving as a Vice Principal at Anderson CVI, he is committed to continually refining his professional practice while inspiring those around him to pursue their own growth.