Sushruta Kunnenkeri
Education:
Master of Art, Education (Curriculum and Instruction), University of Connecticut, 2018
Certificate of Undergraduate Study, University of California Berkeley, Advanced Biosciences, 2015
Bachelor of Science, Biology, Northeastern University, 2011
Tutor Subjects:
Certifications:
Massachusetts Teaching Licensure, Biology (8-12); SEI Endorsement Massachusetts
Sushruta specializes in Math and Science and currently serves as a Biology teacher at Shawsheen Valley after a recent family move this year. Prior to this he taught at Lexington High School for several years. He tutors students in grades 5-12 in Math (through Geometry, Algebra, and Statistics), and the Sciences (Middle School Science, Physics, Biology (including AP), Chemistry, Anatomy, Microbiology, and Biochemistry). He is experienced in working with students from urban settings, suburban, as well as, with a wide range of special needs, including ADHD, ASD, and executive functioning delays. He enjoys differentiating his instruction to meet the needs of students at all levels, including struggling students. In addition, he attended Boston Latin Academy for high school, and he previously served as a Biology/Anatomy Physiology teacher at John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science in Boston Public Schools.
Sushruta says: “During my time at Northeastern I got a CO-OP, which later turned into a co-authorship of a genetic research paper when I was at Harvard at the Alper lab. We did genetic and immunological research on SNPs patterns found in the MHC of patients with Type I and II Diabetes. I was mentored in an amazing way and I wanted to give back. I saw how real science was done in the real world, and I wanted nothing more than to bring it back into high schools that had that frame of reference, to be able to build their confidence in science and in life as a mentor and teacher! I also received the Husky Leadership Award at Northeastern University, as well as the National Robert Noyce Fellowship Scholarship during my time at the Neag School of Education at UCONN for my graduate studies. This led to a presentation of our research at the annual Noyce Conference on science curriculum relating to the cross between Marine science and its connections to health outcomes in humans. I also worked with children and adults in mental health, which I utilize daily to be mindful and empathetic toward all my students and the mental health struggles they deal with beyond academics and how that trauma can impact their learning.
I come from a proud family of educators. My father was an immigrant from South India and taught Biology for 40 years, and my older sister also teaches high school life sciences. I don’t have a family (yet), but my family and nephew and nieces mean everything to me. My teaching philosophy is one of being a coach for my students, meeting them where they are and reminding them every day to be the best version of themselves. My students are my second family, and I don’t look at where they will be tomorrow, but rather 10 years from now. I focus on building values and skills that last and can be transferred, such as building confidence, finding their passions, reflecting and improving their study habits, and finding discipline. I also think it is so important for my students to have a growth mindset for themselves and others.
I love volleyball, hiking, kayaking, running, biking, anything outdoors, game nights and all things NASA and astrobiology. In high school, I was part of the track, cross-country, volleyball, as well as the stage manager for the drama club, and won the state award for a pre-engineering program (MassPEP). I also love continuing to learn to cook and learning the science of cooking! I recently got into escape rooms and just started making escape rooms for my nephews and my students! I don’t have any pets but I love dogs and would love to have one someday.“