About me

Early Teaching Journey

I am Sharanya Narra, an educator with a lifelong passion for teaching and a deep commitment to making mathematics accessible and engaging for students. My journey in education began while I was pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, working part-time as a teacher for intermediate students who needed extra support to pass their board exams. During summer holidays, I conducted intensive courses, helping 11th and 12th graders strengthen their math skills.

Advanced Studies and Teaching

After completing my B.Sc., I successfully earned a place in one of India’s top institutions, National Institute of Technology Warangal, India for my M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics, securing the 30th rank on the entrance exam. While studying, I continued teaching at nearby schools, nurturing my interest in Vedic Mathematics and teaching core math concepts to students from grades 5 to 8. This experience deepened my passion for math education, especially in making complex concepts approachable.

Following my M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics, I pursued a second Master’s degree in Statistics at Osmania University, India a field that has always fascinated me for its problem-solving depth and real-world applications. During this time, I taught part-time at Leela Junior College, working with 11th and 12th graders. My focus was to make mathematics intuitive for my students, encouraging them to understand the core concepts rather than just memorizing problem-solving steps. I taught topics like Integral Calculus and Linear Algebra, and created a classroom environment where students felt supported and engaged.

Founding the Active Learning Institute

Driven by a vision for innovative math education, I co-founded the Active Learning Institute with the help of  University of Southern Mississippi, MS, USA. This non-profit institute is particularly meaningful to me, as I was involved in every step of its creation, from selecting the building and designing non-traditional classrooms to outreach and recruitment. We offered courses that went beyond traditional curricula, including Vedic Mathematics for middle and high school levels, 3D Programming, Animation and advanced high school math. I also trained teachers, ensuring they had the tools to deliver an impactful learning experience. This institute remains one of my proudest accomplishments, and it reflects my dedication to accessible, high-quality math education.

Robotics Outreach

In addition to building the institute, I conducted extensive outreach in Warangal, India to introduce Robotics to schools across the city. In 2017, I visited each school to meet with principals, presenting a demo on the importance of robotics for future generations. I explained how learning robotics could inspire students and equip them with critical skills for the modern world. Over six months, I conducted demonstrations to showcase the benefits of robotics education, encouraging schools to introduce a robotics class for students. This work was a significant effort to bring emerging technology into classrooms and spark curiosity in young learners.

Transition to the United States

In pursuit of further growth, I moved to the United States, where I took time to expand my technical skills with certifications in SQL , PowerBI and Python to complement my background in statistics. I then volunteered at the University of Missouri-St. Louis as a Math Tutor in the Math Academic Center under Al Stanger, assisting students in courses such as Basic Calculus, Probability and Statistics, and Calculus. I also attended conferences focused on teaching methods and technology, which enriched my approach to education.

Current Work and Future Goals

Currently, I teach in an after-school program for Parkway and Rockwood schools, where I guide students from kindergarten to fifth grade in Robotics and Python-based coding. These programs introduce young learners to robotics fundamentals, coding principles, and even planetary exploration through technology. I also teach Abacus techniques through my affiliation with the Indian Institute of Vedic Math and Abacus (IIVA), helping students build speed and accuracy in mental math.

Throughout my career, I’ve remained committed to making learning accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for students. My journey has taken me from teaching board exam preparation courses to leading non-traditional programs in Vedic Math and Robotics, always driven by the goal of inspiring a love for learning in every student I teach.