TIMI MATHAI

THIRD grade teacher

Timi Mathai was born in a small village in India and came to the United States when she was 3 years old. She grew up in Long Island and currently lives in the Bronx. In Long Island, she was an active member of the community and volunteered for many years for cancer research organizations. She developed a love of working with children when she volunteered with the local elementary school. Timi helped develop the holiday play and worked with the students teaching them the songs and their lines. She loved watching them grow and learn in the many weeks she worked with them.

Timi attended Hunter College and received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Women and Gender Studies. Timi planned on working in nonprofit upon graduating; however, after a summer working with toddlers, her love for working with children was reignited. She accepted a position as a lead teacher in a 2s classroom at Discovery Programs, a school on the Upper West Side. During her 5 years at Discovery Programs, she taught multiple classes for children ages 17 months to 3 years old. Her favorite part about working with toddlers was seeing their creativity and imagination flourish in the classroom. Timi was also the resident art teacher at Discovery. She loved the ability to share her passion for art and introduce her students to new artists and different materials.

During this time, Timi went back to Hunter College to get her Master’s in Early Childhood Education. It is through Hunter College that Timi first came to PS 527 as a student teacher in 1st grade. Timi was then hired as a maternity leave substitute through the end of the 2019 school year. She is thrilled to be returning to PS 527.