Nayana Abeysekara
Architect
BaddegamaLoading
Shemarlie (Shemo) Gani
Primary Teacher and Early Years Educational Consultant
Primary Teacher and Early Years Educational Consultant · The Seed Atelier
6areas of expertise
I am an educator, grounded in inquiry and the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning.
I am a Primary Teacher and Early Years Educational Consultant passionate about collaborating with educators and learners to discover their potential. I deeply believe in creating thoughtful learning environments and cultures where all learners feel included, valued, and empowered to learn. My work is grounded in inquiry, play, and reflective practice, with a strong focus on making learning visible and meaningful. Currently, I am an Early Childhood Consultant at The Seed Atelier, where I work independently with schools and educators in Sri Lanka and beyond. In this role, I support early years teams through curriculum design, pedagogical coaching, and professional learning, drawing on over three decades of experience in the classroom and leadership.
Experience
34 years of professional experience in total
Previously, I spent 12 years at Nanjing International School in China as an Early Years/Primary Teacher. My work there reflected a strong commitment to inquiry-based learning and collaborative practice within the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Over the past decade, I have worked to understand and apply the Reggio Emilia and project-based approaches to learning in early years settings. Earlier in my career, I worked at The Overseas School of Colombo as a Primary Teacher and Lower Primary Coordinator, as well as serving as the Preschool Directress at Pre-OSC, the school’s city branch preschool. My professional learning includes extensive engagement with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), where I have attended, presented, and facilitated workshops focused on enhancing capacities of young children.
Open to
- Mentoring someone
- Speaking at events
- Collaborating
- Volunteering
- Teaching or tutoring
- Work opportunities
What they know
Professions
Specialties
Interests
Ask me about
- Inquiry and the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning.
- The Seed Atelier, a workshop space for developing skills.