" As a family, we have always found Tanveer to be thoughtful, caring, and unflappable. My daughter worked closely with Tanveer as school president, and particularly appreciated the way Tanveer guided the student council with purpose and foresight while having the flexibility to give students space to forge their own paths. She welcomed our family with our unique needs and preferences, and was encouraging and open to working with us on special projects. It was clear that she took the time to get to know each child personally and individually, and she worked behind the scenes to support teachers in providing for each one individually. "-Rebecca Fulop
Testimonials
Carwei Seto: Middle School Math Teacher [Black Pine Circle School]
"Working with Tanveer changed how I think about what good collaboration looks like."
I had the privilege of collaborating with Tanveer to design and produce professional development workshops at our school: she came prepared, knowledgeable, curious, and open - not with an agenda, but with a genuine commitment to uncovering what we actually needed. She listened carefully, probed when things were unclear, and built on ideas as they emerged. Every time we met, I walked away feeling like we had created something together - and more importantly, like I had exactly what I needed to move the work forward.
What sets Tanveer apart is that she understands systems. She knows change doesn't happen overnight, and she approaches it with patience and precision - laying bricks deliberately, understanding how the pieces of a school or organization work with or against each other. That kind of thinking is rare, and it made our work together feel grounded and sustainable.
But the moment that has stayed with me most happened right after a faculty workshop I ran on assessment versus grading. Tanveer pulled me aside immediately after the workshop and asked, "Can I give you feedback?" What followed were three specific, concrete examples of what I had done well and how they had landed - nothing vague, nothing generic. It was the most impactful feedback I had received in years. It gave me genuine confidence and a clear sense of how to keep designing meaningful professional learning for our staff.
If you want a thought partner who shows up with rigor, care, and real expertise - Tanveer is it.
Gwen Hornig: 8th Grade English Teacher [Maybeck High School]:Tanveer is truly one of the kindest, most compassionate, and skillful mentors that I have had the opportunity to work with. She mentored me as I stepped into a position at my previous school, for which I was developing professional development sessions for the faculty. During our meetings, Tanveer led with empathy — making a point of checking in on the “human” level with a sincere, “How are you doing?”, and spending the time needed to connect around how we were both showing up in that moment, helping to illuminate what we each needed to make that meeting as constructive as it could be. As we would dig into the material at hand, Tanveer offered feedback in the form of questions. Intentional, specific questions that both validated the value of my ideas, while challenging me to re-examine, reconstruct, and crystallize the core of what I was hoping to achieve in the session I was planning. Through this empathic mentorship, she instilled an incredible sense of trust and mutual respect and created a space in which I felt the courage to explore my ideas fully, ask questions, and develop material that felt authentic to the values I hold as an educator and responsive to the needs of the school. Tanveer embodied the skill, patience, dedication to continued learning, and deep care that all mentors, coaches, and educational leaders should hold at the center of their work — values that I strive to uphold in my own work with my students and colleagues. It was a true gift to work with Tanveer, and I hope our paths cross again.
Batti Innovative Impact Nominee:
Your nominator beautifully captured your leadership impact, noting that "Tanveer's calm and steady leadership truly set the tone at BPC. She modeled a 'students first' mindset while simultaneously making faculty feel heard and taken care of." They also highlighted your commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels valued from organizing pride parades and cultural celebrations to establishing affinity groups when students of color needed space to discuss their identities.
Your dedication to restorative justice, DEIJ, and building meaningful relationships across your entire community represents the kind of transformative leadership that changes lives. As your nominator wrote: "You're deeply skilled at making faculty, students, and families feel heard and appreciated."
Liz Lummis O'Neil: Classroom Teacher/Head of Lower School [Bentley School]: I had the opportunity to receive professional development from Tanveer, both as a school administrator and as a classroom teacher, and she had a significant and lasting impact on my professional and personal growth. Her leadership coaching consistently kept students at the heart of the work while thoughtfully honoring the real experiences and challenges teachers face. Tanveer has a rare ability to bridge big-picture vision with practical, real-world classroom application, making her guidance both inspiring and highly actionable. The professional development she provided was thoughtful, relevant, and immediately useful, empowering educators to grow their practice while strengthening school culture as a whole.
Dan Hughes: 4th Grade Classroom Teacher [Black Pine Circle School]: Working alongside Tanveer has been one of the highlights of my professional experience. She is a collaborative and caring leader who approaches every challenge with empathy and a focus on student well-being. In team meetings, she listens deeply, asks thoughtful questions, and helps guide conversations toward meaningful solutions. I’ve seen firsthand how her calm, grounded presence and high standards inspire confidence and bring out the best in everyone. Tanveer’s blend of warmth, professionalism, and vision makes her an exceptional colleague and thought partner.
Cris Mytko: Maker Space/K-8 Science Teacher:
Tanveer has been both my supervisor and, at times concurrently, a professional mentor for me. I first worked with her during COVID as I was struggling with professional prioritization and trying to determine my next steps for my career path. We had not yet even met in person, yet Tanveer listened with empathy, asked thoughtful questions, and helped me find clarity. The fact that she was able to build trust and be immediately helpful speaks to her deep experience and extensive professional toolkit. Tanveer did not tell me what to do; instead, she
created space for reflection and supported me in making the best decisions for me and for the students and community I work with. Her guidance was never about what she wanted; it was grounded in what would best support me as an educator and as a person moving forward. Where I had previously mostly experienced management, Tanveer helped reshape my understanding of leadership, and her example has directly influenced how I lead my own nonprofit today.
Tanveer is a deeply empathetic, student-centered leader who balancescalm, values-driven decision-making with high expectations and thoughtful mentorship. She communicates clearly, creates systems that
make sense, and builds inclusiv ae, collaborative communities where both students and adults have voice and agency. Her leadership is thoughtful, selfless, and deeply impactful.
Nicole Lockwood (Science Teacher)
"She leads with equal parts courage and heart, offering warmth and steady support while also holding high expectations."
It has been a privilege to work with Tanveer as Head of Lower School. She stepped into the role during COVID and skillfully navigated the complex, ever-changing demands of that time, thoughtfully balancing the needs of students, families, and faculty within the realities of a public health crisis.
As we returned to in-person learning, Tanveer did more than restore familiar routines; she honored and strengthened our school’s longstanding traditions while intentionally building new ones that fostered greater equity and belonging within our small, independent school community. Her leadership has always been anchored in values and an unwavering commitment to the student experience.
Tanveer is deeply respected and genuinely beloved by her faculty. She leads with equal parts courage and heart, offering warmth and steady support while also holding high expectations. She treats teachers as professionals, invites meaningful dialogue, and challenges us to become the best versions of ourselves. Because of her leadership, our faculty culture is stronger, more collaborative, and more reflective.
Any school community would be fortunate to have her vision, integrity, and deep care.