Sunday School Teachers

Initiated in 2004 by Bir Krishna Goswami (North Carolina) with Over 20 Years of service in Bhakti Youth and Education.

I've had the blessing of serving ISKCON Sydney’s Sunday School for the past 20 years, after first working with the temple’s youth group. My approach to teaching is rooted in both knowledge and joy—I aim not only to share Krishna consciousness, but to make it engaging and fun so that children genuinely look forward to attending class.

To be an effective teacher, one must prepare thoughtfully and bring creativity to every lesson. I strive to keep the children curious and connected through stories, games, and interactive learning. Patience, dedication, and a sincere desire to serve are essential qualities I bring to this service.

My name is Lipi Sharma-Steggles, and I’ve been a part of the Bhakti movement at ISKCON since 2018—ever since my family and I serendipitously attended a morning class and prasadam breakfast just after landing in Australia. That joyous moment sparked a journey that now shapes our family life. We are raising our 5-year-old daughter in a spiritually rich environment, teaching her the fundamentals of Bhakti and the depth of our Indian culture.

With this personal connection, it’s a true honour to now serve as a Sunday School teacher, guiding young minds and laying a strong spiritual and cultural foundation. My goal is to help nurture children into confident, spiritually grounded individuals who can thrive in both their personal and spiritual journeys.

My teaching style is adaptive—I meet each child where they are. I love using storytelling and visuals to spark their imagination, while also encouraging curiosity through questions. I believe children learn best when they’re inspired to ask, explore, and reflect.

I feel truly blessed to have been part of ISKCON for the past 18 years. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many senior devotees, celebrate festivals in their true spiritual essence, and gain deep insights into the path of Bhakti and spirituality.

For me, teaching children about Krishna is not just a service—it is a direct offering to Krishna Himself. Through this, we help build a strong foundational understanding of our spiritual heritage and culture. I believe that patience, consistency, and clear knowledge are essential for this seva, and I strive to embody these qualities in my teaching.

If, through my guidance, even one child develops a spark of Krishna consciousness, I will consider myself truly blessed.

I have been associated with ISKCON since 2011, when I first went to the US after my marriage, as my Prabhu was already with ISKCON at that time. I was initiated in 2023 by HH Vedavyas Priya Swami Maharaj. I joined Sunday school in 2024 as I love listening to Krishna’s past times and the wonderful stories 🙂

I believe everyone connects with Krishna in their own way and this includes the kids as well. Hence, I try to include various activities such as storytelling, real life examples, games, quizzes, challenges and sloka recitals so that the kids are engaged and can follow in a way best suited to them. My aim in teaching these lovely kids is to make them understand that Krishna Consciousness can be practised in the simplest form and by anyone and everyone. It is more of training our minds which I believe is the most important for the kids in today’s age to understand, so that they are able to make the right decisions in their lives. Every Sunday class I try for these kids to see Krishna not just as God but as their friend and guide.

I feel grateful for this service and look forward to meeting the kids every Sunday.

Disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj

I moved to Sydney ten years ago and began associating with ISKCON seven years ago. Since then, my family and I have been actively involved in the Bhakti Vriksha program under the guidance of Vrindavanapali Prabhu and Srivas Prabhu.

Inspired by Srila Prabhupada’s vision that children are “Vaikuntha children” and must be nurtured with proper spiritual guidance, I have developed a deep passion for teaching children Krishna consciousness from a young age. I strongly believe that early spiritual education helps shape children into kind, conscious, and devoted individuals.

I enjoy engaging children through storytelling, narrating the pastimes of the Lord, teaching shlokas, and involving them in interactive, devotional activities. It brings me great joy to help them connect with Krishna in a loving and joyful way.

My association with ISKCON began in Sydney in 2011. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve in various capacities, including assisting in the kitchen, coordinating volunteers, distributing Mother Cow dairy milk, and many more services. I feel truly blessed to have received initiation from His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj.

My journey with Sunday School began when my son turned 12 years old. At that time, there was no teacher available for the 12+ age group, so I volunteered to step in. Although my son has now started university this year, I have continued teaching the same age group.

This stage of life—entering high school and transitioning from childhood to youth—is especially crucial. It is essential to present the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā in a way that is practical, relatable, and easy for them to understand. I strongly believe that when children see the relevance of the Gītā in their daily lives, they become inspired to study it sincerely.

I encourage all members of our congregation to enrol their children in Sunday School and support them in developing a strong foundation in Bhakti Yoga from a young age.

I am Lipi's husband and Dhanya's dad. I have been interested in Hindu teachings after meeting a Jugadguru Shri Kripalu ji Maharaj swami disciple by the name of Swami Govinananda in 2007. After studying with him and Swami Mukunananda for 11 years I joined ISKCON in 2018 where I now do my Bhakti. I am acting as the Sunday School (SS) admin officer. I ensure that all families wishing to be involved  in SS receive an enrolment form. I receive all completed forms and associated payments and ensure that teachers have a full list of students in their class and are able to keep accurate class attendance records. See you at the temple.

I am Manasvi Devi Dasi, overseeing Sunday School administration and the registration process. My journey with Sunday School began in 2012, coinciding with my children's early years. This included teaching scripture classes in two public schools until 2019. I leverage the extensive experience gained to support our current teachers. My current focus is ensuring the smooth administration and registration for Sunday School, working collaboratively with John Prabhu

My association with ISKCON began casually in 2006, deepening significantly after transformative retreats in 2007. Since my initiation in 2010 by HH Janananda Gosvami Maharaj, I've actively served in various capacities, including book distribution, Bhagavad Gita classes, kitchen support, and devotee care.

In 2016, I joined our Sunday School as a teacher when my elder daughter, Dipti, enrolled. My love for children and belief in their potential made it an easy decision to help create a safe, encouraging environment where spiritual knowledge could flourish. I truly believe Sunday School provides a unique atmosphere for curious young minds.

While increasing involvement in Temple Management led me to step back from direct teaching in 2023, I remain deeply committed. I'm now actively involved in planning, organizing, and supporting all initiatives to ensure Sunday School remains engaging for both children and parents.

I firmly believe that the positive spiritual impressions and community connections children gain at Sunday School are invaluable. These experiences build a resilient value system that quietly equips them to navigate life's challenges. Even if outward changes aren't immediately visible, the magic of learning Bhagavad Gita and developing "temple friends" profoundly shapes their lives. I sincerely encourage all parents, regardless of their personal spiritual practice, to enrol their children and provide them this enriching opportunity.