Y. A. Padmanabha Rao and Rama Rao: Both have MA degrees in English (Kakatiya University 1984) and Postgraduate Diplomas in Education (Central Institute of Languages, Hyderabad 1985). They joined Rishi Valley as teachers in 1987, and since 1988 have been jointly in charge of the Rural Education Programme. Their work has been described in a number of publications, including Bringing Within Reach: A Document on Universalization of Girls' Education (UNICEF, 1997); “Rishi Valley and Human Ingenuity," a chapter in Robert Kaplan's Ends of the Earth (Random House 1996); in the Spanish magazine, Human Planet: Ideas to Change the World, August 1999 (article by Nuria Verde); and "A Valley of Learning" by Julia Ponson in Resurgence Sep-Oct, 1998.

Padmanabha and Rama Rao have participated in international conferences on education and interacted with groups from Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Maldives on educational matters.

Both Padmanabha Rao and Rama Rao are fellows of Ashoka, 'a global non-profit organization that invests in social entrepreneurs around the world. Ashoka pioneered the "social venture capital" approach in international development.'

V. Padmavalli: M.A. in mathematics. Has been teaching in Rishi Valley School for several years. For the past one year she has been heading the Child Labour Eradication Programme as well as the Rural Education Centre's Upper-Primary Section.

M.S. Sailendran: MA, ACA, Member of the Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Finance Manager, Rishi Valley Education Centre and Associate Coordinator of Rural Centre Activities. In addition to these responsibilities, Mr. Sailendran serves as supervisor of the Centre's Conservation and Reforestation Project, and as Co-Director of is Building Design Committee.