From The Krotonian, Fall-Winter 2024
Ananya Sri Ram (left) and Maria Parisen
Krotona School will have a new director in January 2025 with the retirement of Maria Parisen. Taking over will be Ananya Sri Ram, the school’s current assistant director who has been actively involved in the school's activities since 2021.
Maria took over directorship of the school in 2009 after the excellent guidance of previous directors Joy Mills, Shirley Nicholson, and Nelda Samarel. She brought with her decades of TS leadership experience at the local and national level with a commitment to harmony in community. Soft-spoken and gentle mannered, Maria has overseen many important changes in the school’s programming and technology in these 15 years. Keeping to essential theosophical study has been her primary focus, along with encouraging related programs that appeal to those seeking an interspiritual path of wholeness and healing. Under her guidance, the school’s classes have become more interactive, with workshops to help students apply theosophical principles and ideals in daily life. Our theosophical intensives have expanded with the Partners in Theosophy initiative directed by Pablo Sender, the collaborative biennial Secret Doctrine Forum, and the upcoming series on HPB’s Wisdom Teachings. Maria will continue to assist at the school while attending to other Krotona activities.
Ananya hails from a well-known line of theosophical leaders. Her grandfather was N. Sri Ram, fifth international president of the Theosophical Society (TS), and her paternal aunt, who later raised her, was Radha Burnier, seventh international president of the TS. Upon her move to Krotona, Ananya quickly became an integral part of the school’s staff. She has been assisting in programming, providing support for the classes, and conducting video recordings. Ananya was President of the Theosophical Order of Service in America, served on the board of the Inter-American Federation of the TS, worked on Quest Magazine while at the national TS center in Wheaton, and is currently editor of The Krotonian. Ananya presents programs locally and internationally and is currently serving as President of the TS Ojai Valley Lodge.
The beautifully located and well-stocked library at Krotona has an impressive reading room
As she winds up her term as School Director, below are Maria’s reflections:
A director’s life and influence blends day by day with the lives of school assistants. Rochelle Voirol and Annie Johnstone have been a patient, skilled and steady support. Together we have enhanced and expanded student services and all elements of outreach. The tech expertise of Richard Ellwood has been invaluable, keeping classroom audiovisuals updated and operational. Always mild and kind, Richard brings the quiet humor of a professional whose day job is with highschoolers. More recently, we’ve been inspired by Sue Prescott’s enthusiasm and impressive digitizing work to preserve archived materials. Randall Bush and Jim Voirol help keep financial records and ever-changing payment options on track.
The sense of community, a joy in service, is strong in the inner life of our school. Residents who give of themselves in teaching, helping during teatime or with registration, who participate in our classes, all enrich the experiences of students and guests. Each makes our offerings more meaningful.
These are rapidly changing times, calling for clarity in direction, resilience, and cooperation. Krotona has been imagined as a lighthouse, an unfailing guide for travelers in both calm and stormy seas, especially needed during cloudy days, darkness and a dangerous passage. Our school’s light is part of Krotona’s radiance, unseen but felt by many who come our way.
Passing the torch to Ananya in full confidence and thanks, together we keep that Light bright and steady for all in need.
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The editior thanks Elena Dovalsantos and Maria Parisen.
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