Education Stalwarts 2022 | Dr. Revathy Parameswaran, Principal of P.S. Senior Secondary School | Leaders in Education
For running an educational institution successfully, one needs to be informed enough to ensure that all the regulatory requirements are met, savvy enough to ensure complete guidance and co-operation from the management, wise enough to take the teaching colleagues along, firm enough to carry on a flawless administration with the assistance of administrative workforce, sensitive enough to the needs and aspirations of parents and finally, loving and caring enough to the children who are the eventual torch bearers of the institution’s name. For any educational institution to be impactful, it should have clear focus, direction, plan, and should constantly strive to innovate and improve in order to achieve its goals. Hence, without an involved co-operation of all the above mentioned stakeholders, achieving a sustainable glory is not possible. The term “we” signifies teamwork, but under a visionary leadership. Only a visionary leader can ‘see’, ‘perceive’ and ‘plan’ things in a symbiotic manner to achieve not just ‘success’, but a long lasting glory.
This comes from developing a vision for the school which is a commitment it makes with reference to its large educational goals, which are inspirational in nature, including all aspects of its growth keeping student learning at its core. It is important for the school to build a collective understanding of its vision with all its stakeholders to translate them into reality. This includes having regular dialogue with the school management, teachers, parents and students. Such discussions will bring in fresh perspectives and innovative ideas for leading the academic initiatives of the school.
Over the last few decades, the role of an ideal teacher has undergone a paradigm shift from that of a transferer of knowledge and skill sets to someone who facilitates mental (re)construction of concepts in the process of knowledge acquisition. However, it is difficult to live up to the ideal situation, since exigencies such as having to make the children do well in examinations, to score high marks etc. allow only a limited time for explorative learning. Nevertheless, a good teacher knows when to highlight and point the direction towards deeper concepts and hidden structures that underlies a particular topic being taught. Experiential learning opportunities are exploited to help students develop conceptual understanding as opposed to rote learning.
It is important for a school leader to provide guidance and direction to others by constituting teams to work on various processes of the school. I help the teams to set goals and come up with solutions on their own. By accepting ideas of others, building trust and respect, freedom of thought and expression, by empowering people in the institution creates leaders rather than followers.
To contribute towards holistic development in children, a leader should be a person of versatile interests. As the leader of the institution, I take keen interest in sports, arts, music, debating and many more creative activities. I ensure that humongous opportunities are provided to all the deserving students to pursue their areas of interest while making sure there is no compromise on academics and in fact integrating it as a part of the curriculum. I also ensure that the teachers go an extra mile to discover the latent talents of the children and bring them to limelight.
I also keep myself updated on research developments in the field of education. As a resource person for CBSE I have been conducting workshops on teaching strategies in mathematics and use of technology in math teaching. I have also conducted workshops on pedagogical leadership for Principals. This has sensitized and educated me on the needs of providing academic leadership to teachers and others.
I create opportunities for teachers to enhance their subject and pedagogical knowledge. I have always considered myself as the first among equals and have attempted to create a democratic set up in the institution where no one feels overpowered by anyone, while seeing to empowering every deserving person. This, I believe, is a true touch stone of leadership.
Despite being clueless and feeling challenged when the pandemic hit, realizing the need of the times and getting on top of the learning curve enabled our swift and seamless transition from the physical mode to online mode. Our Computer Science Department trained all teachers to use digital tools to conduct various class activities. From electing student council members using appropriate digital tools, to conducting physical fitness and even music classes to organizing inter-school debates etc., everything was planned and executed flawlessly despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. Before the lockdown, one never imagined that technology would become the single largest tool to disseminate education. It became a necessity effective communication and was utilized to make virtual classes meaningful and interesting by integrating lessons with videos, animations, interactivities, quizzes etc. Digital platforms, artificial intelligence and virtual learning hubs are transforming the landscape of learning and education. The pandemic has demonstrated the need for schools to permeate a culture that is agile, flexible and adaptable.
The face of any educational institution is its students, teachers, administrative staff and its management. For a brand to make its mark, all stakeholders must be aware of societal needs, work together to build expertise, knowledge and necessary skills of teachers and students. The leader needs to create a culture of innovation by providing opportunities for intellectual stimulation with the help of the teachers. I do not believe in playing a board chess game with an imaginary army but a real life cricket, with a motivated team.
By providing opportunities for continuous and comprehensive professional learning, promoting reflective and meta-cognitive thinking practices, empowering teachers to become agents of change by incorporating innovative practices in teaching and learning will help them become confident and motivated to perform to the best of their abilities. A school leader plays a pivotal role in leading the teaching-learning processes of the school by not only leading the overall teaching -learning processes but also demonstrating that he or she is a life-long learner thus creating a culture of learning.
I have always used the resources available in the school for its growth. All novice and young teachers are mentored by the senior teachers who practically hand-hold them in their curriculum transaction. This is done with a sense of shared purpose and interest. I find this practice has contributed to the school’s academic success. I believe in sharing of knowledge and good teaching practices through regular faculty meetings. I have always strived to be a pedagogical leader rather than a manager which I hope inspires my colleagues.
There have been instances when I had to be firm in dealing with some unreasonable demands from parents and I have chosen the hard decisions and made them realize that at school, we teachers would be like cats holding the kitten in times of need– firm without hurting rather than kangaroos carrying them all the time in the belly.
In today’s educational landscape, challenges are an integral part of a school leader’s professional life. I believe challenges can be faced head on by possessing strong convictions and always doing the right thing. Being consistent, dedicated and passionate about the institution contributes towards successfully facing any situation with success.
In making major decisions concerning the school, the focus should always be the welfare of the children. They are the lifeline of the school while studying and are the best brand ambassadors after becoming alumni. Being receptive to ideas from all quarters, to being sensitive to the needs of your school without compromising on its core values and ethos is important. Innovation and out-of-the-box thinking are distinguishing qualities of a good leader.
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