FARZANA SHAKEEL ALI
WHAT MAKES ME A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
Being a visionary myself, I ensure sharing of the vision of the organization with all the stakeholders. My transformational leadership with collaborative approach keeps the system inspired and directed towards the goal we set for ourselves as a school. I keep the planning, policies and decisions revolve around the vision of the school which are strongly value based. My organization is a very positive performance based learning community. With an aim to bring 100% literacy and good health to the residents of the area, our school runs free classes and free dispensary for the underprivileged. My present school is 100% solar powered so as to conserve energy and ensure regular usage, smooth working of laboratories and multimedia classrooms. With a progressive mindset, I have lived my passion at my work places and the amazing outputs and happy students and staff say it all. I am confident of my high spirit, innovative working and my consistent contribution to the school as well as society in the days to come.
MY MISSION AS A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
This coveted title will certainly add to my spirit and also give me a sense of extra responsibility to live upto its actual meaning ‘Progressive’. My personal vision is to do my bit in making India literate thus fulfilling our Prime minister’s dream of Digital India. The real India however resides in villages. My mission will always be to spread literacy among the rural masses, supporting girl education, health support and skill development in true spirit. Thus, I intend to achieve the India of my dream by being a Progressive Principal.
LEARNING BY DOING
By involving students in outdoor activities via visits and open air wisdom learnings, by involving them in projects, laboratory activities where most of the learning is hands on.
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
We have implemented integrated concept learning with assignment approach to every concept. We give them freedom to practice innovation, open learning and ICT integration.
INTEGRATION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTO EDUCATION THROUGH FACULTY
We have implemented entrepreneurship by holding Power point presentation in group in advance, making companies headed by group of students with their presentation of the advertisement. We also do it via benchmarking international standards and strategies.
PROBLEM SOLVING & CRITICAL THINKING AMIDST THE FACULTY
I have always laid strong emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking amidst the faculty by conducting life skills trainings, workshops and orientation sessions and very importantly on professional ethics.
GROUP WORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS AMIDST THE FACULTY
Social intelligence is of utmost importance to build leadership skills. We organize events and do weekly interactive sessions discussing everyone’s viewpoint and putting it across the table to further develop their required skills. Delegation of work is done according to the potential and during group responsibilities I personally focus on enhancing interpersonal skills and teamwork amongst all. Trainings to motivate the faculty for ICT integration and cloud presence also help.
UNDERSTANDING & ACTION BASED LEARNING
I personally feel that action based learning (learning by doing) leads to better understanding of concepts. So I encourage introduction of every new concept irrespective of subject by a hands on activity as a prerequisite, thus giving children the opportunity to innovate and create knowledge by trial and error. We maintain an environment where children feel free to explore and create.
COLLABORATIVE & COOPERATIVE LEARNING PROJECTS FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
We implement the social and intellectual skills of staff by doing circle time and group sittings once in a week where we give them different activities to learn and collaborate using creative methods like designing modules, implementation of concepts etc. Faculty empowerment is most important in alignment with the vision of the school so as to build a strong dedicated team focused on their tasks.
EDUCATION ACCENTUATING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY
I have been able to deploy this belief in action. To inculcate a sense of social responsibility and to safeguard democracy in the students in true sense, we need to train our faculty first. We give and design projects based on social responsibility/causes with an understanding of our constitution which are supervised by the faculty and led by the students.
DESIGN & DELIVERY OF A LEARNING ECOSYSTEM WHEREBY HIGHLY PERSONALIZED LEARNING ACCOUNTING IS DONE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONAL GOALS
The faculty is encouraged to participate and undergo in service trainings and workshops, be it capacity building, subject enrichment, leadership skills, classroom management, soft skills, etc in order to enhance their personalized learning. Personalized learning accounting is done for each individual’s personal goals through self appraisal.
INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS INTO THE DAILY CURRICULUM
We have an integrated community service in our objectives and aims which states adopting the area for literacy and healthcare. So, the school is running free literacy classes regularly for the underprivileged where we provide free books, uniform and shoes to the students. The school also runs free dispensary where consultation and medicines are given free of cost. It is supporting more than 200 patients every week. The school also runs free skill development centre where more than 70 girls/ladies are learning stitching and tailoring five days a week in order to empower women to be financially self dependent. We also promote girl child education. Since the school culture is highly contributing through community service, the faculty, students and staff remain a part of these services.
FUTURISTIC SELECTION OF SUBJECT CONTENT
While developing curriculum including life skills and also selecting significant themes for the school assembly, I am quite involved.
LIFELONG LEARNING AND SOCIAL SKILLS OF FACULTY MEMBERS
I emphasize on developing communication skills, leadership skills, managing human behaviour as well as to make the faculty socially and emotionally strong. My efforts and motivation with my team has resulted in turning them into life long learners. I believe that it is not one day process but consistent efforts with your faculty only turns them into life long learners with better social skills.
FACULTY ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION OF THEIR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS & PRODUCTIONS
I do follow 360° assessment procedure for my faculty members where they are evaluated out of their innovative ideas and working. I also do self appraisal.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY TO FACULTY EMPOWERMENT
Faculty empowerment is a must and I feel it is the responsibility of the school leader to lead by example. Being an ardent learner, I try to create a quality learning environment and performance based culture in the school. Such environment leads to self-motivation towards self-learning thus resulting in faculty empowerment. It’s a continuous process which starts with self-realization and an aspiration to learn and grow in terms of knowledge and skills.