My Expressions

Ed Leader – Ms Sangeeta Mukherjee Roy, Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad, Meerut Road

Education is an integral part of a child’s upbringing. We, at Curious Times, have made it our aim to ensure that we also play an active role in imparting the right knowledge to all the Curious children. As such, we also try to ensure that we are always in touch with the leaders in education today and learning from them. After all, it is important to learn from the best.

So, today, we present to you a one-on-one conversation with Ms Sangeeta Mukherjee Roy. She is the Principal of Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad, Meerut Road. The school’s mission is to create global citizens, who possess intercultural respect and understanding.

When did you decide to step into the world of education? What motivated you to become an Educator? I embarked on my professional voyage nearly 15 years ago as an educator at Delhi Public School Ghaziabad. I wanted to contribute in a significant and meaningful manner to the field of education. Teaching is one of the most direct ways to make an impact, and if you are driven by the desire to help those around you, being a teacher can bring about an invaluable contribution. As an educator, I am more than just an educator – I am a mentor, a confidante, and a friend. It is my aim to make a difference in the lives of as many students as I can. In tandem with my philosophy of promoting collaborative leadership, I have trained educators by conducting empowerment conferences around the country. I strongly believe that education is a harmonious blend of academic acumen and creative effervescence. Being the Principal of the school, my motto is to empower the students to grow into strong and reflective individuals with discerning minds, prepared to make a mark in the global village.

Share some of the challenges you have faced in your career journey. How did you convert those challenges into the pillars of success? Schools today are incredibly busy places. They’re exciting with a diverse array of activities going on every day. It’s a tough call for teachers and principals to manage the complexity of it all and to carve out the time and energy required to continuously plan for learning. To unlock collective genius and create a school community that is able to generate new ideas and innovations, is probably one of the biggest challenges I face as a Principal, I believe in the potential of every teacher and every student. I encourage my team to be creative and innovative thinkers and to establish new and exciting pathways for the students in the 21st-century world.
My belief in diligence, perseverance and strategic planning has helped me to face the challenges. The trust that my team has in me is my strength and pushes me to raise the bar. As a leader, I have to be a trailblazer and a beacon of light.

What are the changes have you observed over the years in the field of education? Are you happy with these changes? Education in the 21st century is more dynamic than ever. The task is challenging for all levels of teachers, from pre-primary to senior school ones. Moreover, in the virtual mode, teachers often feel less connected to students and find it difficult to establish a good rapport with them. Authentic assessments in the online mode is also a challenge. Moreover, teachers have to keep abreast with the latest digital tools that can be used in education.
Students today also have a different attention span and are not interested in classroom chalk-talk or learning by rote. They are becoming need-based learners. So, teachers have to meet their rising expectations by making lessons interesting and engaging. As the student expectations are huge, teachers can’t afford to be complacent. They have to stay ahead of the curve to provide world-class education and break new barriers as well.

What changes would you like to see in the field of Education? What role can the various stakeholders like the government, teachers, students and parents play in this? The world today is changing at such an accelerated pace and we, as educators, need to pause and reflect on this entire system of education. We should be well equipped to prepare the children to face the challenges that the future holds. I would like to see all educators be self-motivated to go through a continuous process of reflection and keep working at implementing a well-balanced curriculum. This will ensure that the children who walk into the portals of the school will not just love their school years but truly be prepared to face life’s challenges. It is relevant here to mention Margaret Mead who famously said, “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think”.
The school curriculum must be aligned with the NEP which is not limited to the scholastic needs of students but comprehensively addresses other areas. They include Wellness- physical, emotional, spiritual; Environmental Awareness, Social & Cultural Sensibilities, uninhibited artistic or literary expressions and fostering of Skills & Competencies for the emerging paradigms in the 21st century.
Any educational organization is a dynamic conglomerate and effective partnering with the various stakeholders can help it create a niche for itself and give it the strong conviction to stride forward assiduously.

Share your message with the aspiring teachers and leaders of tomorrow. An educator’s effect lasts for eternity. The call of the vocation should be crystal clear in the minds of aspiring teachers – to build the competency of the next generation and create humane, caring and sensitive individuals. An educator reaches out to his/her students by helping them realise their potential, sets goals and achieves them through the right means. To be a successful educator, one has to be responsible, dedicated and compassionate in moulding the character of the next generation and transforming them into socially responsible and independently thinking individuals. They should take each day as a new experience and have to be receptive to the diverse needs of the children and accordingly deal with them. A teacher needs to follow the quote by Henry Ford, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young”.

Share your message for your and Curious Times students. Education is about awakening – Awakening to the power and beauty that lies within all of us. It is about building character, enriching minds and about varied experiences that last a lifetime. Life is a voyage to be lived with an infinite passion. Life may not always be a bed of roses, you may come across situations where you are unable to make decisions. I exhort you to face the challenges with aplomb and accept success with humility. The real joy of living is not just to obtain knowledge through books. I wish that you be known as honourable players, not just winners; as wise, not just intelligent; as understanding, not just knowledgeable; as kind and compassionate, not just friendly. I would like you to evolve as critical thinkers, lifelong learners, change agents and world leaders.

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Ms Sangeeta Mukherjee Roy, Principal

Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad, Meerut Road

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