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My K12 Story, Journey So Far : Mrs. Rita Singh, Director of Indirapuram Group of Institutions

Updated: May 21, 2021

SHARING AN INSPIRING AND EVENTFUL JOURNEY OF MRS. RITA SINGH, - A PASSIONATE EDUCATIONIST & AN EDULEADER, DIRECTOR OF INDIRAPURAM GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS.




"Life has led me into and through a line of work which is closest to my heart.


I have travelled extensively since my husband was in the armed forces . This has meant travelling to and living in different places, experiencing very different cultures. The exposure to such diversity and changing situations has made me grounded and dynamic. The dynamic circumstances meant that I could not always choose my subjects and classes. Whatever opportunity has come my way, I have accepted that whole-heartedly.


I started my career with a computer company which had a tie-up with schools. I was responsible in that capacity to visit a school for 3-4 hours every day and train the staff; and sometimes to also train students. This was the time when a computer was still only used by professionals and was not quite as ubiquitous as it is today. People used it only for specific purposes.



Gradually these three hours spent teaching in school became the oxygen of my life. I started to enjoy the moments spent with students. I didn’t quite enjoy sitting in the office as much. I realised I had found my calling.


Then came a phase when I had to take a break for my first child. I rejoined work after almost three years, which I used to enhance my qualifications and become a full fledged teacher.


Though having done my masters in Mathematics, I have taught almost every subject at various levels and in various capacities due to having to move very often in my early years.


My teaching experience has ranged all the way from being a primary schoolteacher to being a postgraduate teacher. I have served in all capacities from PRT to HOD before taking on administrative roles. These experiences have only enriched me over the years.


Challenges on the way

Life itself is a challenge. Yet I have never regarded my professional journey as a

challenge. Whatever came my way professionally, I have accepted. If you can accept change, life becomes easier. The one biggest constant in life is indeed change. The ability to foresee, accept and adapt to change is the key to resolve many issues. Also, I believe that I have the strength to understand a problem and analyse any situation rationally . This comes naturally to me; whether it is decision making or perceiving the nuances of an evolving situation;

because of the experiences, I have had. I was never very ambitious, but have been passion driven in whatever I did . Put my heart into whatever it is that I do.


I, while teaching as TGT English in school, had the opportunity to teach Julius Caesar. It was a challenge for me being a maths teacher. I remember having gone through many Shakespearean plays and literature in order to bring the essence of Shakespeare’s writing into my lecture and to be able to generate and address curiosity in the students.


We need to equip ourselves to face challenges rather than complain.


Administration


I became the Principal of St Joseph’s School, Patna in 1996. It was a relatively small school. Next, I had joined a CBSE school in Bhutan as Vice Principal, In order to keep my family together as my husband was working there then. On returning from Bhutan, I then worked in The Sagar School, Alwar as Dean of Studies and then at Ryan International School, Rohini from as Vice Principal for over two years each; before joining as Principal of Indirapuram Public school Ghaziabad. I continue to be the with the Indirapuram Group of Institutions as its Director, an appointment I have held since 2012.


In my time with this group, I have seen it expand from 4 institutions to 9. I feel blessed to have always always people’s support; including of students, teachers, parents and management.


Over the years, I have found it easy to work with all stakeholders by giving adequate thought and respect to everyone’s views even while formulating the broad overall direction keeping the common good and common goals in mind.

While consulting, I believe it is important that all the opinions, doubts and questions be cleared even before we reach the action stage.





Indirapuram: A Happy School


Even before the pandemic, we had reduced our working days to five for the students so that teachers get enough time to enrich themselves on Saturdays. This suggestion had come from parents who felt that their children could do various other things as well besides

academics.


We have always encouraged the use of

technology to reduce unnecessary work at various levels. For instance, why hold meetings, where we can collaborate over Google docs! Why not bring in inexpensive technology that help us reduce the burden! These efforts made over the years have helped during the current Covid pandemic in ensuring seamless continuation of classes even during long periods of lockdown.


In administration , we have reduced the use of paper and registers. This helps the

environment and reduces cost. I believe teachers should ideally

be free from responsibilities other than

academics or teaching. We have once in a week, a ‘stay back’ for teachers, organised subject-wise. The attendance for these is largely voluntary, with no restraint on teachers who have some pressing commitments otherwise. Our teachers are encouraged to speak their minds.


Attendance of workshops is entirely voluntary. We ensure retaining flexibility, allowing teachers teachers freedom to define their own work processes after class hours. In the last 11 yrs, I have seen to it that no leave has been denied, even during exams. This accrues two benefits. Firstly, the teacher has the assurance that leave will be granted when required. Secondly, the institution understands that nobody is indispensable. No system, no department is dependent on an individual. The entire process is rule bound, with salary deductions as per rules. This has helped instill a sense of responsibility amongst all stakeholders.


There is much merit in taking care of the teaching and administrative staff of the school. This includes a group D employees. We have ensured that the children of our teachers, administrative staff including group D are given the best possible education in the school; ensuring also that uniforms and books are also contributed to the poor students by the better of.


Understanding that we are but a microcosm of the larger society in which we live, we have ensured taking under our wings the poorest of the poor in the vicinity through conduct of evening schools. Teaching in these is voluntary and includes those students who require remedial action.


We have received the prestigious House of Commons award based on the happiness index of students. This was an honest survey conducted online for 7th to 12th-grade students They had to fill up a questionnaire containing 100 questions on school, teachers, facilities provided etc. Of these, 80 were to be answered by students and 20 by their parents.


In service capability development of Teachers


We may have 130 teachers in a school in The Indirapuram Group of Institutions, each with 2-20 years of experience. If we take an average experience of 10 years, A single school may have 1300 years of collective experience. If we utilise This experience gainfully, we don’t have to

look at the management or NCERT or CBSE for much. Over the years, we have formulated a methodology to harvest this experience through organisations of exchange of ideas on best practices; as also through faculty development programmes, in-service. We give opportunities to our teachers to think, implement what they believe in, exchange their ideas and best practises with others and to participate in a plethora of local, regional and international programs.


Motivating the team: This is a task which requires a great deal of thinking, contemplation, understanding of individuals and targeting of solutions to fit specific individuals. Through positive interactions, participative thought and genuine welfare, we ensure happy team. Wisdom lies in changing what you can change, accepting What you can’t and discerning between the two.


Dealing with parents

I spend a lot of time dealing with parents, understanding that while students may spend 6–8 hours in school, they spend 16–18 hours at home. Much emphasis is paid on participative efforts by parents in school, involving parents in students development. This includes days when parents visit schools for meetings, events in which parents are invited and selective parents feted.


Teachers


I believe that teachers should adopt teaching as a profession only if they truly believe in the contribution a teacher makes to society. Teachers make an enormous difference in shaping the putty that is the student.


It is not a profession which can be regarded as any other, considering the very long-term impact of every action, thought and deed of a teacher. Teachers don’t need to believe in their impact on our students character-building.


To me, teaching a concept is not as important as teaching values. So, if I need to compromise between the two, I would rather have a good

human being than a good teacher.


It gives enormous satisfaction when an ex-student walks up to you and tells you of the impact that you as a teacher I have made to his or her life. It rejuvenates a sense of purpose to everything you have done.


What we sow today, the world will reap tomorrow. This one single maxim should define the gravity with which we approach the profession of education.


Overall, it has been a very satisfying journey of over 35 years as an educator. I wouldn’t trade this for anything else in life. What I had to start again, a teacher is what I would become again.



Mrs. Rita Singh

Director

Indirapuram Group of Institutions

H.O. Indirapuram Public School, 6, Nyay Khand 1, Indirapuram Ghaziabad



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