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My K12 Story, Journey So Far : Ms Sheba Thapar, Educationist & Eduleader

SHARING AN INSPIRING AND EVENTFUL JOURNEY OF MS. SHEBA THAPAR, - A PASSIONATE EDUCATIONIST, EDULEADER WITH 24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.



Ms Sheba Thapar

Educationist (M.Sc-Mathematics, B.Ed)


All about Me - I have been a successful educationist having 24 years of experience; with last 8 years been in leadership roles in school academics cum administration. I have garnered in-depth experience in successfully managing pre-primary and primary departments of some of the leading schools. The reason of my success in academia has been that as a leader and as a team member, I have always aligned my individual objectives to that of the organization’s mission which has led to holistic development of students and teaching staff associated within my area of influence. I have always been a strong advocate on having a strong parent connect by enabling regular and open interaction among teachers, parents & students; thereby providing a healthy platform for sharing continuous updates and feedback to respective stakeholders; thereby developing a deep routed connect with school philosophy and teaching pedagogy.


My Journey - I have worked in various organisations from a Pre Primary Teacher in Queen Mary’s School, Hans Raj Model School , Mother’s Pride, Kidzee to Kothari International School , Excelsior American School, Gurgaon and at present working as a Headmistress in a reputed school in Gurgaon. My competency has also been in organizing events in an exceptional way which provides a great learning opportunity and platform for students to groom their talents. To oversee the coordination of the co-curricular and extra-curricular activity programs of the school; to supervise in the planning and the presentation of school assemblies and programs; To supervise and counsel new teachers, conveying information regarding plans, curriculum development and assessment, resources, facilities, and activities which affect them and to serve as a consultant to teachers in matters of classroom management, teaching methods, and general school procedures.


Well I am an Educationist full of passion and I firmly

believe that a leader with passion inspires students and staff. It gets the students interested and even excited about what they are learning. It requires a little more work and a little more imagination, I feel that When We hear the word Passion, we never think or try to understand in depth about it. Understanding or finding one`s passion is a long journey. Once you find out, then you need to nurture it. As I mentioned that I am a passionate person , My passion is keeping myself fit, singing, playing piano and dressing up well. I love it as it gives me so much pleasure .I feel each one of us has a passion, one could either get it mastered or leave it just like that.



Me & My Family - I am born in a family of Educators with my mother being a School Principal and my father in the Government Sector. I completed my education from Delhi itself with schooling from Queen Mary’s School and college from St. Stephen’s, DU. Now, I have a happy family with 2 kids and a very supportive husband. Coming from the family of Educationists , the culture to be associated to the Educational sector developed during my childhood only . As a young girl of 10 years ,I used to enact being a teacher and scribbling on my wooden cupboard with a chalk.So, the original plan was planted from initial stage.


Transition in Education Sector in the past Decade - There has been a drastic change in the field of education in India. Education system has witnessed a great extent of development in the past 10/12 years .This is due to increased investment and various mushroomed institutes all over the country. There have been development of more schools and more choices for parents . Over 10 years detention rate has decreased, schools now acknowledge the importance of inclusive education. The fundamental premise of teachers as the ‘conduit of knowledge’ is no longer valid. In recent years cliches such as “moving from sage on the stage to guide on the side” have emerged to illustrate the awareness of the changes that are happening, focusing on the role of the teacher as more of a facilitator, guide, mentor and coach for example. Teachers are now expected to meet the social and emotional needs of a diverse learner population, rapidly implement ever-evolving pedagogical practices, deal with major structural changes in learning environments, and do all of this more collaboratively. Added advances in technology mean that many of the ‘instructional’ roles of teachers are being challenged by personalised online learning services and artificial intelligence.


E – Learning - As the culture of e-learning and internships spreads in the country, students will find a more efficient way to gain meaningful education where they would learn a skill online, compliment it with an internship, and repeat this cycle till they hit that sweet spot. The 2000s saw the internet bring a revolution across different sectors, from ordering food to hailing a cab. It has also brought in a revolution in the education sector; on one hand, teachers use technology in their classrooms to make learning interesting for students, and on the other hand, students use the internet to do more in-depth research on the subjects of their interest.


My Source of Motivation - I feel that I am highly self-motivated in all I do- both inside and outside of a work setting. When I set out to do something- whether it is an assigned task or a personal endeavor- I always give it my all- exceed expectations and pay close attention to each and every detail. To add “My biggest motivation is myfamily. They are my biggest source of inspiration and my strongest supporters as well. When I see my parents working, it gives me the drive to be like them. Their dedication to working is what motivates me to be like them.


My specialty /Unique Selling Point - Being an Educationist ,the first and formost attribute that one needs to master is the intellectual skills ,communication skills and emotional skills. I feel my USP is connecting with people and building a team. The first rule of team building is an obvious one: to lead a team effectively, you must first establish your leadership with each team member. Adding to this I build my relationship with them on trust and loyalty, rather than fear or the power of my position. Since I have also evolved from a Pre Primary Teacher to a Headmistress so I believe approachability and connections with my team is my speciality. Also, 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. Also , Through positive interactions, participative thought and genuine welfare, I ensure building a happy team.


My Success Story -My teaching experience has ranged all the way from being a pre primary school teacher 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.

My success story is not one but many but sharing the one which is the most memorable was when I purchased my own car and drove it to my house watching my parents with shining eyes. With me I am not the person to run after success But at the same time I would like to add that it is very important to learn the lessons of failure to celebrate the joy of success. From a Pre Primary Teacher to a Headmistress of school yes there were many obstacles however I feel that Success is the result of key determination and concentration while moving ahead in the path.


My Message -

With the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, most individuals are juggling with mental stress, anxiety, and depression. A positive attitude can impact both physical and mental health. To be positive, you have to use each day as a challenge to get away from negative affirmations and help others to stay positive. Also Make the maximum utilisation of this time , explore your hobbies and interest .You never know there might be a hidden ability in you which needs to be explored. So I wish all viewers my best wishes and Good Health ,God Bless you all.


My 3 Wishes -

1. In todays time my First wish is to get back to our Old Normal, Mind me saying not the New but the Old Normal phase. With students getting up early and fetching their school buses, all lined up for assemblies ,teachers running for biometric punching and their classrooms. I miss all this at present.

2. Well considering the NEP -20 in transition phase , my second wish is to create a Curriculum of Learning full of Fun and Experiential based for our students.So that everyone enjoys learning and teaching and also applyc it in their daily working.

3. Lastly let the world be free from suffering and everyone is happy and Joyful.


My suggestions for school students - Success for a student in life in general – is about daily choices and habits. I was a straight-A student throughout my academic career, but I’ll be the first to declare that grades aren’t everything. Grades are only one part of your education. They’re just more disciplined and focused, and they’ve developed winning habits. So even if you don’t feel as if you’re a smart student, don’t worry. Follow the following tips -Keep track of important dates, deadlines, etc. Eat a healthy diet Manage your thoughts and emotions Take a few minutes to prepare for each class To keep yourself motivated, give yourself small rewards whenever possible. Manage your stress Do and submit your homework on time Challenge yourself Test yourself periodically Find ways to help others and contribute Develop a sense of purpose Take time to Relax Don’t blame others Hang out with people who are motivated and focused Analyse the mistakes you make in tests and exams and learn from them.



Ms. Sheba Thapar

Educationist

Gurugram


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