Creating Conditions for Success

What is #Success? What does success mean in today’s fast-paced VUCA world?

“Very often, we are chasing a definition of success which is defined by someone else”, said executive coach and author, Papa CJ in an interview. He urged people to not run behind natural outcomes and rather focus more on things that really matter – for example family. “Look, he is doing so well” – a phrase heard so often but has deep layered connotations.

Generally, everything starts with the story we tell ourselves about ourselves. So let us make a conscious effort and bring purpose into the core of the narrative.

In a school ecosystem, we generally tend to define success by student attainment scores or by the number of overseas college admissions or by the number of awards and accolades won by the institution. However, ‘successful’ children leaving the institution after completing their academic years need to be a good co-worker, have perseverance, able to solve problems, and think critically. The first step towards walking on the road towards success is to define it and generate a language of success along with some indicators. If ‘being responsible’ is what defines success, then how does it look like in reality?

?

The following four domains highlight success criteria, beyond academic scores and outcomes:

1.?????? Open communication and shared vision

2.?????? Stakeholder collaboration and peer support

3.?????? Sustainability and world-wise learning

4.?????? Continuous monitoring and measurement

?

Open communication and shared vision: It is important to maintain transparency in communication and share the organizational vision with every employee. The leader is crucial in shaping up an organization and building the right culture. At Seth M. R. Jaipuria Schools , we follow a Jaipuria Leadership Framework covering six domains as academic leadership, business leadership, people leadership, symbolic leadership, cultural leadership, and community leadership. Following up with definitive KRAs and setting expectations for a certain academic year, the leader knows the why and what of the school functioning.

We also encourage continuous communication amongst teachers and reflecting in the process. To aid teachers in their communication between students and fellow colleagues, we have supported them with a Teacher Reflection Journal, which captures yearlong initiatives and best practices that contribute towards one’s professional development.

We understand and acknowledge the importance of wellbeing not only for our students but also for our teachers. Celebrating International SEL Day, organising training sessions on social and emotional learning, integrating aspects of wellbeing in the curriculum are all part of our regular work. In 2022, we went ahead and partnered with Persona Education , UK and are following their Persona Life Skills framework for our students and teachers. Persona Life Skills builds student wellbeing and employability by developing 22 social-emotional life skills across six skillsets—Being Realistic; Communication; Open-mindedness; Problem Solving; Resilience; and Self-control.

?

Stakeholder collaboration and peer support: All teachers want their children to improve. Collective Teacher Efficacy is the collective belief of teachers in their ability to positively affect students. With an effect size of d=1.57 Collective Teacher Efficacy is strongly correlated with student achievement. When teachers collaborate, there’s higher levels of job satisfaction and capability; the openness to give and receive feedback increases; and also helps in actively managing one’s personal well-being.

While school leader and teachers are crucial pillars contributing towards the growth of a student, parent plays an integral part in the overall journey. There are several researches which show that ‘active’ parents contribute significantly towards child development than ‘passive’ parents. Joyce Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement describes six essential dimensions of youth, family, and community engagement and partnership in schools.

“Schools have choices. There are two common approaches to involving families in schools and in their children’s education. One approach emphasizes conflict and views the school as a battleground. The conditions and relationships in this kind of environment guarantee power struggles and disharmony. The other approach emphasizes partnership and views the school as a homeland. The conditions and relationships in this kind of environment invite power-sharing and mutual respect, and allow energies to be directed toward activities that foster student learning and development. Even when conflicts rage, however, peace must be restored sooner or later, and the partners in children’s education must work together.” ?? – Joyce Epstein

It is urged that teachers and other influencers of student development think more like a coach than a ‘know-all’ superior.

?

Sustainability and worldwise learning: In a world of more than 8 billion people, sustainability is definitely not a fad but need to be more at the core of whatever we do. The Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom and recognizes that without partnership at all levels the realization of the dream will never be a reality! The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets announced in 2015 demonstrate the scale and ambition of the universal Agenda. These goals are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. At Seth M. R. Jaipuria Schools, we follow the values of SPICE – where S stands for Sustainability, P for Possibility, I for Integrity, C for Collaboration, and E for Empathy.

To help equip our children to be ready with the right attitude, skills, and knowledge, we must make learning more intellectually appealing. Learning need to be focused more on real-life situations; follow a project-based learning approach; and have strong elements of curiosity and the other C’s of 21st century learning requirements.

We must do everything in our control to make learning experiences more contextual and bring joy in the process of learning. Deeper connect to nature and the surroundings is a definitive way to excite children in the process of learning.

?

Continuous monitoring and measurement: One significant step towards transforming education is first monitoring and measuring things that matter. Bill Gates, in his TED talk titled, “Teachers need real feedback”, states that the most common feedback received by teachers is ‘Satisfactory’. He highlights the need for a specific and meaningful feedback to help teachers improve in their own areas of work. At Seth M. R. Jaipuria Schools, we have drawn inspiration from the National Professional Standards for Teachers document published by National Council of Teacher Education and have created a framework of evaluation. The four domains—Core Values and Ethics; Professional Knowledge and Understanding; Professional Competence and Practice; and Students’ Learning and Engagement with a collective 48 indicators provide a framework that allows teachers to reflect on their own practice, enabling them to identify areas of their own professional development during their careers.

As students become adults, they have to have an ability to self-monitor their behaviour. This independence is not something that is necessarily fostered in most schools. There are multiple ways to help students with this—a student who can plan, organize, and see a project through to the end over time has the self-monitoring ability to do the same in college or in the workplace. Goal setting is another effective instructional strategy found in the research of Marzano. This has been around for a number of years and, as educators, we can see why it is critical for students to set goals in order to be successful.

?

It is imperative to realise that we are human beings and not human doings! So, in order to be successful let us know our why! Simon Sinek, in his latest book, The Infinite Game talks between victory and fulfillment. If we choose the path to victory, the goal is to win and we rush towards the finish line. It is finite and once done, it’s over. However, in the path to fulfillment, the journey will be long and we keep going and inspire others to join in the journey as well.

#Leadership #Education #QualityEducation #SDG #School #Teachers #Principals #Learners #Students #Development #Improvement #Reflection #ProfessionalDevelopment #CPD #Brainfeed