Insights from SHDP course 2018 batch 2

If you want to lead, you need to learn If you want to Learn, You Need to Lead I captured this saying during our School Heads Development Program Course (SHDP). In every training, I learn something new. When I do uncertain task, I learn and discover. This SHDP training are given in 3 modules for 22 days in Vigan City and Brentwood, Baguio City. The Roles of School Heads contained in RA 9155 were highlighted thoroughly in this training. I’m grateful in our Division of Benguet and National Educators Academy of the Philippines –CAR for the opportunity to avail this training which is essential in our role as a school head. Truly this seminar is an avenue to gather learnings from co-participants and speakers experiences to enrich leadership skills of school managers. Secondly, I came to know some new friends who are also school heads in other provinces of Cordillera Administrative Region. I enjoyed listening in the sharing’s of coparticipants and speakers in the problems and challenges they encountered in their schools and solutions they employed to handle the situations. My realization in this session is that a school head must be a risk taker, strategic planner, a problem solver, and collaborator.

In the session “Instructional Leadership”, I am enlightened in the different observation tools to be used in observing classes and the proper approaches to do in conducting pre and post conference to teachers. Since instructional supervision comprises the greatest bulk of a school heads’ task, all of us were reminded to prioritize this work despite of our voluminous work. School Heads are mandated to observe classes to see how teachers deliver their lessons to learners. In this way, they will be providing proper technical assistance to teachers based on their needs to enhance their teaching strategies. Since the business of the Department of Education is the improvement of learners performance, the school head monitors how teachers teach because it re downs to learners performance. My realization in this session is that a school head acts as a motivator, a director, a counsellor, and a lead innovator.

In the last module, the topics focused in the role of a school head as a human resource manager and fiscal manager. In this session, RA 9184 stating accountability of government employees in caring government properties and ethical behaviors contained in RA 6713 were emphasize to school heads as public servants. The speakers oriented us to prioritize in planning and budgeting school programs or school projects for the learners. In this topic, we did reflections which is timely in this month of Lenten season. To observe transparency and honesty religiously were cited as part of our commitment. In relation to the task of a school head as a human resource manager, he is accountable for working the welfare of his subordinates, maximizing their potentials and skills and capacitating them to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. In this topic, I am reminded “To always recognize the effort of our subordinates” by giving awards to high performing employees extrinsically or intrinsically.

God put us in this position to make a difference in the lives of children entrusted in our schools. To make or unmake a child lies in the hands of a school head as the captain of the educational institution. With the overflowing words of encouragement, I’m overhauled to stay and sustain my commitment in my profession. The feeling of resigning to venture into business to get rid of a school head’s multitasks eradicated in my mind. I believe as I go on with my multiple works, I will learn to be more systematic and smarter. Vilma E. Balaodan