SCHOOL: A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT

RITCHIE C. LAPUZ

Managing a school is a complex process. You have to deal with the teachers. Dealing with the teachers means dealing with the students, dealing with the students means dealing w with the parents, and dealing with the parents means dealing with the community. Each of them has a share in filling every hole between the academic and practical world.

But what kind of leader should a school have? The one who focused on staff empowerment? The one who build strong relationship with the community? Or the one who directly controlled all aspects of school management?

I do believe that as a school head, you must have control of all aspects of the school, but do not forget that the school is a nurturing environment that is being guarded and bind by principles, beliefs and values. It is true, that managing a school is a hard task, but you are there to serve and you have the abilities to deal with different kinds of people. You are there to encourage, to persuade and come up with sensible solutions when difficult times come. You have the power to encourage and groom students to be the next guardians of the nurturing environment that they live.

As a bridge of knowledge and good governance, you have to make meaningful days to every student. Always remember, teachers will facilitate learning so that students will acquire knowledge, but it is you as a Leader who will prepare them for their next battle, and that is outside the real world.

— oOo— The author is OIC/School Head of Dela Paz Libutad High School