By Angelo G. Garcia
Manila Bulletin
Schools, Colleges, Universities Bulletin
July 21, 2006 F-4
A good school is headed by a good management team and a good ‘school leader’ – principal, director or president – comes rare these days. With the public’s cry for better education in the country, starting from the top of the school heap is the way to start.
Finding a solution to this impending problem is AHEAD Professional Network (AHEADPro) a corporate division of AHEAD Learning Systems, Inc. with their “Leadership Strategies for School Managers” (LESSM) seminar-workshop. A continuous seminar intended to bring local school management to a higher level.
“The main objective is to train principals and school managers in regards to their school management techniques and leadership skills,” says AHEAD president Rossana Llenado.
The seminar is targeting a wider scope as a part of the company’s goal by bringing the seminar-workshop around the country.
“We want to go to the different parts of the country, training principals first, then private coordinators and school managers and then the teachers,” she adds.
AN UNNOTICED NEED
It is a fact that not only nurses and domestic helpers fly to other countries for work. Hundreds of the country’s best teachers and even school managers opt to work abroad in search for greener pastures because it is a fact that their compensation here is extremely low compared to that in other countries.
“Since our good teachers are going abroad, we have to train more school leaders and teachers,” Llenado says.
With this in mind AHEADPro is giving a chance to others who have chosen to stay here, by giving the necessary support they can need through this timely seminar. Improving the technical and the non-technical know-how of principals, directors, coordinators and administrators in school management is a major push to the education sector.
With the main objective in hand, the seminar is backed-up by seasoned academicians as the speakers namely former La Salle Greenhills principal and Philippine Association of Accredited Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) chair Lilia Vengco, president of the Philippine Association of the Gifted and former Dean of U. P. College of Education Dr. Leticia Penano-Ho and former Assistant Headmaster of the Ateneo de Manila Grade School and former PAASCU chair Dr. Cornelia Soto.
The recently conducted seminar featured particular topics that addressed the problem. The topics include, School Management, Supervision and Curriculum Development, Effective School Leadership, and the likes.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD SCHOOL LEADER?
As complicated as it may seem, managing a learning institution successfully can be accomplished through the details, especially the small ones.
“A good leader should be able to, walk the talk, be a good example, like, coming on time, being ready for class and being ready in meetings, one should do his/her homework. Especially, having good rapport with the students, constituents and parents,” Dr. Cornelia Soto explains.
With the right skills and managing techniques, one’s effectiveness is the most important trait of all. Establishing good relations and influence with one’s constituents and subordinates is very significant.
“A good leader should be one who can empower teachers and lead them through the fulfillment of the institution’s vision. One who can direct, who can solve problems, who can anticipate problems before they occur such that problems are minimized in other words one who is pro-active;” Vengco says.
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