Rita Pierson, a renowned educator once said, "Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, & insists they become the best they can possibly be". Pallavi Mishra, Principal, Oakridge International School is an appropriate role model of the above ideology. She is an influential leader who believes in cultivating a child's mind to the highest possible potential. Pallavi, as a principal, shoulders the responsibility of being a mother figure to 1000+ students & 200+ staff and directing them towards a common vision of positive influence & all-around excellence. Her two decades of experience in the field of education have taught her to identify the strengths of every student irrespective of their grades. Such leadership style has won many hearts and made her the most-loved mentor among her students.

She has also recently been honored with the Best Principal Award by the Indian Talent Olympiad. Pallavi is a visionary leader whose goal is to create an ecosystem of mutual enrichment and encourage academic achievers to help lift the mediocre. She believes in the balance of law &  love in teaching and directs educators to discipline their students with love & compassion. Let's hear it from her.

What motivated you to venture into the field of education & later become a principal?

My mother was a professor & a principal in a college and I was inspired by the way she transformed so many lives. Secondly, I felt that by being an educator, I can be a lifelong learner. I can continuously change and reinvent myself by helping others & I believe education is the best way to do that. Hence, I ventured into the field of education. I started as an English teacher 22 years ago. I never really planned to be a principal; it was my students who saw the potential in me. My leadership style is not just about celebrating successful children, but also about building the confidence of different ability groups. And that is something that students find unique about me.

Tell us about your responsibilities as a principal. What are the primary focus areas in your current role?

Being the business & academy head of the organization, my roles have been extremely strategic; right from recruitment, to ensuring professional development for staff, building a culture in the school, creating a safe learning environment, parent communication, engaging with stakeholders, & integrating technology into the learning & teaching methodology. My role is everywhere but my approach is to be in the background, I like to coach and delegate and make sure that the people who are with me get enabled and recognized. My primary focus areas are to provide holistic education to children, professionally develop teachers, & execute long-term planning & expansion of the school.

What are some of the most pressing challenges that you encounter as an educator? How do you successfully mitigate these challenges?

The challenges have been to bridge the learning gaps that were caused during virtual school education. And now that we are back to offline school, the biggest concern is to ensure that we continue to stay functional physically. Therefore, crisis management is also a part of my role; pre-empting it, seeing it ahead, & creating a plan around it helps me mitigate difficult situations.

“My role is everywhere but my approach is to be in the background, i like to coach and delegate & make sure that the people who are with me get enabled & recognized”

In your opinion what is the current state of early education in India? What steps can be taken to ensure better learning outcomes for students?

Over the years, I have noticed that there is more theory around education and lesser heart. Theory alone will not get you through. So, I try to find the balance between love and law. This job involves a lot of compassion. The technical approach to education will get confined to books making it routine & boring. If we want the children to evolve, we need to focus on holistic education & recalibrate the way we are raising them. We have to connect, respect, understand, and allow them to take the lead sometimes. In my opinion, education is not just about being an expert in the subject but also being a co-traveler in the journey of life.

What would you advise the young educators foraying into the field of education?

You must work upon yourself first, identify your strengths & weaknesses and then work on the outside. You must be the same inside out, only then do the values that you uphold will have the greatest impact.

Pallavi Mishra, Principal, Oakridge International School

Having a M.A. In English Literature From Delhi University, An Executive Mba From Iim Bangalore, & A 1 Year World Literature Course From Austin Community College, Pallavi Has 22+ Years Of Strong Experience In The Field Of Education. Some Of Her Awards Include Top 50 Principals Of India On The Ulektz Wall Of Fame & Times Education Excellence Award. She Believes In Building A Safe Environment That Encourages Holistic Learning & Life Skills That Prepare Children For Future Adversities.