The Transformation of a teacher to a high performing Education Leader How PBL and Experiential Learning propelled Nisha Bhakhar’s leadership journey
Early Life and Challenges
Nisha, began her journey as a teacher in an urban school in India. Her school, like many others in the city, faced challenges such as large classrooms, standard curricula, and a lack of engagement among students caused by boring lecture methods teachers followed. Nisha felt suffocated.While balancing her responsibilities at home and work, she decided to explore the question that her entire schooling never answered- what is the education that empowers the learner?As a mother of a young child, the question gained personal meaning to her. She was determined to give find the answer to give the best education to her son despite limited resources.
Discovering Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Nisha’s turning point came when she joined an average school in Gurgaon, Haryana as it Primary Program Leader. Her school decided to transform itself into an experiential school. Nisha and her teachers attended multiple learning workshops on Project-Based Learning (PBL). Intrigued by its potential, she dove deep into understanding how PBL could transform her teaching practice. PBL focuses on student-driven projects that tackle real-world problems, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Nisha saw this as a way to revolutionize her classrooms, making learning more relevant and engaging for her teachers and students.
Implementing PBL in Her School
Nisha began implementing PBL in all her classes. She got PBL projects designed that were interdisciplinary, aligning with the curriculum while allowing students to explore their interests and apply their knowledge practically. One notable project involved
her students learning about their school, classrooms, playground and the rest of the school. This made them so much more connected to not just their classroom, but all the classes, school campus, teachers, maids, gardeners and guards! It is in creating
this ‘community relationship’ lies the success of Project Based Learning.
Pedagogical Revolution
As Nisha witnessed the positive impact of PBL, she realized its potential to bring about a broader pedagogical revolution. She started advocating for PBL, conducting training sessions for her colleagues, and sharing success stories. Her efforts paid off as more teachers adopted PBL, leading to a noticeable improvement in student engagement and academic performance.
Pedagogical Revolution
As Nisha witnessed the positive impact of PBL, she realized its potential to bring about a broader pedagogical revolution. She started advocating for PBL, conducting training sessions for her colleagues, and sharing success stories. Her efforts paid off as more teachers adopted PBL, leading to a noticeable improvement in student engagement and academic performance.
Rising as a team builder
Nisha’s dedication and hard work paid off. She became known for her leadership qualities and of having high standards of work ethics. Her leadership style was inclusive and empowering, encouraging teachers to experiment and share their insights. Nisha’s school became a model of excellence, attracting attention from educational organizations and policymakers.
Expanding Her Influence
Driven by her success, Nisha pursued further professional development, attending international conferences and collaborating with educational experts worldwide. She applied her learnings to develop a comprehensive PBL curriculum that was adopted
by multiple schools across India. Her vision expanded beyond her school as she aimed to bring high-quality education to more children.
Leading High-Quality Schools
Nisha’s expertise led her to lead multiple high-quality schools, including international board institutions. Her schools were known for their innovative practices, excellent academic results, and holistic development programs. Nisha ensured that each school had a supportive learning environment, well-trained teachers, and ample resources to facilitate PBL and other progressive teaching methods.
Transforming into a Competent Leader
Through continuous learning and leadership, Nisha transformed from an average headmistress to a competent, empowered school head. Her journey was marked by resilience, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Nisha’s schools not only excelled academically but also produced well-rounded, socially responsible students.
Founding an Educational Organization
Recognizing the need for a larger impact, Nisha is currently collaborating with a large business house. Together they have founded an educational organization that encompasses a school, hostel, and a resource-rich campus. Her organization is
aiming to provide quality education to underprivileged children such as tribals and scheduled castes, offering shelter, education, scholarships and financial aid. Situated in Nellore of Andhra Pradesh, the campus is going to become a hub for educational
innovation, liberating thousands of highly underprivileged children who would otherwise have remained tethered to their extreme poverty and sufferings.