The Higher Education Review

Starting her teaching career at the early age of 20, Dr. Monalisa Dash is a versatile educator, who served in the varied role from a soft skill trainer for the management students, IB teacher at Oakridge International School to PYP coordinator and finally as the Principal at Shantiniketan International School (SNIS). Before joining SNIS, Dr. Dash also worked at Geethanjali, the Global School as a Founder Principal where she with her unbeatable efforts helped the school arrive a turnover for 700 students in a span of three years. She has attended several National and International workshops and seminars as IB educationist. A recipient of a Gold medal and Jyoti Ratna Award for her thesis on Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of being earnest" titled "The Sacred and the Profane", she also received Konark award as an Odissi dancer. Apart from teaching, Dr. Dash also did freelancing and news reporting for AIR, authored 200 books for the Primary school along with supporting three girls' education.

Resilient to Failure

A multi-talented and philanthropist by nature, Dr. Monalisha Dash picked up teaching as her profession with the aspiration of empowering her students to identify issues and find a solution to the same, make choices in life and become problem solvers. Dr. Dash as a Principal plays a significant role at SNIS, where she keeps an eye on every child's progress personally with the help of the team of proficient teachers. Offering CBSE as well as IB syllabi, SNIS hosts students from Nursery to 12th standard. The factor

that makes SNIS unique from other international school is its pledge of instilling the students' global thoughts with right attitudes and values.

"I do not fear failures, as I ensure that I prepare strategies to win."
-Dr. Monalisa Dash

"Although we expose students to the global trend we also ensure that globalization doesn't affect the values of our students. As we allow them to make choices, we also teach them to keep their values intact while composing their choices," opines Dr. Dash. Right from the formative year till their maturity, students at SNIS are groomed in a manner that makes them holistically developed and ready to confront the real-life situations. Located at Sanikpuri, Hyderabad, the school was founded and managed by KPR Educational Academy consisting of a management board that is having a vast experience of over 26 years in running successful educational institutions in the city.

Leaving no stone unturned, SNIS promises to transfer the best knowledge to the students by going beyond the full-fledged curriculum and enable students for real-world learning by creating scenarios where they can take decisions and solve practical problems. "Being in the education sector for a long time now and calling myself an educationist, my favorite aspect is to bring a transformation in the education system. Education should address body, mind, and soul of an individual," shares Dr. Dash. The internationally trained teaching staff of the school which is ideally led by Dr. Dash participates regularly in different professional development programme endowing them the ability to deliver the best learning to the students.

In order to prepare the students to be the future leaders, the teachers are directed to incorporate the value of teamwork in them through asking them to take responsibilities and later evaluate things on a team basis.

A proper blend of practical and theoretical knowledge is imparted to the students by constantly adopting innovative teaching pedagogies. For carrying out these activities, the gigantic campus of the school with a state-of-the-art infrastructure helps greatly. Dr. Dash states, "Every individual has their own talent and passion, we cannot push them towards something which is not a true calling for them. Hence, I make sure that all the students get the space and freedom to nurture their hidden potentialities." The campus is beatified with modern laboratories, adequate indoor and outdoor games facilities, spacious classrooms and so on, addressing every need of the students.

The management shares a very close relationship with the parents comprehending their act in the students' life when at home. The parents are kept fully-informed regarding their child's progress, achievements and scope for further improvement and are requested to visit the school for meeting the teachers and Principal at frequent intervals. Considered as the guiding light of SNIS, Dr. Dash is an expert when it comes to balancing her personal and professional life. She provides ample time to her students along with spending quality time with her daughter whenever feasible. "I am good at managing my time and organizing work simultaneously. And, I presume this is the primary trait that makes one, a successful women leader in the education industry," concludes Dr. Dash.

Her Favorites

Book: Bhagavad Gita

Authors: Ruskin Bond and RK Narayan

Role model: My dad

Holiday Destination: Italy

Quote: "Where there is a will, there is a way"