The Higher Education Review

Shikha Sharma is a visionary educator who is serving in the education field for the last 20 years. An optimistic and a great inspiration to her students, Sharma advocates a specific aim of fostering observation, inculcating confidence, values, tolerance and above all shape up the character of the students. Sharma joined Indus Valley Public School (IVPS) in the year 2009 and in a short span of time through her unparallel efforts has turned IVPS into one of the top-ranked schools in the country. Sharma was awarded "The Best District Principal Award" in acknowledgement of her vision, leadership qualities and academic initiatives on account of which the students of IVPS exhibited outstanding performance at District level in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand State in SOF Cyber, Science, Mathematics and English Olympiad exams for three consecutive years-2014-15, 15-16 & 16-17.

Achieving the Impossible with Immaculate Passion
With the hope of influencing the young mind and heart, Shikha Sharma believes in providing world-class opportunities to her students for showcasing their skills. This idea of changing one's thought by inculcating values in them came from Sharma's own experience. The way her English and Chemistry teachers used to teach, left a lifelong impression on her life, leaving her motivated to be an ideal teacher. Today, living up to the high

standards she had set for her career, Sharma as the Principal at IVPS, is successfully leading the school towards progression.

"Whenever I can bring a change in any student's life, it becomes a great achievement for me." - Shikha Sharma

Despite the complicated challenges a teacher has to confront, every day Sharma comes to her workplace with full energy inspired by a conviction that through education she can move individuals and society to a more promising future. "I always want my students to accomplish something big in their life. From removing stage phobia to creating social awareness, we consider everything which will make them an able citizen of tomorrow," opines Sharma. The mantra that IVPS abides by is to teach all students empathy, which is a much-needed quality in today's world. They are trained to raise their voice against injustice and celebrate their festivals with needy too.

Affiliated to CBSE, IVPS is situated in Sector-62, Noida in an enchanting campus. The entire campus is installed with CCTV, concerning the safety of the children along with excellent facilities like digital classrooms, laboratories, library rooms for vocal and instrumental music and dance, sports grounds and so on. The students are taught using the traditional board coupled with the smart boards, considering the need of the subject. "After joining IVPS, I observed that the examination system of the school has to be modified and given this, few examination reforms were made accordingly," shares Sharma. The school also introduced School Cinema taking the reel way to educate students with the motive of presenting the knowledge in an interesting manner. "It is a film-based learning module combined with a fun and exciting workbook to reaffirm values, morals and equip children with skills to deal with

everyday challenges," explains Sharma.

IVPS not only prepares the students to be achievers, but also motivates them to be a good human being. The school invites application from students for admission ranging from Pre-Nursery to 12 standards. "Students spend more than half of their educational life in our school, hence, it's our primary responsibility to ensure a bright future for them," pinpoints Sharma. The well-qualified and expert faculty members of the school nurture each student with utmost care and guidance. All the faculty members are expert in their own field, having an understanding that every child is different.

"Being a woman educator, sometimes it becomes quite challenging in balancing my time between family and work. But knowing my duty, most of the time I have given my own children's time to my school children," shares Sharma. She comprehends the need of overall development of the students profoundly, given which students at IVPS are highly encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities keeping a rhythm with the academics. "As of now, I want my class 12 students to come out with flying colors in their board exams. In the coming years, I aspire to set at least one branch of IVPS in each state of India," concludes Sharma.

Her Favourites
Book: Agnipath ke Shilalekh

Authors: Dr. Kumar Vishwas & Shri Hariom Pawar

Role Model in Life: My English and
Chemistry teacher

Hobby: Writing Poems

Quote: "The way to get ahead is to start now"