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Let this be, once again, another opportunity to express my happiness and satisfaction with this new professional experience. Northbridge International School Cambodia has received me with open arms and with votes of confidence. It is an honour for me to occupy the position of Deputy Head of Primary and PYP Coordinator.
I want to talk about leadership today. Why is it vital to reinforce leadership in education like the primary Student Council (STUCO) leaders in the photo above?
Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that leadership can be defined as the ability of the human being to adapt to new situations, develop innovation and discover new dimensions to face change and seek solutions.
Celebrate the difference
As educators, we must support our students to develop their leadership skills, to recognize the value of their own voice and, above all, recognize their role within the active and positive transformation of our environment. For this reason, I am convinced that leadership can be taught in school.
If we understand and respect the difference and diversity present in our communities, we will have taken the first step to generate a culture of recognition of the other and, in this way, help to educate effective leaders.
True leadership does not try to impose rules over other opinions. On the contrary, leadership teaches collaboration, recognizes own values and individual differences and puts them at the service of a common good. This creates a culture of recognition and offers everyone a fair and adequate assessment of their capabilities.
Great powers bring great responsibilities
We all have the ability to become leaders. Our duty is to promote students' practices that lead them to improve and discover the dimension of the leader that inhabits each one of us.
It is not simply about influencing the thinking of others; it is about inspiring others. We must provide tools to our students to discover their voice and their capacity for decision making. Reflection and innovation will build a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, a space where different ways of thinking and multiple types of leadership will come together to support a common goal.
Welcome everyone to this adventure, to this challenge that will enrich our vision of the world.