Sujatha Gade: Promoting emotional and mental wellbeing for students, employees
Sujatha Gade: Promoting emotional and mental wellbeing for students, employees
For the principal of the Diamond Jubilee High School, Hyderabad, leadership isn't only imparting knowledge to students but also helping colleagues build emotional strength and technical skills
Divya writes about gender, philanthropy, startup and workplace trends, and business from the lens of its impact on people. She is keen to find interesting stories and new ways of telling them. A journalism graduate from Mumbai who was previously with The Economic Times, Divya is also an editor and proof-reader. Outside of work, she likes to travel, read books, drink hot chocolate, and endlessly watch, read and talk about cinema.
Dr Sujatha Gade, Principal, Diamond Jubilee High School, Hyderabad
Sujatha Gade has been in the education sector for close to three decades, and is sure about one thing: As a teacher, it is never about just helping a student graduate from one grade to another. It is also about shaping a child’s future by helping her build a career according to her aptitude, and make her an emotionally strong individual.
The principal of the Diamond Jubilee High School in Hyderabad—which is managed by the non-profit Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), India—leads a team of close to 55 people, out of which 42 are teachers and the rest are administrative and contractual staff. She has been occupying leadership positions in various international schools in Hyderabad over the years, and this is her seventh year working with AKES, India.
Born and raised in a village in Sathupalli in the Kahammam district of Telangana, Gade completed her master’s in mathematics from Osmania University in Hyderabad, following which she secured a master’s and a doctorate in psychology from Sri Venkateswara University.
“My school gives me the opportunity to pursue my passion and commitment to make a difference to the lives of students, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds,” she says.
MA Malik, director, Deccan College of Engineering & Technology, says Gade is “dedicated and hardworking”, and is a team player who inspires confidence in the school management, staff and students.
Since the pandemic, Gade has ensured that her teachers receive emotional and technical preparation to teach virtually, while making sure students are able to take classes online and parents are able to provide basic data connectivity and other amenities. “Ours was the first school in the district to initiate virtual learning in the pandemic,” claims Gade, adding that she also constituted daily “sharing sessions” to help overworked teachers discuss their experiences. “I make sure I am accessible to my team members at all times, so that they can talk to me about issues they are facing, professional or personal.”
Check out our Festive offers upto Rs.1000/- off website prices on subscriptions + Gift card worth Rs 500/- from Eatbetterco.com. Click here to know more.
(This story appears in the 28 January, 2022 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
Get the latest stories, videos, and podcasts from Forbes India directly in your inbox every Saturday
Post Your Comment
Thank you for your comment, we value your opinion and the time you took to write to us!