For the past week, I have had the pleasure of staying in the beautiful city of Bhubaneswar, in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. While in Bhubaneswar, I have worked with the SAI International School. SAI is a pre-K through Standard XII school with close to 3,000 students and a remarkable philosophy and campus.
At first glance, SAI is visually impressive - several large brick and pink structures, including, but not limited to, dorms, a rock climbing wall, stables (horses!), swimming pools, cricket batting cages, and a pre-K center under construction that is intended to look like a Disney castle. It is the type of campus that you only see in movies (I'm talking to you "10 Things I Hate About You") or in exclusive American private schools.
I could go on and on about the facilities offered to students and faculty at SAI, but that would overlook the most exceptional part of the school, which is the dedication of the staff, administration, parents, and students to the development of the whole child and future leaders of India. Teachers at SAI are just as bound by the constrictions of the Indian state curriculum, but the teachers here go to great lengths to provide students with real-life opportunities through formative assessments, and through the numerous clubs. When talking to teachers, they all lament the confines of the system, but are eager to discuss new ideas with us to help their students move from rote memorization to real life understanding and analysis.
The students are also phenomenal. I will never tire of being called "Megan ma'am", as the students do at SAI. The students are exceptionally polite, and always curious if I am comfortable or enjoying my stay. While on a community service project with a government school in the nearby city of Cuttack, I witnessed SAI students acting as stewards of their school, community, and country as they worked to read stories, color pictures, and play games with the other school's students. They were kind, self-motivated, and empathetic throughout the entire experience. At the same event, we traveled with some international students, many of whom seemed disinterested and distracted by phones or each other. This one community service experience is a microcosm of the success of SAI's goal to develop Indian and global leaders.
Such leadership has also been demonstrated this weekend, as SAI is hosting over 300 students from India and 15 different countries during a SAI MUN, a model United Nations competition. The SAI students worked tirelessly to prepare for this event, and many of them have participated in the opening ceremonies, the activity itself, or as volunteers. These students couldn't wait to tackle world issues with their peers, and their excitement was infectious to the adults around them.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the amazing support system upon which SAI is built. The Chairman who founded the school has created an institution, that in just 7 short years has rocketed to the 8th best school in the entire country. His vision, coupled with the support of the community stakeholders, makes all the difference in this school, as it does in the United States. Students excel, as I have mentioned before, when they have strong advocates for their education and well-being. SAI's success doesn't come from the rock climbing wall or the horses, but from the extraordinary system of supporters that provide a foundation of leadership for its students.
At first glance, SAI is visually impressive - several large brick and pink structures, including, but not limited to, dorms, a rock climbing wall, stables (horses!), swimming pools, cricket batting cages, and a pre-K center under construction that is intended to look like a Disney castle. It is the type of campus that you only see in movies (I'm talking to you "10 Things I Hate About You") or in exclusive American private schools.
I could go on and on about the facilities offered to students and faculty at SAI, but that would overlook the most exceptional part of the school, which is the dedication of the staff, administration, parents, and students to the development of the whole child and future leaders of India. Teachers at SAI are just as bound by the constrictions of the Indian state curriculum, but the teachers here go to great lengths to provide students with real-life opportunities through formative assessments, and through the numerous clubs. When talking to teachers, they all lament the confines of the system, but are eager to discuss new ideas with us to help their students move from rote memorization to real life understanding and analysis.
The students are also phenomenal. I will never tire of being called "Megan ma'am", as the students do at SAI. The students are exceptionally polite, and always curious if I am comfortable or enjoying my stay. While on a community service project with a government school in the nearby city of Cuttack, I witnessed SAI students acting as stewards of their school, community, and country as they worked to read stories, color pictures, and play games with the other school's students. They were kind, self-motivated, and empathetic throughout the entire experience. At the same event, we traveled with some international students, many of whom seemed disinterested and distracted by phones or each other. This one community service experience is a microcosm of the success of SAI's goal to develop Indian and global leaders.
Such leadership has also been demonstrated this weekend, as SAI is hosting over 300 students from India and 15 different countries during a SAI MUN, a model United Nations competition. The SAI students worked tirelessly to prepare for this event, and many of them have participated in the opening ceremonies, the activity itself, or as volunteers. These students couldn't wait to tackle world issues with their peers, and their excitement was infectious to the adults around them.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the amazing support system upon which SAI is built. The Chairman who founded the school has created an institution, that in just 7 short years has rocketed to the 8th best school in the entire country. His vision, coupled with the support of the community stakeholders, makes all the difference in this school, as it does in the United States. Students excel, as I have mentioned before, when they have strong advocates for their education and well-being. SAI's success doesn't come from the rock climbing wall or the horses, but from the extraordinary system of supporters that provide a foundation of leadership for its students.