Know Your Teacher: ‘Exposure to best learning practices helped me evolve as an educator’

Sanya Malhotra, an educator at Apeejay School International (ASI), South Delhi, teaches Business Management to Diploma Programme (DP) students, and Individuals & Societies (I&S) to Middle Year Programme (MYP) students. She also serves in the capacity of CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) coordinator for DP students. Read on to know more about her journey:  

What keeps you motivated as a teacher?

The thought of coming to an amazing workplace every day, an opportunity to work with some of the best minds in the education industry, the inner boost to explore and discover more about IB, and a chance to learn and grow together with my amazing students are some of the key reasons that keep me motivated as a teacher.

In addition to this, the management at ASI is extremely supportive and never shies away from providing any assistance required by staff members. The managers carry forward the same ethos of the management when dealing with the teaching staff.

How do you ensure that your teaching methodologies align with the changing educational landscape and meet the needs of your students?

I keep myself abreast with the latest teaching methodologies by staying in touch regularly with our ‘My IB’ portal for educators. Also, the school frequently conducts training programmes for faculty members by enrolling them in certified IB subject-specific workshops (I have completed Cat 1 training by IB and was enrolled by the school for the same).

We ensure regular inclusion of the information mentioned in our respective subject guides prescribed by the IB. The faculty at school is encouraged to be a part of several professional WhatsApp groups where teaching and learning approaches are discussed. Moreover, regular collaboration meetings held at school provide a platform for sharing different strategies and approaches adopted by the teachers at our school in classroom engagements.

How has your journey at Apeejay been? Apart from teaching, are you involved in other activities at school?

I have had an enriching journey with opportunities to evolve as an educator and get exposure to some of the best learning practices adopted at ASI. I have evolved as a teacher over the past three years and with the recent addition of the role of CAS coordinator. I receive constant encouragement from my coordinators and the principal.  

Apart from teaching, I have been catering to the role of a form tutor for the third consecutive year for the DP segment. Apart from these, we also have regular duties allocated by our coordinators for different events scheduled over the year as per our school calendar.

My journey at ASI has been a mix of learning and professional growth. I have enjoyed lighter moments as well (in the form of several celebrations and recognitions), making it a memorable experience overall.