Know Your Teacher: ‘Teaching is the purpose of my life’

A teacher who assumes the position of vice-principal can serve as a positive role model for both students and fellow educators. They can demonstrate effective leadership skills, professionalism, and a commitment to both teaching and administrative responsibilities. This combination of roles can inspire others and contribute to a strong sense of community within the school.

But probably a major advantage of having a teacher who also serves as the vice-principal is that he/she can facilitate better communication between students, teachers, and administration. They can bridge the gap among different groups, ensuring that information flows smoothly and that everyone is on the same page regarding school policies, events, and initiatives.

And this is the role that Virender Kumar Khanna, vice-principal, at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg in Jalandhar dons. In an interview, the educator talks about what a typical day for him is like among other things.

Tell us about your journey at Apeejay?

After I completed my MSc (Physics) and BEd, I joined as a TGT at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg. I was interviewed and appointed by our beloved Founder-Chairman sir, Dr Stya Paul back in 1985. It was such an honour to meet such a visionary. That meeting was such an eye-opener. Once I joined the school, I gradually rose in ranks and here I am today as the vice-principal. I thank the management and the staff for helping me reach where I am today.

You are the vice-principal and HoD? What is a typical day for you?

 There are a few things that are part and parcel of my daily work once I am in school. Receiving students at the gate in the morning when they arrive in the morning is how my day starts. I meet the parents and listen to their problems if they have any and solve them. There are a lot of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) correspondence circulars that come to us. It has to be studied. A gist of that has to be related to principal madam in brief. Decisions that are taken by the head of the institute need to be conveyed to staff and ensure that it is implemented.

What are the tasks related to academics and admissions?

I also look at admissions of students of various classes, specifically direct admissions to classes X and XII as per CBSE rules. We also conduct all home and CBSE exams including competitive exams like NEET and CTET. I hold meetings with department teachers from time to time for synchronisation of syllabus covered in the classes. Another major responsibility is to ensure that the question papers for various exams are ready by the different department heads and have gone for printing.

Being a vice-principal and HoD comes with a lot of responsibilities. How to manage your work-life balance?

 If you enjoy your work then you never feel that it is a burden or a chore. Taking fast and correct decisions to the best of my capabilities makes it easy to balance work-life. I make it a point to conduct result-oriented brief meetings with the staff from time to time also helps.

What according to you has been the biggest achievement so far?

In a career spanning 38 years, there have been several achievements that I can talk about. But my biggest achievement is that I am working at Apeejay Education. It just shows that trust that the management and the administration has in me. This is very humbling.

You teach classes XI and XII. How do you switch from an administrator to a teacher?

I may be a vice-principal but I am a teacher at heart. If you don’t allow the teacher to die inside you it becomes easy to switch from an administrator to a teacher in seconds. Rather the question should have been reversed — how do you switch from a teacher to an administrator?

What are some of the challenges of an administrator? How do you deal with them?

The biggest challenge is that one has to satisfy parents in the office and students in the class. Another challenge as an administrator is to maintain discipline in the school and deliver the best results which are up to the expectations of everyone.

Why did you choose to teach?

Teaching is the purpose of my life.