If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an Academic Supervisor, it’s that no two days are ever the same. One day you’re deep in curriculum discussions and lesson planning, and the next, you’re chasing a projector that seems to have taken leave just before a crucial result discussion.
This happened about ten years ago when I was newly appointed as the Academic Head. We were still learning to use technology—cautiously, and with a healthy dose of scepticism. It was a PLC meeting with the heads of departments, and the agenda was to analyse half-yearly examination results. I had meticulously prepared result samples and performance cases for each department, armed with ambitious plans of action for every issue I had identified.
Then came the twist. I connected my laptop, clicked the file, and… nothing. The projector blinked once, then went dark. I tried everything—unplug, replug, restart, even whispered a few desperate pleas. The projector, it seemed, had made its own action plan that day: complete disengagement.
The HODs, of course, were secretly delighted. No projector meant no data on display, no difficult discussions, and—according to one particularly optimistic person—no meeting at all. I could almost see the collective sigh of relief.
But I wasn’t going down without a fight. I grabbed a marker, turned to the whiteboard, and said, “Alright, new plan. You will present your results and action plans today.”
We divided into groups—Science, Commerce, and Humanities—and each group was tasked with identifying a common challenge and proposing a feasible solution. At first, there was hesitation/mild panic, but soon the room buzzed with conversation. They began realizing that shared challenges made problem-solving easier and more meaningful than simply following a pre-written plan.
They debated, corrected each other, and even started jotting down strategies to improve student performance like finding the root cause, promoting active learning, providing individual support, establishing consistent routines etc. Ideas flowed, debates turned into collaboration, and by the end, the room was a lively mix of laughter, insights, and ownership. The projector never revived, but everyone had switched on in a far more valuable way. That day, we didn’t just discuss results—we built collective responsibility and shared leadership.
And that’s when I learned that leadership isn’t always about being the one holding the mic or the slide clicker. Sometimes, it’s about handing over and stepping aside.
Amid the chaos are endless coffee-fuelled meetings, last-minute timetable miracles, and those heartwarming moments when a teacher tries something new and loves it. That’s what makes it all worthwhile knowing that every spreadsheet, every pep talk, every shared laugh contributes to something bigger: a culture of learning, laughter, and a shared purpose.
At the end of the day, it’s not about perfection—it’s about perspective. Finding joy in the mess, humour in the hiccups, and inspiration in the everyday stories that make school life so beautifully unpredictable. And if I were to borrow from my Math roots, I’d say I’ve long outgrown the idea that 1 + 1 = 2. Instead, I prefer a little computer logic:1 + 1 = 1, because true leadership is about finding that collaborative solution where ideas merge, strengths combine, and everyone wins together.
RANA KAUSAR
SR. SUPERVISOR–QUALITY ASSURANCE TEACHING / LEARNING
