Educational Leadership: A Superintendent’s Calling
Jareliese Mauro finds out how a former International Director becomes accustomed in her new role as superintendent in Cebu International School.
It may be a tough transition in careers and even in the adjustment to Cebu’s sizzling weather but Deidre Fischer is tougher. She brings in her 21 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in different countries (Australia, Mongolia, and China) with her post graduate, mater’s degree in Curriculum and Administration from Deakin University in Australia. Her effective oversight of all operations in academic headship, business and financial management, personnel administration, and even community-school relations is what got her hired in the first place. More often than not, a school superintendent’s job is as much a talent, as it is competence, or technical knowledge, adhering to the much popular adage, “the buck stops here.”
CIS (Cebu International School) is internationally-accredited by three organizations: Council of International Schools (Europe-based), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (California-based), and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities. There only 7 schools in the Philippines offering the International Baccalaureate program, including CIS, and Deidre ‘s ultimate goal is to build a stronger foundation and eventually raise the school’s profile within the Asia Pacific Region. “All good international schools have a set of policies which guide the operations. CIS leads by example through implementing these policies which push forward-thinking programs that will uphold its being an international school,” maintains Deidre in a maternal yet firm Aussie accent.
Being accountable for continuous appraisal of curriculum and courses of study and professional development of staff is not an easy task; that is why Deidre believes in team work. “Many heads are better than one. Together with the staff and board, we work on common goals and do what it takes to achieve them,” enthuses Deidre. She reiterates the importance of a teacher asserting that she has to look beyond the qualifications and gather that a teacher applicant has to have passion in teaching to make a big and positive impact to the students. She knows what it is like since she has been a teacher herself in business, economics, and math courses. Even her staff is taking notice of her dedication to improvement and leadership skills. “Miss Fischer is efficient and fast in everything that she does. Even in the first hour of the morning, she has already accomplished many important tasks. Best of all, we admire her for her rigid yet approachable manner. I’m glad to say that she fits right in,” reports an insider. It seems like this "everyone's boss" has made an impressive impression on her personnel.
Seeing the “big picture," Deidre hauls together other elements to a unified and constructive whole. This includes being responsible for the students’ conduct and code of discipline preserved in CIS. “In everything you do or say, everything boils down to one word: Respect. Student behavioral modification starts by being a good role model to them,” Deidre says this as-a-matter-of-factly. From setting up interschool sports events, to carrying out a mangrove rehabilitation project for Habitat, this polymath has done it all yet never tires. This self-confessed netball fanatic owns up, “In everything that I do, I always strive for the best. In making decisions, I first ask myself, ‘Will it improve student learning?’.” When Deidre is not busy at work, she retires to another world. And it could either be in the comforts of her own home as she cooks, sews, and reads, or outside with Mother Nature as she gears up for a ski or scuba trip.
Source of photo:
http://www.cis.edu.ph/main.aspx
It may be a tough transition in careers and even in the adjustment to Cebu’s sizzling weather but Deidre Fischer is tougher. She brings in her 21 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in different countries (Australia, Mongolia, and China) with her post graduate, mater’s degree in Curriculum and Administration from Deakin University in Australia. Her effective oversight of all operations in academic headship, business and financial management, personnel administration, and even community-school relations is what got her hired in the first place. More often than not, a school superintendent’s job is as much a talent, as it is competence, or technical knowledge, adhering to the much popular adage, “the buck stops here.”
CIS (Cebu International School) is internationally-accredited by three organizations: Council of International Schools (Europe-based), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (California-based), and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities. There only 7 schools in the Philippines offering the International Baccalaureate program, including CIS, and Deidre ‘s ultimate goal is to build a stronger foundation and eventually raise the school’s profile within the Asia Pacific Region. “All good international schools have a set of policies which guide the operations. CIS leads by example through implementing these policies which push forward-thinking programs that will uphold its being an international school,” maintains Deidre in a maternal yet firm Aussie accent.
Being accountable for continuous appraisal of curriculum and courses of study and professional development of staff is not an easy task; that is why Deidre believes in team work. “Many heads are better than one. Together with the staff and board, we work on common goals and do what it takes to achieve them,” enthuses Deidre. She reiterates the importance of a teacher asserting that she has to look beyond the qualifications and gather that a teacher applicant has to have passion in teaching to make a big and positive impact to the students. She knows what it is like since she has been a teacher herself in business, economics, and math courses. Even her staff is taking notice of her dedication to improvement and leadership skills. “Miss Fischer is efficient and fast in everything that she does. Even in the first hour of the morning, she has already accomplished many important tasks. Best of all, we admire her for her rigid yet approachable manner. I’m glad to say that she fits right in,” reports an insider. It seems like this "everyone's boss" has made an impressive impression on her personnel.
Seeing the “big picture," Deidre hauls together other elements to a unified and constructive whole. This includes being responsible for the students’ conduct and code of discipline preserved in CIS. “In everything you do or say, everything boils down to one word: Respect. Student behavioral modification starts by being a good role model to them,” Deidre says this as-a-matter-of-factly. From setting up interschool sports events, to carrying out a mangrove rehabilitation project for Habitat, this polymath has done it all yet never tires. This self-confessed netball fanatic owns up, “In everything that I do, I always strive for the best. In making decisions, I first ask myself, ‘Will it improve student learning?’.” When Deidre is not busy at work, she retires to another world. And it could either be in the comforts of her own home as she cooks, sews, and reads, or outside with Mother Nature as she gears up for a ski or scuba trip.
Source of photo:
http://www.cis.edu.ph/main.aspx
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