Page 62 - EducationWorld October 2020

People

state and Union territories selection ECCE evangelist tary schools. Subsequently in 1979,
committees. East Tennessee State University in
History. A committed believer in life- Johnson City appointed her as facul-
long learning and graduate of Delhi, ty to teach final year early childhood
Himachal, Maharshi Dayanand education undergrads. Since then for
(Rohtak) and Manipal universities, over two decades, she taught courses
Arora is currently researching for offered in the varsity’s undergradu-
her Ph D dissertation on education ate programme on child, infant/
at Rajasthan University. In 1998, toddler development, language and
she was appointed founder-principal literacy development, creativity and
of Mount Abu Public School, the arts, and curriculum design and
Rohini, promoted by the Mount headed its Centre of Excellence in
Abu Education Society (regd.1987), Early Childhood Learning & Devel-
established by renowned Delhi- opment.
based educationist Shri Dina Nath. Direct talk. “My goal is to spread
In 1989, the society promoted the awareness of the critical importance
Mount Abu Public School, Shalimar of children’s early years develop-
Bagh (Delhi). The society’s second ment through specially curated
school (MAPS-R), which admitted its workshops and presentations. I try
first batch of 35 children mentored to pack my presentations with latest
by four teachers in 1998, has since Isbell: enthusiastic response research, practical ideas, visuals of
evolved into a “full capacity” K-12 early childhood classrooms, anec-
day school with 2,800 students and nternational early years’ educator dotes and experiences to celebrate
115 faculty. DR. REBECCA ISBELL teaches the the joys of working with creative
Direct talk. “Although this year our IPh D programme in early child- young children,” says Isbell, who has
CBSE board exam results were good hood care and education (ECCE) at conducted workshops throughout
with our students averaging 85 the East Tennessee State University, the US from Alaska to New York, and
percent, in MAPS-R our priority is Johnson City (USA). Despite also has addressed international confer-
to teach a much wider curriculum being a busy motivational speaker ences in Denmark, Singapore, China
to our students to prepare them and ECCE consultant, Dr Isbell has and Canada.
for the complex higher education authored 13 books and penned nu- Future plans. Delighted by the
and workplaces of the future. merous essays on creativity, learning enthusiastic response to her key-
Moreover in MAPS-R, we take the environments, literacy, the arts and note address at the KLAY global
United Nations SDGs (Sustainable child development. summit, Isbell plans to deepen her
Development Goals) very seriously Newspeg. In early September, Dr. Is- engagement with ECCE centres and
and have established several labs in bell was invited to deliver a (virtual) teachers in India. “I was pleased to
which our students can study and keynote address (‘United to nurture discover that India which has the
research options to implement the young creative thinkers who can world’s largest child population,
SDGs in school and incorporate them flourish in the changing 21st century has acknowledged the importance
into their daily lives,” says Arora. world’) at the second edition of the of universalising ECCE in its new
Future plans. A firm believer in International Summit on Early Years National Education Policy 2020
the value of children developing (ISEY) — a global summit on early that I had the privilege of reading
skilling capability from early age, childhood care & education — organ- recently. If implemented in letter
Arora intends to extend the menu of ised online by the Bangalore-based and spirit, young learners across
skilling options available to MAPS-R KLAY (Kids Learning And You) the country will benefit from quality
students. “One of the most overdue Group which runs a chain of over programmes designed to strengthen
and positive features of the recently 150 preschools and day care centres their critical competencies including
released National Education Policy countrywide. developing language, literacy, sci-
2020 is its mandate to introduce History. Awarded a Ph D in early ence, math, social, collaboration and
holistic multi-disciplinary and childhood education: literacy and problem-solving skills, in a holistic
skilling education. We intend to child development by the Univer- manner. Therefore I look forward to
implement this mandate very sity of Tennessee, Dr. Isbell began participating in more workshops and
enthusiastically,” says this visionary her career as an elementary school summits in India,” says Isbell.
award-winning school leader. teacher and later taught gifted and Swagatam!
Autar Nehru (Delhi) talented children at several elemen- Paromita Sengupta (Bangalore)

62 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2020