Greg Parry, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Services in Education shares insights into his journey as an educational leader at the 27th Elets World Education Summit in Malaysia and emphasizes the importance of being an authentic leader who maximizes impact in the education sector. He begins by recounting a pivotal moment in his career when his mentor challenged him to articulate his true motivation, which led him to realize that his passion was to influence the behaviors of a large group of people and make a difference in education.
Parry goes on to describe his company’s work in setting up and managing schools across the world, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between educators and business people to ensure effective school management. He highlights the significance of having a compelling vision and mission as an educational leader, regardless of the specific curriculum or approach a school adopts, and stresses the importance of clear and passionate communication of this vision.
He discusses the concept of “vision and mission integrity” and how educational leaders must ensure that their schools’ practices align with their stated vision and mission. Parry also emphasizes the role of the principal as the instructional leader of the school, with a deep understanding of pedagogy and a focus on maximizing student potential.
Furthermore, he introduces the idea of “signature experiences” that reflect a school’s vision and mission in practice, providing tangible examples of how these experiences should align with the school’s goals. Parry shares his belief in the importance of having a keen sense of the environment and being able to make informed decisions based on instinct and data.
Parry encourages educational leaders to be contrarian and challenge the status quo, advocating for innovative approaches and thinking outside the box. He urges leaders to be proactive in making necessary changes and not to wait when they see opportunities for improvement. Parry concludes by highlighting the vital role educational leaders play in shaping the future generation and driving positive change in the field of education.
