A dedicated educational leader is fervent in their commitment to supporting academic success for all students and firmly grounded in high standards. These leaders focus on creating a learning environment that emphasizes safety, collaboration, and other essential elements for productive interactions.
Beyond cultivating a positive and supportive atmosphere, they excel at developing leadership among teachers and staff. By encouraging their active involvement in achieving the school’s vision, these leaders enhance the overall effectiveness of the school community and empower individuals to take ownership of their roles. This approach strengthens the school’s impact and drives collective success.
Following this unique approach, a key priority for Adelina Holmes—the Principal of Sampoerna Academy, PI—is improving instructional practices. This enables teachers to perform at their best and students to achieve their utmost potential. By focusing on the continuous development of teaching methods and learning experiences, she strives to elevate the standards of education.
Creating a Purposeful Community
Adelina firmly believes that exceptional schools are built on the efforts of great teachers, staff, parents, and community members. With a steadfast commitment to nurturing a purposeful community, she emphasizes enhancing collective efficacy, communication, professional development, and collaboration with all stakeholders.
Dedicated to working closely with teachers, office staff, and others, Adelina ensures that every child has the best opportunity to excel academically and socially. By promoting a collaborative environment and leveraging the strengths of the entire school community, she aims to build and sustain the remarkable culture that defines her school.
Empowering Growth with Strategies
Since 2004, Adelina has dedicated herself to the field of education, stepping into leadership roles in 2012. Her journey has taken her through diverse countries such as China, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and now, Indonesia. Each location has enriched her understanding of various cultures and histories, enhancing her ability to lead with cultural sensitivity and respect.
Adelina’s academic background includes two master’s degrees—one in Education and the other in Leadership and Management—and she is currently pursuing a doctorate in education. While formal education has been instrumental, the true source of her inspiration comes from her daily interactions with staff and students.
Witnessing the growth and success of those she works with is profoundly fulfilling for Adelina. She finds joy in helping her team members achieve their professional goals, knowing that their progress will positively impact their colleagues, students, and their families. This commitment to nurturing others’ potential is driven by her belief that effective leadership lies in empowering others to reach their full potential.
Adelina’s inspiration stems from the collective success and growth of those around her, fueling her passion for continuous improvement and dedication to educational excellence. She understands that these positive changes will radiate outward, leading to positive changes in the whole community.
Nurturing a Resourceful Learning Environment
Adelina’s vision as an education leader is to inspire teachers and academic staff through open and honest communication, sharing best practices grounded in current research. She aims to create a dynamic and creative educational environment that inspires all members to pursue their goals.
Cultivating a Professional Learning Community
As a school leader, Adelina’s mission is to develop a professional learning community of teachers and academic staff that is both robust and engaged in constructive dialogue about current best practices. She strives to cultivate a creative and resourceful learning environment where ongoing growth, risk-taking, and innovation are encouraged.
Core Values Guiding Leadership
Adelina’s practical approach is grounded in the core values that guide her leadership. She believes in authenticity, inspiring others through the genuine application of learning, and being receptive to feedback. Integrity is essential to her, as she aims to be a trustworthy and transparent principal who leads by example.
Pragmatic and Community-focused Leadership
Pragmatism drives her to demonstrate new ideas in practical ways, ensuring that improvements can be effectively implemented. Community development is central to her mission, as she is committed to sharing her learning journey to support others in achieving their professional goals. Stewardship reflects her dedication to taking responsibility in her leadership role and proactively guiding others within her organization.
Professional Development in Diverse Teams
Throughout her journey, Adelina has faced various challenges including adapting to different educational systems and cultural contexts in multiple countries. She has also managed resistance to change among staff and ensured consistent professional development across diverse teams.
Additionally, balancing administrative duties with instructional leadership while maintaining a focus on student outcomes has presented an ongoing challenge. Despite these difficulties, Adelina has always embraced challenges with enthusiasm and determination, and the result is a school team that is united in its efforts to support all learners in their journeys.
The Role of Collaboration and Shared Leadership
Adelina overcame challenges by cultivating a culture of open communication and trust within her team. She prioritized professional development, ensuring that it was both accessible and relevant to the needs of her staff. By being culturally sensitive and adaptable, Adelina navigated different educational environments effectively. Implementing reflective practices allowed her and her team to continuously evaluate and improve their approaches.
Collaboration and shared leadership were also key strategies, enabling them to address resistance to change and embrace new initiatives collectively. Adelina believes that success lies in having the right people in the right places and helping them share their knowledge and grow together, emphasizing that the leader is not the magical person with all the answers—the team holds the answers.
Integrating Technology for Better Outcomes
Embracing technology has been a pivotal aspect of enhancing the learning experience at Adelina’s school. She has overseen the integration of interactive digital tools and platforms to facilitate personalized learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace. Online collaborative tools have been employed to support teamwork and communication among students and teachers, extending beyond the classroom.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Adelina utilizes data analytics to track student performance and tailor interventions to meet individual needs, as data-driven decision-making is an intrinsic part of her instructional leadership. Regular professional development is provided to ensure that teachers are equipped to effectively integrate these tools into their instruction and use data to improve student outcomes.
Encouraging Student Participation
Extracurricular activities are essential for providing a well-rounded educational experience and helping students develop critical life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and time management. These activities also offer opportunities for students to explore their interests and passions, contributing to their overall personal growth and well-being.
To promote their importance, Adelina ensures that the school offers a diverse range of extracurricular options and actively encourages student participation. She celebrates achievements in these areas and provides platforms for students to showcase their talents, reinforcing the value of holistic education.
Inspiring Teachers to Encourage Exploration and Growth
Adelina published a book last year titled ‘Teach Through Fascination.’ This guide focuses on making education engaging and captivating for students by offering practical strategies, teaching techniques, and real-life examples from successful classrooms. Through her book, Adelina shares her vision of fostering curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.
She aims to inspire teachers to move beyond traditional methods, encouraging exploration, experimentation, and growth. Beyond the publication, she treasures the recognition and appreciation of her teachers, students, and their families, who often express their love for their school and their desire to remain part of it.
Promoting Inclusive Leadership Opportunities
Addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a cornerstone of Adelina’s leadership. She implements policies and practices that promote an inclusive and equitable school environment for students and staff. This includes ensuring that promotions and leadership opportunities are accessible to teachers from all backgrounds and that all staff members are treated equally and fairly.
Adelina provides professional development on DEI to all staff, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain an inclusive classroom environment. She works to create support systems for underrepresented students and ensures that diverse perspectives are incorporated into the curriculum. Adelina strives to create a safe and welcoming environment where everyone can grow, lead, and reach their full potential.
Setting Goals and Reflecting on Progress
Encouraging a growth mindset involves creating an environment where effort and perseverance are valued as much as achievement. Adelina promotes this by celebrating progress and resilience rather than solely focusing on results. She provides opportunities for her team to set goals, reflect on their progress, and learn from setbacks.
By building a culture of continuous improvement, Adelina empowers everyone to view challenges as opportunities for growth. She often tells her staff that while they may not work together forever, she hopes they will look back on their time with her and recognize how much they have grown. Adelina believes that if her staff leave her workplace without more knowledge, skills, and credentials than when they joined, she will have failed as their leader.
Creating a Supportive Educational Community
Adelina envisions a future of inclusive, equitable education in Indonesia, supporting all students’ growth and success. She promotes collaborative professional development, sharing effective strategies across schools, and plans to expand this supportive network.
Committed to addressing educational disparities, she believes true leadership turns dreams into reality, ensuring everyone has the resources and support to reach their full potential. Adelina is dedicated to bringing this vision to life.
Leading with Passion
For aspiring educators and school leaders, Adelina advises maintaining passion and commitment to continuous learning. Building strong, trusting relationships with students and colleagues is foundational to success. She emphasizes embracing reflective practices and being open to feedback, as these will aid in personal and professional growth.
Staying informed about current research and emerging trends in education and being willing to innovate and adapt is crucial. Above all, Adelina underscores the importance of keeping the well-being and success of students at the heart of all efforts.
Exceeding Academic Expectations through Personalized Support
One of the most rewarding success stories under Adelina’s leadership involves a female student who joined the school in the 1st grade. She initially struggled academically and socially due to a language barrier and cultural adjustment. Despite these challenges, the student thrived under Adelina’s guidance, eventually excelling academically and socially.
Recognizing her potential, Adelina and her team implemented a personalized support plan that included one-on-one tutoring, language immersion activities, and additional classroom support.
Over the academic year, the student’s performance improved significantly, progressing from below grade level to meeting and even exceeding expectations in some subjects. Socially, she grew more confident, made friends, and actively participated in class discussions and group projects.
By the end of the year, she was not only excelling academically but also helping her peers with their work and participating enthusiastically in classroom activities. Her transformation from a struggling newcomer to a confident and engaged student in just one year exemplifies the supportive and inclusive environment that Adelina strives to create.
