Cognition

Lynley Marwick – Professional leader, School Reform Project Qatar 

My role in Qatar is the professional leader of the Cohort 5 school reform project. I started with Cognition for a short term secondment in the beginning of 2006 and spent six months enjoying the role of Advisory Teacher in a model boys school before returning to my principal’s position in Whitby. I returned to Cognition in February 2007 and undertook a sole position of School Management Advisor at a school in Al Wakra.  I assumed my present position as Professional Leader Cohort 4 in August 2007.

Prior to working for Cognition, I have worked as a teacher and school principal in the greater Wellington area for over  30 years. I was a principal for 16 years, with my last appointment being a principal of a full primary (years 1 to 8) Adventure School in Whitby.

Our project in Qatar
Cognition is in its fifth year in Qatar and is one of the largest providers of educational services to the Supreme Education Council (SEC). This year Cohort 5 started with 6 new schools plus 5 continuing schools. Two more schools have been added for a total of 13. Our teams are comprised of a Senior Management Advisor and three Advisory Teachers plus a translator. Our goal is to lead these schools towards independence, and develop them in such a way that can sustain and build on the professional learning provided by our School Support Organisational teams for  the future.  For this to happen we must differentiate our training to incorporate the large variety of needs of the independent school staff.  Our school support teams create opportunities for teachers and principals to share and disseminate best practice through 1:1 coaching, modelling, in class support, professional development workshops and online opportunities that encourage the integrated use of computer technology.  We use a very “kiwi” hands on approach to our work.  Our ability to work alongside the teachers and build on their current knowledge, thereby working with them and not dictating to them, makes us a preferred provider for the schools.

As those of us in education know, it takes a long time to build a reputation. As a result we value team cooperation and professionalism, from personal presentation to providing quality service for the people in our schools. We strive for continual improvement in all we do.
The job of the Professional Leader is to support, guide and facilitate the processes and practices of our teams, our independent schools and ensure that we successfully complete our deliverables. We work hard to ensure that we foster strong relationships that then allow us to assist our schools in this ever changing environment.
I also support, guide and facilitate the processes and practices that our teams deliver to principals and teachers in schools. I work closely with John Ellis, our In Country Manager, and this contributes to the strong team environment we encourage in Doha.  I do my utmost to support and contribute to Cognition’s goal of becoming the lead education service provider in Qatar by working with the independent schools and the SEC offices.
Part of providing professional educational leadership for our team is to use the considerable talents of our School Management Advisor’s and Advisory Teachers. We have development methods to collaborate and share best practice so we can “use the wisdom of the tribe”. This way we ensure consistency of standards across the schools and support to new team members.
Another part of the professional leader’s role is to provide quality assurance of the professional development programmes in our school and ensure that the educational deliverables in the contract are met. I also deputise for the In Country Manager.

Working in Qatar has huge rewards as we see the improvement in teaching and learning across our schools. The dedication that the majority of the teachers show to the educational change is a vital support to our work in Qatar.