Mohammad Umar

My journey as an educator began with a simple yet powerful belief that teaching is my IKIGAI—the reason I wake up every morning. I began my professional journey as a Middle School Educator at Eastern Public School, Bhopal, and went on to serve as the Associate Middle School Coordinator for the Cambridge Programme. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to teach across diverse learning environments, including underprivileged communities through the Robin Hood Army and as a Teach For India Fellow (2022 Cohort), where I taught Grade 7 students and underwent intensive pedagogical training at FLAME University, Pune. I have also completed Cambridge International training, which strengthened my understanding of internationally recognised approaches to teaching and learning. My approach is rooted in activity-based learning, meaningful student-teacher relationships, and understanding the unique needs of every learner. I believe every child deserves to feel mentally, physically, and emotionally safe while experiencing joy, love, and hope in their learning journey. Beyond the classroom, I have taken on roles such as House Mentor, Assembly In-charge, Educational Trip Coordinator, MUN and competition mentor, and Wellbeing Mentor. These experiences have shaped my belief that leadership is not defined by a designation, but by the impact, inspiration, and positive change we create in the lives of others. I continue to learn, reflect, and grow with the aim of nurturing independent learners, responsible individuals, confident decision-makers, impactful communicators, and future leaders.

I don’t think I chose teaching; I think I discovered it. Very early in my journey, I realised that I felt most fulfilled when I could help someone understand something, see a possibility they had not noticed before, or simply feel more confident about themselves. Over time, I understood that what truly draws me to teaching is not just the joy of learning, but the opportunity to influence how a young person sees themselves and the world around them.

For me, a classroom is a space where small moments can create lasting impact—a student finding their voice, taking a risk, asking a difficult question, or beginning to believe, “I can do this.” I teach because I want to create more of those moments. I want my students to leave my classroom not only knowing more, but feeling more curious, confident, compassionate, and capable than when they walked in.