Lucknow: In a remarkable celebration of teacher leadership and voluntary participation, a special event was organized in Lucknow under the guidance of SCERT Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with the Language and Learning Foundation (LLF) and Tata Trusts. The event highlighted the inspiring and successful journey of the ‘Alumni Mentor Model’, marking a significant step in expanding collaborative teacher-led initiatives across the state.
The event witnessed the gracious presence of key dignitaries including Ganesh Kumar, Director, SCERT Uttar Pradesh; Dr. Pawan Sachan, Joint Director; Deepa Tiwari, Deputy Director (Education Department); and Dheer Jhingran, Founder and Executive Director, LLF.
As part of this unique model, 26 dedicated educators from 8 districts of Uttar Pradesh voluntarily took on the role of mentors after completing LLF’s one-year foundational language teaching course, developed in partnership with Tata Trusts and recognized by TISS – Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education, Mumbai. These mentors, who serve in various roles such as SRGs, ARPs, headmasters, cluster resource persons, and teachers, not only inspired over 300 teachers to enroll in the course but also provided continuous guidance and support throughout the year.
The mentors facilitated learning through a blend of online and in-person sessions, peer dialogue, and resource-sharing. Notably, the initiative was driven entirely by self-motivation, without any monetary incentive, showcasing the educators’ commitment to professional development and quality language instruction.
Leadership Voices Applaud the Initiative
Ganesh Kumar, while addressing the mentors, remarked:
“Children have immense potential—the only missing piece is opportunity. This program ensures that when teachers understand how to provide meaningful learning spaces, every child can thrive. The real success of this model will reflect when the learning acquired here is embedded into classroom practices and enhances student outcomes.”
Dr. Pawan Sachan praised the initiative as a powerful example of teacher-led change, expressing a vision for state-wide scale-up:
“From 26 mentors today, we aspire to grow this number to 2,600 and even 26,000. This is not just training; it is a movement of empowered educators leading the way.”
Deepa Tiwari encouraged mentors to apply the evidence-based teaching strategies learned through the course into their classrooms for tangible improvement in student learning levels.
Dheer Jhingran, founder of LLF, thanked SCERT for its unwavering support and commended the mentors for their extraordinary dedication:
“In my 35 years in the education sector, I have not seen a more inspiring example of voluntary, collaborative professional development. This is a historic moment not just for Uttar Pradesh, but for the entire country.”
At the conclusion of the event, all 26 alumni mentors were felicitated with certificates of recognition. The program was supported by LLF team members including Shweta Lal, Swati Gandhi, and Shrimoyee Bhattacharya, along with district-level education officials.
This celebration has emerged as a beacon of teacher empowerment, leadership, and voluntary professional development, offering a replicable model for educational transformation across India.
