Rest in Peace: Tribute to an Outstanding Educator, Mdm Maureen Lee Wee Lin
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Not just answering emails – the principal who makes herself 'very visible' to staff and students
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sin...ncipal-students-yusof-ishak-secondary-3241346Not many students get to call their principal a penpal, unless they happen to study at Yusof Ishak Secondary School (YISS).
A stack of several hundred A4 papers have become a staple on Madam Maureen Lee’s desk.
These are letters from students, as part of her “Dear Mdm Lee” initiative. Many extend the full page, while some are a couple of sentences long. Students share anything, from struggles they may be facing to suggestions for improvements to the school. Some pen their reflections on another initiative she has, involving red beans and pencils.
The 57-year-old former teacher distributes these objects to teach life lessons. In caring for a red bean, students learn about the potential for growth.
On the other hand, pencils remind them that regardless of outside appearance, whether it's a 2B or mechanical pencil, it is the lead inside that matters. The eraser at the end of the pencil is an added reminder that some mistakes can be removed, and not to be too hard on themselves.
And Mdm Lee, who was appointed as the school’s principal in December 2017 and began her role in 2018, promises a unique handwritten reply to every letter.
“Of course I will reply, I asked them to write (to me). When you promise a kid, you must keep your promise,” she said when CNA spent a day with her in January to understand the role of a school principal today.
“I’m still a teacher at heart.”
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It is a statement that would ring true over and again throughout the day, even before Mdm Lee arrived at school. As she doesn’t drive, she walks into campus every morning through the side gate, taking time to chat with a student or two along the way.
At recess, she blends into the crowd of students in her school’s canteen – and not just due to her petite stature. She can often be found nestled among students, whose faces light up when she joins them, engaged in casual chit-chat.
With her office overlooking the courtyard, students passing by on the way home often wave enthusiastically when they spot her at her desk.
Such interactions, commonplace in Mdm Lee’s daily routine, are centred around her desire to ensure every student feels heard – a lesson from her first teaching stint that ended up shaping the next three decades.
At recess, she blends into the crowd of students in her school’s canteen – and not just due to her petite stature. She can often be found nestled among students, whose faces light up when she joins them, engaged in casual chit-chat.
With her office overlooking the courtyard, students passing by on the way home often wave enthusiastically when they spot her at her desk.
Such interactions, commonplace in Mdm Lee’s daily routine, are centred around her desire to ensure every student feels heard – a lesson from her first teaching stint that ended up shaping the next three decades.
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In 1988, Mdm Lee was posted to Henderson Secondary School where she taught physics to “highly challenging” classes. The now-defunct secondary school in Bukit Merah had many students who required greater support. She recalled having to find a way to motivate her students, who “perhaps had other priorities more important than learning physics”.
“If they’re not motivated, it’s because I’ve not found a way to motivate them. So that’s the challenge I had – to really connect with them first, believe in them and then teach them the subject of physics,” she said.
Mdm Lee’s posting lasted a “very meaningful and very happy” 13 years, which included a promotion to the Head of Department for Science.
In 2001, she became vice-principal at Balestier Secondary School. She was then given the opportunity to become principal of Kranji Secondary School in 2005, and principal of Anglican High School in 2011, where she stayed for almost seven years before joining YISS.
“If they’re not motivated, it’s because I’ve not found a way to motivate them. So that’s the challenge I had – to really connect with them first, believe in them and then teach them the subject of physics,” she said.
Mdm Lee’s posting lasted a “very meaningful and very happy” 13 years, which included a promotion to the Head of Department for Science.
In 2001, she became vice-principal at Balestier Secondary School. She was then given the opportunity to become principal of Kranji Secondary School in 2005, and principal of Anglican High School in 2011, where she stayed for almost seven years before joining YISS.
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“If we build a student’s confidence, curiosity, and leadership, they would be more driven and motivated. They would want to come to school, because there is this joy,” she said.
“If they don’t feel that they even have a friend or belong in the school, or they don’t feel curious about what they’re learning, it’s a really hard journey towards the exams.”
When Mdm Lee communicates this to parents during the school’s open house, she senses “there is hope that it’s not just about the O-Level results”.
“My role is not me staying in the office answering emails, but about rallying people towards a shared vision. And that can only be done if I make myself very approachable, make myself open to anyone who would like to come up to me, be it a teacher, a student or a non-teaching staff, to tell me what troubles them or how they can contribute towards the school,” she said.
“I do that by making myself very visible. During recess time, I’m always checking in with my students, or even standing there in case someone would like to come and tell me something about their day.”
She also greets students and parents at the front porch every morning, shares anecdotes from books she has read during morning assembly, speaks one-on-one with students who have special education needs and regularly takes “learning walks” around the school.
“If they don’t feel that they even have a friend or belong in the school, or they don’t feel curious about what they’re learning, it’s a really hard journey towards the exams.”
When Mdm Lee communicates this to parents during the school’s open house, she senses “there is hope that it’s not just about the O-Level results”.
“My role is not me staying in the office answering emails, but about rallying people towards a shared vision. And that can only be done if I make myself very approachable, make myself open to anyone who would like to come up to me, be it a teacher, a student or a non-teaching staff, to tell me what troubles them or how they can contribute towards the school,” she said.
“I do that by making myself very visible. During recess time, I’m always checking in with my students, or even standing there in case someone would like to come and tell me something about their day.”
She also greets students and parents at the front porch every morning, shares anecdotes from books she has read during morning assembly, speaks one-on-one with students who have special education needs and regularly takes “learning walks” around the school.
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"I’d say I’m a nurturing principal, open to their ideas. And sometimes they may even be crazy ideas, but well, that is a sense of wonder in every kid," she added.
The feeling is mutual, it seems. Among the comments from students about Mdm Lee, CNA was told she was “very nice” and they felt “very comfortable talking to her”. When asked how they felt about approaching authority figures in school, like their principal, a student said, "Actually, there is no gap between anyone in this school."
They didn’t feel the same about their primary school principal, some added candidly.
The feeling is mutual, it seems. Among the comments from students about Mdm Lee, CNA was told she was “very nice” and they felt “very comfortable talking to her”. When asked how they felt about approaching authority figures in school, like their principal, a student said, "Actually, there is no gap between anyone in this school."
They didn’t feel the same about their primary school principal, some added candidly.
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Mdm Lee, too, holds fast to her reason for becoming a teacher. Even when she is disappointed or weary, she is "never jaded".
“It is really to do a part for the future. As a principal, I am also a teacher, except the school is my class and the subject I teach is holistic development,” she said.
More than 30 years since she became a teacher, every action still boils down to believing in the child, regardless of circumstance.
“If you want to be a chicken rice stallholder, be the best. You want to be the best version of yourself,” she explained, adding that leadership is a choice to empower others to act on their passion.
“If you don't have the passion, well I must say, then teaching may not be your calling.”
Even though Mdm Lee would consider passing the baton to a successor ready to take YISS to greater heights, retiring is far from her mind. The teacher-at-heart doesn’t think that she "would ever have finished my job".
At least not before she responds to several hundred penpals.
“It is really to do a part for the future. As a principal, I am also a teacher, except the school is my class and the subject I teach is holistic development,” she said.
More than 30 years since she became a teacher, every action still boils down to believing in the child, regardless of circumstance.
“If you want to be a chicken rice stallholder, be the best. You want to be the best version of yourself,” she explained, adding that leadership is a choice to empower others to act on their passion.
“If you don't have the passion, well I must say, then teaching may not be your calling.”
Even though Mdm Lee would consider passing the baton to a successor ready to take YISS to greater heights, retiring is far from her mind. The teacher-at-heart doesn’t think that she "would ever have finished my job".
At least not before she responds to several hundred penpals.
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Being a teacher is tough in sg. This is why the quality of sg teacher has drop drastically.In 1988, Mdm Lee was posted to Henderson Secondary School where she taught physics to “highly challenging” classes. The now-defunct secondary school in Bukit Merah had many students who required greater support. She recalled having to find a way to motivate her students, who “perhaps had other priorities more important than learning physics”.
“If they’re not motivated, it’s because I’ve not found a way to motivate them. So that’s the challenge I had – to really connect with them first, believe in them and then teach them the subject of physics,” she said.
Mdm Lee’s posting lasted a “very meaningful and very happy” 13 years, which included a promotion to the Head of Department for Science.
In 2001, she became vice-principal at Balestier Secondary School. She was then given the opportunity to become principal of Kranji Secondary School in 2005, and principal of Anglican High School in 2011, where she stayed for almost seven years before joining YISS.
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Pak zham already?
Need some advice who still SCARED to do proper autopsy with immunohistochemical staining to rule out the spike protein from the vaccine...
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More likely stress and frustration trying to teach kids new tricks.
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RIP
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RIP
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She has the heart to bring out the best in her student…
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1. My insignificant nobody me and very rare salute, which is only for deserving Humans, regardless of race, language or religion, or rank, to Mdm Maureen Lee, and Condolences to her family, loved ones, relatives, friends, students and our Singapore Civilization that knew her....
May each of them forgive her for her seemingly transgressions or perceived slights, as for her to do what she and many, MANY MORE of what our founding and forefathers. and even present generation, had done for the living, are often unrecognized, or even desired by them, BUT only that those whom lives they had touched, as many as possible in each's lifetime, may progress and evolved after the sacrifices they had selflessly done.... no matter how small an effort is, such as replying even to a mere email that would take time out of one's private time and even dinner, to offer help and solace and necessary corrections to be done if needed.....
2. She is in a far better place than here now, free from struggles, pains, sufferings and more in this life, as ours and her DNA body is only a shell, but her gifted life force of energies returns back to our CREATOR, known by many names across time, space and cultures...
RIP Mdm Maureen. You will be sorely missed, but may there be others, as inspired as you, to guide our innocent future generations to come.....
To those whom wished to attribute EACH passing of a precious Human life as due to the COVID shots, the way Liberals used for political purposes to bring down PrezTrump by attributing each car accident as caused and listed as due to COVID shots, please, PLEASE, the insignificant nobody me beg you on bended knees if needed, to chill and back off, give it a rest for one's OWN PERSONAL AGENDA to be proven right, against the needs of the MANY...
I myself suffered from COV 3 times a year for decades since birth, due to lack in my own health regime, but after a current few shots, I suffered no more, except due to weather changes which is only normal in such times and have to adapt more carefully than in my ignorant years... The reality is that NO mortal lives forever, as diseases had existed LONG before even Humans came to planet Earth, and such organisms seek to survive as we Humans do, and thus a challenge to battle them and survive, not just on COV, but many, many more other virus organisms which are proven FAR more lethal, than to merely dwell on COV which many, many of our ancestors had overcame and survive thru years of love for loved ones, dedication to sciences, to medical advances....
To dwell merely on COVID shots, it will only be FAR, FAR more harmful if not WILLFULLY IGNORANT, as resources and efforts will be not be there to handle FAR FAR more lethal viruses that are a true and proven threat to Humankind....
.
May each of them forgive her for her seemingly transgressions or perceived slights, as for her to do what she and many, MANY MORE of what our founding and forefathers. and even present generation, had done for the living, are often unrecognized, or even desired by them, BUT only that those whom lives they had touched, as many as possible in each's lifetime, may progress and evolved after the sacrifices they had selflessly done.... no matter how small an effort is, such as replying even to a mere email that would take time out of one's private time and even dinner, to offer help and solace and necessary corrections to be done if needed.....
2. She is in a far better place than here now, free from struggles, pains, sufferings and more in this life, as ours and her DNA body is only a shell, but her gifted life force of energies returns back to our CREATOR, known by many names across time, space and cultures...
RIP Mdm Maureen. You will be sorely missed, but may there be others, as inspired as you, to guide our innocent future generations to come.....
To those whom wished to attribute EACH passing of a precious Human life as due to the COVID shots, the way Liberals used for political purposes to bring down PrezTrump by attributing each car accident as caused and listed as due to COVID shots, please, PLEASE, the insignificant nobody me beg you on bended knees if needed, to chill and back off, give it a rest for one's OWN PERSONAL AGENDA to be proven right, against the needs of the MANY...
I myself suffered from COV 3 times a year for decades since birth, due to lack in my own health regime, but after a current few shots, I suffered no more, except due to weather changes which is only normal in such times and have to adapt more carefully than in my ignorant years... The reality is that NO mortal lives forever, as diseases had existed LONG before even Humans came to planet Earth, and such organisms seek to survive as we Humans do, and thus a challenge to battle them and survive, not just on COV, but many, many more other virus organisms which are proven FAR more lethal, than to merely dwell on COV which many, many of our ancestors had overcame and survive thru years of love for loved ones, dedication to sciences, to medical advances....
To dwell merely on COVID shots, it will only be FAR, FAR more harmful if not WILLFULLY IGNORANT, as resources and efforts will be not be there to handle FAR FAR more lethal viruses that are a true and proven threat to Humankind....
.
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Need some advice how to blame it on stress, climate change, sugar salt, underlying conditons for the excess deaths from 2021 onwards lololololol
