MCD’s Select Support Staff Completion to AIM Executive Development Program

aim collage pic2The Asian Institute Management (AIM) recently conducted the 5-day Strengthening Access and Quality Education in Region 10 Team Development and Leadership Training for the Support Staff of Region 10 on March 9 to 13, 2015 at Makati AIM Stephen Zuellig Graduate School of Development Management, Makati City. Fifty (50) participants from the Division Offices of DepEd Region 10 and same Regional Office attended the training program under the leadership of Atty. Shirley O. Chatto, Chief Administrative Officer/Officer-In-Charge of the DepEd Regional Office No. 10, Cagayan de Oro City. In Malaybalay City Division, it was participated by Paul John P. Arias, Rhysa Cyle C. Rosalejos and Jutchel L. Nayra.

Program Director Gillian A. Stevens reiterated the program objectives, such as: to review and align the participants’ personal values with those of the organizational to help achieve the vision, mission and strategic goals; understand and apply the concept of Systems Thinking to help become more effective problem-solvers and decision-makers; develop ways of improving service delivery that draw on Total Quality management principles; evaluate their leadership role in the context of organizational change; know how to prepare and manage people during times of organizational change; increase their confidence by developing their communication and strategies; and, consolidate their learning, insights and takeaways into a Personal Development Action Plan to be reviewed and supported by their Managers.

The 5-day intensive development program focuses on: understanding the country educational environment, organizational and personal re-tooling, total quality management, organizational and personal responses, and applications. The institute’s core faculties are Prof. Gillian A. Stevens, Prof. Juan Miguel Luz, Prof. Antonio Ma. Perez, Prof. Mario Antonio Lopez, Prof. Maria Veronica Caparas, and Prof. Manuel J. De Vera. The professors used the approach learning models like case discussion, exercises, role plays and simulations, teach-backs, real life application, and reflection-personal learning journal.

On the first day (March 9), Prof. Gillian provided the course orientation and coverage. Prof. Luz, also the Dean for Stephen Zuellig Graduate School of Development Management (SZGSDM), commenced on the challenges and issues in the educational sector and its delivery of Key Result Areas. The day ended with the discussion on Systems Thinking by Prof. Perez. Participants were taught on how to think in a non-linear way when problem solving and decision-making. He also expounded discussion on systemic linking and interaction of major outputs to KRAs.

The second day (March 10) started with the Organizational Values and Behavior by Prof. Stevens. She focused on aligning personal and organizational vision, mission, values and goals to reinforce a culture of collaboration. Prof. Lopez tackled on conflict management particularly on how to deal with organization’s internal conflict situation when serving multi-stakeholders. Personal and organizational communication was handled by Prof. Caparas. Her lecture dealt on communication roles, values, and leadership.

March 11 was the third day of the program. Prof. Caparas continued with the personal and organizational communication. After then, internal customer service and quality and total quality management were discussed throughout the day by Prof. Domingo.

March 12 (fourth day) was scheduled for the organizational and personal response. Prof. De Vera taught about public narrative specifically on how to inspire actions across organizational units to support organizational goal. Prof. Lopez continued on discussing Leading Change and Leading Teams for Empowerment. He made the participants understood the role of the team leader in preparing and managing people through change. He concentrated on revisiting the needs of teams and the role of the leader in creating an environment where team members feel empowered.

On the fifth day (March 13), Prof. Stevens discussed on Developing Performance through Coaching Skills. She elaborated on how to coach team members to help manage performance and develop potential. After then, Prof. Stevens facilitated the synthesis of learning which sought participants to create a Personal Development Action Plan.

The development program ended with a closing ceremony. Prof. Stevens formally opened the program, followed by the awarding of Certificates of Completion, Alumni Oath taking by Alumni/Board Director Debbie D. Namalata, class response by the Regional Office No. 10 OIC- Administrative Office Gonzala D. Aguirre, and AIM Academic Director Dr. Kenneth H. Go.

Indeed, the 5-day development program has transformed the select support staff of the DepEd Region 10 as competent enablers of the community. This capacitates the support staff to improve and develop their core competencies. Being one of the participants, I thank the DepEd Regional Office No. 10 through Atty. Chatto for investing on this program for the support staff. It just goes to show the high value of the support staff as enablers of the community in strengthening access and quality education.

Sustaining development remains to be a challenge. The application of the learning acquired in the development program needs to be sustained for the enablers of the community to contribute to organizational development. The development of the Personal Development Action Plan needs to be integrated into the FY 2015 Work and Financial Plan for its implementation and realization. In Malaybalay City Division, the conduct of “Strengthening Access and Quality Education–Team Development and Leadership Training for the Support Staff of DepEd, Division of Malaybalay City” is integrated under the AYOS Project. Similarly, the different sections/office is expected to come up with a personal development action plan aimed at strengthening access and quality education in the Division of Malaybalay City. Most importantly, the implementation of the plan will be monitored and evaluated as required in the project design. In this way, the Office can determine if the program has an impact to the individual and organizational development of the Malaybalay City Division.

By: Jutchel L. Nayra, DPA
      Administrative Officer V