Lama Senge Tsering , Principal of SMD
Last fall, Thrangu Rinpoche sent us a new Principal, Lama Sangye Tsering. As the title ‘lama’ indicates, our Principal has done the traditional three year retreat...although he’s done four! Lama Sangye also graduated from ‘shedra’ (Institute of Higher Buddhist Philosophy). Lama Sangye Tsering also brings business acumen to SMD, since he managed the Hotel Ngudrup for Thrangu Rinpoche for six years.
Shirley Blair, Director of Main School and Fundraiser for Both Schools
I've been with SMD since 1997. The mandate Rinpoche gave me was 'to make the school as good as possible'. A fundamental part of my responsibility is formulating/supervising the direction of the school. It means involvement at every level, from construction to academic operation to supervising nutrition. It means developing/implementing policy, supervising staff, creating salary schedules and contracts and negotiating agreements. It means a fair bit of 'horse trading' and troubleshooting. Sometimes it means protecting the school. It's never boring.
My favourite part of this job is spending time with kids...letting them come as they wish and watching them at play ... it is a joy to see their kindness, patience and inclusiveness. When visitors spend time with us, they find themselves deeply moved by the purity of our kids' beings.
There is a lot of counselling, to instill Rinpoche's wishes in kids' hearts...helping them to understand and practice the Buddha's teachings in their daily life. At Rinpoche's suggestion, I teach on Friday nights...simple meditation...and we discuss ethics. It was out of this group of kids that the "Pink for Peace" t-shirt programme was born...SMD kids raising money for conflict-orphaned kids and putting their dibs in for peace.
I mentor kids, to help them to find their ways in this life, and encourage them to think critically and to take responsibility. Other counselling involves giving direction for higher or vocational education, or simple life skills. A big part of the job is helping kids with scholarships...maintaining relationships with the schools and maintaining contact and counselling the ones who are overseas.
The Director's job means sourcing funds, equipment and supplies and supervising their disbursement. It means a fair bit of travel, to supervise all the kids who are overseas on scholarship and to fundraise. It also entails involves all the PR, writing this web site, writing and designing brochures and cards, etc. I have the responsibility of supervising the sponsorship programme...which means working with the children, their families, and their sponsors. I communicate with sponsors and donors all over the world, in more than 30 countries.
