Dear reader, my second visit to Vineyard Girls’ High School based in Naivasha; made me think a lot about how school Principals can ‘re-tyre’ once they reach 60 – the age of retirement from public service.
In actual sense, Mrs Eunice Njenga, the Director of Vineyard Girls’ High is my case study in this essay. Before retirement, she served as the Principal of three iconic institutions: St Joseph’s Girls’ High School-Kitale, Naivasha Girls’ High and Loreto High -Limuru.
In retrospect, I did not work and walk with Mrs Njenga when she was in Kitale — the Kenyan breadbasket. Instead, our friendship and partnership started when she was the tip of the administrative spear at Naivasha Girls’ High in the lush land of flamingos — Nakuru. Once in a while, I used to visit that great girls’ school: to preach and teach in the Sunday service. I also went there to roll out career and academic talks. Also, to train members of the Student Council and Peer Counsellors.
Consequently, when Mrs Njenga was promoted to Loreto High School-Limuru — a high-end national school anchored on admirable Christian culture and tradition — we genuflected before God, and thanked Him profusely for promotion to lofty levels of leadership. For every pious person knows: Every promotion comes from God Almighty. In Psalm 75:6-7 (KJV), the Psalmist harps happily: “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge. He putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
While at Loreto High, Mrs Njenga invited me to roll out programmes there for the umpteenth time. I can remember fondly. I went there to roll out academic talks. I also trained the Student Council. Then, when Mrs Njenga became a senior citizen, she did not dither. She chose to ‘re-tyre’. In fact, she did so slightly earlier.
Interestingly, all along, as we partnered with the Chief Principal, I was oblivious that she was a proprietor of a private school. I only learnt about it when she left formal employment. So, when Mrs Njenga invited me to address her Form Four Candidates of 2023 at Vineyard Girls’ High School, I was amazed by the great investment, which she says started in 2012. This week, she again invited me to address her Form Fours and Threes.
I can attest. Vineyard is one of the best girls’ private schools I have had the privilege to visit in the recent past. Right from the elegant gate, the school has a lot of things that stand out. The school has a culture. Infrastructure is august. Facilities are plush. Land is lush. Grass is green. School environment is conducive for learning. Security guards are courteous and cordial. The receptionist is jovial. Teachers are friendly and professional. Then, the Director is deft and hands-on. Her mien and leadership style is excellent.
In a nutshell, in case you are scouting for a school where your daughter can acquire holistic education, I highly recommend Vineyard Girls’ High School in Naivasha. The school is accessible. The Director is flexible. The fee is affordable. Fee-payment policy is manageable. School programmes are formidable.
In the whole scheme of things, when you scratch the surface, and study what Mrs Njenga has been able to put in place, you can have a lot to write to school principals who are thinking of the appropriate investment to settle on as they prepare to bid formal employment adieu.
Somehow, seat-of-the-pants-sense whispers to my pen that, it is prudent for a school Principal to opt to become an investor in the education sector. For in order to access success in business, it is wise to venture into something you know better. I abut this brilliant thought on Jewish Wisdom for Business Success by co-authors — Levi Brackman and Sam Jaffe. In that treasure trove, they strive to explore three business models: Classic, social and spiritual entrepreneurship. Doting on classic model, every entrepreneur who yearns to thrive in business, must adhere to some principles that have been able to withstand the test of time. Mrs Njenga is keen to trace the footprints of those who have achieved success in business.
Moreover, those who have tried to pore over heroic books on business like the weaver of these words, will agree that it is right to drag Jews into this success story. Another great text is Jewish Phenomenon by Steven Silbiger, whose main thesis is this — Seven Keys to Enduring Wealth of a People. One of those keys reads: Successful people are professional and entrepreneurs.
No wonder, Jews make up only 2 per cent of the US population. Yet, 45 per cent of the top 40 of the Forbes 400 richest Americans are Jews. A third of the American multi-millionaires are Jews. 20 per cent of professors in Ivy League universities are Jews. 25 per cent of all American Nobel Laureates are Jews. 40 per cent of partners in the leading New York and Washington DC law firms are Jews. Then, the percentage of Jewish households with income greater than $ 50,000 is double that of non-Jews.
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Meaning, Principals can glean good ideas from the two heroic books I have alluded to in this essay with a special focus on Mrs Njenga as a proprietor in the education sector. My write-up has lessons on how school Principals can settle on profitable ventures attaining 60.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out talks and training services. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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