Hajah Ande Noor Munawara, 60, known as Puan Ande professionally or ‘Bonda’ (mother) among the students clocked out her last day on 30 August 2023, as the principal and teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Infant Jesus Convent, Johor Bahru (SMKIJC).
Born in Johor Bahru, true blue Johorean Puan Ande graduated from Maktab Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim and kicked started her career at SK Felda Tenggaroh 1 back in 1985, a time that she deemed unforgettable in her 39 years of teaching.
She then pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Counselling at Universiti Putra Malaysia and was made a school principal for the first time in 2014 at SMK Kempas, where she led the rebranding of the school to be SMK Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat in 2016, for which the school later received an accolade as Sekolah Showcase Microsoft in the same year.
Teaching Bahasa Melayu, and Civic and Citizenship Education, Puan Ande has received plenty of recognition, and among them are the Innovation Leadership Award (Management and Professional Category) Johor State Department of Education (2016), Johor State Counselling Best Practise Innovation Award (2019), Ministry of Education Malaysia’s Best Counselling Practise Bronze Medal (2019), SPM Achievement 2021: Johor Bahru District Best School, and State of Johor Day School Category, where it has set a record for surpassing several Full Boarding Schools and Mara Science Junior Colleges (MRSM) all over Malaysia.
Puan Ande was made SMKIJC’s principal in 2020 after stellar years at SMK Mohd Khalid, Johor Bahru, from 2016-2019.
All the achievements in her lifelong career were paired with challenges and turbulence. She shared with The Iskandarian that maintaining the momentum of excellence was very difficult when leading the schools that she helms.
“The most pressing challenge is to build the confidence and trust of all school members about the direction, vision, and mission in order to move swiftly to ensure that the led school remains relevant as a High Performance School (SBT), an Excellent High-Level Thinking Skills School (KBAT), and a Cohort 6 Transformation School (TS 25),” she shared.
As she took a bow from her principal stint, she shared her wisdom with other fellow principals who are still in service.
“Managing school administration is a routine full of wonderful moments if implemented in five WAYS based on 4K principles,” she said, breaking down the formula that she have followed religiously:
WAYS 1 – Win Always Your Student
WAYS 2 – Win Always Your Staff
WAYS 3 – Walk Around Your School
WAYS 4 – Watch Always Your Surrounding
WAYS 5 – Warn Always Yourself
While the 4K are Kasih Sayang (Affection), Ketulusan dan Ketelusan (Honesty and Transparency), Komunikasi Berkesan (Effective Communication), and Kebersamaan (Togetherness).
Puan Ande also published a memoir titled “Terima Kasih, Johor Bahru” (Thank You, Johor Bahru) before leaving on her last day at SMKIJC.
“My hope is that some snippets of my experience can be an inspiration and reference for fellow principals who are still serving,” she said.
“Writing is my passion. The initiative to write and record experiences and achievements throughout my time as a principal was born from the realisation that the legacy of excellence needs to be continued by whoever is entrusted as the manager of the organisation,” said Puan Ande when asked about what inspired her to write the memoir.
The Iskandarian would like to congratulate Puan Ande on a long and impressive career, and wishing her a happy retirement full of blessings.
 among the students clocked out her last day on 30 August 2023, as the principal and teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Infant Jesus Convent, Johor Bahru (SMKIJC).){kind=link}