Aug42025
Program
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Introduction: The Often Overlooked Link

In education reform conversations, the spotlight is often on two key areas of the system — policymakers who design ambitious reforms and teachers who bring learning to life inside classrooms. However, between these two extremes lies a powerful and often overlooked layer: the middle layer of educational leaders. These include Block Education Officers (BEOs), Cluster Resource Coordinators, and District Education Officers — individuals who translate policies into action and help schools function smoothly every day.

At Mantra4Change, we’ve always believed in the potential of this middle layer to act as the bridge between vision and reality. Our recent work with the Super 150 BEOs in Uttar Pradesh is a testament to what can happen when we invest in their growth, leadership, and capacity.

Who Are the Super 150 BEOs?

The Super 150 BEO initiative is a state-led leadership movement where two BEOs from every district in Uttar Pradesh are selected to transform their blocks into model blocks. These BEOs are not just administrators — they are frontline education leaders responsible for improving school quality, supporting teachers, ensuring accountability, and ensuring that every policy reaches the classroom.

The program began modestly as Super 30, a pilot supported by Mantra4Change and the Basic Education Department. But as the outcomes became visible, more BEOs were brought in — first 50, then 100, and now a committed cohort of 150. What started as a small experiment has now evolved into a growing movement of empowered leaders from diverse geographies and communities across the state.

Why the Middle Layer Matters

According to academics Paul Bangay and Elizabeth Savage (2013), “middle-tier education leaders act as connectors between the state and the classroom, supporting both system coherence and school-level innovation.” Their work, Middle Leaders Matter, outlines how this layer is critical for navigating local challenges, contextualising policy, and building sustained improvements at the school level.

In places like Uttar Pradesh, where education is complex, vast, and deeply contextual, BEOs are often the ones who know the schools, teachers, and communities best. They play an essential role in planning inspections, organising training, reviewing data, allocating resources, and solving problems in real time.

Despite this, they are rarely seen as leadership figures. The Super 150 initiative aims to change that by investing in their professional growth, strengthening their leadership identity, and enabling them to drive meaningful change.

“The role of a Block Education Officer is a challenging one, especially because it is directly linked to education. In our government schools, most of the children come from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Ensuring quality education for them and connecting them meaningfully with school is not easy, it’s a continuous challenge.” ~ Dataram (BEO, Auraiya)

From Selection to Action — The Lucknow Workshop

To turn vision into action, the Super 150 BEOs recently came together for a residential leadership workshop in Lucknow. This wasn’t a typical training program. Instead, it focused on helping BEOs reflect on their leadership, connect their daily routines to student outcomes, and build practical tools to scale change.

They analysed how small, everyday actions — like setting up libraries, tracking teacher attendance, or organising cluster meetings — could lead to stronger classroom practices. They revisited their core responsibilities, explored how to use data more effectively, and designed actionable templates they could take back to their blocks.

The workshop also became a space for reflection and peer learning. Through real-life scenarios and team-based activities, BEOs sharpened their planning, communication, and problem-solving skills. They celebrated classroom innovations, shared success stories, and fostered a culture of collaboration — one that can continue long after the event.

“Being part of the Super 150 BEOs fills me with immense pride. Along with that pride comes a deep sense of responsibility, especially the duty entrusted to me to make my block NIPUN. To achieve this, I consistently work with all the teachers and headmasters in my block—motivating them, addressing any gaps, and moving forward together as a team.” ~ Priyanka Sharma (BEO, Agotha Bulandseher)

A New Kind of Education Leadership

This initiative isn’t just about upskilling officers — it’s about redefining leadership itself. In many systems, leadership is typically viewed as a top-down approach. However, effective school systems around the world have demonstrated that distributed leadership — where decision-making and responsibility are shared across various levels of the organisation — yields better outcomes.

By trusting BEOs to lead model blocks, the Uttar Pradesh government is taking a bold step in that direction. It’s saying: “You know your context. You can lead change. And we’re here to support you.”

With partners like Mantra4Change facilitating capacity building, peer learning, and on-the-ground support, this belief is being transformed into systems and practices that can be scaled.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

The journey from Super 30 to Super 150 is only the beginning. These BEOs are now part of a dynamic network that can shape the future of learning in Uttar Pradesh. However, the real power of this initiative lies in what it stands for — the recognition that change doesn’t come only from the top or the bottom, but from the middle too.

Strong education systems need strong middle layers. Leaders who understand both the policy and the pulse of the classroom. Leaders who can connect, contextualise, and catalyse. That’s what the Super 150 BEOs represent — and that’s the kind of leadership we need to build schools where every child can learn, thrive, and succeed.

References:

  • Bangay, P., & Savage, E. (2013). Middle Leaders Matter:
    The role of middle-tier actors in driving education reform. Education Development Trust.
  • Hargreaves, A., & Fullan, M. (2012). Professional Capital:
    Transforming Teaching in Every School. Teachers College Press.