Nurture 2016-17

I did surprisingly well on last year’s goals except for one.  I pledged to read 52 books and didn’t get anywhere near that goal (I shall revisit the why and what next as I look ahead).  But I also pledged to pick up my MA study, breathe new life into my CPD programme, find the love in teaching again, make Devon home and let go of a problem that had been a problem for a long time.  Well in 2016, I attended MA summer school and met a group of inspiring people who made me believe I was capable of anything – something I am incredibly grateful to them for.  In 2016, I did breathe new life into my CPD programme – the introduction of book club went really well and has planted the seed for a Book Club Teaching and Learning Conference (watch this space for more details).  In 2016 I reconnected with the people I love (family and partner) and started to stop taking them for granted, that ticked two boxes – it enabled me to let go of ‘the’ situation and resulted in the purchase of our new home in Devon.  In 2016 when I said ‘I am going home’, I actually started to mean ‘to Devon’.  And teaching?  Yeah I do kind of love it again.

So onwards and upwards… What do I want to achieve in 2017?
1.       Read. 
The reading thing is key and symptomatic of a bigger problem.  I don’t read because I figure if I have enough time to read then I have time to do more schoolwork.  I have an unhealthy work-life balance, I feel guilty anytime I am doing something that isn’t school related.  I got pretty poorly over the last couple of months and yet didn’t take a single day off because the guilt feels worse than the ill.  And actually that would be okay except that I realised (with the help of a wise person or two) that when I do this, I role model to everyone else my own unhealthy attitude to work.  I don’t know how to not work, how to switch off but I have to try to figure it out because I should be allowed to go to the gym or take a weekend off or get the sleep I need or read a book and I have to demonstrate to other people that they are entitled to that too.  So two goals off one goal – read more but also give myself permission to take time out and switch off.
2.       Make a difference.
I used to feel that I made a difference every time I got up and went to work and I don’t feel like that anymore.  I miss it.  I am a lucky person.  I am, quite frankly, blessed.  And if 2016 opened my eyes to anything, it is that there are far too many people who are not.  I want to make things better, fairer and more just.  Life can be horribly unfair and I want to be part of a solution not part of the problem.  I am a bit obsessed with parity and fairness and often bite my tongue when I see the unfairness I am surrounded by – I don’t think I want to do that this year.  I want to speak up when something is wrong, reach out if someone needs help and just live my life with a little more compassion.  I am not sure how or what yet but I need to find a way to make a difference – find a way to make the world better even if it is in the smallest of ways. 
3.       Be inspired.
Professionally this year, I have a couple of goals.  One is to use the opportunities my MA presents to research things that are important and matter – and that challenge my thinking as a leader.  The second is to provide opportunity – through my work, my school and our Teaching School Alliance - I want to take every opportunity to support the work of groups like #WomenED #BAMEed #CharteredCollegeofTeaching and to bring some of the best and most inspiring speakers to the South West.  I want to find ways to inspire as I have been inspired.  
4.       Ambition and Challenge
For a long time I have been quite scared to talk about my career ambitions – there are those who make you feel like ambition is a bad thing.  But I am not ambitious for the sake of it and I am in no rush.  I just want to keep my career goals in my mind and feel proud rather than embarrassed about them.  I want to work in Washington DC.  I want to be a Headteacher one day.  I might want to do a doctorate at some point (although I am reserving judgement until I know whether or not I have passed my MA).  I want to take every opportunity that will prepare me for this possibilities and ask people to help me be ready for these challenges.  But ultimately I just want to feel confident enough to pursue my goals.
5.       Be more than a job.
I want to make time for the people who matter.  I want to be more than the job – I want to travel to cool places, meet up with great people, take amazing photographs, write interesting essays and maybe find a way to care of myself to a standard I usually reserve only for work.  I want to try and sort my health out.


Will I manage it all?  Almost certainly not.  Will I give it a bloody good try?  Yes I think I will. 2016 was a year of sadness and surprise but I also had some great experiences and have come out of it a happier person.  Now I ready for the next chapter – 2017, let’s be having you!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nurture 1415: the year that was

I have been thinking about writing a nurture post for a couple of days now. Part of me thinks it is a strange way to finish Christmas Day but another part of me thinks it is quite fitting.  I always feel quite reflective at Christmas and this will be reflective. This post is important to me. Last year was the first time I had written a nurture post and I found it really helpful to keep me grateful and appreciative but also to keep me focused. I am going to bend the rules by reviewing last year’s 14 and then setting 5 for 2015. I will do it in two posts – one to review and one to look ahead.  Here goes… Firstly I pledged to carry on learning abut photography and trying to master some different types of shots and ideas.  Whilst in DC I attended a workshop on landscapes with Navin Sarma which was awesome. Still journeying… But that's okay. Secondly I pledged to read and I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I have dipped into books and blogs and tweets but I let myself down on t...
Read more

CPD in the South West... A question of interest...

For the last 5 years or so the main focus of my work has been the professional development of teachers.  Until 5 months ago, I was living the in the West Midlands and I was overwhelmed by the numbers of quality CPD available within a short drive.  TLT (Southampton is closer than you might think), NRocks, a variety of ResearchEd events, TeachMeets, etc.   A number of the staff at my school began enaging in these events and most would argue that this style of CPD by teachers for teachers is the best type they had. But I don't live in the West Midlands anymore, I live in Devon.  And despite the clear evidence of excellent practice that goes on I can't find a forum that gives teachers the chance to showcase their practice and network and connect in the way that the events named above do.  I want there to be high quality CPD events with access to inspirational thinkers, teachers and leaders available to my staff and the staff of every school in the South West and a...
Read more

Nurture 1415: 2015 - The Year Ahead

I have been toying with how best to write this.  I want the goals to be specific enough that they are achievable but I also want to limit the number I set.  Last year I set a list of 14 and some fell by the wayside.  I don’t want that to happen to this year.  So I have chosen 6, each one based around a theme.  As long I meet the theme I will feel pretty happy.  2015 is a brave new world for me.  I am living in a new house, in a new town where I know no one and I am starting new job at a new school for only the second time in my career.  My default setting is to be a bit scared of life and fear the worst so the overall theme of my nurture this year is to be brave and embrace opportunity. “Teaching is an act of hope for a better future…the reward of teaching is knowing that your life has made a difference.” (William Ayres) As I move further up the leadership ladder, I move further away from the classroom, something which makes me feel quite...
Read more