On the first day of this term, all the way back in early January, I handed my notice in. Next week, the final 4 days of term, will be my last at my current school and my last as a permanent classroom teacher.
From the beginning of May my new chapter will be working alongside Ewan McIntosh as part of Notosh – and hopefully having the chance to work with you!
For a very long time I have considered a change in career – I want to be in a position where I can help more schools and teachers, to have more of an influence on the “change” we all talk of. I want to see good ideas affecting more learners. I want more time to research ideas I have and explore their impact on learning. I want more time to write. I want more time to extend and develop different projects. I want more quality time with my family.
For the last 5 years or so this blog and Twitter have been amazing at getting my ideas out to you – my fellow classroom practitioners and educators, but I want to work even more closely with you. And to do it full time without the myriad of pressures we face as teachers diluting my efforts.
Easter 2010 saw me begin my most recent chapter, working as a Deputy Head Teacher. I had some very low times, some of the lowest points in my teaching career. It has made me look at what I want from my working life and this change is exactly that!
I am thrilled to be joining Ewan who’s work and voice in the education community I have long admired. When I first began writing a blog, his was one of the first I explored – and unbeknownst to him, it quietly shaped the reflective and open process that blogging became for me.
Just to say in closing that I am so grateful for all of your support over the last few years, here and on Twitter, this is a major turning point for me. I hope you will continue to join me as I take those steps.
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Pic: next chapter!! by Ramon Boersbroek – Attribution-NonCommercial License