Are we just going to ignore the elephant in the school?
This week's newsletter is a day late, and that is because, well, I flew to London to surprise my friends, and when I came home, I brought back good memories, gifts and the flu. But this newsletter is about something else. This week, I want to talk about the elephant in the school, and that is the fact that some schools/school groups are a nightmare to work in and with.
Recently, two school leaders who applied to present at the upcoming Middle East School Leadership Conference in February 2024 contacted me to say that they are no longer in their schools and wanted to check if they are still eligible to present at the event. One was dismissed without warning, and the other resigned to preserve her dignity and integrity.
There are always several sides to every story, and then there is the truth, but I have been in the region long enough to know fact from fiction. One of the principals I spoke to recounted how she was merely hired as a figurehead and that the school owner brought in someone above her whose job was to ruthlessly cut costs at all costs ( see what I did there?). Her job was to smile, agree and execute, but when it began to impact the quality of teaching and learning in the school, she knew it was time to go, so she went. The other principal raised concerns, and instead of those concerns being addressed, she was removed from the post. As I said, that is their version of events, but if we are honest, we all might have had conversations with colleagues or former colleagues about how lousy school X is versus school Y, and it always boils down to the leadership.
You would be hard-pressed to find a school leader who quit because of the students, parents, etc. We all know that naming and shaming is not legal in this region. Because I like my Matcha Latte hot and my Falafel sandwich fluffy, I won't be naming anyone as they do not serve those in prison, but on a serious note, as much as we celebrate the schools which have been voted best this and best that, spare a thought for your fellow educators who are trying to serve students but are not being supported in doing so by their leadership or who are being forced to make tough career decisions as I type this.
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The upside is that these schools are in the minority, and sometimes, all it takes is a change in leadership for the culture to change. So, if you find yourself in a school that is not a happy place to work, do not give up on your career just yet. Maybe a change in schools is all you need to get a fresh perspective.
If this comes off harsh or a bit uncharacteristic of me, then blame it on the flu.
Feel free to share your stories with me in the comments or in my messages if you prefer.
See you all next week.
BSc, PGCE, Masters Ed. Education Consultancy, Certified NLP Life Coach, Head of EAL and Multilingualism.
11 个月While UAE is a fantastic innovator in education systems, we do lack accountability in schools. I have seen some teachers poorly treated because of age, sponsor, pay, background etc. We give so much power to a few who may not have the correct vision and sight to lead. All leaders in schools should complete a coaching course and learn how to be inclusive and coach people towards their better teacher selves.
Director at FutureGenerations Ed Ltd with expertise in school start-ups and improvement
11 个月Bravo Leisa Grace Wilson ??
IB Coordinator at Sheikh Zayed International Academy
11 个月Beautifully summed up. ????The beautiful fact is that there do exist some educational institutions which continue to foster a culture of growth and positivity. Being a part of such a learning community is a blessing indeed. ????@Sheikh Zayed International Academy Islamabad ??????
Primary Homeroom Teacher at AlMushairif School,cycle 1,Ajyal school ( American Curriculum)
11 个月I agree with you.But sometimes not only leaders but teachers do also face such kind of problems.
Cambridge Teacher Trainer, Enthusiastic Physics Specialist & Dedicated Middle Leader
11 个月I totally agree with you Leisa Grace Wilson . Without naming names I would like to tell u I have been in one such place! Poor leadership, no freedom to innovate, no room for trying out new practices, nobody to turn to when things don't feel right, u name it n they had it! N it all comes down to one single thing: ONE ill-placed person at the top, taking decisions for all below them! As u said, leaving the place n moving on is the only option!