Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi Community
I'm a 38-year old primary school teacher, in my 5th year of teaching, and have spent my whole adult life working as an entertainer as well (magician, hypnotist, quizmaster, etc). I'm high functioning and have a unique skillset as a teacher. I'm confident in the things that make typically 'good' teachers - knowledge, engagement, relationships with children, running the classroom successfully day-to-day.
My struggles with the job are administrative - time management, marking, planning lessons that are accessible to teachers other than myself, concentrating during training sessions. As such, while I'm respected by those who work with me directly, I often struggle with school leaders, who are only getting snapshots of what I do through snippets of observations and summarised conversations from other colleagues. I don't tick the boxes suitably for those in management positions who don't take the time to get to know me, or only see me in the environments where I don't thrive. As such, I'm struggling to find a school that aligns with my values and prioritise data and efficiency over bringing the best out in children and giving them the best of myself to improve their knowledge, confidence, social skills, personalities, empathy, etc.
I just got released by a school with underqualified interim managers who had to step up a role to cover for a headteacher who became unexpectedly absent, after having left my past few schools for varying reasons.
I've tried to adapt to be a box-ticker but that's not 'me', and minimises the reasons I got into teaching. I've not really had the chance to discuss it at length with anyone. Does anybody have any advice on:
- Who I can talk to?- How I can overcome boundaries to improve in the eyes of school leaders?
- How to find a school where I'd be better suited to build a career?
- Any jobs adjacent to teaching which minimise the obstacles that are preventing me from succeeding?
- Any other unsolicited advice I've not asked for directly?
Thanks for your consideration
Victor
Thanks for your thoughts, Ian, I'll look into those suggestions.
Thanks OAP. It's reassuring to know that other people have found similar things from school leaders. I really want to teach the national curriculum, and help the curriculum with improving how oracy is taught and valued so am looking at options to move in that direction.
Have you thought about applying for a post at a Pupil Referral Unit or a school with an Autism Resource Base (or whatever they call it)? Your experience and skills could be a good fit. Another possibility is the local authority might have an opening for advisory teachers for "looked after" children - whilst the work involves some administration it is also child-centred.
You could try working for the education dept of a museum / local authority / charity.
My personal experience (over 20 years in teaching) is that school leaders only want box tickers - I had similar struggles to those you describe and ended up getting out.