One gloomy day, I was sitting in the school lab thinking: “How can I continue in this job?” I was overwhelmed by the pressures that many teachers face – the stress, the workload and the feeling of not being valued. Then, when the opportunity to go on a temporary secondment as a Programme Manager at the Royal Society of Chemistry came up, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't miss. I knew this could define my teaching career and help me decide where I would spend the rest of my working years.
During my secondment, I honed my project management and communication skills. I enjoyed working with a wide range of people with different expertise and backgrounds. Participating in professional development boosted my confidence and challenged me to think differently. More importantly, it gave me time to reflect on what is important to me.
As my time abroad drew to a close, I was surprised to find myself looking forward to going back to school.
While the added flexibility that working from home has given me is great, I find myself missing the following things:
- To share my love of chemistry with others.
- The vibrancy of the school community.
- Informal chats with learners in the classroom and around the school.
As my year abroad drew to a close, I was surprised to find I was looking forward to going back to school, but what had I learned outside of the classroom?
- Don't stress about things you can't control and be realistic about your workload.
- As a middle leader, I have gained a deeper understanding of what motivates people and how to get the best out of them.
- Teaching is hard, but it's what I do and I love it.
Now that I've been back in school for a few months, I've had time to reflect on how my year away has affected my teaching practice. I feel more willing to try new teaching strategies and resources. I have a renewed focus on building good relationships with my students and colleagues, and I'm more aware of subject-specific professional development opportunities. But I've noticed another unexpected change: my mindset and attitude towards my work as a teacher has changed. I put less pressure on myself, I'm more honest about what I can achieve within my capabilities, and I work hard to provide the best experience for my students, but I know that ultimately I have to put my own well-being first.
I am sure these small changes will give me the motivation and energy to continue doing what I love – teaching chemistry in the classroom for many years to come.