My first memory of feeling really inspired dates back to my English teacher in secondary school, Mrs Boland. Although we were all adolescent teenagers, she somehow captured our imagination, helped us to believe in ourselves and encouraged us to tune into our own individual strengths. She got us to think for ourselves instead of only teaching us, she challenged us on who we were as people, as well as how bright we were and boy, was she a great storyteller. Looking back, it was one of my earliest experiences of a brilliant leader. Fast forward to 2021 and I have recently been inspired by another teacher, my son’s head teacher. In the face of COVID and the
myriad of challenges facing every school leader across the country, she has made time to support my child and our family with our own challenges. She has not emailed me, she has called me. She has delivered some difficult messages directly but in the most compassionate way. She has listened to us, fully, acknowledging our situation and feelings whole heartedly.
WE NEED LEADERS WE FEEL CONNECTED TO When we think of great leaders, we think first of those who have inspired us, who have believed in us and who have used their position to empower us, not themselves. We also often think of those who have taken
