#TeachingHero

@primaryteachew is our latest #TeachingHero as we continue to spread positive thinking and celebrate hard work! If you'd like to get involved, let me know!

What motivates you to work hard?
I always feel most motivated to work hard because of the children - however cliche this may be! Seeing them do well, hearing them happy and positive at succeeding always makes me want to keep going. I recently had 2 girls write to Blue Peter and say they wanted me to be awarded with a badge, which I was given, because they thought I was a good teacher. This meant more to me than any formal feedback as it made me feel I had made a real difference to them.

Where do you go for personal and professional support or advice?
I am so lucky that I get to work with some colleagues who have become some of my closest friends. I always turn to them, and them to me, for personal and professional advice because they have an understanding of not just the profession, but the school too! The ‘worst’ part of the profession for me, is always the work/life balance and getting it right. Again, we are able to support each other with this, whether it’s helping to absolve guilt or to stay a little later and help get things done quicker. I really couldn’t do my job without feeling like part of a team.

What strategies do you use to manage workload and protect your well being?
To manage workload, I try and make sure I have 2 nights off a week, and at least one weekend day where I do no work at all. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but having a rule there definitely makes sure I am not constantly working. I also make sure I bake something once a week, to relax and de-stress.

What advice would you give anyone who felt like giving up?
The advice I would give, is to look back at the difference you have made. Not always as a bigger picture, but all the small times when you have made an impact. Negativity is much easier to succumb to than positivity, so finding 3 things you’ve done well each week helps keep you focused on the good. Again, I also find being surround by colleagues, who are also friends, helps as you have a good support system in place.

Sum up our profession in 5 words.
Tiring, stressful....but completely rewarding.