C19 - Things I’ve learned so far.

1) We are even more adaptable than we thought.

We reinvented education in days. We learned a new way of working and got to grips with it in a short space of time.

2) We’ve remembered why we teach.

The yearning to be with our children shows why we started teaching in the first place. Hold on to it when we are back.

3) While teaching is important, it’s not.

Family is important. Physical and mental health are important. We are important. Maybe this perspective will help our work life balance when we return.

4) We know our schools better than anyone.

Amazing decisions made in a calm, sensible and reasoned manner in the best interests of our school. We know what our communities need.

5) We are made for community.

The human make up needs community and togetherness. When it’s taken away we work harder to get it. We need to keep working hard at when this is over.

6) Our most important work is yet to come.

We’ve done vital work so far, but picking up the pieces of this will be the most important work we do in our career.

7) It’s the ones you don’t expect who step up.

The one who doesn’t normally get involved is now front and centre. New skills may have come to light. Encourage them.

8) We can deal with more than we thought we could.

Nothing could have prepared us for this, but we’ve dealt with it and need to take strength from it going forward.

9) In adversity comes humanity.

Now more than ever we have shown the values we post all over our school walls. We have proved their worth. Build around them even more when we return.

10) The future is exciting.

We have the opportunity to rethink how education works. We have been brave - now it’s time for those who make the decisions to be too.