I support school leaders through the complex demands of their role - helping them create positive impacts for their school community whilst building resilience and well-being.
“Coaching with Jenny was an invaluable experience at a critical moment as I took on a new role. She listened and helped to hold up a mirror for me in a way that allowed me to recognise barriers and patterns in my own thinking that blocked me from being able to move on and grow. I would highly recommend Jenny as a coach as the process can truly be transformational.”
International School Leader
“The work of educational leaders is always complex”
(Netolicky, 2020)
As a former headteacher, I am passionate about supporting school leaders and helping them pause, reflect and work through this complexity in order to create positive schools where everyone can flourish.
Light-Up
Through attentively listening without judgment, I create a safe, supportive and confidential space, which allows educational leaders to carry out their best thinking. Using considered questioning, I help them shine a light on their strengths, values and what is important to them so that they can gain clarity on their current situation. We focus on the being of leadership as well as the doing.
Leading schools can be “messy and demanding, day to day, hour to hour” (Stynes, M., McNamara, G., & O'Hara, J. 2018, study of Irish Primary Headteachers).
Lead the Way
Alongside this, meaningful intentions are set and positive actions created. We will work on areas which will support leaders in working through the ‘messy’ . This could include developing teams, implementing change, managing workload and well-being, to name just a few.
“The coaching sessions offered a wide range of practical, proactive and positive activities and strategies to enable me to pivot from challenges or a negative mindset into the positive. Through discussion of my values, and supporting me to centre these in all I do, she has introduced me to a long-lasting technique that will help me overcome anxiety-inducing situations. Jenny has been thoughtful and mindful in her approach, moving at my pace and offering space and time for my own reflection. She has been endlessly kind, understanding and encouraging. She’s given me the confidence that I have the answers within myself, encouraging me to find them gently and tactfully. This process has not only positively impacted my work but also other areas of my life. I am very grateful!”
Kirstie, Charity Sector
Light Up Edu-Leadership is proud to work with school leaders at:
“Jenny is a wonderful coach, who was able to support me to clarify my thinking using a non-judgemental approach. I felt very comfortable working with her and I now have a sense of ease, in respect of my career - aim achieved! I would have no hesitation in recommending Jenny. “
Helen Holmes - UK School Leader
References
Netolicky, D. M. (2020). School leadership during a pandemic: navigating tensions. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 5(3/4), 391–395. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-05-2020-0017
Stynes, M., Mcnamara, G., & O’Hara, J. (2018). An analysis of day to day activities of a sample of primary school principals in Ireland. Egitim Arastirmalari - Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 2018, 93–112. https://doi.org/10.14689/ejer.2018.76.5