It’s official. I’ve been exposed. I’m a fraud.
While helping my parents move house, my son Ronan uncovered one of my old school reports. (The actual evidence is attached here for your viewing pleasure.) He’s now thoroughly indulging his new hobby of calling me the family hypocrite with regular, “Advocating for teachers despite being this much of a deadset nightmare yourself, Dad. Really?!”
It’s a fair cop.
The comments paint a fairly clear picture: disengaged, disruptive, inconsistent, unfocused. If there was a box labelled ‘Most likely to derail a lesson,’ I would’ve had it ticked in thick red pen.
Yet here we are. Despite my very ordinary performance back then, somewhere along the line, I found my feet. I found meaning and purpose. And, ironically, I found myself back inside schools – not as a repeat offender – but as a Principal, system and educational leader.
You see, people change. Your current students will change too.
Not always neatly. Not always quickly. But change is possible, especially when someone refuses to write them off.
Teachers often don’t get to see the final version of the young people they fight for. You might work tirelessly on a student’s mindset, behaviour or commitment and still see minimal payoff during your time with them.
It can feel hopeless. But it isn’t.
Your investment, belief and fight for them matters.
Kids are not finished articles at 8, or 15, or even 18. They’re messy works-in-progress. What you say today might echo years later. What you stand for today might quietly pull them back from a cliff edge tomorrow.
My teachers – whether they knew it or not – planted seeds in me that didn’t sprout for years. They challenged, encouraged, redirected, called out and cared even when my behaviour screamed that I didn’t deserve it.
I hope that somewhere in your future you get a glimpse of a hopeless kid today who surprises you with the version of themselves they become because of you.
Keep fighting that good fight,
P.S. It’s that time of year again! Yep, I’m about to hit the road for a full program of in-person workshops across Australia and New Zealand!
Workshop 1: For Teachers and Practitioners
Restorative Teaching: The Next Frontier of Student Engagement
✔ Learn what motivates today’s students (because they can be motivated)
✔ Get restorative strategies for any class and any year level
✔ Improve student accountability and teaching relevance (without battles)
✔ Make your classroom a place kids want to be and want to perform in
Workshop 2: For Principals and Aspiring Leaders
Leading Whole School Behaviour Improvement
✔ Build a positive, consistent school-wide culture
✔Learn why punishment fails with today’s young people – and what actually works
✔ Consistency without conflict
✔ Lead change that garners student, staff and parental buy-in
Whether you lead the whole school or just your own four walls — these workshops are designed to help make your classroom a place where respect, engagement and learning thrive.
I hope to see you there!
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