Member Louise Bray-Burns shared the journey of her long teaching career to retiring to do all the things she loves in life.
In a personal and honest presentation, Louise told us how she was inspired by a favorite teacher at school to enter the teaching profession.
This eventually led to her undertaking the full range of positions in a school. These included, teacher, team leader, deputy principal and then principal. Louise taught in Kapiti, two schools in Tawa and her most recent role was the principal of Evans Bay Intermediate School.
The principal role involved performing and juggling a myriad of tasks including: budgeting; strategic planning; human resources; infrastructure; and parent and community relationships. Louise said work can involve seemingly banal but ultimately necessary work like repairing a toilet block.
Louise also had to learn to deal with the Ministry of Education, which she often found didn't appreciate the pressure schools were under and how understaffed they were.
Louise explained how teaching has become very demanding. Not only do teachers need to teach the curriculum; society now expects teachers to fulfill care and pastoral needs which parents used to provide. Parents are not as supportive as they used to be and see themselves as customers rather than partners. This creates a lot of stress and burnout, leading to capable teachers leaving the profession. There was a lot of 'head-nodding' from other ex-teachers in the room following these comments, resonating with those who have worked in the education sector.
Louise thought some principals and senior school leaders stayed too long at their school. Some spent up to 20 years (or even longer) at their school. This meant they became stale and their school then stagnated. Instead, principals should be required to go to another school after five years which would enable schools to benefit from fresh leadership and new ideas.
Now retired, Louise is as busy as ever doing all the things she enjoys. Her biggest love is her family, and spending time with her new grandson, Rio. She also loves hiking, going to gigs, travel, her church, Rotary and driving her MX5.
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