Stephen: Empowering Education

I have spoken to you before about my ambitions to create a movement which brings coaching into education in order to increase self-esteem, behaviour management and better performance amongst pupils and students. Moreover I am convinced that coaching techniques can empower the work already ongoing in integrated schools in Northern Ireland.

Yesterday my reinvention began with the news that I have appointed Head of Phoenix Integrated Primary School in Cookstown, Northern Ireland and comes on the back of a belief that through coaching I can empower all people who believe in and work for Integrated Education in Northern Ireland.

I have just arranged a Coaching In Education workshop where teachers went through coaching techniques akin to Tim Gallwey and the Inner Game.I was amazed how the teachers could see the impact of coaching on learning.

Today I led a coaching workshop for one hour with 10 year olds on ‘what are you putting up with – what are you revisiting’?

I just wished someone like you was there to see the work that was done. My new challenge is to lead a new school on a green field site with 19 P1 pupils and creating a school where difference will be celebrated, where all abilities are accepted no matter their creed or colour and where all the pupils of the school I lead will become empowered citizens of a Northern Ireland that is looking so wonderful and exciting.

Me reinvention is alive today and I look forward to keeping you in touch with the many developments that there will be in making Phoenix Integrated Primary Schoola model of how time spent developing and coaching children has a positive effect on all who come our way.

Thank – you and hopefully we can have a chat about how our aspirations may empower each other.

Stephen McKernan

‘empowering education – unlocking the potential in young people’