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 tecniques 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 resisiting'? 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 geen 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 School a 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'
