ROZ MCFEETERS R
CHERYL WHELDON C
P Principal, H Hill Croft School, Newtownabbey, N Northern Ireland
H Head teacher, C Coedffranc Primary, N Neath, Wales
WHAT TYPE OF PERSON ARE YOU?
WHAT TYPE OF PERSON ARE YOU?
In five words: Sociable, compassionate, motivated, focused, team-player. What’s top of your to-do list? Clearing out the study. Favourite biscuit? My mum’s Christmas shortbread. Top holiday destination? France – bread, cheese, wine and sunshine… What wouldn’t you do for £1m? A bush-tucker trial in the jungle. Who would play you in the film of your life? Jennifer Aniston.
In five words: Straight talking strategist with sparkle. What’s top of your to-do list? Clearing my desk at school. Favourite biscuit? Fox’s Viennese Chocolate Melts. Top holiday destination? The Loire region of France. What wouldn’t you do for £1m? Paint the Severn Bridge. Who would play you in the film of your life? Meryl Streep.
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES The celebrity I’d most like to have as a teacher at my school is Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. She would be really inspiring, teaching the children that they can succeed no matter what barriers they face. Bear Grylls would make learning fun and exciting but would be a health and safety nightmare for me and the leadership team. As a child, I wanted to grow up to be the manager of my dad’s shoe shop. When I realised that A-level Economics was just beyond me, my other option of teaching kicked in. I still love shoes and I still can’t believe that someone put me in charge of the school budget! The best excuse I’ve heard is ‘I can’t come to school today, I’m too cold.’ I went into teaching because I have always loved children. I’ve been babysitting since I was six. Children’s enthusiasm is infectious. I love seeing that moment when something just clicks and they ‘get it’. This is still the best part of my job. My most embarrassing moment as a teacher was in my first job. The staff all wore school sweatshirts. One day there was a substitute teacher in the next class and I went in to say hi and told her to shout if she needed anything and she gave me a strange look. At break time when I filled up my cup in the staffroom before playground duty she commented to another teacher that the school was very liberal allowing the pupils to make tea in the staffroom. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s to put people first, show empathy and listen rather than talk. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but sometimes I love to sit down with a cup of tea and watch an episode of The Waltons. Tell us your best joke Venison – dear isn’t it?
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES The celebrity I’d most like to have as a teacher at my school is Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. I’ve heard her speak on several occasions and always feel inspired. She is wonderfully motivational, fantastically inspirational and would be a brilliant role model for all pupils as she makes you believe anything is possible. She’s also Welsh! As a child, I wanted to grow up to be an air hostess called Jackie. Why? I have no idea! It just seemed so glamorous travelling to different countries and not even having to pay. I didn’t really take the work element of it into account. The best excuse I’ve heard was when I worked in a preschool assessment unit. One of the three-year-olds kept coming in without her glasses. When I asked her mother why, I was told: “She’s not wearing them ’cos I can’t find them. I’ve been decorating and I might have wallpapered over them.” I went into teaching because after being persuaded that I didn’t really want to be an air hostess called Jackie I was influenced by the fact that my family have been producing teachers since Victorian times. It’s the family business. My most embarrassing moment was role playing in the Wendy house with my class of pre-schoolers and enjoying the cup of tea (pretend) they had made me when I realised I was entertaining all my colleagues. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s always give yourself the chance to take a step back before moving forward. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but we don’t have time to run the tuck shop and read newspapers anymore. Tell us your best joke The doctor calls into his local pub each night and Dick the barman always makes him a daiquari with an almond in it. One evening Dick is in a panic because he has run out of almonds so he decides to use a hickory nut instead.The doctor comes in and Dick makes him his drink. After taking a sip the doctor asks: “Is this an almond daiquari, Dick?” “No, it’s a hickory daiquari, doc.”
MARCH/APRIL 2012 ● LEADERSHIP FOCUS 21
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