Why I Almost Went back to the Classroom after 15 Years Out
“I’ll never go back.”
In 2011 I made a vow not to go back to teaching. It wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy it. I did. But I was a brand new parent feeling the angst of leaving my babies in the care of someone else when I wanted to be home with them.
So for 3 years I was.
In 2014, I enrolled in a leadership training at ESSDACK to renew my teaching license and stumbled upon the leadership coaching career I’ve loved for the last 9 years.
For the full 15 years I’ve been out of the classroom, I didn’t entertain the idea of teaching again.
But then…
An opening mid-year in our district and a text from the curriculum director asking if I’d consider covering for the next four months surprised me. Maybe, I said.
I found myself trying on the role like I’d test drive a car. Let me see if I like this ride. How do I feel driving it? Who would I be in this machine?
I felt surprised at the swell of excitement.
This is weird. I thought I’d never go back.
I made a few phone calls, talked with my husband, and took notice of what could pull me out of a fully satisfying career to consider going back on a 15 year declaration.
Two things surfaced:
A daily professional community
My current job contains long stretches of alone time. Even though I’m an introvert, dreaming of daily interaction with creative and intellectual professionals lit something within me. When I was a teacher, my colleagues were my friends.
2. Working with a highly anabolic leader
Our district hired a new Superintendent, who before ever moving here I noticed behaved in ways that fit the mission of our INspired Leadership team’s current work. To work with an encouraging, creative, committed, confident, optimistic, engaged, supportive, humble, enlightened leader was enough to inspire me to forget about any struggles in education and run directly into the atmosphere to be part of a shifting culture.
What is an anabolic leader?
An anabolic leader has a vision and a plan. He or she demonstrates belief in people through support, honors autonomy, and vocalizes the gifts and talents of others.
He or she has high awareness, is reflective, mindful and adaptable.
When employees work with an anabolic leader they feel heard, inspired, and cared for. They feel confident in the vision and empowered to help bring it to fruition.
Behaviors of an anabolic leader
Elevates the district through social media
First-day-of-school pics are of his or her team
Asks every employee to share 3 ways he or she can support them
Shakes hands with coaches after losses, not just after wins
Asks employees to take risks and encourages innovation
Humbly points out beauty - a sunset, a good book, an inspiring event
Visits classrooms and emails teachers affirming feedback and/or posts an encouraging picture about it on social media
Sees the school board as colleagues for the greater good, not as bosses he or she has to please
Supports Arts, Athletics, and Academics equally
Sends emails to teachers to thank them, congratulate them, and support them when he or she sees they’re struggling
Communicates clearly and consistently
Makes learning and reflection a priority
What is a catabolic leader?
A catabolic leader works in crisis mode. They are reactive and can cause stress. There is usually a lack of focus, limited productivity, and a frenzied atmosphere around them.
They don’t have a clear vision for the future nor articulate a plan for it. Sometimes they use anger to control what’s out of control, and sometimes they avoid conflict altogether and pretend it’s not happening.
People feel divided, unsupported, confused, frustrated or intimidated when working for a catabolic leader.
My Final Answer
Maybe turned to no. I highly value my current work, colleagues, and freedom. And I now more readily understand the value of anabolic leadership as I witness changes from inside our own district.
I know my kids, who are in the care of this district, have a good future ahead of them.
If I were ever going back to the classroom, I’d go under two circumstances:
The leader’s energy is anabolic
There is an effort to heighten awareness of how each person in the district contributes to an anabolic culture
To almost break a 15 year vow? That says a lot about a culture.
Reflect: When you think about your culture, what describes it best, anabolic or catabolic? What ways would you describe your own leadership?
Find out your leadership potential in an ELI Leaderhip assessment and debrief, or contact our team to know more options to impact your work culture: inspiredleadership@essdack.org
Rachel is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through International Coaching Federation (ICF) for INspired Leadership at ESSDACK. She helps professionals master self-inquiry and self-leadership. To learn more to learn more, schedule a discovery call here, or email Rachel here.
To talk to our team about what INspired Leadership work can do for your work culture, email us here.
