One of the delegates on the recent COBIS KAA Middle Leader programme at British School of Brussels wrote a wonderful poem about her experiences on the Leading Learning from the Middle Programme.
Here it is…..
Thinking Outside The Box – An Ideas Poem
I’m beginning my day
By eating my frog
I was given an ideas sheet
But then it got lost
“Think out of the box!”
Was what we were told
For some this is easy
For others it’s not
Now you see I’m not ‘creative’
And no good at doodles
I need to sit back
And let ideas flow
Knowing these look like words
Not glitter nor rainbows
So let’s start at day 1
The place it began
I’ll look through my pink post-its
And pick some things out
I hoped for new ideas and motivation
I reflected on people
Specifically me
Exactly who is the leader
I wish to be?
Maintain optimism
And positivity
Mr Richard you are the one
I wish to be
For you always had time
for everybody
Know thy impact
Is what Hattie said
We’re all magic weavers
In this teaching business
Now on to Ben Zanders
And rule number 6
Give everyone an A
And make their eyes shine
On to day 2
And my star post-it notes…
Developing my team
Our vision and aims
Let’s review things together
And learn from the best
Let’s become coaches and mentors
There’s no time to rest!
It’s now back to Hattie
We’re here on day 3
(I’ll admit this is Saturday
And I’m not sure this is me)
But Hattie convinces me
as he always does
It’s about feedback
credibility and expectations
Now put this into practice
And let’s make a list
What is okay and requires some help
What is fabulous outstanding
Making us not want to stop
We are finally here
We’re onto day 4
Presented with challenges
Conversations
Planning and more
But I’m afraid this poem
Now has to stop
There’s a ten minute presentation
Which requires some thought
So thank you Karen
For all you have done
Let’s end this process
where we began
It’s started and ended
all in the same place
With new ideas and motivation
And a hope one day
that I will become
The leader and teacher
I wish to be
Knowing that process
all begins with me
By: Clair Draper
Participant on the COBIS Brussels Middle Leader Programme, Feb 2016
