Fulfilling my purpose as a teacher and a coach

“Edufundi came at the right time for me, I did not know what to do but now I am confident,” said a Departmental Head in the Eastern Cape who started in a new position in a new school last year. She was echoing the words of a young deputy principal in KwaZulu-Natal who is excited about the coaching she is receiving that has helped her to get direction and order in her work.

The recent visits to the four provinces we are supporting have been both encouraging and up-lifting. Twice a year I am privileged to visit all four provinces where Edufundi is based. I facilitate the Lead Like a Champion (LLAC) workshop on a Saturday and then visit five of the ten schools in the week after which I am able to observe coaching sessions and give support to our Leadership Support Coaches. It is here that I get to observe the deep impact that the Edufundi Support Programme is making in the leader's professional lives -, improving their work. It is this that gives me the motivation and encouragement that I, and the programme are making a difference in education in South Africa.

The school leaders are going through very challenging times within their own lives and the everyday responsibilities in their schools, but they remain committed. They are grabbing the support given by the coaches with both hands and are implementing the techniques well.

When we got to the schools in the week after the Saturday LLAC workshop, we were excited to see the principals leading their teams and whole staff in implementing the learnings from the content they received at the workshops. One principal in Gauteng said, “the educators looked at us, the SMTs, shocked when we started implementing Threshold, approaching and greeting them with a smile on a Monday morning and not fixed to our laptops not even noticing when they enter the office to sign.”

Another Departmental head in the Western Cape said he was very excited to have attended our LLAC workshop “on a Saturday” because of the learning that took place for him, he continued by saying, “it was not a waste of time.” He now knows how to plan for success and to encourage his colleagues to support him in his duties.

Most of all is the commitment and support we are receiving from the department officials and the affirmations we are receiving during our sessions. It is great to know that our content is directly linked to their content areas and is helpful for the School Management Teams.

The work we are doing as an organisation encourages me every day, it is confirmation to me that changing positions in the education space, from a school principal to Edufundi was the right move for me. I feel I am fulfilling my purpose as a teacher and a coach.

Written by Vuyo Vinqi