In early 2024, a group of passionate educators from across Scotland came together online each Wednesday evening – not for a formal course or training, but for something deeper. It was a space to reflect, reconnect with their values and grow as leaders.
These were experienced teachers who give their time to support early career teachers (ECTs). While they’re usually the ones doing the listening and guiding, this time the focus was on them.
“It gave me time to think about the small changes I can make to help me in my life and career. After every meeting I felt calm and uplifted, it was such a positive experience.”
Through a series of six 90-minute online sessions, Columba 1400’s Values-Based Leadership Academy offered these Ambassadors the time and space to step back from their busy school lives and focus on what matters most: their values, their wellbeing and their role as leaders.
“The opportunities we had to reflect and discuss our varied situations (teaching and personal) were empowering. Each session left you feeling there were positive things to be taken from different experiences and there are ways to help you be a better version of yourself for yourself as well as for others.”
Learning Through Values
Rooted in Columba 1400’s six core values, each session invited the Ambassadors to reflect both personally and professionally. They explored big questions such as What do I stand for? How do I lead? How do I support others without losing sight of myself?
What emerged was a powerful sense of clarity and connection.
“I feel empowered, confident and ready. It has helped me understand how I can best support early career teachers using my core values.”
Columba 1400’s Values-Based Leadership Academy encouraged peer problem solving, peer coaching and personal storytelling. The more personal conversations in breakout rooms were described as ‘transformational’. Ambassadors weren’t being taught what to do as Ambassadors, instead the experience facilitated the conditions to enable them to create a vision and a route map for how they would continue to develop the role and the support available to early career teachers in their area.
A Ripple Effect
The impact of the Academy reached beyond individual growth. Ambassadors reported feeling significantly more confident not just in articulating their values, but in:
- Supporting early career teachers with their own wellbeing
- Having deeper, values-led conversations
- Feeling a renewed sense of balance between work and life.
These are the foundations of sustainable, values-based leadership.
“I now appreciate that my 34 years of experience in teaching has value and relevance, and I feel in a stronger position to work with early career teachers at the start of their journey.”
From Insight to Action
And the impact didn’t end with the final session. The group now stay connected through a WhatsApp group, offering day-to-day support and encouragement.
This year Columba 1400 has continued to walk alongside them through termly online connection sessions, helping them to keep growing, reflecting and supporting each other.
“I have a network now…I feel empowered, confident and ready.”
“It has made me feel capable, feel confident and not alone!”
Looking Ahead
The Ambassadors came into the programme looking for clarity and confidence in a role that sometimes felt undefined. They left not only with a stronger understanding of themselves and their purpose, but with a renewed sense of connection and a powerful network to lean on.
This is what happens when we invest in people as they are, leaders not because of their titles, but because of the way they show up for others.
Find out more about our Leadership Academies for teachers, head teachers and schools here or email us at [email protected]