Delighted to announce that I have been appointed as Senior Regional Advisor with
@EducationScot
.
I will miss life as an Attainment Advisor, but excited to continue in my current role on a permanent basis.
It is such an honour to be returning to Dundee as Head of Service.
I fell in love with Dundee when I moved there from Ireland as a 17 year old! So, I can't wait to get started.
I will, of course, miss my colleagues in
@EducationScot
& across the
@SEICollab
.
#DundeeLearning
❤️
Dundee City Council is confirming that Paul Fleming has been appointed as Interim Head of Service - Education, Learning and Inclusion (Chief Education Officer). Read more here
#DundeeLearning
Happy New Year all!
I'm delighted that I'll be staying in my role in Dundee on a permanent basis.
Wishing everyone all the best for the new term, and year, ahead.
My
#StrathEdD
reading day (aka Annual Leave) didn't go to plan; so, I decided to pick up a pencil and channel my thoughts and questions!
Have a look! Perhaps useful for others to reflect on?
#SocialJustice
#SocialJusticeLeadership
Emotional afternoon as I inform my wonderful school community that after almost 7 years I’ll be leaving my position as Headteacher of
@Kinneil_PS
to take up the post of Attainment Advisor with
@EducationScot
in August. Overwhelmed by the response from parents & children. ♥️
Honoured to be appointed as Senior Regional Advisor (temp) for
@EducationScot
's South East Regional Team for the next three months. Looking forward to working with colleagues in the
@SEICollab
. Working closely with ES colleagues to ensure work in Dundee continues.
#Collaboration
Perhaps we should say ‘Pupil EQUITY Fund’ instead of the acronym PEF to help us to focus on the core purpose of this funding? I love these images which help us understand ‘equality’ & ‘equity’. PS: we can’t address inequity on our own (education)
#collaboration
#equity
Exactly 6 months after losing Bailey, had to say goodbye to our beautiful Skye (9) yesterday. Cancer spread everywhere. She's back with her buddy now. 9 years of pure joy 💖
#bestfriends
Enjoyed my first week in my new role as Attainment Advisor with
@EducationScot
. Meeting so many passionate, skilled & dedicated new colleagues. Delighted (and very excited) to be Attainment Advisor for Dundee, where I moved to from Ireland at 17 yrs old.
#NextChapter
Our 'speech, language and communication' Intervention in partnership with speech and language is now fully up and running, and is going very well. Here's a visual I created to share with others so that you see the 5 main areas of our work
#ClosingTheGap
#Collaboration
#Language
23 years ago this week I left 🇮🇪 to achieve my dream of becoming a teacher. I remember feeling isolated and homesick in 1st yr - feelings resurfacing during covid even in my old age!
Shocking to see some of the narrative around young university students.
Kindness? GIRFEC? Aye
Honoured to have been appointed as interim Senior Regional Advisor for Education Scotland's Tayside Team. This temporary position started last Monday, until our new SRA starts early in the new session. As always, I'll continue to do my best, with others, to improve outcomes.
At my first HT meeting as Chief Education Officer I spoke about the importance of ensuring that every child in Dundee knows that they are loved, that they are loving, and that they are lovable.
Today a HT shared this with me. ❤️
#Culture
#EveryDundeeLearnerMatters
Rescued Felix on an emergency basis when he had just turned 10 years old. Fell in love, so couldn't let him go.
Had no choice but to let him go on Monday, at the ripe old age of 18.
Bye bye gentle boy. 💙
From a pack of 4 to 1 in just over a year!
#BestPals
5 years ago we rescued this wee beaut, Felix! Sadly, he was being starved. But he's fighter!
This amazing, gentle boy turns 15 today! Happy Birthday Felix 🎉🎈🐶🎶
'Poverty of Aspiration'? Aye, right!
Tell that to the wee boy in those photos.
We need to do better to ensure that every family has the resources & opportunities to turn their high aspirations into reality.
That wee boy's name is Paul BTW.
#SocialJustice
#OpportunityGap
Felix arrived as a short term rescue 7 years ago but we couldn't let the old fella go!
My boy turns 17 today! Still in great shape 💙
Happy Birthday Felix.🎉🎂
The Poverty-related Attainment Gap: A review of the evidence undertaken by the
@PovertyAlliance
on behalf of the
@RobertsonTrust
is a must-read.
Also worth reflecting on Sue Ellis' response.
Just realised I arrived in Dundee 25 years ago to do my four year degree, with a view to going back to 🇮🇪 to teach.
I did tell the mother that I might stay a little longer...
Loved my long weekend home to attend my sister's wedding. Spent the whole time with family, including my nieces & godson who have recently moved home from Oz 💚
Now, where was I...
#Family
#ReEnergised
Dusted down the pencils & said I'd try my hand at drawing portraits (two nephews!) on my wee break from Twitter. They recognise themselves at least 😊
#Relax
#Wellbeing
What an emotional morning I had back at
@Kinneil_PS
saying a proper ‘see you later’ to children, staff & parents. Thank you for an amazing assembly. It was full of love & great memories. Loved this video from P2s which finishes with ‘I love you Mr Fleming’. I love you all too!
One of my favourite times - the start of the new school year. Best of luck to all staff, both returning and new. Don't forget the power & importance of collective efficacy! You are all so important in creating a positive & inclusive school culture where ALL children WILL succeed!
Data use that results in improvements for ALL isn't just a set of practices! It should be driven by important principles of equity, reflection, and valuing pupil and teacher engagement.
Have a look at my infographic - based on Datnow and Park (2015).
#Equity
#DataUse
We had to say goodbye to our wee Bailey on Thursday. Despite being ill for a little while, he was his usual affectionate wee self right until it was time to leave us.
Thanks for the daily cuddles, the kisses, the company and the unconditional love Bails. ❤️💔
Adopting Star brought us nothing but laughs and love. She was approaching her 15th birthday but things got too much for her.
Star was the last of our pack; all gone in about 20 months. 💔
Goodbye, my beautiful Star. Miss you. ❤️ 🐕
Who'd have thought reading tweets would be good for the soul!
So uplifting reading and seeing the positive messages re the start of the new academic session. Our most important people welcomed back with virtual open arms and massive smiles. Real ones!Educators, you are amazing.
As schools plan improvements to close their poverty-related gaps (e.g. interventions using Pupil Equity Funding) they might find something like this useful. Sometimes we jump straight to 'address your gaps'! Intersecting different types of data helps identify 'root causes.'
#Data
A wonderful memory from 5 years ago brings back many more. Reminds me how much I miss my school community and the greatest role (school leader) in the world.
Full of admiration for the job our school and service leaders are doing just now. Thank you 👏
'Out of office' on, as they say!
Time to switch off and take in some of the beautiful sights that Scotland has to offer.
#BrainBreak
#ScotlandIsBeautiful
22 years ago today I moved from Eire to start my B Ed degree in Dundee. So today I met up with Professor Teresa Moran (
@dundeeuni
) - my last school experience tutor. First time since I left! She was able to describe my 4th year 'crit' lesson in detail!
#Memories
#Quality
A productive meeting in school all morning with my wonderful Depute & then time on my Improvement Board. Thinking about the ‘what’, ‘who’ & importantly ‘how’ of Improvement. Great news- board is beginning to take shape!
#StrategicLeadership
#ThinkingOutLoud
#SchoolImprovement
Loving all the tweets and pictures of Christmas activity in schools. Well done and thank you to all school staff across the country who go above and beyond to give our children and young people such a wonderful experience. Enjoy the last week you special lot! 🎄😊
Ah, the pure joy of having your offer of a helping hand accepted and/ or receiving a helping hand! A heart warming reminder from my godson (cap) and his wee pal in Oz.
#Relationships
#Values
#Partnerships
No ‘golden time’ displays in this classroom. Just children working together & supporting each other to get on the recognition board. Reward? Well, they decide! A cheer/ a song/ a story from the teacher/ praise from HT!
@suzannezeedyk
@pivotalpaul
#Fantastic
All the pupils in Primary 4/3 got their name onto the Recognition Board today for working quietly ! We celebrated witg a song at the end of the day. Well Done, Keep it up !
#achievement
@Kinneil_PS
Shout out to those who can't stay at home! Like my partner, a carer, who must leave the house every day to look after four teenage boys, now home full time. If you don't NEED to leave your home count your blessings and just
#StayAtHome
. Yes, it's that simple.
I am utterly delighted that
@LintonLass
will be joining my
@EducationScot
South East Improvement Team. I'm very much looking forward to working with you Catriona.
Today's my last day
@GreengablesEdin
before I move on to pastures new. It has been an honour and a privilege to work with the children and families, to lead the staff and work with partners and colleagues in the community. Greengables is a special place and will always be with me
This time last year I'd just joined Education Scotland & started
#StrathEdD
. Great first year with ES, including recent interim Senior Regional Advisor role. Completed two EdD modules and now onto research stage. Heading off to Madrid, via Ireland, for much needed recharge.
#Rest
#Day4
Delighted to have the opportunity to speak with all our Head Teachers today.
Preparing made me reflect on my journey from that wee boy in the picture dreaming of being a teacher...
Looking forward to meeting more colleagues, pupils and families over the coming weeks.
Well, I worked on until Christmas Eve but I didn't bump into Santa at
@EducationScot
! One of the times of the year I miss school.
Wishing all my current and former colleagues (& all on Twitter) a most fabulous Christmas break. You deserve it!
Off to Eire! See you in 2020
#Rest
Revisited
#StrathEdD
Systematic Review from last year in preparation for leading training. Decided to create an infographic from review's results (& new learning).
Using data to inform teaching and learning: Key leadership actions
#DataUseForImprovement
Always wanted to be a teacher. Didn't even sit Irish exam I needed in Eire. Took massive decision to apply to UK. Eventually got into Dundee through 'clearing'. Just 17! Finished with a 1st Class (Hons) Degree. Good luck to all yng people on their learning journey.
#NoWrongPath
Absolutely heart breaking that a young woman - a primary teacher - went out for a run and never came home.💔 My mother walked the very same path just half an hour before this incident.
When will this violence against women stop?
Enough. Is. Enough
#shewasgoingforarun
People in Tullamore have been leaving tributes in memory of Aisling Murphy.
The Co Offaly town has been numbed by shock and grief following the murder of the 23-year-old woman along the banks of the Grand Canal yesterday afternoon | Read more:
As this unbelievable school term comes to an 'end' I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to all my colleagues in local authorities - especially to those in Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife & Midlothian who I work more closely with. Special mention to Central teams. 👏👏
I always tell people - children, parents & colleagues will remember how you made them feel. I look forward to spending my weekend reading these lovely memories from my
@Kinneil_PS
family. Thank you!
Wonderful day today at our Children & Families Service Learning Together Day focused on 'our Promise.'
What an inspirational input from
@G_Armstrong21
, who stayed with us all day. Great to hear directly from our young people & our chief executive. ❤️
#OurPromise
#OurBairns
Reflecting on my evening run after work:
- how tough it was (unfit!)
- how safe it felt (male!)
Violence against women and girls must be stopped.
#AislingMurphy
#shewasjustoutforarun
Delighted, at the end of a long week, that my brave rescue baby, Star, is home after few days in hospital. Full cruciate ligament rupture! Tough wee life but she keeps smiling - mind you, the meds are helping her just now.
#BestPals
According to Hattie (2016) collective teacher efficacy is beyond 3 times more powerful and predictive of 'student achievement' than socio-economic status. Is fostering collective teacher efficacy at the forefront of your planned strategic efforts?
#EvolvingSystemsThinking
I’m so very proud of my Nursery/ P1 teacher Mrs Doherty & my Nursery/ P1 EYO
@M_HigginsEY0
who led a workshop today at
#PlayIsTheWayFC
sharing
@Kinneil_PS
P1 outdoor learning journey
We are excited to welcome back our children and young people tomorrow for the start of the new academic session.
We have a large number of Ukrainian children starting this week:
Щиро вітаємо всіх українських школярів в Данді з початком навчального року! 🇺🇦 😃
#DundeeLearning
What can we learn, if anything, from case studies of schools from an inner London Local Authority who have used Pupil Premium to narrow (and in some cases eliminate) attainment gaps in their settings? It's not just about 'interventions'!
#SchoolImprovement
#Equity
#Inclusion
My ma - 1st in family to go to college, Achieved dream as HT in high school & amazing ‘mammy’ to 7! Lots of tough times. Retired & going strong. My inspiration & hero.
#IWD2018
In lunch hall today and two P6 girls jumped up & gave me a massive hug (followed by a group of others) & said ‘we’ve decided to do a ‘hug a day’ every day ‘til you leave’. I’ve known them since they were 3.That’s what I call 7/8 years of impact.
#Love
#Relationships
@bainsfordht
‘You brought more than children to our (care)home, you brought fun, love and laughter’ - that’s what one of our older friends told me today when they came to see their little friends on stage
@Kinneil_PS
Intergenerational friendship.
#Connection
@NatLeadAHPCYP
@suzannezeedyk
Privileged to be invited to speak with West Lothian’s HTs at their Leadership event today. Thank you for having me & for the kind feedback. Looking forward to collaborating further!
#RegionalCollaborative
#PEF
#Data
😀 Pleased to manage almost 5km in my first prep race for the 10km
@raceforlife
😨 Just 3 weeks to go. Plenty of time to get ready, yes?
❤️Joining
@Kinneil_PS
staff in memory of our friend and colleague, Ann.
#CancerResearch
Following my Irish exam results, I didn't have the 'points' needed for teaching (my dream job). 4 years later I got a Bachelor of Education degree with 1st Class Honours.
#NoWrongPath
Best of luck to all those receiving 'results' today. That piece of paper does not define you 💚
Loved being in the new office today. Great to catch up in-person with
@pmnesbitt
and
@ed_dundee
And what a view from my window!
Wishing all our wonderful staff who are off Monday a long weekend.
#BonnyDundee
So excited to see our children’s journey towards the creation of our very own ‘Wee HGIOS’ (how good is our school).. making learning visible & setting the ‘standards’ we aspire to!
#Collaboration
#SchoolImprovement
#ChildCentred
Blown away by the well wishes from staff, children & families as I prepare to leave.During an emotional day I was proud as I ‘held it together’ BUT then I received a card in the post from the mother of one of my wonderful teachers, with the most beautiful message inside (secret!)
Wishing all education and children's services staff a happy, and safe, Christmas. Thank you for all that you have done during this most challenging year.
Doing a 'spring' clean today & found this. What a 'job' being a Head Teacher is. ❤️ As one HT said in a text to me today, 'no other job like this one!'
Beautiful Saturday morning so nothing better than long walks with the 4 🐶 Fresh air & gorgeous scenes to clear the head, and all on my doorstep
#BeautifulScotland
#MentalHealth
Spent time chatting a pupil stocking up his school's well used 'take it or leave it' (free) food corner today.
Then I read the news. What planet are these people on?
I really wish our children and young people ruled the world.
#SocialJustice
Reading about exam results in UK & remembering I got into Uni through ‘clearing’ in 1997; (youngest in year) achieving a 1st Class honours degree 4 years later which allowed me to achieve my dream of becoming a teacher! Exams weren’t ‘my thing’! Don’t give up.
#NoWrongPath
Thanks to
@ADEScotland
&
@EducationScot
colleagues, as well as teachers, PTs, DHTs, HTs & our central team for a fantastic three days engaged in the fieldwork phase of Collaborative Improvement.
Focus: improving outcomes for pupils in senior phase.
#SupportAndChallenge
#EDLM
Delighted to pass my
#StrathEdD
Research Proposal with helpful and very positive feedback from both my supervisor Prof Sue Ellis &
@kate_wall98
. So excited to be able to explore social justice leadership in schools in such depth! Thesis stage...
#AlwaysLearning
#SocialJustice
#StrathEdD
ARMTP module students your feedback has been released this morning. Thesis stage here you come!!
(Please note if you had an extension, you will need to wait at least another week - sorry)
Planning an improvement project? Schools might find something like this useful to refer to! Working with various staff in a couple of schools in Dundee today who found working through these steps helpful.
#DataInformed
#ScottishAttainmentChallenge
#PEF
Accepted my place (conditional offer) on the
#StrathEdD
today, commencing in October! What have I let myself in for!? It’s only taken me about 5 years to apply so I’ll go with ‘excitement’ for now! 😃 It’s not like I’m starting a new job at the same time 😂
Evaluating 'participation'? This
@EducationScot
document provides a framework (The ‘Four Arenas of Participation’)to help us understand and develop when, where, and how children can have a say in their settings. Includes an evidence-based rationale.
My heartfelt thanks to all of our staff across our nurseries and schools who continue to go above and beyond during what continues to be a very challenging time with covid-19.
#DundeeLearning
Last day of term for colleagues in Dundee - enjoy the well deserved break. Wishing everyone near and far a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy spending time with family and friends - after all that's what it's all about. (signing off for 2018)
Relaxing couple of days leave - first since started new job in August. Lovely flying visit back to
@Kinneil_PS
for lots of hugs & chat. Seem to be locked out of work email just now so I'll take that as a sign! Sunny Dundee tomorrow 😊
Spent a lovely morning in
@CraigiebarnsPS
, where my school tour was led by 4 amazing Primary 7s. I definitely saw the school's values in action throughout. Thank you! 💚
Wonderful to see all the primary 1s in both classes so settled and happy! 😊
#DundeeLearning
Decided to play around with the new Surface Pro & 'play' came to mind! I hope to get better but I will definitely have fun playing & trying to do so!
#PlayIsTheWay