In this episode, Donna interviews Mike, known as the Classroom Exit Coach, to discuss his journey from being a history teacher to coaching others in the education sector. Mike shares his experiences in teaching, the challenges of navigating a demanding profession, and the impact of systemic changes on educators’ well-being. They reflect on the importance of career guidance for young people, the pressures faced by public sector workers, and the emotional toll of maintaining a professional identity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Teaching is not just a job; it often becomes a significant part of one’s identity. The pressure to maintain a positive image can lead to burnout, as educators feel the need to perform and mask their true feelings.

Both teaching and other public sector roles, such as nursing, are characterised by high workloads, emotional demands, and a lack of adequate support. Many professionals in these fields work unpaid overtime, leading to a sense of being trapped in a ‘gilded cage’.

Teachers play a crucial role in shaping young people’s lives, and their mental well-being directly affects their students. The need for positive role models is essential, as students are influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of their teachers.

The focus on recruiting new teachers often overshadows the need for retaining existing staff. Addressing the reasons why educators leave the profession could be more beneficial than simply trying to bring in new talent.

BEST MOMENTS

“I think like a lot of people, when you’re going into a profession, you only see the positives. You kind of go, what am I going to do with this history degree now?”

“You feel like you’ve got to ask permission to go early from your leader and they sort of give you that sort of side eye as if to say you’re being a bit cheeky.”

“The day-to-day of the job is very different to the two or three great bits. It’s like relentless pressure, inability to switch off.”

“The biggest issue in all of these things is retention. If we put that money into why are people leaving in the first place, then we wouldn’t need to spend all this money on advertising.”

“If your bucket’s got a hole in the bottom, it doesn’t matter how much we pour in the top.”

ABOUT THE HOST

Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades. 

She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles.  Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.

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https://www.lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-bentley-carr

This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/