NICE TO MEET YOU
I'm Rowena Hicks
I have 4 children, divorced twice and burnt out twice.
I have been working in education for over 30 years. My first class, in Brixton, London, inspired me! I had the most diverse class of 8 year olds- a child who achieved a scholarship to a private school, a child who arrived each morning with an assortment of razor blades in his pocket, a child who was taken on by a local club due to his athletic prowess and a child who could barely read but when she danced, turned into a swan.
My passion has always been to support vulnerable children and those with a range of additional needs. Later I became a specialist teacher, Special needs coordinator (SENco), and finally to being a Deputy Headteacher. Iâve worked in UK, Poland and East Africa, in Orphanages, Missionary schools, international schools and both Secondary and mostly Primary schools.
My 4 amazing children have had to put up with years of me working long hours, working at weekends, while all advising me it was too much for me! But I loved all my jobs! I managed OK until recently when the doctor signed me off with severe physical symptoms of stress and exhaustion. These got worse so he advised me to resign (being off sick, while working in a school is not a recipe for healing in my experience- there is too much you know that needs to be done!).
Re-ignite
your passion for teaching!
Gain
your confidence back!
Re-discover
your energy and motivation to teach!
My Story
I have a passion for inclusion. I have a masters in it and have taught and tutored SENcos on their National Award. I love coaching and supporting staff to understand their strengths and their value. This also applies to children of course! I have worked alongside many families to support them towards finding the best outcomes for them.
A while back an amazing Executive Headteacher asked me why I hadnât gone for a promotion. I responded that it hadnât crossed my mind to do so. Her response has stuck with me for the last 5 years. She said âWhy not Ro? You are good, you know you are good!â
Well, simple it may seem, but actually I had no idea. No one had ever told me this, or even indicated it. Iâd never stopped long enough to think about it, even consider it.
Since then, I have been passionate about supporting staff to believe in themselves, to see their value and their impact, to be the best version of themselves, to recognize their strengths and walk in them.
I have decided to write about my journey, and teach about the lessons I have learnt along the way from the many amazingly gifted and kind people I have worked with as well as the hiccups I have encountered!
"It was so good to receive a copy of your book with its rare combination of lightheartedness and deep thoughtfulness â such an effective way to address such serious matters. Reading it added to my thinking about the responsibility of leaders for creating and sustaining the conditions in which people work and seek meaning in their lives. So many people in business, health, education etc seem to be either âmicro-managedâ or âneglectedâ or â the most damaging â both. You describe so clearly the consequences of not treating people as people and suggest in such straightforward terms what people can do to strengthen and sustain themselves when that is the case."
- Professor Stamp in UK
"This is a well written book to help teachers and teaching assistants survive the stress of working in today's schools. The author has a wealth of experience in teaching and SEN work in particular and has been to the edge! She writes from the heart. The book is full of good ideas about dealing with children and colleagues and the stresses that can result. It includes ideas for helping yourself and helping you realise you are doing a good job even if no one else is telling you you are!! Modern schooling with its performance metrics is challenging and stressful and this book certainly helps you cope and survive. As someone who spent 15 years as a TA in class and working with the SENCO I saw and experienced the stresses first hand. I wish I had had this book 15 years ago!"
- A teaching assistantâs view
"Down-to-earth, and full of stories and examples, this is a book written with passion, energy and vulnerability about coping with the challenges faced by teachers in the hectic world of education. Rowena writes from her wealth of real life experience in different schools, from the bottom to the top, with many practical suggestions and exercises for the reader. It is well researched, and full of practical wisdom. The principles can equally be applied to any busy organisation which relies on effective relationships, where affirming others and being self-aware can make such a difference."
- The view of an international business person
Why I do what I do?
Having burnt out twice in my career, I have discovered that while the system is broken, we can still make changes within ourselves. I have too many friends and colleagues in the teaching profession who lurch from week to week, struggling, no work life balance and becoming quite unwell.
It doesnât have to be this way! I have been on a learning journey to heal myself, and now work with others to share strategies to overcome the overwhelm and to thrive in their role.
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