Sarah Morris and Anna Trinder from Frankley School share a moving reflection on their recent session with David Galbraith — a day that went past the ‘reading, Writing, and maths’ to focus on the heart of the classroom: the human connection.
– Sarah Morris (Principal) and Anna Trinder from Frankley School, New Plymouth
“Who we are while we teach may be just as important as what we teach.”
When we invited David Galbraith to work with our staff and board, we were not looking for another traditional professional development day.
‘We didn’t want to do reading, writing and maths for a day… we wanted to look at our children’.
What emerged from the day was far deeper than we anticipated.
Like many schools, we are navigating increasing complexity, constant change, curriculum demands, and the growing pressure that exists within education. We wanted to create space for our staff to reconnect with what sits underneath all of that – our children, our relationships, our purpose, and the kind of culture we want to build together. The magic of teaching!
The conversation continually brought us back to one simple but powerful question: “Why are you here?”
That question created honest reflection, vulnerability, and meaningful conversations among all of us. It reminded us why we chose teaching in the first place.
One of the things that stayed with many of us was the conversation around energy and the understanding that children pick up far more from adults than we sometimes realise.
One line in particular really landed: “A dysregulated adult can dysregulate a regulated child.” That challenged many of us to think more deeply about what we bring into a room each day.
What energy are we bringing through the gate?
How aware are we of the emotional tone around our children?
How often do we stop and reflect on the impact we have on others simply by how we show up?
Children forget the school work they did, but will remember how adults made them feel.
What was also important to us, the experience helped us reconnect with our school vision – our “North Star.”
In the busyness of school life, the day helped us realign around what matters most: the wellbeing, growth, belonging, and development of our children.
Last but not least, we left recognising that this work now sits with us, in how we lead, how we teach, and how we continue creating the kind of environment we want our children to grow up in.
For us, this was more than professional development, it brought us back to the essense; the humanity at the heart of education.