change is in the air

Well in the past week I have applied for a position at another school, had an interview and have been offered the job! Next year I am going to be a curriculum coordinator at a girls' school in Sydney. It is an executive position and I am really excited about the opportunity. Actually, I am looking forward to the opportunity, but I am really going to miss my colleagues - primarily the gorgeous colleagues in my department.

Today I have finally had an opportunity to start thinking about the implication of my decision. Next year, my department will have a new coordinator and possibly up to two other new members of the department. I came into that department with a view to finding the best in each person and mentoring them to achieve their best. I think, in the main, I have been the encouraging leader I wanted to be. Another of my goals was to revamp programming and assessment, in a collaborative manner with my department. I think we accomplished that as well. I also needed to improve the results and that is something that as a department, we have worked well to do. In all, I am really very proud of my ability to lead my department. The thing I am most proud of though, is the wonderful, collegiate department that we have become. I just adore working with my colleagues and I will miss them terribly. I have never worked in a more functional department, a more collaborative department and with a department full of talented, generous and kind people.

I am so thrilled that these four years have been so wonderful. I am so pleased that my first foray into leading a department have been so positive. I know that I will have different sets of challenges in my new role.

I have learn't so much from the women in my department. I have learn't a lot about myself and have become the kind of leader I always wanted to be. It is through their patience, care, kindness and willingness to come along on the journey, which has contributed to the success our department has enjoyed. I have learn't so much from them that I will always be indebted.

It is rare that one has the privilege to work in a department such as mine. In 12 years of teaching, this is the only department where I have experienced such collegiality. I have maintained such great friends at each of the schools where I have worked at, in my career. I know I will sustain these friendships long after I have signed off on the last register.