Mentoring with Chris Curnow
After 50 years in the workforce — in education, and then across many roles in the private sector — I am now offering to mentor leaders at the coalface of the profession.
I believe, with all my heart, that teaching is the most noble of all professions. It offers more experience of both wonderment and heartbreak than any other.
Being a leader in a school could be likened to the medieval punishment of being torn apart — each limb tied to a wild horse, then set free.
I offer you someone who understands. Who listens without judgement. And who will lead you to realise that you are both more worthy and more powerful than you have ever imagined.
If that sounds like something you need, I’d love to hear from you.
Topics
There are many issues that may be impetus for starting work with me but here are some of the most common:
- lower than desired enrolments
- a difficult staff member
- divided staff
- uncommitted staff
- lack of community involvement
Process
The process we engage in will be one I learnt from my mentor, Julian Lippi, and which he describes in his book Doing, Knowing and Being. This process is based on the archtype of the goddess Athena as described in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey.
Athena was mentor to Telemarkus (the son of Odysius who was absent fighting the Trojan Wars). As a goddess, she knew when to appear and guide Telemarkus and when he could be left to follow his own wisdom.
This is the approach I take.
You have much more wisdom than you sometimes believe. When things get tough, you may think you are not the right person for the job. In my experience, almost always, you ARE the right person in the right place.
You just need someone to guide you to find that wisdom again and see how you can use it in the situation you are trying to resolve.
I won’t give you answers, but I will give you pointers that help you find the answers.
Program
The way we work together is completely dependent on your requirements and availability.
The core components are:
60 – 90 minute one-on-one sessions
held over Zoom or in person where possible
Recording and notes
shared with you so you can revisit and remind at any time.
Email and chat support
as needed. When something comes up and you need to discuss it with me between sessions.
A 2-hour summary session
where will consolidate what you have learnt and reflect on how this program has affected your leadership and how you will you will use it in the future.
A Great Teacher is Always a Great Mentor
And a Great Mentor is Always a Great Teacher
Think of the best teacher you ever had.
I’m sure they were a great mentor to you. Yes, they taught you the subject well. But other teachers taught well too. This teacher stood out because they took you under their wing. They encouraged you when you needed encouraging. They challenged you when you needed challenging. They let you go your own way when you needed to go your own way.
They seemed to know just what you needed at any particular time.
And they were always there for you.
They saw your potential and weren’t satisfied with you being just good. They wanted you to be great.
You made mistakes along the way. They guided you to take responsibility for your actions and accept the consequences. But they never judged you.
Being a school leader can be incredibly rewarding—and incredibly hard. You’re carrying the hopes of students, the expectations of staff, and the demands of policy, usually all at once. And you’re expected to do it without enough time to pause, reflect, or ask for support.
You think back to that teacher you had. What would they do right now if they were here? What would they say? Sometimes you hear their voice as if they were standing right next to you.
Other times, though, you wish they were right next to you.
I can never be that mentor but I can be your mentor now.
I can listen when you need someone to listen to you. I can encourage when you need encouraging; challenge when you need challenging; find clarity when you need it; and just be when you need someone to just be beside you.
That’s where this mentoring program comes in. It’s a chance to step out of the noise and have a trusted partner alongside you. Someone who understands what it’s like to sit in the principal’s chair, who won’t judge, but will listen, challenge, and help you see things more clearly.
This isn’t about quick fixes or the latest leadership fad. It’s about you having the space, clarity, and confidence to lead well, so that your school can be a place where both people and learning thrive.
Your first session with me is always complimentary and without obligation.
From experience, I’ve found this to be invaluable so we can get a chance to find out if we are a good fit.
Your first session is complimentary
Your first session with me is always complimentary and without obligation.
From experience, I’ve found this to be invaluable so we can get a chance to find out if we are a good fit.
Let’s Chat
Want to know more? Book a no obligation, 15-minute call. I’d love to chat with you.