As Matariki rises, I’m not chasing goals. I’m looking back. This time of year invites reflection. Not just on what we’ve done, but on who we’ve become. For me, it’s been a year of steady shifts—physically, spiritually, and professionally. Not dramatic, but deep. I’ve unlearned some old habits and reclaimed what matters most. There’s a

What if we stopped designing school culture around what staff can endure and instead built it around what helps them flourish? We talk a lot about student wellbeing, and rightly so. But here’s the truth: when the adults in the building are not flourishing, the whole school feels it. Flourishing is not about perks or

Men’s Health Week: A Different Post This Week It’s Men’s Health Month. I’m not a Men’s Health Week  ambassador, I’m not writing this for a magazine, and I’m definitely not chasing likes or smiley faces. I don’t want to sound preachy, but this is important. If you’re a guy, listen up. And if you’re not,

It’s 5:00 PM on a Friday. The school is quiet. Students are gone. Staff are wrapping up a long week. You’re finally about to shut your laptop, breathe out, and head into the weekend. Then it arrives. An email. Not a thank-you. Not a check-in. It’s a task, a problem, or a pointed question. And

Will This Make the Boat Go Faster? Easter is a pretty good time to talk about renewal. And not just the kind you get from a long weekend and a few hot cross buns. I’m talking about the deeper kind—the kind that quietly nudges you to ask: What do I need to let go of?

Let’s be honest—kindness got a bad rap during COVID. It became politicised, polarised, and in some circles, weaponised. A phrase that should have brought us together ended up feeling like a catchphrase with baggage. I’ll own it—there were moments when I felt cynical about it too. And moments when I wasn’t very kind myself. But

How Do I Boost Staff Wellbeing Without Adding More to My Plate? I hear this often from school leaders. And I get it. As a former principal, it can be hard to know what to do without falling into the yoga-and-morning-tea trap. While those things can be nice, they often feel like a band-aid rather

Holding Grief & Flourishing Together This week, grief has been my shadow. Not loud, not overwhelming—just there. Like a song playing faintly in the background, looping, waiting to be noticed. Settling into the spaces I thought I had cleared. Moving with me, beside me. Some weeks are like this. I’ve built a life around flourishing—helping

Leadership in education is often equated with constant availability. Be present. Be accessible. Keep your door open. Yet, at what point does this expectation shift from dedication to depletion? The 2019 Teacher and Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey highlights the growing strain: 75% of school leaders work more than 50 hours per week, with 27%