Why teachers matter

Welcome to the teaching profession. You have taken the decision to begin your journey as a teacher and, as such, to start a career working with children and young people that you will soon come to realise is truly the most fulfilling, demanding and exciting job you could have chosen. I became a teacher when I was 21 and, apart from taking a career break to look after our two daughters when they were small, I have been a teacher ever since. Looking back over this long career, I can honestly tell you that my life has been enriched. I have worked in secondary and primary schools as well as becoming an adviser and then leading a failing school to sustained success. I engaged in research with several universities and have published books. The stories from my career that mean the most to me, however, are those that include children, families and colleagues. As a teacher, you will have a great deal of influence. You become a role model as soon as you assume the title of teacher. Children in