My big learning from 24-25: don't try to retire, you are hopeless at it.

In December 2024 I was at a Christmas market in Paris with Tim Stuart and Kyle. I was one semester into teaching full time (Physics and ToK) at

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#Ermitage IB School, in beautiful Maisons Laffitte. I took the job to come out of my first retirement attempt and found the experience almost cathartic, very rejuvenating, and especially enjoyed working with the students-they were just brilliant.

In January I went to the London

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#SearchAssociates job fair to support teachers as a "Candidate Advisor". This was the second time I had done this, grateful to Gez Hayden for the invitation to help out (since the premature end to my Principalship at

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#KICS Sudan in April 2023 due to the civil war), and then during February really I enjoyed a winter holiday back in the UK with the family (and dogs). On returning to Ermitage it was quite clear to me that I didn't want to be living away from the family, even though I was thoroughly enjoying teaching again. So, in early March I tendered my resignation (sorry Marta Essinki). Last day at Ermitage in July 2024 and saying goodbye to the community, proved to be surprisingly difficult and emotional. I then began an attempt at retirement 2.0!

In August Marta got in touch and said that my replacement was delayed for a few weeks due to visa issues and would I like to temporarily resume at Ermitage. I was tempted, but negotiated my role down to online and only Physics. In September I opened up Zoom for 10 hours a week and hopefully maintained some level of learning. In October this came to an end with the arrival of good news on the visa!

From September I had been actively growing my professional network here and offering services ranging from Coaching/Thought Partnering and consulting to interview practice sessions. I have also been working on my newly acquired allotment- digging, clearing and fertilizing and now it lies fallow awaiting spring planting, and walking our dogs (as mentioned in a previous post, I am turning into a dog!)

During this period I have been saying I'm "semi-retired" but I'm not sure even that works anymore. Anyway, I'm off to London Search again in January 2026-really looking forward to that!- and I'll be planting seeds, dog walking and thought partnering too, which may or may not evolve further, through the Spring. I might even make some progress on my book!? After that...we will see, but whatever it is I need a new word or two to replace "retirement" because I don't think I will ever really understand the concept.

Just about all international schools have Missions, Visions and Values, and so they should! Some schools have what I call a "Tag Line" too. These tag lines are the mission, vision and values of the school boiled down to their unique, memorable essence; the beating heart of the organisation, the organisations raison d'etre, the Headline. 

When you are applying to schools seek out their Tag Line and try to interpret it in the context of the school, country, curriculum... or, it doesn't have one try and design one from what the school says about itself.

Another idea is to apply this to yourself-what would your Tag Line be?

The well known phrase "the grass is always greener" is usually used as a rebuttal to the idea that "over there" is better than what you currently have-the grass in the other field is greener, longer, more juicy and fresher!  It can be a warning that you should be content with your current situation, even when in some difficulty, you are thinking that a different job/location will not be better and it could be worse.  It can often give pause for thought-as it should.

However, it is quite possible that you most need, to keep yourself growing professionally and personally, is to move to a new location, be in a different environment and transition to a different culture, language and climate.

How do you decide when it is the right time to move from one international school to another? Do you wait until you get frustrated or do you want to move before the frustions build up? Is not getting that internal promotion you so wanted a trigger move, or would this feel like defeat and even betrayal? 

During a coaching conversation you could think through your context, feelings, pros and cons, ultimate career goals...and then make a more informed decision. Lets talk. 

peter.round@allroundcoaching.net

So you are at a job fair and looking for a new position in an International School...

These events are seemingly more important than ever. In the age of AI, Zoom interviewing now means there can be a lot of "support" for both the recruiter and candidate which could alter the dynamic, distort and disjoint the conversation, and simply get in the way of building a relationship between two humans. 

Interviews, especially in the hot house of a Job Fair, need to establish connection, trust and a very transparent view of each other, in a short time-the physical rather than virtual interview provides an opportunity to flood each others senses with information that is much richer than anything possible online. 15 mins face to face provides more than an hour long Zoom. The longer follow up  interview (typically there would be an initial interview, followed by a second round if things look mutually promising) spaced by a few hours or ideally overnight, can confirm or change first impressions and allow for questions in the context of a developing relationship..."getting to know each other" is so much easier (and I would think more reliable, definitely more fun) face to face. 

How do candidates prepare for the first round interview? 

1. Research the school and country before the interview.  You do not need to remember word for word the mission/vision/values of the school but you should have read them and see if they resonate with you: note any aspects that seem unique/special rather than bland/blah...and in the interview see if the interviewer is "walking the talk", and have a question ready if there is time to ask about an aspect of the mission/vision. If you know people at the school, then say so. 

2. Be yourself! While you will be nervous/excited and the adrenaline pumping, remember to listen to the questions and answer them (if this means you have to pause and think then this is automatically going to impress). Try not to talk too fast either. Honesty (obviously) and breviety are the best policy-limit yourself to 1 to 2 mins per question otherwise you will be exhibiting only a fraction of who you are. 

3. Use authentic examples of what you have actually done rather than a stock/generic "right" answer. Example Q: "How do you assess the learning of your students?" A: "Last week was the culmination of a 3 week ecosystems unit and students worked collaboratively to design..."

4. Don't; over inflate/understate your experience/skills or say you will teach X Y Z course or coach teams etc when you don't really want/know how to. 

5. Network: chat with other teachers at the fair! Triangulate the information/points of view with with how the school presents itself on their website and through the school representatives at the fair.  Remember we are all biased-opinions about a school/people will vary!

One of the metaphors used in education, and other areas, is "the garden".  We "nurture" students/teachers, we plant ideas, we promote home grown talent, we weed out those not performing well...

I've just acquired an allotment. Given the time of year  where I am there isn't much I can plant at the moment (apart from garlic, which is now in!), but what I can do is prepare the soil for March/April. The quality of the soil, "soil health", is exceptionally important to gardeners (and farmers) for very obvious reasons.

In education, school leaders "prepare the soil" by ensuring the foundations of a school are in place, so that students and teachers will thrive and learn. This soil preparation can include a review of polices, practices, systems. It can include goals and plans, and it will ensure the buildings and IT infrastructure are not only fit for purpose, but that they stimulate learning by being safe, colourful, light, comfortable, welcoming. So this is the "soil" into which learning can germinate, take root and grow.

Pay attention to the soil-everything depends on it!

AI generated the above three images. On the left are "factory workers", middle are "knowledge workers" and right are "workers in the age of AI". I have no idea why there are cars (presumably driverless)  moving along a solar panel and indoors...weird! Also note the biased, stereotypical scenes and people.

Back in the 1970's and 80's Knowledge Workers were in the ascendancy (and the internet came along too). Manufacturing, assembly lines, were being automated with robots and mass employment, especially in the Western economies, was becoming mass unemployment. A revolution in the workplace was underway. Knowledge was taking over from Manual. 

We are now well into the next revolution and this looks to be even more profound than the last...Post Industrial to Post Knowledge to AI, soon to be accelerated further by quantum computing. We humans have now created a new form of intelligence, and this intelligence is already "better" than us at many things. 

So, what will our (human) future look like?  What should we be doing now to "prepare"? What are we doing?