Primary Alumni Spotlight: Mackenzie

In this case study, Mackenzie shares his journey from pre-school room leader to qualified teacher, driven by a passion for education and inspired by the teachers he knew. He reflects on the challenges of training, the value of strong relationships, and his growth into multiple leadership roles while supporting the next generation of teachers.

I’ve always been passionate about learning and sharing knowledge. Throughout my own education, I had some inspiring teachers who made a lasting impact on me, sparking my desire to help others discover their potential. Before becoming a teacher, I worked at a pre-school as a room leader for 6 years but wanted to challenge myself and progress academically studying Education Studies at DMU.

My training year at Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training was filled with many memorable moments. One highlight was observing the diverse ways teachers and professionals worked across the different schools where I completed my placements. I loved creating interactive lessons and watching what I planned come to life. Building relationships with my mentor teachers and fellow trainees was also invaluable, providing a support network that enriched my learning experience.

One significant challenge was managing time effectively between lesson planning, teaching, completing my SCITT coursework and my personal life. I overcame this by developing a structured schedule and prioritising tasks, making sure I had the weekend to myself never completing tasks relating to my teacher training course.

Since graduating, my teaching career has evolved significantly. I’ve taken on the leadership roles as Music Lead, Outdoor Learning Lead and Early Years Lead, recently becoming Phonics Lead.  I have mentored new teachers and a SCITT student. I’ve also pursued professional development opportunities, which have expanded my teaching strategies and enriched my classroom environment through local authority and winder networking events.

If I could give advice to the next cohort of trainees it would be to embrace every experience, both the successes and challenges. Stay curious, be open to feedback, and remember that growth takes time. Building strong relationships with your students and colleagues is essential part of the training year.

My main takeaway advice would be to never compare yourself to your fellow trainees as everyone’s path and journey is unique and individual.