Episode Description
In this insightful episode, I am joined by Jenny Dalton, an experienced post-primary teacher with over 20 years of teaching Irish and French. Jenny holds an AP1 post and is actively involved in various leadership roles, including the Droichead team at her school. Throughout the conversation, Jenny shares her journey into leadership, the challenges she's faced, and how she's balanced her professional ambitions with her personal life.

The episode delves into key topics such as:

• Jenny's Career Journey: How she transitioned from being a teacher to taking on leadership roles, including her experience with the Toraíocht leadership course and how it shaped her career.
• Leadership Insights: Jenny discusses her views on leadership, emphasizing the importance of being values-driven, courageous, and fostering mutual respect and trust within teams.
• Public Speaking and Presentation Tips: Jenny shares strategies that helped her overcome her natural introversion and excel in public speaking, including the importance of preparation and practice.
• The Role of Values in Leadership: A deep dive into the values that drive Jenny's leadership style, particularly courage and kindness, and how these have guided her through difficult conversations and decisions.
• Balancing Family and Career: Jenny reflects on how her AP1 role has impacted her family life and the importance of time management and boundaries in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Strengths and Identity: The episode also touches on Jenny's strengths as a "Relationship Deepener" and a "Time Optimizer," and how these contribute to her effectiveness as a leader.
• Volunteering and Leadership Development: Jenny talks about her volunteer work with the Down Syndrome branch, how it has enhanced her leadership skills, and the value of seeking leadership opportunities both within and outside of the school environment.
• Resilience and Growth Mindset: Jenny shares her personal philosophy on resilience, the importance of learning from setbacks, and her belief that everything happens for a reason.
• Coaching and Mentorship: Jenny is embarking on a new journey into coaching, driven by her passion for mentoring NQTs and developing leadership capacity in others.

Resources Mentioned

• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• Toraíocht Leadership Course  https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/PGDEL_InformationSheet_16-17_0.pdf 
• Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI)

Connect with Jenny

• Email: [email protected]

Listener Challenge:
Reflect on your leadership journey. What values drive you? How can you take steps to align your actions with those values both in your professional and personal life?

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