Bin the guilt - Go to IPPN

In my first year as Principal, 2018, a colleague in my IPPN cluster group ask if I was going to the IPPN conference. I was clueless but knew I needed to build a network and said sure! I signed up, it was in City West, and off I went absolutely naive to what I was walking into. Walking in that first morning felt a bit like that first time you walk into Disneyland, people everywhere, chaos, smiles and laughter and a general bustle and buzz that I couldn't have expected. It was amazing, and terrifying, in equal measure. That first year I went to every talk, every session and on Day 1 I sat alone for most of the. Everyone was really friendly, but they all had their group, their people and I didn't feel I knew anyone well enough to tag along. It felt a bit like being a third wheel, to 800 other people.

In stepped my saviour, my mentor. Marie was the perfect mentor for me, she was chilled and easygoing and more than anything just there to chat to. She text me that first day and told me to sit with her for dinner. I became her limpet that evening. Hung around with her and her friends and by the end of the evening we joked that is 3 mentors. I needed them! With Marie as my anchor, I met and chatted to others then too, other ET Principals, other local Principals, but the difference was I felt I had a base. I'll be forever grateful for Marie being that safe space so I could really enjoy the conference without making me feel self conscious about it. I tagged along the next day too to some talks, and wandered off and came back. I wandered the expo, gathering the free pens (best part) and soaked in the atmosphere, the buzz, the excitement and the laughter.

That first time was fairly magical, it was probably the first time in the role being surrounded by people who I felt really got it. 800 others who were just trying their best in an impossible job and taking a few days to focus on themselves, to chat, to learn, to network and to be inspired.

Inspired in the word I always use about IPPN. I always come away buzzing, every single year. Sometimes something I heard in a talk, but more often than not from the chats with other Principals. With the sharing of ideas during the days and late into the night. This job can be isolating, it can be lonely, it can be bloody hard. But every year I come away with a renewed energy, a feeling I can keep going, with that next idea that makes me excited. Because 800 Principals in a room/hotel is something incredibly special, if you're open to it. When else do with get that level of knowledge, experience and understanding around us.

I need IPPN this year, I'm counting down to it. Feeling a little demotivated and struggling a bit to feel effective right now. So I'm counting down because I know I'll come away buzzing. Last year it inspired the Day in the Life of a Principal series as well as some school bits my staff were probably half allergic to. Not sure they love me coming back from IPPN all enthused 🤣

6 years on its one of my favourite events of the year. I have groups of friends now that I get to catch up with that I haven't seen in months. I get to chat with my closest Principal friends who the walks or day to day chats are never long enough. I bump into new people every year and have the most fascinating conversations. I have my IPPN people who I literally see once a year here and get to check in. It's a fun, social, learning experience. We chat, we listen, we argue, we disagree, we chat some more, we sing, we dance and we inspire one another. There's something very special about that.

The purpose of this is to encourage new Principals, or anyone who hasn't attended yet to take the leap. I'm sure IPPN isn't for everyone, but give it a go. See if you can get what I do from it, what I did from that first terrifying year. 

• Bin the guilt of being away for 3 days.
• Bin the guilt of the cost to the school (Yes, the school should 100% be paying for your ticket and accommodation)
• In particular, bin the guilt of being a teaching Principal trying to justify it, trying to get the BOM to pay for a sub or having someone cover

Forget that and remember this incredibly important fact. You are the most important resource your school has, that's why they pay you the medium sized bucks. Your energy, your inspiration and your ability to sustain this job are absolutely vital for your school to thrive. Those things are worth this cost. You aren't doing this for you, it's not just for you to have the craic (which hopefully you will), it's an investment in CPD for your school's leader. The best and most meaningful CPD you will do this year. This isn't something you're asking your Board for, this is something you're willing to do for your school, including the time away from your family. This is an opportunity for professional growth and you have a responsibility to take that if you're in a position to do so personally. 

So, book the conference.

Book the hotel. 

Push past the uncertainty and the awkwardness and get yourself there. 

If you're me that first year and feel you've got no one to go with, no one to have dinner with, no one to sit with, let's fix that. Let's buddy people up so you have a number you can text when you get there, someone to book dinner with. I'll share a box and we'll get everyone sorted with a buddy that wants one. 

Get yourself booked for IPPN. You're worth it and your school's worth it.