The Not-So-Secret Diary of a Teacher

Julie Prendiville

I am a Primary School teacher (AP2 Post Holder) and CEO of Enriching Education. I am a very proud Kerry woman, living and working in Kilkenny. I graduated from Mary Immaculate College and continued my studies in Waterford Institute of Technology where I completed a Masters in Management in Education. In 2016 I set up my own business, Enriching Education, and began giving Enriching English Masterclasses in Education Centres in 2017. In 2019 I launched the Enriching English online course. A very proud moment!

My alarm goes off…

I have always been an early riser! I am full of life at 6am and normally complete my business emails, vlogs etc. in the morning before school. Twice a week I can often be found in the gym at 7am. The key to a morning workout is to have your gym gear and keys by your bed and get into the car before you’re fully awake!

After a large bowl of porridge I’m ready to hit the road accompanied by Mary Black or anything along that line, I love country music!

I am responsible for…

My students are the top of my priority list. Each day I make sure I am educating my students to the best of my ability in a safe, secure environment. I also make it my responsibility to make sure each child leaves my classroom in the evening with a smile on their face!

My typical day…

My days are always hectic, but I make sure I am highly organised. I begin each day by planning. I plan an outline of my day within the classroom and also what I need to complete as part of my AP2 Post. I am normally seen running across the yard to the secretary’s office to discuss our to-do-list for the day. I then have a chat with other staff members before opening the school doors. I think it is extremely important to slow down and make time for a chat, you should never underestimate the power of a chat. I follow my timetable as best I can throughout the day. I work closely with the principal and secretary so interruptions are inevitable. Every day brings something new!

The best part of my job…

I absolutely love my job! I could be having an atrocious day and my students will always make me smile or laugh. I love seeing my students progress throughout the year in terms of academics, but also in terms of confidence. I burst with pride when my students make progress. Teachers have such a huge influence on students’ lives, make it a powerful, positive impact!

The most challenging part of my job is…

It breaks my heart seeing a child with so much potential not reaching their full potential. We have to accept that we as teachers can only do so much and try our best. We’re teachers not super humans.

I am inspired by…

I come from a family of teachers. My family are my backbone in life. As the youngest of five girls, four of whom are teachers, I will always look up to my sisters and aspire to be just as strong and confident as they are. My parents inspire me every day. They are two of the most determined, motivated individuals I know and are also are great for a laugh! They reared us to be strong, confident women and gave us every opportunity to succeed in life. Both have a huge interest in education and business. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

After work…

I love to chill and switch off for an hour. I will go to gym, if I didn’t go in the morning, 4 times a week. I also love tennis, I play at least twice a week. I’m not a big T.V. lover so chilling with a good book (factual crime) in the evening is bliss. I also finish off emails etc. with a side serving of something sweet. Running your own business requires you to be switched on for hours after work but I love what I do so I’m enjoying the journey. If I’m facilitating an Enriching English Masterclass in the evenings I may only arrive home after half 7 or sometimes after 10 so my evenings can often pass me by!

The motto I live by…

“Say yes- then learn how to do it later” Sir Richard Branson

I’m 100% a risk taker and love a challenge. In the words of Eminem “If you had one shot, or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip?” I’m all about capturing the moment and just going for it, hopefully I inspire others to capture their moment too!

Mic drop!

We would love to have Julie’s energy – a trailblazer in education! To learn more about Julie’s Masterclassess and courses, check out her website: www.enrichingeducationonline.com