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Theresa Buttery

Theresa Buttery

Profile

Senior Teacher, Newton Primary, Derbyshire (started September 2007)
Previously Class Teacher, Dallimore Primary, Derbyshire
Joined Fast Track January 2007

"I left school at 16, worked for the National Coal Board and then as an accountant before retraining to become a teacher. Having started late, I knew I had no time to lose. I'm a mature new teacher with aspirations. Fast Track is an opportunity for me to realise my ambition of making a real difference before I retire.

The selection process itself is enlightening and gives you an insight into yourself very early on in your career. Taking that feedback is a good basis upon which to move forward. I'm sure that being a Fast Track teacher helped secure my current position. Although it also may have helped that I won the Training and Development Agency's outstanding new teacher award in the East Midlands last year.

The single best thing about Fast Track for me is the networking. I relish the opportunity of being with peers who, like myself, genuinely want to have an impact. Sometimes it's hard to see that when you're battling away in the classroom. But, after an event, I return to school with renewed vigour and determination because I know that there are other people out there who are doing good things. I suppose it reaffirms what I believe in.

I haven't been on the programme long but the conference at half term made a big impression on me. The title was 'Making It Happen'. It taught me that, to get things done and to get on, I simply need to set my own goals and gradually work towards them. It also gave me the self belief that I'm on the right track.

My aim is to become a head by 2012. I came away from the course firmly believing that I could do it. In September I meet with my new headteacher and tutor to decide on my Wider School Focus. With my list of responsibilities, that could be almost anything. Whatever it is, I'm thoroughly looking forward to yet another new challenge."