Play to your Strengths
Welcome — I’m glad you’re here
Hello, I’m Sara, your Lead Coach at METIS, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself to this community of passionate, committed, and courageous educators.
I spent many years working in schools across the UK and in Kong Kong as a drama teacher, subject lead, and part of the pastoral team. I know the highs, the challenges, and the deep sense of purpose that comes with teaching. Those years shaped me, stretched me, and ultimately led me to the work I do today as a Leadership and Performance Coach. Whether we are leading our schools, faculties, departments or classrooms, we are all leaders.
Early-career teaching is an extraordinary season: exciting, hopeful, demanding, and often overwhelming. So many new teachers step into the role with huge hearts and high expectations—and just as often, with self-doubt, stress, and a feeling that they need to “do it all” immediately.
I specialise in helping new teachers build:
- Unshakable confidence
- A grounded and authentic presence
- Sustainable ways to manage stress and energy
I call this self-leadership.
Because all teachers are leaders
Whether you realise it or not, you lead every single day.
You lead through your tone, your patience, your boundaries, your enthusiasm, your professionalism, your care. Your learners are watching—not just what you teach, but how you teach it. And in that modelling, you’re shaping our young leaders of the future.
Self-leadership is the foundation of every great classroom. When teachers feel regulated, confident, and purposeful, students feel it too. My mission is to make sure more early-career teachers get the support they deserve so they can thrive—not just survive—in their first years and beyond.
What you can expect from me here
In this space, I’ll be sharing insights, tools, and reflections on:
- building confidence as a new teacher
- managing stress in realistic, human ways
- developing presence and authority without losing warmth
- navigating those early milestones that feel big (because they are!)
- practical strategies for self-leadership in daily classroom life
My hope is that this becomes a supportive, virtual space that reminds you that you are capable, you are growing, and you are not alone.
Let’s get started right away;
My first tip for you to take away is PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS. And if you are not sure about what exactly your strengths are, take a look at this link to take the free online test at VIA Institute on Character. This will help you to identify and start thinking about your strengths.
Thank you for being here. I can’t wait to walk alongside you in this journey.
Sara
Sara is the Lead Coach at Metis. She is an experienced Leadership and Performance Coach, currently working with business leaders and educators. Sara taught and held leadership roles as a Drama specialist in schools in both the UK and Asia for over 25 years. She is passionate about combining her knowledge of drama with that of coaching as a methodology to promote wellbeing and confidence in the leaders she coaches. She lives in lovely Kingston, UK with her husband and 2 rapidly growing up sons.