New Mom Graduates with Cum Laude Master’s Degree

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Proud new mother Ms Erin Rae Ballard was all smiles when she went on stage to receive her Masters in Education cum laude degree from UKZN.

Ballard says hard work, determination and a fierce “can do” attitude saw her through to what was an excellent achievement. ‘It feels awesome! I feel like I have grown not only intellectually but as a person as well,’ she said.

‘My son was born during the second year of my masters so he was very much a part of the process.’

She managed to strike a balance between being a student, a full-time mom and a Physical Sciences teacher. ‘I ended up having to write the last part of my dissertation while my little one napped, which was for short periods at a time!’

Her research involved experiences of teacher leaders in public and private secondary schools. The focus was on the identities of teacher leaders, how they enacted teacher leadership on a day-to-day basis and enabling factors and barriers they faced in regard to leadership.

‘Engaging with my research participants and the perspectives and experiences that they shared with me was very enlightening. I have huge admiration for who they are as teachers and the ways in which they dedicate their lives to the children they teach, overcoming many barriers.

‘I felt very privileged to be drawn into their stories. What they shared with me left me challenged and encouraged as a teacher,’ said Ballard.

The findings of her study suggest that teacher leadership at public and private schools is most prevalent in the classroom and non-existent at the ‘whole-school level’.

‘It is also evident that the day-to-day practice of teacher leadership is, in many ways, contingent upon teachers’ specific school context. In addition, formal leaders, along with the existing school structure and culture, act as gatekeepers to teacher leadership.

‘The success of teacher leadership in schools therefore relies on teachers courageous enough to “go against the grain” and proactively pursue positive change at all levels within their schools as well as formal leaders who intentionally and unintentionally support teacher leadership,’ said Ballard.

She hopes her research adds to the existing body of knowledge around leadership in schools and assists school leadership and management in unleashing the potential of teacher leadership within their schools.

Her plan is to practice what she learned, using it in her own teaching.

‘The more you put in, the more you get out of this experience. There is no easy way out and there is no substitute for hard work, but in the end, your hard work pays off,’ said Ballard.

Words by: Melissa Mungroo

Photograph by Rajesh Jantilal