In conversation with Carla Whelan

"I do think that because of my experiences, and because of, of my feeling around learning, that made me excel in the classroom as a teacher, because I really could understand how to do the building blocks of learning, you know, and break things down and make sure that understanding was there. I think that teachers I've met that have not struggled at school and that have been, you know, those learners that are flying through, have found that journey of being able to break learning down harder."In this episode Angie talks to Carla Whelan, Chief Executive Officer at Empower Trust, about how her experience of school has informed her teaching and leadership practice.After studying at St Martin’s University College, Carla began her career in Newham, London. Quickly moving into leadership roles and coordinating a variety of subjects. In 2000 Carla moved to Plymouth, Devon and worked in two primary schools coordinating year groups and specialising in English and PE. Returning to Shropshire in 2003 she spent two years as Head of Inclusion at a local secondary school, acquiring a valuable insight to learning across both primary and secondary.Following numerous roles, advisory positions and leadership experiences Carla moved into Headship in 2013 and then into the Executive Director of Education role in 2020.Carla is an authentic leader who holds integrity as a key value. She is fuelled by the passion to ensure she lives and breathes our values, so they become more than words on a document. Considering herself a ‘forever student’, who full heartedly believes in reading and researching as a core to her work, Carla is committed to ensuring she provides an up to date support to our academies. This hunger for knowledge and determination to turn information into action helps ensure our academies are always striving ahead in education.She joins Empower Trust as CEO in September 2023.Carla mentions ‘Intelligent Accountability: Creating the conditions for teachers to thrive’ by David DidauConnect with Carla on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ca....rla-whelan-36a10455C with Angie on her website - www.angelabrowne.co.ukA full transcript of this episode can be found at https://being-luminary.simplec....ast.com/episodes/in- podcast was written and presented by Angie Browne. Original music was by Martin Austwick. The series is edited and produced by Big Tent Media and Emily Crosby Media.