About Us
We’re Your Marigolds…
Rebecca and David are the co-founders of Marigold Teachers.
We’re both teachers, and we’ve also been department heads, heads of year, and held senior management positions in schools in the UK.
We’re also former colleagues and great friends.
We’ve both struggled to overcome burnout, manage anxiety, and implement sustainable wellbeing strategies whilst working in education.
So, this website is a way for us to give back a little of what we’ve learned about teacher wellbeing, support and inspire others, and build a global community of positivity in teaching.
We write The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide and offer life-changing 1:1 coaching sessions for teachers who want to learn how to harness the power of their wellbeing and overcome emotional exhaustion.
We also create content for all our social media channels and build free resources, including our Teacher Wellbeing 101 online course, to help teachers everywhere go from burned out to fired up.
Meet Rebecca
I’ve been a teacher since 2016, and have worked with EYFS, children and young people since 2007. That’s thousands of learners from 0 to 18! Working across multiple departments, I’ve been a classroom teacher in both the state and independent sectors, led countless trips, lived in boarding houses and been a Head of Department since 2017.
I’m an ECT mentor and regular buddy to new members of staff, so I must be doing something right.
I’m absolutely convinced that my time working in hospital wards and palliative care prior to working in schools profoundly impacted my approach to teaching. Understanding the value of respect, dignity, and empathy in both contexts can be life-changing.
After having my first child, I realised that I didn’t know how to be a parent and a full-time teacher. I didn’t understand how to give myself to my job AND be a mum. It’s taken a good chunk of time to realise I don’t HAVE to give ALL of myself to be a good teacher, and nor should I.
By changing my habits, listening to what I need as a human being and discovering new ways to flourish, I’ve learned how to become a great teacher AND a great mum, and I want to share the secrets to that new-found sense of balance with other teachers around the world.
Meet David
After graduating, I worked as an actor and musician before getting involved in youth theatre and theatre-in-education. From there, I gained my PGCE and began teaching in the Sixth Form sector, going from NQT to Department Head in less than a term (long story).
Remaining in similar management roles for the next decade or so, I taught learners ranging from those in reception to adult education, so I developed a pretty wide spread of skills and experiences.
I’ve also worked as a Head of Y11, Head of Sixth Form, EDI lead and member of SMT, in addition to maintaining a teaching role. More recently, I’ve established a Higher Education consultancy practice, built a freelance writing career, become an accredited life coach and am currently lecturing in Further Education.
I always thought of myself as a dedicated teacher, but looking back, I realise I wasn’t a very dedicated human. I definitely lived to work. I defined myself almost entirely in relation to my professional roles. And that’s OK, until real life catches up with you, and you realise that those achievements actually count for very little.
I’m now passionate about helping teachers gain a life/work balance which is satisfying, sustainable and successful.
The Marigold Teachers Mission
We believe that teachers are extraordinary people who achieve wonderful things, often under extremely challenging circumstances.
Each and every one of us deserves to be supported and celebrated. You deserve to feel positive about your role, to be proud of the transformative impact you have on the young people in your care, and to enjoy your job.
But…
How often do teachers actually feel that way?
When we stopped and thought about it, we rarely shared that viewpoint.
We were caught in the whirlwind. Overwhelmed by pressure, negativity and workload.
Not once did we get taught how to look after ourselves. How to set boundaries. How to thrive.
If you’re feeling that way, we see you. And we’re here for you.
