My career after the ROS

After working at the Rijnlands for 22 years as a mathematics teacher and coordinator of 5/6 VWO, I became a deputy principal at the Fons Vitae Lyceum in Amsterdam. I was once again responsible for 5/6 VWO, in addition to ICT development. What was striking about that switch was the directness of both the students and the colleagues. If something was bothering anybody, this was immediately made clear. I quickly felt at home at that school. When I met former colleagues at the AH in Oegstgeest, I sometimes said that I was like a chameleon, because it was very different and also very nice. What I did miss was the way of working together that I was used to in our mathematics department. I have always experienced that as the most important value at the Rijnlands.

In 2002 I became the principal of the same school. Together with the rest of the school management, I set out to change education. For example, a 60-minute timetable was introduced and an extensive range of optional modules was set up. For example, we taught Spanish, Arabic and Graphic Design. What remained was the directness of the people – and I sometimes had trouble dealing with that. They could throw their buckets of complaints at me, I would always stay in my role. It wasn’t until I learned to step aside and talk about the puddle on the floor that I was given the space to think about what else I wanted to do.

I then consciously chose to further explore another side of myself, the more strategic side. This took shape in a new job as a board member at Visser ’t Hooft in Leiden. I have been doing this with great pleasure since 2010, if only because I cycle to work again and I run into former colleagues more often. I treasure my special memories of the Rijnlands. It is my first love, as it were: the place where I learned the trade, had lots of fun, and experienced real friendship.

Petra Verhoeckx, March 2012