“I've really enjoyed writing pieces for Innovate My School. It's a great chance to put down some of your thoughts, ideas and successes to share with other professionals. The feedback has always been constructive and positive, allowing me to hone my writing to suit the audience and depth required. Being part of the educational voice has been rewarding enough although it has led to other exciting opportunities, such as being the 'face of Science teaching' for the recent DfE recruitment campaign and being invited to write for journals and blogs across the world.”

- Mat Galvin, assistant principal for Teaching and Learning at Firth Park Academy, Sheffield

“I wanted to write for IMS due to the huge reach that they have in education circles and due to their focus on inspirational and innovative teaching. There is enough doom and gloom out there, but there are not many organisations that focus on how to be a better teacher for your students. Writing for IMS could not be easier - the staff are very supportive and the speed that new content goes up is dizzying! They are also excellent at promoting your work on a range of social media. I have benefitted by a huge increase in my following on social media (and therefore my reach), by being pushed by the team to create high quality content for others and also being part of a huge network of inspirational teachers and teacher-preneurs. I could not recommend it enough!”

- Nicole Ponsford, author and consultant

“I write for Innovate My School for many reasons. First, I like to blog about a variety of topics relating to education. It is certainly a real motivator to write for an organization who will share your material widely and often. I find now that I am always looking for topics that may be of interest to those who follow Innovate My School. I try to get in one article per month and it really is wonderful to see your own work come out under the banner of Innovate My School! Writers need an audience and it is a challenge to have your voice heard. I really enjoy working with Innovate My School and I plan to do more writing for them in the future.”

- Paul McGuire, principal at St. Joseph High School, Ottawa

"I am a great advocate of the power of Twitter as a source of professional development for educators, and first came across Innovate My School through my Twitter contacts. I enjoyed reading the reflections, advice and suggestions from a range of contributors, and was keen to write something myself, as sometimes 140 characters just aren't enough to express your views of or ideas about a particular educational subject.

I am especially interested in educational leadership, and writing for Innovate My School has given me the opportunity to articulate and more fully explore my thoughts on a range of leadership issues, and to engage in dialogue with other educators, aspiring or serving leaders at all levels. Writing for Innovate My School has helped me to clarify my thinking and to expand my contacts. Recently it also helped me to let more people know about the book I have written to support those 'Making the Leap' from deputy headship to headship. Innovate My School fulfils an important role within the social networking educational community."

- Jill Berry, author and consultant

“I began writing for IMS in 2011. I was working for an Educational Software company at the time and wrote articles on financial management and ICT security. Returning to work in the education sector I began writing articles focusing on mental health issues and emotional well-being, offering an insight into the effects on modern day children and young people. I have really enjoyed researching, writing and submitting the articles I have written. It ensures that my own knowledge and understanding are kept up to date. There is a definite buzz that comes from knowing that that research and knowledge has been shared with colleagues in many other countries and as far away as Australia. I have many more followers on Twitter and LinkedIn that I would have done otherwise. The benefits of writing for IMS include being quoted by a Research Fellow at The University of Oxford, being contacted by a publishing house to offer thoughts and advice on a book proposal on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and meeting in person Dr Pooky Knightsmith, mental health ambassador and director of the Children, young people and schools programme with the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.”

- Julia Sharman, adviser and consultant

“It has been a pleasure to write some articles and guest blog posts for Innovate my School. In education it is important that we can share, learn and celebrate success together. Twitter is the perfect platform for widening educational networks across different countries and by combining this with Innovate my School, it has provided the perfect platform for educational and cross-cultural exchange.

The experience has been very enjoyable. If you enjoy writing, sharing your thoughts and experiences and reading contributions from a diverse range of colleagues, this is an excellent, worthwhile opportunity which combines professional learning with the aspects of education you feel passionate about enough to share. This experience also has enhanced my own professional network and professional learning, given me enthusiasm to write my own blog as regularly as I can and allowed me to be part of a wide group of likeminded professionals who care about and are passionate about education and the difference it can make to young people. Since writing a couple of blog posts, I was asked to contribute to the Innovate my School Guide 2016 which is packed full of interesting articles. I would highly recommend getting involved with Innovate my School and contributing directly to their excellent work.”

- Judith McKerrecher, professional development officer at Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools/SCILT

“The lovely people at Innovate My School contacted me and asked me to write for them. As I had been using their website for hints and tips about my own teaching for a while, I was delighted to be involved in this online sharing. The online content is wide ranging, and the Innovate My School Guide, a collection of articles from a range of educators, is so professional. It is more like a book to be treasured than a magazine.

The Innovate My School team are a great bunch of people to work with. Writing for them is a joy. If you have got something to share (if you are educating everyday - you WILL have something to share) they help you through the process and support you in making your writing the best it can be.

As an English teacher, it is wonderful to be able to show pupils that I don't just teach them how to write - I write too. Although I write my own blog, working to a deadline and having an editor support me through the process is a much more challenging and rewarding experience.”

- Lisa Ashes, teacher and author

“It’s not often that you get to share a laugh with your editor (ie James Cain). I say this both as a contributor to Innovate My School, with co-author and amazing educator Nicole Ponsford, and as a former editor for big impersonal publishing houses.

Writing articles with Nicole for Innovate My School is awesome for a dozen reasons. But let’s pick 3. First, educators need a way to get their ideas out there. Second, educators need a way to learn from other trailblazers in their field. Third, educators need people who are sophisticated in the ways of social media to promote their ideas all across the globe.

Plus . . . James promises to give me a personalized Beatles tour of Liverpool when I visit the UK (I am based in Cambridge, MA). Plus, because of the broad exposure of Nicole’s and my pieces, I now have Twitter friends not just in the US, but all over the world.

So, to recap, writing for Innovate My School offers educators, like Nicole and me—and YOU, all 3 benefits rolled into one. If you are an educator, and you have ideas to share, what are you waiting for?”

- Julie Wood, author and consultant