Counselors and supporters deserve more attention
'Boys', directors, Reformed, post-active: they all have their own AOb-group. It will also be available for counselors and supporters, says Inke Wentink, chairman of the PO sector board.
Image: Rob Niemantsverdriet
Another separate club within the club. Why that?
“Counselors and supporters do not always get the attention they deserve. They have their own specific themes. For example in primary education. There they are teachers with a task, or is it a separate function. "
How does the AOb that prefer?
“We see both types of appointments reflected in education and that is good, as long as it is properly arranged. Of course we would also like to hear what the internal supervisors (IB'ers) themselves think of it. Not only about this, but also about all kinds of other topics that are important to this target group. Such as suitable education, for example. ”
How are you going to organize that?
“We are organizing the very first conference for counselors and supporters on January 25 in Utrecht. We will probably then start with a newsletter for this target group. ”
Certainly for new ones AObrecruit members?
“Of course we are always looking for new members, just as we like to keep members. We want to do this by giving this target group its own face within the AOb. So that it becomes clearer what we are already doing for them, but also what we can still do for them. ”
How many people are involved in the entire education?
“There are easily tens of thousands of them. Care coordinators, internal counselors, remedial teachers, study counselors. All people who support students with learning, social or behavioral problems or teachers who have this group in the classroom. ”
Why is the chairman of the PO sector board now standing in front of this cart?
“I have been a kindergarten teacher for about twenty years, but I did have the training for ib'er. I want to be it later. ”
Tell us about the upcoming conference?
“I organize this together with Ellen Scholten, PO director and Monique van Driel, an executive officer from Rotterdam and member of the PO sector board. We have a proven track record, we have already organized the successful 'Behavior Mag!' Conference three times, of which two times a full house with 170 very satisfied participants. A hundred participants will soon be welcome at the Guiding and Supporting Conference. We keep the conference in it AOboffice in Utrecht and we cannot accommodate more people there. ”
How do you engage in a conversation with people who do not or have difficulty in putting themselves in the shoes of others?
And about the program?
“We start with a plenary lecture by lecturer and researcher Ronald Hunnenman of the University of Groningen. He comes up with tips for working with 'socially visually impaired': how do you best engage in a conversation with people who do not or have difficulty in communicating with others? Then there are thirteen workshops, sector-specific and cross-sector. I look forward to workshops on the ib range and ownership: taking responsibility. And I look forward to a workshop from someone with various disabilities. She comes to talk about what she faced in her school career. ”
You can register for the conference via AOb-events.nl.
