'We have to show that it really means'
Simone Fomenko has been chosen as the new chief administrator for primary education. “Appreciation is not only in salary,” says the brand-new executive who sees himself as a connector.
Tell us about your last name?
“My grandfather fled the Ukraine in 1918. After some wanderings he met my grandmother in England who was then taking an Esperanto course there. They came to the Netherlands together. ”
So an international background?
"Sure. I also traveled a bit myself. For example towards Southeast Asia and Australia. In Thailand I met my husband. A monk from Laos, with whom I have a son and a daughter. Here in the Netherlands he is a sushi chef. At the beginning of this year we traveled to Laos. That turned into a five-month trip as we got stuck due to corona restrictions. My children went to school there for a while. ”
Did you learn something from that too?
“Teachers in Laos sometimes do not receive a salary for months. Out of commitment and passion for their profession, they just go to work and make the best of it with very limited resources. That puts our grumbling here into perspective. However, that does not alter the fact that there is still room for improvement in education here as well. Unlike here, a teacher still has social respect over there.”
Applaus
Would you like that too?
“Here you still have to sneer every birthday and refute prejudices about our twelve 'holiday weeks'. In times of corona we get applause. Then we quickly continue as we did. While everyone in education has noticed in recent months that with halved classes you can give Jantje the attention that is needed. Without there being twelve Jantjes waiting. Appreciation is not only in salary. ”
How did you end up with the AOb?
“An enthusiastic former chief executive dragged me to a meeting a year or so ago. A while later I was on the primary school sector board on behalf of the East region. And now in the main board. ”
Why did you stand for election?
“I want more than just for the classroom. The AOb is a nice club and I can exert more influence on my new position. I will work for two days at my primary school in Epe and two days for the AOb. It is an ideal combination for me. I can see for myself at the AOb a connecting role: the pivot between all kinds of interests. ”
Great box
Oh yeah?
“Certainly. I already do now. As a sector manager, I also attend consultancy meetings in the East region as much as possible. So that I hear what they encounter in schools. I translate that upwards. Just as I am going to explain the decisions from top to bottom. I also want to establish this kind of connection with secondary education, for example. If the secondary sector council also says that we earn too little in primary education, then we are in a much stronger position. ”
The 'oil woman' of the AOb?
“Not just building bridges. I will assert myself too. And complain less and show more and more that working in education is really cool. But, as far as I am concerned, the schools will also close for a whole week, nationally if necessary. That we once really show that it is serious. At the same time, I also know that the AOb a complex organization is where everyone wants to have their say. So it is not possible to move mountains, but I will certainly move stones! ”
