Lesley's Leaving Celebration- Comments

1. 'She's empowered the staff to be
independent. We have the confidence to
know that we can do whatever we set
our minds to.'

2. 'She brought an unrelenting focus on students;
putting them at the heart of the College. She
had such a unique understanding of teaching
and learning. She engendered belief in staff
and students so they were motivated and
inspired to achieve greater success.'

3. 'Where we are now is her legacy.'

4. 'We care a lot more about one another
and look after each other far more too.'

5. 'She brought students out of themselves and
gave them confidence- sometimes too much,
which meant they were in the office all the
time!'

6. 'The morale and the enthusiasm that you see
everywhere is clear for everyone to see. I don't
think that I've ever worked in such an exciting
and creative place before.'

7. 'She was honest, to the point and never hid
anything from anybody.'

8. 'She brought a sense of community and a team
ethos.'

9. 'I have seen a model of leadership that
combines inspiration and compassion and so
she has shown that it's possible.'

10. 'She has created a confident and curious
College that embraces the new and uses
technology wisely and sustainably.'

11. 'She has created such a lovely place to work.
People are friendly and after what had gone
before, the clouds lifted.'

12. 'She encouraged people to have faith in
themselves.'

13. 'Positive change, pushing for excellence,
community recognition and relationships;
especially external ones. I am proud to have
been a part of it. She was inspiring and valued
the individual.'

14. 'She was always in the corridor and talking to
people.'

15. 'Now, Business Support and teaching staff
work together and have the chance to
understand one another and their roles far
more.'

16. 'She was visible. She was approachable. She
was one of us and knew everyone; their names
and their backgrounds.'

17. 'She always had time to talk to people and she
always remembered everyone's name. She
was approachable and listened to people's
ideas. She lead from the front and by example.
You felt inspired to do things you never thought
you'd be able to.'

18. 'The spirit of community between members of
staff irrespective of the departments. It became
about networking rather than silos of people.
It's made people actually dare to be involved
with each other and work together. I never felt
like she managed us- she lead us.'

19. 'She knew every member of staff's name and
would talk to everyone. She always knew
where they were at and what they were up to.
She cared.'

20. 'We've become a more caring institution. She
had personal knowledge of all of her staff.
There was inclusivity of staff and students; not
just professionally but personally too.'

21. 'She inspired everybody: no matter who you
were or what walk of life you came from. She
would listen and act: she was a do-er and she
always followed through. She always had time
for us. She's totally changed the College and its
ethos.'

22. 'She was very personable and approachable.
She made us feel as though we were part of an
important team.'

23. 'I was always impressed that she remembered
people's names and said hello whoever you
were. I remember her popping down to see
how our team were getting on and she made a
point of meeting everybody and asking about
each of them. She had a strong presence at all
events; especially enrolment.'

24. 'It truly became all about the learner. She made
every department feel as though she was more
interested in them than anyone else.'

25. 'She supported anyone who wanted to do
things differently.'

26. 'We became a good team of people; not just
individuals doing their jobs.'

27. 'She created a lively and vibrant College. She
was as happy drinking a glass of wine as she
was a pint of Guinness.'

28. 'For our department, it was always about the
individual learner but she made it all about the
learner for the rest of the College too. She has
belief in me.
She made outstanding achievable for the first
time.'

29. 'She generated opportunities. Furthering of
careers and instilling belief was her way.
Bloody superb.'

30. 'She created a buzzy College. The reputation of
the College has dramatically improved and the
College now feels fantastic.'

31. 'She made staff feel confident and she instilled
belief.'

32. 'She removed the stick from management.'