My name is Calum, from Scotland. I have been a primary school teacher for 12 years and have had the privilege of working in three amazing countries; I currently work in the Netherlands.

In 2021, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Now, after four years of learning, training, and practice in coaching—and as an ambassador for ADHD UK—I will strive to use my personal experience and knowledge to help other teachers with ADHD.

Why We Need Our ADHD Teachers

Teachers with ADHD can excel with strengths like kindness and creativity. This can allow them to connect with students on a deep, empathetic level and design truly engaging learning experiences.

They also have a unique insight into what it feels like to be a neurodivergent student. This perspective makes them incredible role models who can implement strategies they know work, while also allowing students to see that it is okay to think differently.

So, What Can Be the Problem?

The education system can work against them. Teaching is an administrative and information-heavy job with many tasks to juggle at once. The overstimulation of a noisy classroom and the sheer number of decisions to make in a single day can be overwhelming for individuals with sensory and executive function challenges. This can lead to burnout, causing talented teachers with ADHD to leave the profession altogether.

What Do We Lose?

As an education system, we lose incredible, enthusiastic, and caring individuals. We lose innovators who can think outside the box and connect with students who need it most. We lose the people who make it okay to be different.

Join me in supporting our teachers with ADHD.