A new eBook about life, leadership and education is challenging schools to prioritise teachers' wellbeing.

Mennie Scapens, co-founder and former principal at Matahui School in the Bay of Plenty, is worried that the data-driven culture of education is killing the joy in one of the most important professions – teaching.

Scapens says the dropout rate for new teachers is high, schools are focusing on the wrong things, and teachers are losing their vocation.

Her new eBook titled, The Rebel's Guide to Leadership weaves together stories from her personal rebel leadership journey as co-founder and former principal of Matahui School, with new theories of leadership and education.

A chapter on compliance states teachers are often kept busy under a mountain of paperwork, alongside the already heavy mental, emotional, and physical workload that teaching requires.

Scapens says documentation has its place in systems, but it needs to be linked to the organisation's core purpose.

'I was recently speaking with a teacher colleague about the new principal at her school. He has the rebel spirit, she told me, because she had seen it in his eyes. But after a few short months, sadly, she was watching that light go out!”

Scapens now works as a Courage and Renewal Facilitator designing programmes for personal and professional renewal, and for leadership and organisational development.

Her work aims to help people and organisations develop the courage to work authentically, take a stand on what they believe in, and lead meaningful lives of integrity.

Her programmes are based on the work of Parker J Palmer, an author and activist, whose work focuses on issues of education, community, leadership, and social change.

'My work aims to renew teachers' sense of calling to their vocation, and to tap into what brings them joy in their work. I became a facilitator with the Center for Courage & Renewal to help teachers keep doing their good work.”

Scapens own rebel leadership journey began out of concern for her child's wellbeing and education.

The school options available at the time were not a good fit for her child, and she made the decision to withdraw her to home-school.

'Initially I got more involved with her schooling. Unfortunately, this got me labelled as a ‘pushy parent', so I decided to home-school, but my decision to home-school forced the school to take notice and they decided to investigate the situation.”

Chris Hobart, who was a teacher at her child's school and went on to become co-founder of Matahui School, suggested they set up their own school, and together in February 1988 they opened the doors of Matahui School with a roll of 24 children.

Scapens says that her book will resonate with educators, but she has written it for a wider audience.

'It's a guide for leadership and life in general. It's a call to step into personal leadership, to connect with what truly matters and brings meaning to our lives, and to have the courage to question the status quo if there is something you would like to see changed.”