Partner School Teachers' Job Shadowing Observations on Well-being in Tallinn European School

Job Shadowing Teachers from Finland and Iceland: Guõbjörn, Tanja, Susanna, Anna, Mats and Dilja.

Tallinn, January 30th, 2026 

Diljá Helgadóttir, Mats Hilli, Guõbjörn Hólm, Anna Jordan, Tanja Lapinlampi and Susanna Maskulainen 

WELL-BEING REPORT 

Respect, creativity and harmony are the core values of Tallinn European School. We wanted to solve how do these values show in everyday life in TES? We were talking with the students, the teachers and the management about this subject. Students They talk to the director about things that need to be fixed. Example tests before holidays instead of after is a current issue. Teachers are very involved with students. They get help, the class teachers help a lot and ask the students how they are doing and are flexible. English and philosophy exams value when students are culturally aware. In the school they highlight the respect for different cultures. The students have creative freedom when choosing topics for projects etc. The school has a lot of different organizations and groups who work together in harmony. Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during the school days. Older students have a bring you own device-policy, though. The students get a lot of different opportunities and extracurricular activities. They feel like they can participate. Many kinds of sports activities are offered during the school day and just after lessons. Teachers are volunteering as team-leaders and one teacher is a sports coordinator.

Teachers 

Teachers show respect to students by treating them respectfully. There is no hierarchy: teachers are called by their first names and teachers seem to know their students well on a personal level. Creativity- try to involve students through student council. Get a creative outlet, feel included in the school. Strong community gives sense of community. TES has strict rules that are followed. Teachers react immediately if the rules are broken. Teachers react by talking with the students respectfully. The school has a good communication culture. Respect is earned, not demanded. Teachers treat the students with respect. Even when you mess up you are treated with respect. By friendship circles students are taught to respect each other. Consequences: detention (secondary school). "Punishment book". Harmony- do not tolerate any discrimination or bullying. There is a KiVa-team in the school. Inclusion is a theme that is important:they have had different events around that theme (diversity week, disability day/week etc.). The future aim is that every student has a safe adult to turn to if something comes up. It can be any adult at school. 

Management 

The school is part of the KiVA school network. KiVA is an antibullying program. We also talked about staff's well-being. There are multiple different things that have an effect for well-being. If a person needs sick leave,they get the pay from the first day to the 8th day (70% of the salary). 80% when home with sick children. One health day is fully covered. Teachers have a public health insurance or private health insurance. There are different events for the staff. Development days. The staff has organized team building event which lasts over night. Teachers are not demanded to be in school outside lesson time. In the school there is open door policy, people discuss and speak out.