About me...
I have been teaching for over 25 years in New Zealand, Canada, Thailand and the UK. I was the Head of English and Drama at Elstree School for 7 years and then moved to the Rugby Group as Assistant Head (Pastoral) at Bilton Grange. Rugby School opened their first overseas international school in Thailand and my family and I went there from 2019-2022 as Head of Year 8, Drama and PSHE.
Most recently I was at Windsor Girls School where I was (acting) Head of English and taught A Level Sociology. I am currently completing a Masters in Counselling Psychology. I am passionate about mental health and well being and I am a qualified Mental Health First Aider, ADHD coach and Hypnotherapist.
Born in New Zealand and raised in Canada, I am an avid traveller and I hope I have instilled a love of adventure in my two teenage sons. I believe strongly in service to others and have raised funds for the charity close to my heart, Take Care Kids, a foster home for abused children in Thailand. As a family, we have raised over 1 million baht towards building a new home for this charity.
Why do I love teaching English?
Teaching English is a privilege that I never take for granted. It is an honour to be part of a young person's journey and I am always conscious of how lucky I am to be in front of students. I write poetry and short stories as well as direct plays for local theatre groups. I love bringing a sense of excitement to English lessons and incorporate movement as well as games where possible.
My superpower is helping those to reach their potential, whether that is moving from Grade 2 - Grade 4 or reaching those elusive Grade 8-9s.
My other roles at Pangbourne are...
I run the Student Voice and support the Y10 volunteers.
If I hadn't been a teacher I would have been...
It is difficult to imagine a life without teaching, however, a long time ago I was a stand up comedian touring the UK with the likes of Jason Manford and Jimmy Carr.
My role model is...
My own English teacher was a fairly well known Canadian poet and I still hold him as a role model of how to be an authentic educator; someone who goes through the creative experience with their students.
One of my other role models is a former student who fled Afghanistan in 2000 to New Zealand. She taught me as a new teacher more about the impact a teacher can have on a student's life than any teacher training programme. Barely able to speak English and suffering from PTSD, she arrived in my Year 11 class unable to access the curriculum. With targeted support and a trauma informed approach, she passed her exams and went onto University. She is now a successful doctor in Auckland with a family of her own and I love hearing updates on her life.
I would describe Pangbourne as...
Pangbourne presents a unique alchemy where young lives are shaped with the mixture of challenge and guidance. It is precisely the type of environment most teachers would have wanted to experience when they were young. From my first tour I could sense the potential of each smiling young person who passed by. The campus exudes community and purpose and it appears to be a fantastic place to work.
