MEET THE TEAM

Our team know exactly what it’s like to face challenges in life – because they have faced some of the toughest for themselves.  By combining specialist teaching staff alongside Commando Joe’s instructors who have served in the Forces, we bring not only education expertise but life experience that can help inspire pupils to keep going, however difficult a situation might seem…

Biggest Challenge: 

Believe it or not, I’m scared of heights!  Sounds strange for someone who worked in the Airborne Forces – but that was my way of facing my biggest fear head on.  I knew I could either let it control me or do something about it.  So I joined the Parachutist Engineers.  It was not easy jumping out of a plane for the first time but I was determined to do it.  Eventually it became an every day part of my job.  If I can do that I believe I can help even the hardest to reach pupil to learn resilience and determination to overcome whatever challenges they are facing at home or in school.

Lessons in life: 

Think positive – whatever life throws at you.  Being in the Armed Forces, you can find yourself in some of the world’s harshest environments.  In those situations, you quickly learn the best piece of kit is a positive mental attitude, to really believe that you can get yourself – and your team – through that situation.  That’s what I’m determined to pass on to our Team Up pupils.

Strengths:

I never give up!  I’m determined to make sure everyone at Team Up realises their full potential.  But I’d like to think I’m empathetic too – I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by a challenge so I can help with strategies to face those fears.

Biggest Challenge:  

I’ve faced difficult situations all over the world with the Armed Forces – but that was nothing compared to teaching for the first time!  I have to admit that facing that first class of 30 children was pretty daunting.  It was a real change for me after being an engineer and working in the police.  But working in education was always my dream from being at school, so I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to learn something new.  I’m really glad I did because this is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had.

Lessons in life: 

It’s never too late to achieve your ambitions.  I’ve learned in my own life that you can go down lots of different paths until you find what you really want to do.  I try and help everyone at Team Up realise that we can all learn from mistakes and move on to new aspirations.

Strengths: 

Communication is a big thing for me – I really like to try and encourage children to get off their Ipads or tablets and really talk to each other.  That – and I’m relentlessly positive! 

Biggest Challenge: 

Going back to school!  I always wanted to be a teacher but never made the right choices to do that straight away – so I did my training later on when I already had a job and three children!  Sticking that out while working in another job was really tough but I knew it was my chance to really follow my dream career.  I think that’s where I really learned what resilience was all about for myself.

Lessons in life: 

I realise now that any dream I have is possible, with the right attitude and character skills that Team Up work hard to achieve. Resilience is a big part of getting where you want to be – but I’ve also learned that you can’t do these things on your own.  Everybody does better by working in a team and calling on others for help when you need them.

Strengths: 

Determination – I’ve realised that I’ve still got many goals to achieve but I’m not going to give up on them!  I think the way to keep going is by trying to keep things enjoyable and fun.