Chrissie

I am an experienced educator and communications professional with more than 20 years experience. This includes extensive classroom teaching in the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong and managing communications and events for a range of charities and educational institutions in the UK and beyond.

After having my two children, I left a successful career in charity PR to train as a primary school teacher, qualifying through the British Government’s flagship Graduate Teacher Training Programme (GTTP). Alongside classroom duties, I used my previous professional experience to run desktop publishing and photography workshops for students and set up several pupil-led magazines. I continued to teach when our family moved to Singapore. Several years later when we moved to Hong Kong, I enrolled on an MA in English Language Teaching course at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to investigate language access issues I had witnessed first hand in multilingual classrooms to identify possible solutions to support student learning. Most recently, I have been teaching across the curriculum in Y5 and Y4 classes in Datchet St Mary’s C of E Primary School Academy.

On a voluntary basis, I run the Youth Leadership Council for Hong Kong based charity Mother’s Choice - helping sixth formers develop authentic relationships and campaigns alongside the charity and their school. In the UK I am a volunteer with the National Library’s Reading scheme.

Willing to travel: Home Only

Experience: CLASS TEACHER, DATCHET ST MARY’S CofE PRIMARY ACADEMY (2020 - 2021)
I joined the teaching team in September 2021 to complete my NQT teacher training. Initially working alongside the current Y5 teacher, I developed, delivered and evaluated teaching programmes across the curriculum for both in-school and remote learning. From term 2, I led class teaching for the Y4 class.

RESEARCHER, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY (2014 - 2016)
Working within an international research team, I investigated the impact of professional development of secondary school teachers on classroom practice in a multilingual setting. I presented my findings at various international conferences and helped organise a global seminar and workshops at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. On a day-to-day basis, I managed the administration for a rolling programme of professional development workshops in teaching through English in local Hong Kong secondary schools for the Education Development Bureau/Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

PRINCIPAL, WHITE LODGE KINDERGARTEN SINGAPORE (2008 - 2012)
I joined the kindergarten group as its parent liaison officer and was quickly promoted to principal with a brief to raise teaching standards, manage its 19 staff, provide consistent and positive communication with key stakeholders and increase student numbers. Highlights included organising a programme of internal and external training and developing consistent standards for written and spoken English throughout the Centre.

Other teaching experience:
The British Council, Hong Kong primary teacher (October 2016 - October 2017)
Tanglin BIS, Singapore, support nursery teacher (2012 - 2014)
White Lodge Kindergartens, Mother and Baby Sessions leader/trainer, (2011 - 2012)
Datchet St Mary’s Primary School, Berkshire, early years teacher (2005 - 2007)

HEAD OF MEDIA PLANNING, CANCER RESEARCH UK (2001 - 2005)
I managed a team of 20 press and information officers to deliver consistent and relevant cancer information to target audiences across national and regional UK media. I organised events including volunteer and cancer survivor celebration days – often attended by more than 500 people at a time. Another key role was setting up partnerships with various schools and children’s agencies including the Girl Guides and Scouts Association, to develop and promote tailored cancer awareness and prevention campaigns including an ‘anti-smoking’ campaign for schools across Liverpool and a nationwide teacher information pack to help children and classmates cope with cancer in the classroom.

PR CONSULTANT (1999 - 2001)
I worked with Birmingham Midshires to manage a 1million GBP staff fundraising and motivational partnership with the British Heart Foundation. As well as writing press releases, organising press conferences, branch photo calls and case study interviews with staff and heart patients, I also wrote updates for internal communication channels and co-ordinated health screening programmes and de

DBS Check: Yes