Jim Salt

First job: Bank Clerk.

What it taught me: That I didn't want to work in a bank!

Family/status: Married with four children and one grandchild

Best advice anyone ever gave you: When I was doing my teaching practice my mother-in-law, who taught for years at Cross and Passion, told me never to shout in the classroom. At the time I couldn't see what she meant as I felt you need to raise your voice to get control of the class. Over the 20 years of teaching since I have learnt that on the whole she was right. It is about your manner and approach with the pupils.

Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: Never think you know it all, you learn something every day.

Started teaching in my mid-30s. Moved to Belfast in 2000 and ended up by a slice of luck working in Harberton Special School. Knew quite quickly that I had found my vocation and have never regretted working in special education. Moved to Glenveagh in 2005 and am currently the Head of the Middle Department. I work with kids with Severe Learning Difficulties aged between 11 and 14 and it is a job that can be hard, gruelling and at times dispiriting, but also gives immense satisfaction. The pupils are at the school from the age of eight  until leaving at 19 and that gives us the chance to really get to know them and their families and build strong, positive relationships.