Kevin Herron

 St Mary's CBGS
 
School website: www.stmaryscbgs.com
Subject: AEN classroom assistant.
Your place of birth: Belfast.
Studied at: St John the Baptist PS, La Salle/De La Salle College, University of Ulster Coleraine.
First job: Newspaper round.
What it taught me: The importance of working as part of a team (my father and sisters were a great help) and how it was good to earn money.
Family/status: Single.
Best advice anyone ever gave you: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It's a simple and short saying but so true. It's something that I try to remember in the lead-up to exams, matches or interviews – prepare for it otherwise alter your expectations.
Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: Working in an educational setting is wonderful and so rewarding, there are so many opportunities to get involved in projects inside and outside of the classroom. I love the saying that you learn something new every day because you learn a lot from the children inside the classes you're in and so much from your colleagues and when you reflect back, you learn a lot about yourself. No two days in school are the same.
 
I wanted to work as an AEN classroom assistant because of the positive education that I was fortunate to have received. My eight years at La Salle (De La Salle College) were most enjoyable and I formed so many great friendships and was lucky to have received a fantastic education from some of the best teachers. After completing my BA Honours in Journalism with Education at University of Ulster Coleraine I wanted to experience working in a school and was fortunate to be welcomed over at CBS, Glen Road. My tour of the Glen Road triangle was complete when I was fortunate to be employed as an AEN classroom assistant at St Mary's CBGS in June 2014. Bar a six-month sabbatical to Birmingham where I realised that the idea of teaching wasn't for me, I am still in a role that I thoroughly enjoy. I have been fortunate to be entrusted to assist some exceptionally gifted and talented students and enjoy having the opportunity to become involved in extra-curricular activities in the school. St. Mary's CBGS is a home away from home and I enjoy the craic and camaraderie with colleagues on a daily basis. 
 Outside of school I am involved in my Gaelic club, Lámh Dhearg, and if I'm not at home, at St Mary's or at Lámh Dhearg, I will either be at Solitude, Celtic Park or on the boat to Liverpool to see Salford City. I am a keen soccer enthusiast and put my Journalism degree to use by reporting on Cliftonville games each week for Belfast Media Group.