Collette McCaffrey, St. John the Baptist Primary School

www.stjohnthebaptistps.co.uk

Subject or Primary school year: Primary 2
Your place of birth: Belfast
Studied at: St. Dominic's and then Queen's University Belfast
First job: Part time retail assistant.
What it taught me: The value of working hard for your own money.
Family/status: Married with 5 children
Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: Believe you have the power to change. Hold the same aspirations and expectations for your students as you would for your own children.

Our school motto - Aspire, Believe, Achieve!

 
I have always worked in the education sector and for the past 16 years I have been working as an SEN assistant in St. John the Baptist PS or SJB as we like to call it! Living and working in the community I feel a particular affiliation with our school. The foundations of my own children’s educational experience began there. As a parent I witnessed first-hand the quality education my children received, and this encouraged me to become active in the school in any way I could. Moving from a voluntary capacity to a permanent member of staff felt like a seamless transition.

Over the years I have worked throughout the school in all year groups and presently I work in our fantastic Foundation Area. I am involved in many aspects of the school day and the life of SJB.

Contributing to the education of our local children is an opportunity that I greatly value and I feel fortunate to be part of their journey as they progress and grow. I am thankful to be part of a team of dedicated colleagues and friends who make working in SJB such a pleasure!