189
VALETE
Kemi Williams RORY FISHER AND ELEANOR WALTERS When Kemi arrived at the College in the Summer term of 2021, appointed to both the Learning Support and English departments, she didn’t realise quite what she had let herself in for. Her role was to support the teaching of literacy and language throughout the College, working in new ways with pupils of differing abilities, but when a need arose to cover English lessons at short notice in September, Kemi willingly and ably responded to the call. With the warmth, good humour and passion that we quickly came to know as her hallmark characteristics, she took on classes in Years 10 and 11, managing the difficult task of IGCSE coursework units with both. Drawing on her extensive teaching experience, most recently at Alleyn’s, she quickly won the classes over and used innovative approaches to poems such as Maya Angelou’s ‘Still I Rise’ to engage them. With the period of cover at an end, Kemi moved into working with Learning Support more directly. Her work with pupils who sometimes struggle with planning, with essay-writing skills or with managing their time has helped them improve rapidly, and her interest in neurodiversity has shone through in her creative approaches to lessons. It is clear in all she does that Kemi genuinely cares about the pupils she supports. She can be relied upon to see each individual’s strengths and to champion them, enabling them to achieve their very best. Beyond the classroom, Kemi has been actively involved in co-curricular life, setting up a ‘Read, Debate, Cake!’ group in partnership with JAGS, which has attracted a dedicated following of pupils who love both the printed word and the baked goods! Kemi is a warm, enthusiastic and talented colleague who shares her good humour generously and who is always ready with a kind word. We wish her all the very best in her future endeavours, which are set to include both teaching and further academic studies of her own, and we look forward to hearing of her successes.
Ellie Collin
SARAH MILLER
When Ellie joined us from King’s College School Wimbledon in January 2020, her injection of energy, humour and intellectual spark into the life of the English Department was immediately tangible and contagious. Over her two years at the College, she has taught a wide range of classes and, whether covering sets to enable sabbatical absences or forging ahead with those where she has taken full ownership, her dynamic teaching has brought imaginative, sharp and purposeful responses across the board. She has challenged colleagues in the English Department and beyond to think about new and innovative ways to approach student learning and wellbeing, and has played an important part in shaping how we all approach attitudes to gender, mental health and diversity. The reaction to her talk to the Upper School on gender as part of the College’s Allyship in Action programme is testament to her inspiring, bold leadership, as well as her academic expertise in this area. Ellie’s ability to forge strong personal connections with her colleagues and students – often becoming a confidante to both – reflects the approachable spirit of openness and inclusivity that she carries with her always. She is also the only person most of us have come across capable of establishing a business, organising a wedding, managing a house move and raising a new baby, all in the space of a year. Ellie will be missed hugely, but we look forward to seeing her business develop and thrive as she continues to tackle issues around gender in schools and workplaces nationwide. It gives many of us great hope that Ellie is among those leading the charge in this field.
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