Meet our Local Academy Councillors
Mrs Geraldine Faint - Chair - Trust Elected Local Academy Councillor
Hello to all our school pupils and our school family.
My husband and I have 3 children who are all grown up. We have 2 grandchildren - Noah and Willow.
I don’t work in a school but I do work in a school environment so I get to see how schools operate from a different perspective.
I’ve been a Local Academy Councillor at Teesville Academy for over 3 years and I’ve seen the incredible talent within Teesville Academy flourish for both students and staff.
Going forward I would like to have a greater part in school activities, meet with the students, their parents and carers and our staff more so that I can have a greater depth of understanding to help build the school into an even greater place to learn and grow.
My Name is Alison Toward. I was in primary education for the whole of my career which stretched for 37 years. In that time, I taught in a range of schools each with their own strengths and challenges and with very differing approaches to education. I have many years teaching experience in KS1 and KS2.
In 2008 I became a head teacher at St Joseph’s in Loftus. I thoroughly enjoyed working with staff, parents and children and was particularly proud of shaping the family ethos that made the school such a special place. I was delighted to achieve an outstanding Ofsted judgement in September 2017. This reflected the hard work of the whole staff team and the drive towards clear whole school approaches to learning. My professional experience has given me a good insight into the role of Local Academy Councillor which is crucial to the success of the school. I understand how important it is to have support from the Local Academy Councillors but also to be challenged about policy and practice. I firmly believe that every child deserves the opportunity to attend a school that offers them a creative and balanced curriculum, develops their understanding of the world around them and, most important of all, makes them believe in themselves as learners.
Having recently retired, I have started to come into Teesville Academy in a voluntary role and am thoroughly enjoying interacting with the children who are a real credit to the school.
I have a real interest in education and feel that I now have the time to commit to the role of Local Academy Councillor. I hope that my experience in education can contribute to helping the school further develop.
My name is Kirsty Wardle. I have been with my partner for 15 years and we have a four year old son who keeps us very busy and entertained. As a family we enjoy being active. Our son has just started full time school at Teesville Academy. Since having my son I have found a new passion for Early Learning and Education. I have recently made the decision to step out of my previous career and take a long overdue step into the world of Education. I have recently qualified as an EYFP and am now looking at working towards my Teaching Degree. I have always had a passion for education and with my skills and experience I feel together we can make the positive changes for all pupils and staff. If you don’t find me on a football field or poolside being cheerleader for my son, you will find me volunteering at Teesville Academy, please do come say hello and ask questions as no question is to small.
As a parent of a pupil currently attending Teesville, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the school’s ongoing development and success. I am particularly keen to support the strategic direction of the academy, share ideas, and play an active role in shaping a positive learning environment.
I believe that having a parent’s perspective on the governing body is invaluable. It allows for a deeper understanding of the needs and experiences of families, helping to ensure that the school remains inclusive, nurturing, and focused on the well-being and achievement of all pupils. I am especially interested in contributing to key decisions around curriculum development, school policy, and resource planning.
In my professional role as a Partnerships Manager within a welfare-to-work organisation, I have developed strong skills in safeguarding, policy implementation, financial planning, and performance evaluation. With over 13 years of experience in this role, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a strategic mindset that I believe would be highly beneficial to the governance of the school.
This role also presents a valuable opportunity for personal growth. I am eager to expand my understanding of school operations, enhance my skills in strategic planning and teamwork, and contribute meaningfully to the educational experience of not only my own child but all students at Teesville Academy.
I am currently the School Sport Officer for Redcar & Eston School Sport Partnership (RESSP) delivering their calendar of events and working alongside many local primary and secondary schools, including Teesville Academy. I graduated Northumbria University with a First Class BSc (Honours) Degree in Sport Management and this kick-started my career within the world of sport and physical activity. I have undertaken a range of roles across the public, private and charity sectors, from managing fundraising events to community wellbeing programmes. I’m extremely passionate about the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly within our local community, which is just one of the reasons that I thoroughly enjoy my current role at RESSP and would love to be more actively involved within your school. Physical activity has such a huge impact on our mental health as well as our physical health and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to provide our local school children with a range of events that they can enjoy and support them in living an active and healthy lifestyle.Alongside my current full time role, I’m a volunteer Coach / Team Manager of a local U8 girls football team which I find extremely rewarding. I enjoy meeting and building relationships with new people.
Mrs Alison Conlin - Clerk to the Governors