<< Back to index New headteacher for ShelleyBy Jane Wharton KIM Stokes is back at Shelley Primary School, and she is bursting with new ideas.
After 18 months working in other schools, Mrs Stokes has returned as the new headteacher, and since her arrival at the start of term, has been very busy.
She has started a choir and a Year 6 common room, as well as planning a nature reserve in the school field and an information, communication and technology room.
Mrs Stokes, 42, said: "It's really good to be back. I never lost touch with the people who work here and I know the children very well. It sometimes feels like I've never been away."
Mrs Stokes was deputy headteacher when she joined in January 1991. After seven years she became a part-time teacher when her son was young. For the last 18 months, she has worked as a supply teacher in many schools around Essex.
She said: "Part of the reason I left was to experience other schools and see how they operated. We're so lucky at Shelley because the class sizes are small, the school is new and our teaching assistants are wonderful."
Mrs Stokes is keen on pursuing IT and hopes to set up an information, communication and technology room in the library.
"It's very important for children to learn IT because it's the way of the future. Children need to have the skills and confidence to use computers because they will need them when they enter the workplace."
Mrs Stokes completed a BA honours degree at Middlesex Polytechnic and specialises in maths, geography and special needs.
She said: "I've always wanted to be a teacher and have always enjoyed helping others. I'm the oldest of five children, so I always practised on them when I was young."
The Year 6 class will have a say in what goes in their common room and their homework over the half-term holiday was to make a wish list for the room.
"I do believe in pupil power and giving them some degree of choice. There are clear boundaries, but as a headteacher, it is important to be approachable."
Although Mrs Stokes does not have any official lessons, she still works in the classroom.
"I especially enjoy teaching in a small school like this because you get to know all the children individually.
"It's lovely watching them enjoy what they're learning and seeing their faces light up when they've understood something new."
9:25am Thursday 13th November 2003
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