Michaela Long is one of our new School Direct trainees who was inspired to become a teacher by her biology teacher Miss Angeline Annable of Brooke Weston Academy. She has had many obstacles to overcome during her education however, has come full circle and will be starting her first year as a trainee teacher at Brooke Weston Academy in September 2018. She said, ‘I took my GCSE’s at a different school in the area where I was thought of as a particularly difficult student and classed as ‘unteachable.’

 

‘I did have a lovely English teacher though who stuck by me and kept me motivated and I ended up getting really good results. I moved to Brooke Weston to take my A Levels as I had a bad reputation at my old school and I wanted a fresh start. Broooke Weston completely changed my approach to education, unlike my previous school you were treated with respect instantly, which as a child is what you want and need from school.

 

‘I knew I wanted to take science but wasn’t at all keen on biology but I had Miss Annable as my teacher and she was just fantastic. I didn’t realise how good I was at biology, it was Miss Annable who brought it out in me. She respected me and had all the time in the world for me. Her passion for the subject and the way in which she taught engaged me and for me she was always the epitome of Brooke Weston.

 

‘I left and took biology to degree level, with a degree in medical science. It was always my intention to get into teaching after a few years working within the industry; however, I had my own challenges to overcome at university when I ended up having my first daughter, which helped me realise that my priority is teaching. I’ve since had a second daughter and want to be a teacher that I would be proud to teach my own children and I feel now is the time to do it.

 

‘I specifically chose Brooke Weston Teaching School Alliance because of Miss Annable, she inspired me to come to Brooke Weston to begin my own career. I hope to be the type of teacher she was to me. I am really excited about the opportunity to teach GCSE and A Level biology because I feel that this is the stage where students are the most influential and are realising their own path and it is about having a good teacher to help them, which is what I plan on being to my future students.’

 

Miss Annable said ‘I taught Michaela from Year 12 to 13 and to think that we have now come full circle and have this grown woman with two children of her own and the reason she wants to become a teacher is because of me and how I taught her is extremely humbling.

 

 ‘It feels inspirational that you have that impact on someones life when they are 16 years of age. You don’t realise that being a teacher is not just about teaching science it’s a much bigger picture, when you stand in front of students you can influence them and inspire them helping them to shape their future careers and lives.’