Stephen O’Brien

My mother leaving school at 13 and going on to raise 4 children as a divorced Catholic woman in a land far from home, impacted significantly on my upbringing and what I held important. Quite simply, my siblings and myself had to do well for our Mum’s sake.

Education runs through my veins, I remember playing teachers and pupils with my brother from the day that I started primary school. It seemed that I was destined to be a teacher from my first day of schooling.

I have worked in the Viridis Federation for coming up to 15 years. I consider it the greatest of privileges to have been headteacher of all three schools at different times. Orchard will always hold a special place in my heart, being the first Hackney school that I worked in. I love coming to work each day and that is all you can ask for really.

Ruth Grover

I was born in York and spent much of my childhood bossing around my big sister while playing schools. It was my teacher in Year 5, Mrs Johnson, who inspired me to teach. 

I have lived in many places, studying and teaching including Liverpool, London and Hong Kong. I have made lifelong friends along the way and so many special memories. I love living and working in such a creative and diverse community as East London. 

I have worked at Viridis for 8 years and am so proud of everything we achieve. I am particularly proud to start my first year as Headteacher of Southwold and to work with incredibly skilled teachers and ambitious, polite and resilient children everyday. 

Linda Hanley

I was born in London to Irish parents. I moved to Australia when I was in Year 3. I lived in Sydney and loved school, which is very similar to here. I moved back to London when I was 17.

Although I had always wanted to be a teacher it wasn’t until after I had my children that I decided to train as one. I went to St Marys and studied whilst working as a teaching assistant. I have worked in two other East London schools, but knew when I started at Southwold it was the school for me.

I love working alongside the amazing team of staff and being part of such a special community. I love seeing the amazing children of Southwold grow and develop into lifelong learners!

Beverley Shore

My career in schools started when I worked in a private school overseeing catering, after a career as a personal assistant to a Director of company. From there, I began working in a local school as part of the admin team.

I started working at Hoxton Garden when it was called Burbage School. I was the office and school business manager responsible for school finances and the office team. My role has evolved over the last 16 years and I am now responsible for all 3 offices and premises across the Viridis Federation.

My favourite part of my role is working with lots of different people and making sure the schools are well-looked after. My favourite Viridis memory is when I was given the opportunity to take on more responsibilities and support and parents and local communities further. 

Lauren Ani

From playing teachers with my dolls as a child and work experience in a nursery in Year 10, I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. However, other interests led me to a Journalism degree and working with magazines.

Finally, after 4 years, I decided to change my career and follow the teaching path and I went back to university to study for my PGCE.

Having been born in Homerton Hospital and growing up in Hackney, I knew that I wanted to teach in a Hackney school and Southwold has been the perfect place. I love working as a teacher and helping the children to build a love of learning.

Ruzina Akhtar

I proudly identify as a British born Bangladeshi, born and still living in Islington. I have a degree in Digital Media, and had the opportunity to experience a little bit of animation, film making, photography and web site design.

Since embarking on the journey into motherhood with my two boys, the desire for nurturing children and being empathetic has developed naturally. Knowing I can make a positive impact on the lives of young minds fills me with warmth.

After completing my PGCE, I became a supply teacher covering across the Federation. A class teacher position became available at Southwold, and here I am! Southwold is full of supportive and caring staff, and will always be special to me, as this is where I began my journey as a Class teacher!

Ross McCarthy

I am born, raised and attended school in Hackney and I have worked in the borough for years. I am into sports and support the best team, Arsenal.

I got into teaching through coaching PE. I did this for 7 years and the last 2 years, I have been more in the classroom setting. I loved upskilling the children and seeing their progression as a person and as a student. I wanted them to live my dream as an athlete and get the support from teachers which I needed at the time.

Now I want to have that impact in a classroom and show all children anything is possible with hard work and willingness you will achieve your goals.

Ina Davison

Half of my family are British and the other half are from Zimbabwe but on both sides of my family, nearly everyone is either a teacher or teaching assistant – it’s basically our family business!

I have always loved music and began violin lessons aged eight after my mum saw an advert for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in our local library. I carried on learning the violin throughout school and then studied music at university.

Growing up in Hackney, I was surrounded by all different types of cultures and this has impacted both the music I listen to and the music that I teach. I love working as the music teacher at Orchard as it means I get to teach every single child in the school!

Aranazazu Perez

I am Miss Perez and I am a Spanish teacher and artist. I am from the Canary Islands, which are Spanish islands near Africa.

My dad worked many years for a famous artist/architect who taught me how to draw so, since a young age, I decided I wanted to be an artist. I was also good at learning languages and I studied French, English and Spanish language and literature at university too.

My favourite moment in Southwold was when the Spanish school visited our school two years ago.

Sandra Rodrigues

I joined the Federation in 2012 in the Finance Team at Orchard.  Over the years I have worked at all three schools in our Federation, including working in the office at Orchard. I have worked at Southwold for over two years.

Earlier in my career, taught English as a Foreign Language to children in Italy and Portugal which I truly loved.

What I love most about working at the Viridis Schools is seeing children who start in Nursery grow into independent young people. I often bump into former pupils in the street when they are older and they say “Miss, I remember you! You really helped me when I was at school!”

Nuressa Khatun-Ahmed

I have lived in Hackney since the age of 5 with my 4 younger siblings. From an early age I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. After three years at Middlesex University I was ready to have my own classroom. However, life had other plans!

As my mother was a single mother she needed support so I decided I needed a job that started immediately. I became a manager at ASDA and progressed quickly. I was offered a course to become a Store Manager and I was left in a dilemma. Do I pursue my dream job or go for a job that I naturally excelled in?

I followed my fate which led me to being a teacher. Now I am at Southwold doing what I love the most!

Daniel Amel

Warsaw born – London refined. At heart, a tech enthusiast since my early years. I took things apart, figuring out how they worked and soon enough, computers became my domain. Building, fixing – first for friends, then for clients. My love for IT only grew stronger with time.

I began my IT career at a company that operates colleges and nurseries and runs one of the leading websites on education. This experience gave me the foundation to grow.

Six years ago, I moved to London and now, the Viridis Federation is where I call home. Supporting staff, pupils, and systems alike. I’m part of the backbone that helps everything run and that is something I am proud of every day.

Grace Cooper

As a child, I loved playing sports and reading books. Sports taught me teamwork and pushing myself, while books opened up new worlds. I want to inspire children to enjoy both – because they’re not just fun, but they can help us grow in so many ways.

I grew up in North London and then went to university in Leeds. After finishing university, I worked as a teaching assistant for a couple of years, which made me want to become a teacher myself.

My dad was a teacher and I loved going to work with him when I was younger. It just felt like the right path to follow!