Elected primary teachers

published:28 Apr 2009

The following primary teachers were elected to the GTC Council in 2008:

Flora Barton
Paul Bird
Sarah Bowie
Janis Butler
Philip Cole
Lisa Copeland
Christine Green
Derek Johns
Aaron King
Alex Parker
Sarah Reed

Scroll down for member biographies.

Flora Barton - Primary teacher

Flora Barton is a primary school teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

'I am a fast track teacher with experience in an extensive array of worldwide educational settings.  These include America, Canada, the Former Yugoslavia, Tunisia and the United Kingdom.  While in England I have worked in a ESBD school for boys as well as a small village school where I taught years 3, 4, 5 and 6 in one class.  I am currently completing my Master’s Degree in Education and am also enrolled on the Leadership Pathways programme through the NCSL.

'I believe it is a fundamental requirement for all teachers to evaluate and analyse their own professional development to meet current educational standards, providing every child with the opportunity to reach his/her full potential.  Therefore, all teachers must continue to educate themselves on effective practice and research, implementing essential strategies to address existing problems and/or behaviour management including, but not limited to; efficiency, differentation and behaviour management.

'I am very happily married with two beautiful children.'

Declaration of interests

a) Posts held in the course of full and part time employment, self employment or practice, including partnerships and directorships.

• Youth Leader - Goring Free Church

Paul Bird - Primary teacher

Paul Bird was elected to the Council in September 2005 and re-elected in 2008.  He sits on the GTC’s Executive Committee.

'As a teacher of 40 years, I have taught throughout the age range in inner city schools.  I have a great interest in inner-city education and in particular the management of pupils in our schools and the rights of our teachers to teach to the majority of our children.

'I am committed to help the professional cut down on paperwork in order that teachers can focus on positive teaching.

'I expect by becoming a Member of the General Teaching Council that I can promote sound professional attitudes in teaching and create a period of stability that will lead to learning and enjoyment returning to the classroom.'

Declaration of interests

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• National Association of Headteachers

Sarah Bowie - Primary teacher

Sarah Bowie is a primary school teacher elected onto the Council by teachers in Spring 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008.  She was Vice Chair of the Council from May 2008 until September 2009, in which capacity she was a member of GTC’s Executive Committee and ex-officio on all committees across Council.

Sarah was a nursery teacher in a small primary school in Leeds, a post she held for 18 years.  She now works as a supply teacher in Leicestershire.  She is keen to promote the value of early education and raise the status of its practitioners.

In the next few years, she hopes to be able to spread a positive message about the work of the GTC to many more teachers, and to stakeholders in education.

Declaration of Interests

a) Posts held in the course of full and part time employment, self employment or practice, including partnerships and directorships.

• Fitness to Practise Panellist; Nursing and Midwifery Council

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• Vice President, College of Teachers.

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• Member, National Union of Teachers

Janis Butler - Primary teacher

Janis Butler was elected to the Council in April 2006 and re-elected in 2008. She sits on the Registration and Regulation Committee.

Janis has worked in primary schools for 18 years where she has taught both key stages and led KS1 team.  She is an NUT school representative and a Health and Safety Officer.  Janis is also a school governor and believes that the governing body plays an important part in moving a school forward.

As a Council Member Janis hopes to raise the image of the teaching profession in the wider community and to raise the moral of serving teachers thereby retaining excellent teachers and attracting high achieving graduates to the profession.

Declaration of interests

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• President of NUT Doncaster Branch

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• Committee member – Joint Professional Organisations Committee

Philip Cole - Primary teacher

Philip is an elected primary school teacher. He was first elected to Council in 2006, and re-elected in 2008.

He started teaching in 1966, and served as primary advisory teacher in northern Nigeria between 1976 and 1978 under the auspices of VSO.

From 1991 he worked as a career supply teacher, where his main employer was Birmingham City Council. Latterly, using his annually updated training as a KS2 English External Marker, he diversified into assessing and supporting children’s writing, mainly in year six, through booster withdrawal groups.

Declaration of interests

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• Association of Teachers and Lecturers

g) Family interests: Please list any interest of yourself, your partner or close family members that might be considered relevant to your position on the Council or in the business dealings of the GTC.

• My wife is a registered Member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Lisa Copeland - Primary teacher

Lisa Copeland is a primary school teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

Lisa has been a full time Primary Teacher since 1999 and works in West Sussex.  She has also been a Teacher Governor since 2000 and currently serves on the Finance and Buildings Committee.  Her other roles include those of ICT Subject Leader PE Subject Leader, Year Group Leader, Member of the Primary Leadership Team at her school and she is an NUT School Representative.  Lisa is also a marker for key stage 2 English SATs and is a member of the West Sussex Schools’ Forum.  She also mentors student teachers and NQTs.  Her aim is to represent and highlight the views of ‘grass roots’ teachers.

Through the GTCE she hopes to further support the teacher’s vital role within the classroom, enabling teachers access to high quality CPD opportunities.

'I believe that this would strengthen the vital and central role the teacher must continue to play in ensuring pupils receive what they deserve: a high quality education.'

Declaration of interests

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• National Union of Teachers

Christine Green - Primary teacher

Christine is a primary school teacher and was first elected to the Council in 2004 and reelected in 2008. Christine is Vice Chair of Council. She previously chaired the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

During her 34-year teaching career Christine has taught all age groups from ages four to 19. She is a qualified Reading Recovery Teacher and marked the Key Stage 2 English SATs from their inception to 2006. She therefore brings a wealth of experience to the GTC. She has also been a Committee Member of her trade union the ATL at Branch Level and is still the ATL Representative at her school.

At present she is working as a supply teacher for her local LA.

'As a Council Member I would hope to raise the profile of the teaching profession in order to dispel the myth that exists with the general public.  As stated in my election address. ‘Recruitment, retention, respect and reward,’ are the key issues.'

Declaration of interests

None declared.


Derek Johns - Primary teacher

Derek Johns is a primary school teacher elected onto the Council by teachers in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008.  Derek sits on the Audit Monitoring and Review Committee.

Derek has been a class teacher at Primary Schools in Essex for the past 14 years.

Derek brings to the GTC his variety of teaching experience and enthusiasm. He has previously sat on the Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee and the Registration and Regulation Committee.

'As a member of the GTC, I expect to work in an organisation that helps to promote a professional and positive attitude to the development of the education of all our children, through motivating and supporting the workforce.'

Declaration of interests

a) Posts held in the course of full and part time employment, self employment or practice, including partnerships and directorships.

• Employee of Classroom Call Education Services – supply teaching agency based in Colchester, Essex, supplying teachers to schools on a short-term basis.  Employment commenced on the 1st September 2008.

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• National Union of Teachers

g) Family interest: Please list any interest of yourself, your partner or close family members that might be considered relevant to your position on the Council in the business dealings of the GTC.  

• My wife is a registered member of the General Teaching Council for England, and a member of the National Union of Teachers.

Aaron King - Primary teacher

Aaron King is a primary school teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

Aaron works with children with autistic spectrum disorder and social communication difficulties in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

His time is split between teaching in a 20 place resource provision attached to a mainstream school and outreach to support pupils with ASD in their local mainstream schools.
 
He feels passionately about teachers’ professional development being relevant to the individual rather than a one-size-fits all model. He would also like to see more joined-up government thinking with respect to national initiatives so that leadership teams are better supported in improving their schools in the most coherent way possible.

Declaration of interests

a) Posts held in the course of full and part time employment, self employment or practice, including partnerships and directorships.

• Advisory Teacher, Special Educational Needs Support Service, Wakefield MDC (part-time)
• Self employed writer for written press (part-time)

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• School Governor – Greengate Lane Primary School

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• National Association of Schoolmasters / Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)

Alex Parker - Primary teacher

Alex Parker is a primary teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.  She sits on the Policy and Research Committee.

'Much of my 30 years’ experience has been in Middle Schools in Bedfordshire, Devon and Oxford as a core subject co-ordinator.  Following reorganisation I am now a Year 5 class teacher in a city primary school.  I am proud to have been a member or the Working Group of Teachers consulted in setting up the GTC.

'I have been an active union member serving on committee for several years, being a voice for teachers through union representation on several Local Authority Committees.

'I am also a trained Union Learning Representative and committed to the principle of good quality CPD being available to all teachers.

‘By becoming a Member of the GTCE, I hope to help it become a body that has relevance to all teachers and one that they are pleased to belong to.’

Declaration of interests

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• Chair of Wootton Parish Council
• Secretary of Wootton Community Centre Redevelopment Committee
• Union Learning Representative of Oxfordshire Division – NUT

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• National Union of Teachers

Sarah Reed - Primary teacher

Sarah Reed is a primary teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

'As a mature entrant to the profession, I have been teaching for five years in the primary sector.  Prior to that I provided peripatetic support for pupils with special needs and have been a Portage home visitor.  Having taught in both KS1 and KS2 I now teach a KS2 special needs class in an inner city primary.

'My work and life experience before teaching has helped form the basis of my approach to education.  This has fuelled my passion for equitable access to good quality education for all regardless of social circumstances.

'I believe that a good balance between work and life is important and to this end I have many outdoor leisure interests that complement my professional life.'

Declaration of interests

None declared.