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Outstanding Teacher Achievements in 2019

January 09, 2020
Outstanding Teacher Achievements in 2019
The Charity Gala held in December 2019 featured the Creative Courage For Life awards

Three of our amazing Teachers were celebrated for their continued passion and successes throughout 2019. 
 
Kim Williams from Stagecoach Wokingham was the winner of the Outstanding Drama Teacher Award, 
 
Kim was highlighted for her passion for devising and physical theatre. Having worked with the Students at Wokingham for over seven years Kim has recreated pieces 'The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time' and 'A Super Happy Story About Feeling Super Sad'. Both of these pieces invited discussions around disability and mental health, Kim said: “I was so proud of the intelligent conversations had in my classes around these subjects. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing my teenagers debate and discuss subjects they are passionate about.”
 
The Charity Gala was raising vital donations for our Charity Partner YoungMinds, who are the UK’s largest young persons mental health charity. 
 
Kim highlighted the importance of when working with young people struggling with their mental health to understand that often any irritability or change in mood is not personal. “A young person suffering is just that - suffering - and will need all the love and support you can give them. Give them space but ensure they really do know that you are there for them.”
 
The Outstanding Singing Teacher award was presented to Flynn Sturgeon from Stagecoach Twickenham for his skills to developing his students regardless of ability and how he is able to build up the confidence of all his students. 
 
Flynn started his career in the performing arts on stage but quickly realised that it wasn’t for him, making the move into music direction.
 
“Working with children is such an important part of ensuring a vibrant future for the creative industries, especially with so many budget cuts nationwide.  Working with the next generation of performers is really inspiring, and they have the most creative minds” says Flynn.
 
YoungMinds UK are working to ensure young people receive the best possible mental health support and have the resilience to overcome life's challenges. At Stagecoach, we believe instilling Creative Courage For Life in our schools provides a positive environment for our students and teaches them skills to cope with life's ups and downs.  
 
Flynn suffered from anxiety in the past, he says “one of the nicest things to hear can be as simple as somebody taking time out of their routine to check on you. To spend an extra minute just to ensure that you feel supported, validated, and valued.”
 
Michelle Pentecost from Stagecoach Bath was presented with the Outstanding Dance Teacher Award 
 
She was celebrated with the award because of her talent for choreography and her inclusive teaching methods which instil her passion on her students. 
 
Michelle knew from an early age Performing Arts was her calling, “At the age of 14, I organised and choreographed my first dance show at a local care home fete. I remember loving the organisation of it all. I felt proud of my own achievements but even prouder of the people I taught. Seeing them perform my work and seeing how happy and confident they were made me realise that this was what I wanted my future to look like.”
 
In a time where social media, cyberbullying and other personal and school pressures challenge children, Stagecoach offers children time to shift their focus for a few hours. Michelle says “ It’s amazing to share with them something so physical and fun and uplifting, and giving them these opportunities to escape some of those pressures feels like the biggest achievement in the world.”
 
 
Our Stagecoach Teachers are passionate in educating young people in all aspects of the Performing Arts and providing vital life skills. 
 
You can experience our expert teaching at your local Stagecoach, find your nearest school here: https://www.stagecoach.co.uk/