Haili Hughes  (Author)

Professor Sam Twiselton (Foreword)

Copyright © 2021

McNidder and Grace

Note: McNidder and Grace is an established publisher who now  has ventured into education. Welcome to the new field.

It takes a special kind of person to become a teacher. This all-encompassing job will get under your skin and change you as a person … it really is an honour and a privilege to work with young people every day.

But this book is not just about teaching: there are a plethora of instructional manuals, educational texts and journal articles you can read if that is what you are looking for. Of course, teaching is a major theme which runs throughout its pages, as it is what connects the amazing people who have told their stories. But what is most important here are the real stories behind the educators who stand at the front of our classrooms every day. I wanted to focus on the humans behind the desk and what experiences have shaped them into the educators they have become.

But what does it mean to be human? It is a question that psychologists have explored for hundreds of years. Here I am not exploring the DNA and make up of humans as a species but instead, am seeking answers about our emotional experiences and empathy … what really makes us tick? Being human for me is more about how we see ourselves and how this concept creates a foundation for our values, morals, relationships and life choices.

Our schools are full of passionate teachers, with amazing stories and backgrounds that have shaped and moulded them into the incredible educators they are today. This empowering collection of stories will remind teachers of why they came into the profession on those tough days and open up students’ minds about what makes their teachers tick. From exciting former jobs like the rock journalist, army officer and the teacher who worked in Hollywood, to the teachers who have experienced tragic losses that spurred them on to want to change children’s lives. I hope this book will be one that can be frequently re-read and dipped into, a reminder of why a good teacher is something that we never forget.

Intrigued? You Should be!

Please check the The Art and Skills of the Humanistic Teacher Trainer course at Pilgrims website.