How Bernie was inspired to teach and passed it on
POPULAR WOODWORK TEACHER HANGS UP HAMMER AFTER 50 YEARS
A POPULAR New College teacher will be retiring this year after inspiring pupils over nearly five decades.
Born in 1952 in South Yorkshire, Bernie Stephenson picked up his career idea from his own woodwork teacher at Mexborough Grammar School, who inspired him to follow in his footsteps.
After qualifying from teacher training college, he moved to Leicester where he got a job teaching woodwork at Alderman Newton Boys’ Grammar School – what is now the King Richard III visitor centre.
In fact, the classroom where Bernie began his career as a teacher in 1974 is now the museum’s cafe.
In 1977, Alderman Newton’s boys’ and girls’ schools were amalgamated and, in 1999, the school was merged with New Parks Community College and Wyclife Community College to become New College in New Parks, Leicester.
He said the element he enjoyed the most was helping children to develop their skills and expertise, as well as supporting them through any difficult periods in life they might be having, which is why he opted to serve as a head of year.
Bernie said the thing about the job he will miss the most is the children. He said: “It’s all about the children because they are the future, so it’s important that we invest in them.”
He said that as well as playing football, he enjoyed rugby and the 1980 trip to France to watch international matches with the Alderman Newton’s rugby team was a highlight of his career, along with various other residential trips over the years.
Retirement for Bernie will mean being able to spend more time with family.
He said: “I’ve got a fantastic family and retiring will give me more time to see them and my grandchildren”.
Bernie’s future plans are to travel around the world – once the coronavi
rus restrictions make it a bit easier. A trip to Italy to walk in the Dolomites is planned for June.
He will also be keeping an element of his old life going into retirement – as well as enjoying woodwork at home he intends to do some voluntary work in education.
Jane Brown, principal at New College, said: “Bernie has dedicated his entire teaching career to making a difference in the lives of the students and families we serve – fifty years service is an amazing level of dedication.
“We will miss him, his quiet strength, his experience and his unfailing smile. We wish him a long and very happy retirement”.
Paul Richards, a former student, was inspired by Bernie to become a teacher himself.
He said: “He was a great head of year – firm, yet fair with a great sense of humour. And he wasn’t a bad goalkeeper either!
“I followed in his footsteps as a teacher and a wannabe goalie, too.”
Mark Levy, another former student, also said his life was hugely influenced by Bernie.
He said: “He went out of his way to teach me how to make dovetail joins in our dinner break.
“It was for an interview I had to be an apprentice joiner. I ended up getting the job and I have been a joiner ever since. I owe my career to him.”