IN A CLASS OF HER OWN
Red’s commissioning editor, Ella Dove, reflects on the teacher who inspired her and the impact great teachers can have on our confidence, our career choices and every aspect of our lives
Iwas in sixth form when Mrs Smith first complimented my writing. I vividly remember sitting in her office for a feedback session on the creative writing module I was taking – she had a smile on her face as she told me I had talent. As headteacher of my school in Maidstone, Kent, she never taught me in a classroom setting for more than the odd lesson. Yet her clear and infectious passion for her subject, English, ignited my own creative spark. I told her I wanted to write for a living one day. Her response was insightful and very positive. She not only encouraged me to reach for my dream; she suggested ways I could go about it.
Time ticked on. I left school, graduated from Southampton University with a degree in English and French, completed my dissertation on creative writing and went on to become a journalist. I never stopped writing. And although it was only via the occasional email, I always stayed in touch with Mrs Smith.
‘Please, call me Mary,’ she said years later, as she sat in my parents’ living room, that same kind smile on her face. In 2016, I became an amputee following a freak accident falling over while out running – and Mrs Smith came to visit me during my recovery. I told her that I wanted to write a book and she, now retired from teaching but as passionate about writing as ever, was steadfast in her support.
My debut novel was published last July, and Mary came to my book launch. She was one of the first in line to have her copy signed, and it was a privilege to see her standing there among the crowd, chatting with my sister and friends – just some of the girls whose lives she has touched.
She remains the only person to have sent me detailed feedback on my book. ‘I’m sure you don’t want a full critique from me,’ the email began. But I did. And I know I always will. Because that’s the thing about a good teacher. With mutual understanding, advice and enthusiasm, they command natural respect, leaving their mark not only on your essays, but also upon your whole future.
‘A good teacher commands natural respect’
If you want to change lives and have the unique opportunity to shape future generations, it’s never too late to consider a career in teaching. If you have GCSE grade C or equivalent in English and maths, and a degree, you can apply for teacher training. To find out more about a career in teaching, search ‘Get Into Teaching’