Paolletta Ebonga’s decision to become a teacher started at home, inspired by her children and the desire to help them connect with her family.
Now she’s training to teach French at Bristnall Hall Academy where she is drawing on her experiences as a parent to help pupils thrive.
Realising the power of education
“It all happened when I had my children. They were born here in England and it was very important for me that they could communicate with my family, who all speak French. I felt that it was important for them to have another language so they could bond with my family.”
“When I saw the impact I could have by teaching them French, I realised how powerful education was.”
From lunchtime supervisor to trainee teacher
Paolletta started in school as a lunchtime supervisor before becoming a learning support assistant. “I supported pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, helping them have the confidence to work independently. In that role I saw the impact teachers were having on their pupils. And that’s what motivated me to take the next step.”
Paolletta found the teachers around her very supportive of her choice to train. “I had a lot of encouragement from the teachers in my school. From the start, my headteacher has supported me, helping to guide me throughout the journey. As English is not my first language, I had a lack of confidence and thought my English was not so good.”
“I started supporting more languages lessons and occasionally covering the lesson. The head of the Modern Foreign Languages department came up to me and asked me why I wasn’t training as I was good. It was at this time I started to see the pupils developing – they could remember the vocabulary I was teaching them and say a sentence without prompting. That was a wild moment for me and it made me realise I can do this.”
Drawing on experience as a parent
Paolletta uses her experience as a parent to teenage children to influence her teaching. “As a parent, you understand the pupils. For example, because I’ve got teenagers, it’s easy for me to relate to the pupils on their level. Your experience as a parent can be a strength.”
“Sometimes when I plan my lessons, I’ll call my kids and ask them if they understand it, if it makes sense to them. If they understand it, then it’s likely my pupils will too. With good support and balance, it’s possible to manage training to teach and parenting.”
It can feel like a big decision to train to teach, especially when you have other responsibilities such as being a parent. Paolletta says “Teaching can be full on, but I always have people to go to.”
She stresses how important balance is when training. “The main aim is to have it balanced throughout. When I go home, then it’s my time, it’s time for my family. There’s a lot of support on the programme, and you can talk to your mentor about anything to do with workload or wellbeing. Advice I’ve been given that helped was to stay organised and ask for help when you need it.”
Learning from the best
Paolletta is one of a group of people training to teach with our local partner Academy Transformation Trust. She’s found training alongside someone else in the same school a valuable part of the support.
“We came from different backgrounds but we’re going through the same thing this year so we’re a real support system for each other. Building that relationship with another trainee helps you feel like you’re not going through it by yourself. It’s everyone looking after everyone here.”
She also shares how important other teachers have been to her training journey. “Every single lesson that I teach, I get feedback from my mentor, or another teacher. You get feedback year-round and there are so many opportunities for reflection. I’m happy I chose to train in school because I’ve got the support of brilliant teachers and access to brilliant practice. I feel like I’m learning from the best.”
Discovering rewarding moments
“In the first class I had to teach, there was a pupil who couldn’t speak in public. She wouldn’t give you an answer out loud, which makes learning French tricky. But as time’s gone on, she’s putting her hand up and volunteering to go up to the board. It’s those kinds of moments that are so rewarding.”
Paolletta believes “making pupils feel like they belong in school, making them feel like they can come and talk to you,” is an important part of teaching. “It’s not just about transferring your knowledge to them. It’s showing them that life can be challenging but despite the challenges they can still achieve whatever they want. That’s how teachers can make an impact.”
