African Caribbean
Profile: An Interview with Haltia Watkins, African Caribbean Project Teacher for the Race Equality and Diversity Service
Haltia Watkins has worked for READS for four and a half years, and in education for eight years. Her experience in education has been varied and diverse: ACA Saturday School Co-ordinator, Jamaican Linking Project with International Education Office, EAZ Neighbourhood Link Co-ordinator for out-of-school studies, Fishpool Link Co-ordinator for Secondary Schools.
Haltia is one of a growing number of teachers who take up teaching as a second career Ð bringing the benefits of wider work experience to the profession. Haltia started work on her 16th birthday as a seamstress at Lincoln Models, after which she trained for office work at night school and subsequently worked for 10 years in Commerce, including Social Services and BT.
However, after the birth of her 4th child, she re-assessed her life & decided it was time for a change. She asked herself: 'What do I enjoy?' 'What am I good at?' The answers were: Children & Art!
It takes commitment to pick up education after leaving school at 16 and train to be a teacher. But Haltia did this while bringing up 4 children! Her teacher-training period coincided with the Macpherson Report on Stephen Lawrence. Haltia chose to do her dissertation on under achievement of Black youngsters & decided this was the area she really wanted to work in. In her first job, she soon realised that she could be a positive role model. So joining the READS team was her perfect opportunity to fulfil her ambitions!
Haltia entered her new role at READS as African Caribbean Project Teacher in September 2005. She is Secondary Learning Mentor for a large number of African Caribbean pupils in 6 Gloucester schools: Brockworth, Beaufort, Churchdown, Barnwood, Bishop's College and Severn Vale.
In her role as Learning Mentor, Haltia works with individual pupils/groups, to:
- Identify barriers to learning
- Remove barriers to learning
- Set targets, monitor progress & provide guidance
- Build confidence & self-esteem
- Liaise with families & staff
- Contribute to whole school culture of support
- Work with individual caseloads: time for networking, home visits, training
A handbook is available from READS with detailed information on Learning Mentoring for African Caribbean pupils.
Haltia's personal inspiration and guidance for her new role as Learning Mentor stems from her own experience of school. She had a brilliant art teacher, who acted as mentor Ð though that role didn't have a name then! "Mr Pervis inspired me & gave me confidence that I was good at something - & could achieve! He trusted me and allowed me to learn in the way I needed to learn, when no-one else allowed me to do that."
"If I can inspire my students - & give them the same confidence that I achieved from my mentor, through recognition of different learning styles, I will feel that I have fulfilled the role I am employed to do!"
Haltia is also involved in the Parent Training Programme. This is a crucial role, which can address a number of problematic issues & support families & schools to bring them together to promote the education and welfare of the children.
Haltia has a Vision for the Future: Early Intervention will make a crucial difference in the achievement of A/C pupils at secondary level. A recent development from the DfES means that this vision might be realised in the near future!
'Aiming High' is to be piloted in 3 Gloucester Primary Schools: Widden, Tredworth & St. Peter's.
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