Team
The core team of STORM is made up of our employed staff, supported by the Employment-based Initial Teacher Training leader at MMU and the lead tutors for primary and secondary education. Our operations are supported by a series of groups, made up from educational professionals. Our strategic direction is provided by a board of directors. We also enjoy the professional support of a wide network of associate mentors, tutors and assessors. The core team consists of:
Zahra Alijah – Director and operations manager
Zahra works with our groups, associates, graduate teachers and mentors to ensure STORM consistently delivers excellence in all aspects of its operations. She knows the powerful influence of highly effective teachers in shaping young lives for the better and is dedicated to supporting our graduate teachers in developing the confidence, knowledge and skills to become just that – the best teachers they can be.
Gail Rook – Support manager
Gail brings a highly organised approach and a great depth of knowledge about Employment-based Initial Teacher Training. Gail is the lynch pin of the team, managing the administration of our programmes. . Gail also maintains the financial information, as well as liaising with the TDA and maintaining graduate teacher records. Gail can also help with enquiries about how to get on to the programme and how the programme operates.
Vicki Allen – Administrator
Originally from New Zealand, Vicki is a highly skilled administrator with a wide range of experience. She has a secretarial and business diploma and held a managerial career in retail before returning to an office environment where she is particularly strong in developing and maintaining effective systems and procedures. Vicki is the first port of call for enquiries to STORM and has built up a wealth of knowledge to help with your enquiry.
Kim Smith – EBITT Leader, Manchester Metropolitan University
With a teaching background in social science, Kim became a senior lecturer in Education at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1992; quickly taking over leadership of the two-year B Ed programme. She also took responsibility for managing partnership and secondary initial teacher training (ITT) progammes at the Crewe campus, before leading the merger of the Post Graduate Certificate in Education provision at Crewe and Didsbury campuses. Kim now leads the MMU Institute of Education’s partnership with STORM. As head of EBITT, Kim is responsible for the robust academic rigour of the programme. She continues to develop her interest in school-based teacher education through research and tutoring on MMU’s postgraduate programmes for serving teachers. Most recently she has overseen the successful introduction of the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching masters level award which is available for those registered on the Graduate Teacher Programme with EBITT partners.
Elaine Hodson – Lead Tutor, Primary Education
Elaine is a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and was a primary school head teacher for ten years before this. Elaine teaches on the professional studies programme which carries the award of Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching. She also leads on the support for mentors on the Post Graduate Certificate in Mentoring and provides a lead on mentor training. Also responsible for supporting and quality assuring school-based training and undertaking final assessments for QTS, Elaine supports the operational management of STORM through membership of the Quality Improvement Group. Elaine demonstrates a strong commitment to STORM’s core aims and values and has made a substantial contribution to their development.
Phil Page – Lead Tutor, Secondary Education
Phil is an assistant lecturer and a student associate scheme tutor at Manchester Metropolitan University; was formerly assistant lecturer in primary school English and is a freelance educational consultant. Phil came into academic work from being an assistant secondary school head teacher and has performed a number of tutoring, final assessment mentoring and moderating roles. Phil supports the operations of STORM as a member of the Quality Improvement Group and leads on mentor training for secondary school mentors. Phil has a strong commitment to sharing and developing skills in order to achieve success and raise standards in education and is keen to maintain the highest standards of support for teacher training in schools.
