I have been with the teaching profession since I qualified with my postgraduate certificate in education in 2000; it is a profession I find both immensely rewarding and exciting. My first appointment was as a Geography and homeroom teacher, and after a year of teaching I took on a new role as a Year Leader with responsibility for Year 7. One of my best achievements in this role was organizing a week-long camp for the entire year group, which was so much fun for everyone involved.
In 2005 I moved to the United States and took up a teaching post at British International School of Houston, where I taught International Baccalaureate and International General Certificate of Secondary Education Geography, and led on the organization of a school educational visit to Washington, D.C. In 2006 I moved to Chicago to come and work at BISC. Since then I have held a variety of different positions, some involving senior leadership and pastoral responsibilities. However, I am most excited by my current role as IB Coordinator, for which I have the vision for BISC to be known for the best IB program in Chicago. In addition to this role I am the faculty advisor for the National Honors Society, and each year I organize our Year 12 internship program, a program which is unique to BISC here in Chicago.
I love working at BISC for a number of reasons, the first one being because it has great students who are always so focused on their learning - this makes the classroom such a great place to be. There is never a dull moment at BISC between trips, school plays, graduations and internships (to name a few), and there is always an event to plan or attend which highlights just how multi-talented our students are.
Outside of school I enjoy swimming, and I am currently teaching my little boy, who attends BISC, how to swim. I take full advantage of all the amazing yoga teachers here in Chicago and attend yoga class on a regular basis. I still rock climb, although not as regularly as I would like, and have seen both the back and the front of Mount Rushmore on a climbing holiday.
What Students Say
"Ms. Allister'slessons really make me think in a different way."
"Ms. Allister set up a fantastic internship opportunity for me in a field that none of my family are involved in – what a great experience."