My first teaching experience was in a wonderful and diverse school where I spent a happy 4 years building on my teaching skills, and leading the school’s Art and DT curriculum. Following on from that I had the privilege of spending 3 years at New Hall Preparatory School, the former Tudor Palace of Beaulieu in Essex, where incidentally I was married in the school’s chapel. Not many teachers can claim to have been married in a Tudor palace!
Whilst there I built on my leadership skills and reprised my role as Art co-ordinator, implementing a new Art curriculum that focussed on teaching a vast array of skills via a plethora of mediums. I also worked as part of an action research team which put into practice a variety of ‘high performance learning’ strategies. The research project proved a great success, and these new, highly motivating strategies were rolled out throughout the entire school based on my team’s findings. I have continued to implement this highly successful approach to teaching here at The British International School of Houston, helping to nurture independence and cognitive learning skills with some of the most motivated learners that I have ever had the good fortune to facilitate as Class Teacher.
What the students say about me
"She is very patient and good at art."
"She is a lovely and friendly teacher."
"She is the nicest teacher I met on earth. I am one of the luckiest children in the world to have Mrs. McLean."
This school is different to all others I have worked at because…
The British International School of Houston is different to all other schools I have worked at because we have the most diverse and welcoming community I have ever had the privilege of being part of. We recognise the value and importance of high performance learning and we understand that it is our responsibility to help each child to be the best they can be. We challenge them to achieve as much as they possibly can in a supportive and encouraging environment. We are enabling them to take control of their learning and helping to scaffold how they learn so that it suits each individual.