Teachers In the Spotlight: Clare Winton

In the twelfth of our regular series of interviews with staff at Dulwich International High School Suzhou, we are delighted to present the highlights of an interview with Clare Winton (Geography Teacher & Curriculum Leader for Sustainability Education) at our school.

 1  Where are you from and where did you grow up?

I am from the UK; I grew up in Peterborough which is a city in the east of England. Geography was my favourite subject at school and growing up I always wanted to travel and visit different parts of the world.

 2  Tell us about your Educational background + teaching experience

I obtained my BA Honors degree in Geography from the University of Birmingham. When I finished my degree, I stayed in Birmingham and started to follow a career path in finance. I eventually decided that this wasn’t right for me, so I left my job and obtained my PGCE in Geography from the University of Hull. I then taught in the UK for a while before moving to Thailand, where I taught at a British international school in Bangkok for 3 years. Last year I moved to China and started working here at Dulwich International High School Suzhou; I am also working towards my master’s degree in international education through the University of Sunderland.

 3  When did you realize you wanted to become a teacher?

I have always loved being in an educational environment and I have wanted to become a teacher for many years. With the support of my husband, I was able to make that career change and I have never looked back since.

 4  Who is your biggest role model?

One of my biggest role models is my secondary school Geography teacher; he inspired me to study Geography at university and to eventually become a Geography teacher.

 5  What are your hobbies and what do you enjoy most about them?

I love to cook, although since living in Asia cooking has become more of a challenge than a hobby as it can be difficult to find ingredients and the kitchens tend to be very small compared to the UK! I like to take care of myself and fitness is also very important to me, taking part in a workout class, practising running with the Suzhou Striders running club. I also enjoy travelling; my husband and I always aim to visit at least 2-3 new destinations every year.

 6  What is most rewarding about your job?

The most rewarding thing about being a teacher is seeing the students make so much progress and grow over the time that they are at school. And it’s always great to hear from students from my previous schools, or after they have moved on to university.

 7  What food is like a guilty pleasure to you?

One of the reasons why I miss Thailand is because I love Thai food! Spicy food with lots of flavours is my favourite, so Indian food is also high up on the list alongside Thai, although I can never say no to a slice of good pizza (no pineapple though!).

 8  Describe yourself in 3 words.

Motivated, disciplined, open-minded.

 9  Tell us about your experiences living in China and Suzhou

I have found China to be a very interesting country with so much to offer. I can’t wait to explore more of China in the next few years. Suzhou is an easy city to live in, it is nowhere near as busy as Bangkok, but it still has a variety of restaurants and many activities to take part in.

10  Any advice to students at Dulwich international High School Suzhou

Take advantage of every opportunity that is offered to you, don’t be afraid of change, see the world and everything that it has to offer. Be openminded to new experiences.

11  What are your plans for the next 5 years?

Travel! See as much of the world as I can with my husband, and work hard for the students here at Dulwich International High School Suzhou. I would also like to learn some Chinese!