Before we enter the 2019 – 2020 academic term, we would like to spotlight a few staff from AKA Mombasa who are going on to pursue new adventures in the upcoming academic year. Here, we take a look at Harriet Chadwick, who worked in the Humanities department, and her time at the Academy.

Harriet Chadwick is from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England and has worked at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa for three years as a Global Politics, Integrated Humanities and Theory of Knowledge teacher. 

During her time at the Academy, Harriet said she has had a positive experience in her professional and personal life. 

“I have learnt a lot about my subject, the IB Diploma Programme and the Middle Years Programme,” Harriet said. “I have enjoyed living in Mombasa and learning more about the local history and culture. I have also enjoyed some of the supportive relationships I have had with colleagues and support staff.”

As she will move on to new opportunities, Harriet said she will miss many things about the Academy and Mombasa in general.

“I will miss the best students who I have ever worked with; they are kind, hardworking and charming,” Harriet said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the African continent through the curriculum I have taught and developed in both DP and MYP. I will miss the beautiful, tropical sites of Mombasa, such as the palm trees and beaches, minus the sweaty weather.”

As a teacher at the Academy, Harriet said she was able to help students appreciate Humanities with different learning resources. 

“In year 7 I have embedded more creative and interactive learning approaches into the curriculum and contributed new resources,” Harriet said. “I have upheld and improved the popularity of Global Politics across the Academy and supported students to achieve their potential in their assessments. Some of the new approaches I have embedded in my DP teaching are to encourage continuous self-reflection, openness and communication from students about problems they are facing, as I believe mentorship is a key ingredient of good teaching, and the importance of collaboration, as opposed to competition, as a way to succeed.”

Although Harriet was teaching the students on how to succeed in Humanities, she said the Academy was also teaching her on how to succeed and become a better teacher. 

“The Academy has taught me how to have more confidence in myself as an educator, that teaching involves multiple roles that I have learnt to balance and how to deliver concept-based, rather than content-based learning,” Harriet said. “Moving to another IB school, I will also feel more equipped to deliver the IB programme and I am very grateful to the Academy for providing me with this opportunity to grow.”

Harriet said she will begin a new teaching position that will help her plan her future better. However, she will be dearly missed by her colleagues, according to Susan Abuto, the head of department for the Humanities department.

“Harriet is one of the most passionate teachers I have ever interacted with in all of my teaching life,” Susan said. “She has a strong commitment towards the students and the lessons she has to deliver. She takes a lot of time and consideration into the quality of work she produces, whether it is a write-up, an assessment, a lesson plan or even departmental duties. She works very well with minimal supervision. While observing her lessons, you can see the student engagement and enthusiasm in the lessons. She motivates students to strive for the best they can achieve. To her students she is a darling. She cares about their welfare - feelings, engagement, performance, association, among other things. We will miss this commitment in the department and I know her students will miss her too.”