HELEN SMITH
A few teachers will never be forgotten by their students . Helen Smith is one of those . In Johnsons and then from her light and cheerful room in Talbot House she has worked miracles : quietly supporting hundreds of students throughout their careers at the school ; helping them blossom and thrive ; equipping them with skills and strategies for their futures .
For some , this unwavering support has meant the difference between continuing and giving up at difficult times . Helen ’ s trademark question , ‘ How do you eat an elephant ?’, has taught the overwhelmed to cope with the sometimes daunting curriculum in manageable stages ; her patience and good cheer have brought the disaffected back to focus and cope ; her dogged , constant support has restored self-confidence and self-esteem in the most vulnerable .
Helen won ’ t be forgotten by her colleagues either . She has relished the relationships and close friendships she has made over her 27 years at the school . Her diagnostic expertise has been the keystone of the Learning Support department and her calm wisdom and advice have changed the teaching and thinking of many in the wider staff , all done in a spirit of extraordinary generosity and empathy . She has never been too busy to listen and share her expertise ; her quick chats with a teacher during break have changed the direction of many a student ’ s ( and sometimes teacher ’ s ) trajectory .
Students and staff alike will miss Helen ’ s sense of humour , her ability to find fun in all situations , her warmth , her listening ear and her vitality . It is hard to think of Sevenoaks School without Helen , but she will continue to work her magic in retirement .
CAT DAVISON
Alison Maynard
In the years she has worked at Sevenoaks , Cat has been responsible for a dramatic shift in the way we think about , as well as enact , Service and service learning . From leadership of advocacy work , supporting vast numbers of student-led projects , writing new curriculums on social entrepreneurship , organising themed weeks and conferences , leading a community response to Covid-19 , while at the same time maintaining her position as Chair and CEO of EduSpots and its network of 50 community libraries in Ghana , she
has worked tirelessly for the good of so many communities in so many different contexts . Her inspirational devotion to the success of each and every one of them is a powerful testimony to the human capacity to bring about positive change .
With incisive , compelling critical rigour and an infectious , energetic sense of personal conviction , Cat has done everything to transform our thinking about the meaning of service within a global community . Notions of ‘ charity ’ or even of ‘ volunteering ’ have given way to more sustainable goals that see service as a tool for collaboration and inclusivity , for reciprocity , and the concordant necessity to understand the way values and attitudes must take into account elements of history , politics and the dynamics of power .
In both her teaching and in her leadership roles , Cat has always encouraged students to ask questions , and to reflect on the consequences of our decisions . This capacity is one that defines not just the most effective learners , but the most rounded , and the most responsible human beings . She will no doubt continue to nurture this propensity in her future roles . And many more people will now benefit from her wisdom , integrity and wonderful sense of energy . I have learned so much from her , as has the Sevenoaks community , and wish her every happiness in the future .
Mark Beverley
158 FOUNDATION , FRIENDS AND FAREWELL