Mrs Norah Johnson
(Headteacher, Year 6 Class Teacher and Examination Preparation Teacher)
Mrs Johnson has been teaching for over 30 years, and has taught all year groups, as well as special needs, gifted, and talented children. She is married to Stephen and has two sons. Both her sons attended Stella Maris School for their primary education, her eldest son moving on to St Ambrose College and then graduating in Engineering. Her younger son is currently in his final year at Stockport Grammar School, working towards his GCSE’s. She enjoys gardening, walking in the countryside, playing the piano, family holidays by the sea in Wales and playing golf. Her MA in children’s creative writing has been put to good use on a daily basis and she’s had various pieces of writing published and guest writes for the local Moor Mag. Mrs Johnson is passionate about educating children and developing in them excellent skills which will serve them well in their future lives.
Mr Ken Brown
(Senior Teacher & Y3/4 Class Teacher)
Mr Brown has been a primary school teacher for over 20 years. He has taught in a number of locations including Essex and Moldova! He speaks Russian and enjoys teaching the children some Russian words for them to challenge their parents with at home! A keen runner he can regularly be seen competing at Parkrun across the North West.
Mrs Sarah Jones
(Pre-Prep Leader and Teacher)
Our EYFS specialist with over 11 years of teaching experience, Mrs Jones is an expert at multi-tasking; when she’s not taking care of her own family (husband, and two young daughters) she’s hugely committed to setting children up for a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards learning and school. Mrs Jones also likes gardening and climbing – more difficult to do at the same time but if we set her the challenge we’re sure she’d manage it!
Mrs Kim Ashworth
(Year 5 and Part-time Year 1/2 Teacher)
Mrs Ashworth has over ten years primary school teaching experience and has taught all year groups. She has also worked in computing consultancy and training for 15 years. After volunteering at her children’s school she enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to re-train as a primary teacher. She is married to David and has a son and a daughter. In her spare time Mrs Ashworth loves gardening, cooking, reading and playing the piano.
Miss Dolor MacCarron
(Assistant Teacher and SEND)
Miss MacCarron decided she wanted to be a teacher after volunteering in a special needs school. Having already obtained an honours degree in Linguistics and spent a number of years teaching English to non-speakers (TESOL) whilst previously living abroad in Israel, Canada, Dubai and Spain, she went on to complete her PGCE and now enjoys teaching various classes across Stella Maris. Miss MacCarron is also a bit of a super teacher; she has run a marathon, done a solo parachute jump, and abseiled down Manchester Town Hall! She also loves visiting the theatre, skiing, and reading as well as supporting the Anti-Slavery society, Amnesty, Freedom from Torture, and Howard League for Penal Reform.
Mrs Kazimeira Herok
(Teaching Assistant and After School Club Facilitator)
Mrs Herok is a qualified teacher with over 20 years’ teaching experience. She moved to England from Poland in 2007 and continues to teach in the UK. Mrs Herok says there is nothing more satisfying than seeing children progress with their learning in Stella Maris’ happy, family-like environment. Mrs Herok is a proud Mum of three children: her daughter studies Maths at Manchester University and her twin sons plan to study for degrees in computer science. In her spare time, Mrs Herok enjoys spending time with her family, playing chess, watching films, baking and discovering places across the UK on her many travels.
Mrs Julie Bullas
(Teaching Assistant and Admin Support)
Mrs Bullas joined the school in 2017 having trained as a teaching assistant and gaining her Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma. She enjoys working with all age groups across the school. Outside of school she enjoys spending time with her family and loves travelling and eating out.
Our specialist teachers…
Madame Gilbart
(French)
Our French Teacher visits the school every week teaching French to all pupils from Pre-Prep to Year 6. Songs, games, puppets and more are incorporated into lessons and pupils love using the language. Madame Gilbart was Head of Department at a secondary school for 10 years. Before teaching she worked in a French speaking role in industry and spent a year living in Dijon in France. Madame Gilbart loves nothing more than spending time with her young family.
Lindsey Baldwin
(Art Club)
Born in the lovely little village of Gosforth in The Lake District, Lindsey spent her childhood racing through fields, climbing trees and having wonderful adventures with her older siblings. Having graduated in 2004 with a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in Illustration and design from The University of Sunderland, she then moved to Bramhall where she now hosts art parties and clubs for children aged 4 to 16 years old. Lindsey says she loves inspiring and being inspired by the children in their art lessons at Stella Maris “Art is a fantastic way to help children unlock their imaginations and develop their confidence.” Lindsey works with all year groups across the school on art projects that relate to the curriculum. She also hosts a lunchtime Art Club during the Autumn Term.
Helen Clark
(Speech)
Working with children and young adults for over 20 years, Helen has a wealth of experience as a drama teacher, private tutor, examiner, drama advisor and youth theatre leader. Helen has worked in a Prep school preparing children for ESB and LAMDA exams for many years. Helen loves the creativity and variety of her work and is passionate about her subject.
The Trustees…
Since the school was founded in 1976, Stella Maris has been helping to create mature, confident individuals who are able to make their way in the world and achieve highly in their chosen professions.
It is a key objective of the Board of Trustees to provide a secure financial position for the school and so enable it to continue to deliver a rich Curriculum which will ensure academic success for its pupils.
The role of the Trustee is a voluntary one and we are always welcoming to anyone who may be interested in joining our expanding team. If you are interested please contact our Chair, Mr James Boyd.
To contact the Trustees email chair@stellamarisschool.co.uk
James Boyd
Chair of Trustees
“I am a Barrister based in Manchester City Centre. I specialise in Employment Law, and feel that my experience both in that regard and in general Commercial Law can provide value to the School. I am also trained in and hold the role as the trustee for safeguarding which is a critical role and one I take very seriously. I have two children at Stella Maris and am fortunate to be a trustee and have an involvement in the running of such a wonderful school, alongside a team of such dedicated individuals and very motivated parents.”