A TENBY teacher is lending her voice to a new campaign to inspire school leavers to pursue a rewarding career in teaching.

The initiative, launched by Pembrokeshire Council, in collaboration with Pembrokeshire College and supported by local schools, community partners, and current educators, highlights the profound impact teachers can have on future generations.

There’s a growing demand for passionate and skilled educators to foster a bilingual and forward-thinking education system across Pembrokeshire’s 60+ schools.

Tenby’s Alisha John is one of two local educators who have shared their personal teaching journeys to help inspire the county’s school leavers.

Alisha, a 23-year-old PE teacher at Ysgol Greenhill School, has had a non-traditional path into teaching. Originally from Llanelli, she initially planned to become a physiotherapist after leaving school, but decided to pursue teaching after seeing the impact her PE teachers had on her life during her GCSEs and A-Levels.

Alisha completed her degree in Physical Education at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and her Secondary PGCE at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Now in her second year of teaching, she is passionate about helping students engage with physical education and break down barriers to learning. She said, “Seeing students who were previously disengaged now bringing their kit to class and attending after-school clubs is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.”

Alisha’s advice to anyone thinking about a career in teaching is to embrace the opportunity. “Teaching is incredibly rewarding. You get to make a difference in the lives of young people and watch them grow in confidence and ability. Every day is an opportunity to inspire.”

With initiatives like a Coaching & Mentoring program to support NQTs in their first year, Pembrokeshire Council is committed to attracting and retaining talented educators. For more information, visit www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning.